Secrets of Blue and Gold

by Lynn Watson

  ‘Nice one – and was that it? Or did you intend to stop the whole project in its tracks, make the government row back or change course on Bright Minds? I guess it’s going to make them think, anyway, now they know the cat’s out of the bag.’

  ‘Well, maybe it will but my only aim was to win it for Kwesi, take advantage of the information I had and use it to his benefit. Bright Minds is too big for me to go into battle with and I’d only get crushed. I’m not prepared to put my life on the line, and the burglary and near-poisoning did unnerve me, I won’t deny it. And anyway, it would be hypocritical of me to rail against Bright Minds while developing a new enterprise using a similar product.’

  ‘So you are going into business with Ned, then – you’ve accepted his offer?’

  ‘It’s irresistible, yes. Junoco has done wonders for me personally, it’s made me stronger in so many ways and by the time Daniela closed the site down, we had umpteen inspirational stories about its effects, how it enriches people’s lives.’

  ‘Reinvention by chocolate, then – everyone’s wildest dream.’

  ‘Alice, I love you!’ Fran blew her a kiss. ‘Still, I do believe it’s wrong to push it onto kids because of their immature brains and lack of choice. And I can’t support an experiment in social engineering where the participants are ignorant of what’s going on.’

  ‘But surely the Junoco customers are ignorant of key facts and being hoodwinked, aren’t they? I presume it will still be marketed as wholly natural, whatever that means.’

  ‘Exactly, whatever it means. Look, we’ve talked loads about this and we both know the moral compass spins all over the place. Like, there’s an asthma treatment now, it’s selling legally on the open market with an advertised “secret ingredient”. Who knows what is in it, whether it’s harmless? Anyway, I’m insisting we don’t make any such claim about being “wholly natural” in our new business and Ned has agreed. He has no qualms either way. As you said in your public lecture, humans have taken mind-altering drugs down the ages, deciding the rewards outweigh the risks or just because it’s the thing to do and they enjoy it.’

  Alice unfolded her arms and sat back, her posture relaxed again. ‘Okay, you’re right. I’m not sure if I included in the lecture that dope dealers emerged in the Bronze Age, when nomadic herders got into horse riding and began to transport cannabis along with their other trading goods. It goes back a hell of a long way.’

  They chatted on about other things and it was after three o’clock when they left the near-empty restaurant and parted to go home. Feeling a little light-headed, Fran sauntered to the tube station and didn’t run for the first train because she knew she might easily misjudge the closing doors.

  When she stepped onto the next one and placed the robot box on the seat beside her, a man appeared at the far end of the carriage. He was swaying down the aisle as the train moved off and she noticed he too was carrying an unwieldy package, now revealed to be a box of wine bottles. He half-threw himself across the seats opposite her, barely managing to keep the box from dropping to the floor. Then he looked up, rearranged his slipped spectacles and beamed openly at her. She smiled back, indulging his gaucheness while taking in his distinguished features, kind eyes and razor-short grey hair.

  ‘Bonjour, Madame. You like Chardonnay?’

  ‘No, no I don’t, not at all. Toujours Sauvignon.’

  ‘Fantastique – I have Sauvignon also.’ He opened the box, pulled out a bottle and handed it across to her.

  ‘What’s this – a surprise birthday present?’ She held back from taking it.

  ‘It is your birthday? It is my birthday tomorrow – we will celebrate. This is why I have the wine with me today, for your birthday. I import wine from France, it is my business. I am Sebastien, and you?’

  She hesitated, turning over this simple question as he leant forward to shake hands.

  ‘Francesca. It’s nice to meet you, Sebastien, but I can’t take your wine, just like that. You need it for your own birthday, if that’s tomorrow.’

  ‘I insist; please accept it, Francesca – my surprise gift, as you say.’

  ‘Thank you then, I will. It’s very generous of you. I have another ten stops to go.’

  That was odd, telling him. Sebastien didn’t miss a beat.

  ‘Moi aussi – perhaps we are living near each other. Will you have a drink with me before we go home?’

  She laughed and nodded her agreement. It was mid-afternoon on her birthday. She was planning a quiet evening in, but that could still happen later. There was nothing to stop her from being spontaneous, if she felt so inclined.

  By the time they got off the train and up to pavement level, they were flirting madly and she suggested he wait outside the café while she bought cakes and then he might like to come home for tea with her.

  ‘Ah yes, you English, always your tea and cakes. That will be superbe!’

  ‘They’re French cakes, actually, from my favourite French café.’ It was obvious he didn’t live round here.

  They walked slowly past the green towards her street, with Fran pointing out various landmarks as if she had lived here all her life. That was exactly how it felt – her familiar home territory with its favourite haunts and hang-outs.

  She was pleased not to bump into Lily this time, as she didn’t want to put her off again and Lily always had a wary response to Fran’s new friends. As she and Sebastien came nearer, she saw a cluster of balloons hanging beside her front door. She found her key, but before she could insert it in the lock, the door opened and Marcus was standing there.

  ‘What, Marcus? Has something happened?’

  Despite the swinging balloons, her first thought was of disaster, some dreadful consequence of the Eric and Delia horror story or the burglary, although she had kept that last episode from Marcus and Kwesi.

  ‘Yes, it’s your birthday and we’re having a big party!’ This was Lily, coming up from behind Marcus and pushing herself into the door frame beside him.

  Fran turned round to Sebastien, who seemed amused and not in the least fazed or put out. She dismissed her half-formulated apology and put an arm around his shoulder, still holding her robot box in the other.

  ‘Hey, Sebastien, the party’s already begun. We’re late.’

  ‘Come on in,’ said Marcus. ‘Hi, Sebastien, Marcus – and this is Lily. Thank you for having the foresight to bring the wine!’

  ‘And this is Sahara!’ added Lily, thrusting the long-suffering creature forward.

  Fran could hear the buzz of conversation and, as they got close to the living-room door, a long drum roll and a jumbled start to Happy Birthday. She put down the box before turning into the room and extending her arms in a gesture of welcome and appreciation. It was too much to take in at once. She had to scan the room for several seconds while the guests finished their singing and came forward to greet her and Sebastien. There was Ned in his sexy pink shirt, and Alice, who must have leapt into a taxi to arrive ahead of her, then Petra and Kwesi and, most surprising and gratifying of all, Eleanor, Cerise and Uncle George.

  Marcus came in with a tray of champagne to toast the birthday girl, and the next two hours passed in a haze of headiness. It was delightful to see the new connections being made; the ones that Fran might have predicted but had never imagined would actually be forged. Lily was talking earnestly to Uncle George; that one she had pre-imagined. Kwesi was deep in conversation with Cerise, who was wearing a crazily elaborate hat, while Eleanor chatted on the sofa with Alice and Marcus. Ned stood by the door with Petra and Sebastien, speaking in a fluid mix of English, French and German. Even Fran’s mole-mate Guacamole was in on the party, observing everything from his perch on the largest of Kwesi’s drums.

  When the doorbell went, Ned waved across to her and disappeared to answer it. Fran followed, but stopped transfixed in the hall when she heard the voices and then saw the two figures on the doorstep, large rucksacks at their feet.

  ‘Mum! We’re home!’<
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  Ned leant back against the wall and then picked up the rucksacks while Max and Chaddy rushed in and overwhelmed Fran with a double hug. She dissolved into tears as she held them tight and heard their enthusiastic explanations.

  ‘We wanted to give you a surprise. It’s so brill that you’re at home.’

  ‘At first we thought maybe we ought to warn you, but it seemed more fun just to show up. We met at the airport. Hey, and this is cool, all these people.’

  Fran looked past them to Ned, who was trapped by the door and visibly moved by the family scene in front of him. When the threesome’s huddle finally broke up, Fran said it was the best birthday surprise ever and ushered them into the living room to say hello to everyone. Ned walked forward as she wiped her eyes, ready to make her entrance again.

  ‘Hold on. Are you okay? No need to rush, they’re having a whale of a time.’

  She almost fell against him, put her hands on his shoulders and reached up on tiptoe for a proper kiss.

  ‘Oh, Ned, it’s all gone mad.’

  ‘Today, beautiful Francesca, you are the luckiest woman on the planet and you deserve it, every bit. But what’s with this French guy, the dashing Sebastien? I have to ask – does he have any idea what he’s getting into?’

  ‘I met him on the train, on the way back from having lunch with Alice.’

  ‘That’s no answer.’ He smiled, teasing and almost wistful.

  At that moment, Chaddy and Max reappeared from the living room.

  ‘Mum, come on! Everyone’s waiting. It’s champagne-and-birthday-cake time!’

  She put her arms around them and they squeezed along the hallway, with Ned following close behind. Just before they went in to join the party, she half-turned to give an answer to his question, but amidst the rising swell of music and laughter, he didn’t catch what it was.