Page 79 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘I … I’ll just take this back upstairs,’ I say, ‘and then I’ll let the two of you be. You must have a lot to catch up on.’
‘Kate, you don’t have to go,’ Jack says. ‘The truth is I wasn’t expecting Ben until later tonight. I sent him a key so he could let himself in easily when he got here.’
‘I got an earlier train,’ Ben says, shrugging. ‘I thought I’d surprise you, and it appears I have! Sorry, I didn’t know the old man would have company.’ He winks.
‘Oh no,’ I hurriedly protest. ‘It’s not like that. We’re just friends, aren’t we, Jack?’
Jack doesn’t look quite as keen to use this excuse. Instead he just nods.
‘What do you want me to do about thethingsupstairs?’ I ask. ‘Shall I move them before I go?’
‘Yes, if you could.’
‘Do you have much luggage?’ I ask Ben. ‘Do you need a hand?’
‘Nah, you’re all right,’ Ben says. ‘I can manage. Look, don’t leave on my account. I can make myself scarce for a while.’ He raises his eyebrows suggestively at Jack, and immediately I can see Jack in him. They have the same dark eyes and the same dimples in their cheeks when they grin mischievously.
‘I have to go anyway,’ I tell him firmly. ‘I have things to do. I’ll just pop upstairs and get my things, and then I’ll be gone.’
Without giving them the chance to object, I hurry past Jack and head back up the stairs. I grab the embroidery from the easel, and then quickly lift the painting of Clara and place it behind Jack’s sofa. I fold the easel and pop it in the hall in a prominent enough place for Jack to see it but hopefully tidily enough to avoid questions from Ben.
Then I grab my bag with the embroidery tucked safely away and head quickly back to the top of the stairs just in time to witness Jack hauling himself back up the steps, while Ben, looking impressed, watches him from below.
I stand aside when Jack reaches the top so he can access his wheelchair, then I wait again while Ben bounds up the stairs carrying a rucksack on his back and a large holdall in his hand.
‘Please don’t go on my account,’ Ben says again. ‘It’s good to see that Dad has made a friend here. Be nice to get to know you a bit more.’
I smile. Ben has obviously been heavily drilled in manners from his mother. His overt politeness didn’t sound like Jack at all.
‘That would be lovely,’ I say, ‘Perhaps we could all have dinner together one night?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Jack says. ‘Why don’t you bring Molly along too. Ben and your daughter might have a bit more in common than us oldies!’
‘Sure, sounds like fun. Right, I really must be going. I’ve folded the easel and popped it over there,’ I tell Jack. ‘I’m sure Ben can carry it downstairs again for you.’
Jack nods.
‘See you both soon,’ I say, giving a casual wave in their direction. Then I hurry back down the stairs and outside into the balmy evening air.
Once outside, I take stock of what has just happened. It isn’t the surprise appearance of Jack’s son that’s making me feel on edge as I walk back towards my own flat, more the things that Jack had said to me before he’d arrived.
And what might have happened if he hadn’t.
‘What?’ Molly says a couple of days later when I tell her that I’ve arranged for us to go out for dinner with Jack and Ben. ‘Why?’
‘Because Ben is new here, and it might be nice for him to know someone younger than Jack and me.’
Molly rolls her eyes. ‘What’s he like, this Ben?’
‘He seems perfectly nice. He looks like Jack, but other than that I don’t know much about him. He’s a bit older than you, so I don’t think you need worry about him wanting to hang around with you.’ I look at her imploringly. ‘Please, Molly, I’ve said you will now. Are you supposed to be seeing Chesney tonight, is that it?’
Molly looks awkwardly down at her Converse trainers. ‘Nah, not tonight.’
Did I sense some reticence on Molly’s part again? This was new. The last time we’d spoken about Chesney Molly’s eyes had lit up at the very mention of him. Her opinion of him seemed to change as often as the tide.
‘So you’re free then?’
‘Yeah, I suppose so. Where are we going?’
