Page 49 of Birds of a Feather

‘It’s a jackalope,’ Gran responded enthusiastically. ‘His name is Herrick, and I love him.’

‘Ohhhh,’ exclaimed Gerry. ‘I’ve always been fascinated by jackalopes. I saw one mounted in a hotel in North America, and the locals had me convinced for a whole week that it was a real animal. I even went for a hike through the mountains looking for one.’

‘Well,’ Gran said, raising her eyebrow at me, while addressing Gerry. ‘You’re in luck. I had planned to leave the jackalope to Beth in my will as my most prized possession. But since you’re the only one who will appreciate him, he’s all yours.’

Over the next couple of hours, we enjoyed a hearty English-style pub lunch with gentle banter and robust discussions about books, arts, travel, sociology, natural history and coriander.

‘So, what’s on for the rest of the day?’ Nick asked as we were settling the bill and gathering our things.

‘Well,’ I began, trying to gauge whether he was implying his own involvement in the afternoon’s agenda or just making polite conversation, ‘I was thinking I might head to Leicester Square to see if I can get tickets for something tonight.’

‘I’m keen,’ Nick said eagerly. ‘I mean, if you don’t mind me tagging along.’

‘Not at all. You’re welcome. Gran? Gerry? You in too?’

‘I don’t mind what we do,’ Gerry directed to Gran. ‘I am completely at your disposal. Today that is; tomorrow you’re all mine. I have a surprise for you.’

‘Really? What sort of surprise?’

‘You’ll see. We’ll set off at 10.30.’

‘Do you know anything about this?’ Gran asked Nick.

He shrugged his shoulders.

‘You?’ she asked me.

I shook my head.

‘I suppose I’ll have to trust you, then,’ she said, gently pinching Gerry’s arm in jest. ‘But you’d better look after me. I’m a lot older than the last time we went traipsing around the countryside together.’

As I watched Gran and Gerry laugh together, I marvelled at how much had happened in a month. Before I won the lotto, Gran and I had been going about our business like normal. And now Gran was having a surprise rendezvous in London, and I was making plans to spend the afternoon with Nick.

~

After a light dinner and a spectacular performance of Matilda, we all walked back to the hotel through the crisp London evening.

‘Beth, darling,’ Gran called from five or so metres behind me, the distance she and Gerry had maintained between us the whole way home. ‘I’m just going to grab some things from the room, and then I’ll head back with Gerry.’

‘What? Tonight?’ It caught me off guard that she and Gerry would be spending another night together. I wondered if we should have bothered with a double room at all.

‘I can run the two of you home, then,’ Nick offered. ‘I’ll just go and get the car and bring it around.’

‘Thanks, Nick,’ Gerry said. ‘That would be wonderful.’

‘I’ll say goodnight to you here, Beth,’ Nick said. ‘Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?’

For the second time that day, I wondered if he was asking about my intended itinerary because he was making small talk, or if he was interested in participating in it.

‘With Gerry keeping Elise busy with the surprise,’ he continued, ‘I wondered if you wanted to … or, um … maybe we could … I mean, only if you …’

He was fidgeting with the zip on his jacket. I had felt an easy energy between us for the whole day, but now he almost seemed nervous.

‘It’s just I’m going away the day after tomorrow,’ he declared.

I felt my stomach lurch.

‘It’s a four-day conference on meteorology in Copenhagen. I’m presenting on some exciting research we’ve been doing, so I can’t miss it, I’m afraid. And then I’m staying on so I can go to a friend’s wedding. At the time I booked it, it seemed like a coincidence too good to be true that they’re a week apart in the same place. But now …’ His voice trailed off.

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