‘We’re not staying.’
Aidan was standing at the front door, holding a pink peony in a large terracotta pot. A portly man with silver hair stood behind him, carrying another one.
‘What’s this?’
‘A client gave them to me but as I don’t have a garden, I thought of you.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course.’
‘You should have warned me you were coming,’ I said. I smiled as I said it but I meant it. I didn’t like surprises. ‘I might not have been in.’
‘We would have just left them outside. But now we’re here, can we come in before we drop them?’
Aidan introduced his colleague, Fred Gordon, who gasped a greeting. His face was red and sweat was running off it.
I stood back and they staggered into the hall just as Bernie flung open his door. All four of us stood crammed into the little space while I manoeuvred open the door to the flat.
‘Let me take that, mate,’ said Bernie to Fred. ‘You look like you’re about to have a heart attack.’
‘Where’s Pops?’ asked Bernie as they carried the plants downstairs into the conservatory.
I pointed into the corner of the garden, where Poppy and Jake were squatting.
‘They’re finding worms,’ I said. ‘It’s their latest obsession. There’s a jug of elderflower in the fridge. Can I get you some?’
‘Yes, please.’
Bernie had sat himself down as if he was settling in. Fred stood by the glass door, wiping his brow with a tissue.
Aidan collected glasses, yanked open the fridge, poured out elderflower juice into glasses for everyone, including Bernie.
‘Cheers,’ he said, passing a glass to me and putting a hand on the small of my back.
Now Bernie was walking around with his drink, looking at my pictures and my books.
‘How was the conference?’ I asked Aidan.
He touched my hand and spoke in a low voice so that only I could hear. ‘I missed you.’
‘Are you staying for the evening?’
‘I can’t. We’ve got a work event.’
The doorbell rang once more.
‘I’ll go,’ said Aidan, leaving the room before I could stop him.
‘The little guy doesn’t look too happy,’ said Bernie.
I looked out into the garden. Jake was curled on the ground, his hands over his face, while Poppy tried to push a handful of mud through his spread fingers. I pulled open the door.
‘Poppy! Stop it!’
I pulled Poppy off Jake, who immediately started crying.
‘When I was a little boy,’ Bernie said from behind me, ‘I ate worms.’
Poppy gazed at him and Jake stopped his crying mid-gulp.
‘Yum yum,’ said Bernie and rubbed his stomach. Jake giggled.
‘What’s going on?’
Both Laurie and Jason had come into the garden, Aidan behind them looking flustered. He made a gesture to me, palms up in apology and helplessness. I realised that while he and Laurie knew each other slightly, this was the first time he and Jason had met.
Jason was looking at Aidan appraisingly, his head slightly to one side and a slight smile on his face, and my heart lurched because Aidan looked small beside him; his hair was thinning and his glasses were slightly lopsided. But Laurie was looking down at his son whose face was smeared with mud and tears. Nellie was in a canvas baby carrier on his back; her round face peered over his shoulder accusingly.
‘What’s happened to Jake?’ asked Laurie. ‘Jake, are you OK?’
‘I’m Aidan.’ Aidan held out a hand to Jason who took it firmly. I could see the two of them doing battle over the handshake. Aidan’s mouth was a thin line and Jason’s smile didn’t meet his eyes. It was almost funny. Almost.
Laurie hauled Jake to his feet. Aidan and Jason let their arms drop to their sides. Then Poppy squeezed her eyes tight shut and opened her mouth so wide it seemed to take up her entire face and a roar came out.
‘Kingcunt,’ she yelled. ‘Kingcunt kingcunt kingcunt.’
‘Someone’s tired,’ said Bernie.
‘Now then, Poppy, that’s enough.’ Jason spoke in his head teacher’s voice and tried to lift her into his arms, but Poppy squirmed and kicked him hard on his shins.
‘Mummy,’ she said and she wrapped her arms around my legs and burrowed into me. ‘I want to go home.’
‘We are home, darling.’
‘I want to be good.’