Page 45 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
Maggie grins up happily at him from her easel.
‘But even so,’ Clara says, ‘we don’t want to outstay our welcome.’
‘You could never do that,’ Arty says softly, ‘Either of you.’
Clara, pretending she hasn’t heard, bustles towards Maggie’s easel. ‘No, Mummy!’ Maggie says, leaping up as she tries to hide her work. ‘It’s not finished yet.’
‘Maggie,’ Clara says, stopping in her tracks. ‘You’re standing – on your own.’
‘I know,’ Maggie says proudly. ‘We’ve been practising while I’ve been here, haven’t we, Arty? Look I can even walk a few steps on my own now without falling over.’
Clara watches in shock as Maggie walks slowly but confidently away from her easel. She takes each step precisely and carefully, but the look of delight on her face as she accomplishes this simple act is a joy to behold.
‘See!’ she cries elatedly as she reaches her mother’s arms. ‘I told you I could do it if you’d only let me try.’
Clara hugs her daughter to her. ‘Amazing, darling,’ she says. ‘How long have you been doing that?’
‘Since Arty said I should try and walk a bit more often.’ Maggie looks happily over her shoulder at him. ‘He said if I didn’t try occasionally I might never walk properly again.’
‘He did, did he?’ Clara asks, looking sternly at Arthur. ‘Are you a doctor now as well as an artist?’
‘No … but I felt she was ready. If she sits in that thing too long her leg muscles will atrophy, and she’ll be weak for ever. Atrophy means—’
‘Yes, I know what it means, thank you very much,’ Clara says sharply. ‘When you’ve lived with this as long as we have you know all the terminology, and if you’ll pardon my frankness, I think you’ll find I also know what’s best for my daughter too.’
Clara looks around for Maggie’s wheelchair. ‘Come along, Maggie, it’s time to go,’ she says, grabbing the chair and wheeling it over to her. ‘I don’t think you’re quite ready to walk all the way back home just yet.’ She eyes Arty meaningfully. ‘Perhaps you think otherwise?’
Arty shakes his head, and silently watches them as they prepare to leave.
‘Same time next week, Maggie?’ he calls, before they reach the door.
‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea any more,’ Clara says frostily, turning back for a moment.
‘No, Mummy! I want to come back and see Arty,’ Maggie cries from her chair.
‘Clara,’ Arty says, walking quickly over to them. He places himself in front of the door and grabs the handle. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve done wrong by Maggie. I think she’s a great girl, and quite the promising artist.’ He smiles down at her. ‘Please don’t let your anger with me prevent your daughter from doing something she enjoys.’
Clara’s face softens a little, but her lips remain firmly pursed together as she looks coldly at Arty.
‘I’ll think about it,’ is all she says. ‘Now kindly open the door so we can be on our way, please.’
Arty relents and stands back, holding the door open for them. He waves gloomily to Maggie, who waves equally forlornly back at him.
Clara purposefully pushes the chair out of the studio and down the street, striding as far away from Arty as she can.
‘Oh …’ I say despondently, turning to Jack as the moving images swirl before us. ‘That wasn’t so much fun tonight.’
‘No. Poor Maggie and poor Arty.’
‘Clara is only trying to do what’s best for her daughter,’ I add, feeling the need to defend her. ‘She probably felt Arty was overstepping the mark.’
‘He was right,’ Jack says, ‘About the atrophy. If she doesn’t use her legs, the muscles will weaken and deteriorate. Believe me I knowallabout this sort of thing.’
‘I’m sure that’s quite true, but I know what it’s like to be a single mother. You get very defensive when people try to tell you what’s best for your child.’
Jack looks at me. ‘Yes I can imagine that. I don’t see Ben all that often, but at least I share parenting with my ex. We don’t exactly get on well, but she’s always rung me if there’s anything important I need to know about him, or anything we need to discuss. I guess when you’re on your own it’s all up to you. Molly doesn’t see her dad then?’
I feel myself tighten, as I always did when people started to delve into my past.
