‘I’m not scared of our Denis.If the business was fairly and legally divided, he’d have to respect my opinions.I’m better at the organising side than him anyway, and just as good at the painting, now I’m checking everything carefully…’ He grinned at Leo ruefully.Alex stood up, and cleared the mugs away.
‘If Dad agrees, it would be fantastic.I tell you what, you and I need to see him to discuss it properly, Leo, if Josh doesn’t mind holding the fort up here.I’ve got some unfinished business in Clayton-on-the-Bream to see to anyway.’
‘Have you?’asked Josh.‘What’s that all about then?’When Alex didn’t reply, Josh continued, ‘But leaving me here’s no problem.I’ll get the agency to send an extra bloke.I’ll be fine.You two get going.I can’t wait to hear what Dad says.He’s mad about The Chocolate Cake Bookstore so even without Nina, he’ll want to stay down there if our business is in safe hands.’
Alex and Leo looked at each other.Leo could feel the crackle of barely suppressed excitement in the air and knew that his own anticipation was all to do with Mab.Could he get past whatever barriers she was raising and win her over?He would try every way he could think of.He watched Alex leave the room and heard him run upstairs to pack.What was Alex’s unfinished business, and why was his brother grinning from ear to ear?As he opened his mouth to ask Josh’s opinion on this, Leo’s phone buzzed in his pocket.He fished it out, dreading seeing the name ‘Sophie’ on the screen, but to his joy, the word was ‘Mab’.
27
Mab was puzzled; Leo sounded delighted to talk to her, but distracted, somehow.When she told him about her letter though, he was gratifyingly excited, and said that any agent worth his salt would see Mab’s potential and would sign her up immediately.Mab curled up more comfortably on Angelica’s giant sofa, wrapping a fleecy blanket around her knees, and prepared to outline her jacuzzi plan.
‘Honestly, Leo, it’ll be brilliant.I always thought we were mad to drop the idea in the first place.It’s what will make us unique.I’ve got three quotes already for the tub and fitting it, and I’ve spoken to one of Stan’s many friends about showers, and priced up towels, and contacted a local cosmetics firm about a regular order.They’re called Botanical Bream Bubbles, and they do shower gel, and shampoo, and all that sort of thing, plus body lotion made from local beeswax.If you give me the go-ahead, I can have the whole thing finished by the end of the week?Hey, I bet Sophie would love it?’said Mab, through gritted teeth.
She ran out of steam and waited hopefully.What if Leo thought that she was too pushy, and was trying to make crucial decisions without him?But this was different; this was her business too.Looking back, Mab knew she’d always lacked the necessary bottle to get her own way, and that if she had been more forceful with her mum in the past, life might have been much easier.
Leo cleared his throat.His voice sounded husky.‘That’s amazing, Mab, and it’s great that you’ve planned all this, but you can’t just put all your winnings into this, when we’re not even sure we can open yet.’
‘Of course we can open.We’re not going to let that little grey man beat us, are we?There are no rats or cockroaches, that’s obvious to anyone.The report’s bound to come back clear.’
‘Well, yes, but…’
‘And we’ve got round the problems with the suppliers.You’re collecting the rest of the stuff and you’ll be really pleased with all the things we’ve finished off while you’ve been up there.Harry’s done the toys for the crèche, and Nina’s making invitations to give out for the grand opening.All we need is a date to put on them, and we can go to the printers.’
Mab crossed her fingers and waited.Would Leo like her idea, or was he still so busy being all loved up with Sophie that the shop had taken a back seat in his plans?She opened her mouth to speak as the pause became unbearable, but he beat her to it.
‘You don’t need to worry about Sophie enjoying the jacuzzi, Mab.She won’t be coming back to Clayton-on-the-Bream.’
There was a silence, and then Mab managed to croak, ‘Oh?’
‘No, we, erm, had a bit of a chat and… well… it seems that she’s decided not to marry me after all.’
‘Really?Why on earth would she do that?’
‘I guess Sophie’s fantasy of the perfect wedding got in the way of her common sense.Not that she’s got a lot of that, to be fair.I don’t think she’d actually considered the bit afterwards.You know, the next fifty years.’
‘Ah.Yes, the next fifty years do need to be considered, I suppose…’
‘So, once she had made up her mind, it was as if she needed a substitute.Someone who wants to stay in the North, who’ll go along with the dream wedding day, and who won’t interfere too much with her lifestyle in the future.Oh, and someone who Daddy likes, of course.’
‘You don’t mean Sophie’s already got somebody else lined up?That’s quick work even for her.Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to be a bitch.’
Leo laughed.‘No, you’re right, it is quite unusual to replace one fiancé with another in such a short space of time.It was lucky for Sophie that Denis was currently available.’
Another silence, then, ‘Den?You’re having a laugh, aren’t you?’
‘Nope.Den’s the man.Sophie thinks he fits in with her ideal husband image perfectly.’
‘But Leo… don’t you care?’
‘No, but do you?’
Mab thought for a minute or two.At the other end of the phone, Leo waited, his knuckles white on the phone.After what seemed like an hour, Mab said, ‘Not at all.I don’t mind in the slightest.’She laughed, suddenly full of joy and a sense of the absurdity of the whole situation.
‘Mab, I’m coming home right now.Well, at least, I’ll be back as soon as I’ve picked up all the book orders from various places.There are lots of things to discuss, for all of us.Alex is coming too, and we need to talk to Dad about our business up here.But when we’ve sorted all that out, it’ll be time for you and me to go somewhere together, somewhere quiet.We’ve got to talk.’
‘Have we?About the business?’There was an undercurrent of nervousness now in Mab’s voice, and Leo felt a momentary pang.He’d been so sure that he was winning.
‘No, about us.Is there a problem with that, Ms Millington?Are you too busy chasing up book deals and signing contracts to bother with a small-town bookseller?’
