Page 115 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘How do you mean?’
‘Like when you turn up somewhere and there’s no lift, or you have to go up steps to get in.’
‘Yes, that can be annoying, but I rarely go anywhere without checking out how accessible it is first. That’s one thing my life is definitely lacking these days – spontaneity. I have to plan everything in advance. Especially trips to somewhere I haven’t been before.’
‘It must be tough.’
‘You get used to it.You’llget used to it too if you intend on spending any length of time with me.’ He glances across at me, but I pretend to be concentrating on the road.
‘Who’s looking after your shop today?’ I ask. ‘Ben again?’
‘Ben and Bronte. What about you?’
‘Sebastian and Anita are both in. Luckily Sebastian is eager to amass as much money as he can this summer. I’ve had to call on him a lot just lately when we’ve been dashing here, there and everywhere.’
‘You haven’t asked Molly then?’
‘On occasion, yes, but she’s too young to be left on her own with the shop. Sebastian and Anita need to be there with her, so it’s not always feasible when it comes to breaks and stuff.’
‘It’s good our two kids are getting along,’ Jack says. ‘I’m really pleased about that.’
‘Molly thinks Ben is great. It’s like he’s the big brother she’s never had.’
‘Ben is fond of Molly too. I think it might have been a bit awkward to begin with, but once Molly realised he was gay their relationship changed for the better.’
‘He’s a handsome young man. Hot, like his dad.’
I glance across at Jack.
‘It’s a while since anyone called me that,’ he says, looking ahead at the road with flushed cheeks.
‘Just as well, otherwise I might not have had the chance to.’
‘I’m serious, Kate. My track record with women hasn’t been exactly great since I had my accident. I mean, who would want to go out with me?’
‘I assume you’re talking about your sometimes uncouth and often forceful manner?’ I retort flippantly. ‘And not your physical attributes or lack of them?’ I glance over at him to see how he’s taken this.
‘You know what I mean,’ Jack says seriously. ‘I’m a burden to whoever I’m with.’
‘Did you get out of bed the wrong side this morning?’ I ask. ‘Or have you taken apoor mepill? You’re feeling very sorry for yourself today.’
‘It’s you I feel sorry for, hooking up with me. You could do so much better than a cripple.’
‘Right, that’s it!’ I say, and I swerve into the forecourt of a petrol station we’re about to pass.
‘Whoa!’ Jack says, grabbing on to the dashboard as I brake hard in the area for filling tyres with air. ‘Why did you do that?’
‘Because I’m not going any further until you tell me what’s wrong?’ I say, turning off the engine.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know what I mean. Why the pity party?’
‘I was just thinking last night about you and Julian, that’s all.’
‘What do you mean, me and Julian? There isn’t a me and Julian.’
‘He obviously likes you still or why would he do everything he’s done for us regarding Maggie?’
