‘It’s a deal.Jess is better with the cold tea anyway,’ said Mab.Jess stuck out her tongue.The van trundled the few hundred yards to the pub, and Leo parked across two spaces before jumping out to open the door for Jess and Mab, bowing politely.
‘You’re a gentleman,’ said Mab, ‘but you’re rubbish at parking.’
‘True, but I always stand my round, pet, so let’s get in there.The beer down here’s not a patch on our pint, mind.’
‘Don’t push your luck, Leo,’ said Mab, ‘you don’t know us well enough to insult our beer.And hurry up, I’ve got to be at work soon.I’ve got pick-and-mix to sell.’
Inside The Green Man, sunshine flooded through the lounge windows and the warmth of the blazing log fire burning in the inglenook took away any chill that might have been in the air.Wonderful smells of garlic and herbs were floating through from the kitchen, and Mab’s thoughts once again turned to food.How was she ever going to take control of her weight if she just lurched from one snack to the next?And was there really any point at the moment?Leo quickly bought drinks and took them over to the fire.There was just enough room for Mab and Jess to squeeze in opposite Leo, although he did take up an awful lot of space.Sitting sideways with his long legs stretched out, he made quite a tripping hazard for the elderly ladies and gentlemen making trips to the cloakroom.
‘OK then, give us the gen.How do you know Mab’s name, how and why are you and Mab going to be awesome, and, more to the point, does it involve lots of money?’asked Jess, downing half of her pint of bitter in one gulp.Mab looked at her enviously.How did Jess stay so skinny?Mab was making her own Diet Coke last so that she wouldn’t have to have another and had ordered a tuna salad instead of the steak and ale pie that the others had chosen.And Jess and Leo were shortly going to be eating proper ‘homemade’ chips too.It was so unfair.Leo finished his pint and stood up.
‘I’ll just get the next round in, and then I’ll tell you, but money is definitely one of the plus points of my plan.’
‘Do you always drink so quickly?’Mab asked.
‘No, but it’s hair of the dog time today.I was on a real bender yesterday with my brothers – even our dad couldn’t keep up.They all wanted to celebrate with me.’
‘Celebrate what?’Mab could never stand being kept in suspense.But Leo shook his head, and refused to elaborate until he was back from the bar.
‘Nice to meet a generous bloke for a change,’ said Jess, ‘not like your Pete; he was always busy in the toilet just at the moment when money was about to change hands.’
‘He’s not “my Pete” any more, thank goodness,’ said Mab, sniffing rapturously as the pies and salad were delivered, along with a large earthenware bowl full of crisp golden, chunky chips.Leo reappeared at the same moment.
‘By, that looks bonny.Pass the vinegar and give me five minutes to get outside of my dinner, girls, and I’ll be all yours.’
‘What makes you think we want you?’grumbled Mab, but she started on her tuna, and was soon feeling quite smug about the lack of calories in her lunch.She stole a chip or two, to take away the horrible taste of her drink.Mab would have loved a large, cool glass of crisp white wine.Jess looked into Mab’s glass.
‘Not drinking, Mabel?They’ve got your favourite cider on draught here, you know?’
‘Oh… erm… no.My boss doesn’t like me smelling of booze in the shop.He says it gives a bad impression.’
Jess raised her eyebrows but said nothing.After a few minutes, Leo leaned back and stretched his arms high above his head.Mab waited, holding her breath.This was the point when Pete would have burped as loudly as he could.She smiled as Leo, mercifully burp-free, began to speak.
‘I’m starting to feel quite human now.Right, I’ll talk while you two finish your food.’The others nodded, still chewing.‘I’d better start at the beginning of the story.’
Jess and Mab exchanged glances but forbore to comment.He continued, ‘Up until Christmas, I had an amazing godmother called Annie.She lived in this town all her life, never married, and made a really big fuss of me whenever we met.I used to come and visit and we’d have picnics up at the castle and take a boat out to explore the island on the lake.It was magic.’
‘Is this a fairy tale?’mumbled Jess, through a mouthful of pastry.
‘Just listen.It’s kind of like one in places.Anyway, our mam had loads of friends of all ages, but Annie was one of her favourites.My brothers have all got different godmothers though, and they’re just as canny.’He finished his second pint, looked thoughtfully into his empty glass, and then regretfully put it down.
‘So, after our mam died…’ he paused, and seemed to notice the sympathy on Mab and Jess’s faces, ‘…oh, it was fifteen years ago, when Josh was born, no need to look so sad.Apparently the doctor told her she was taking a massive risk having a baby at her age.She was a natural mum.She had our Den when she was only a teenager, and then just kept going.I do miss her, though… well anyway, after that, Annie took extra care to keep an eye on me, even though I was twenty by then.’
‘She sounds lovely,’ said Jess.‘Carry on, Leo.’
‘Well, Annie died suddenly on Christmas Eve last year, which was a double whammy, because it was my birthday too.’
‘Oh, that’s awful!Where in the town did she live?We might have known her.’Mab loved old ladies; they reminded her of Gran.During the difficult years at home, when life with Mab’s mum had seemed impossible to bear, Gran had kept things going.She’d made endless fruit cakes, attended parents’ evenings with Mab’s dad and generally been the family’s lifebelt.Leo’s blue eyes twinkled.
‘Well, that’s the thing.You certainly did know Annie.She lived next door to Beattie’s Bakehouse.She’s been there for years.’
‘What, in the flower shop?’Mab was confused.
‘No, the other side.’
‘Not… in the Spooky Horrid Place?I thought that was empty.’
‘Oh, it is now, Mab, but not for long, mind.Annie left the flat and shop premises to me in her will.It’s taken a while to sort everything out, but from tomorrow I’ll be moving in, and there’ll be nothing spooky about it when it’s the headquarters of my new venture.The Chocolate Cake Bookstore.’
