‘Oh, a couple of hours away in a posh hotel and I’m sure it would all come flooding back to you.’
‘Yeah, maybe,’ she said looking thoughtful.
Josie was making light of the situation, but I sensed a discontent within her. Was it true what she said? That romance didn’t last? In the past few weeks my feelings for Max had grown stronger and deeper but we were still in the early days of our relationship. Was it destined to turn into something more serious and long-term or would the glow peter out like a used sparkler?
‘Well, you’ll never guess who I heard from today?’ said Polly, unable to resist the open box of chocolates, and wafting them under my nose. I deliberated, before taking a strawberry creme
‘Who?’
‘Johnny Tay.’
‘Nooo!’
‘Yes. What a bloody idiot! The man breaks my heart, tells me he needs to go and find himself, then sends me a postcard from some far-flung desert, saying what a great time he’s having. Honestly, what’s that all about?’
‘Maybe he’s missing you,’ said Josie.
‘Or has a guilty conscience,’ I added.
‘Well, so he should, but I really don’t need to know what he’s doing right now. He’s made his decision. Let him get on with it.’
‘What you need is a new man,’ said Josie. ‘Someone to make you forget Johnny once and for all.’
‘I know. And if you know of any please send them my way!’
‘Talking of postcards,’ said Josie, ‘I had one from Dad today. I can’t keep up with that man. He’s travelling through north Europe by train, stopping off at all the capitals and major towns. He’s become a proper David Bailey, taking so many photos and uploading them all over the place. Who would have thought it? Dad didn’t have a proper holiday in years, he’s certainly making up for it now.’
‘Good for him,’ I said, ‘if anyone deserves a bit of fun, then it’s Eric. But I do miss him. The pub just doesn’t feel the same without him. Quite often I’ll be doing something and turn around to ask for his advice, and then I realise he’s not there.’ Sometimes I felt a complete imposter standing in his shoes. ‘Don’t you think it’s funny,’ I went on, ‘that my parents are off in Dubai living the high life and your dad is trekking across Europe with a backpack slung over his shoulder and we’re the ones stuck here. There’s something not quite right there.’
‘Yes, but it does mean we’ll have something to look forward to when we’re older,’ said Josie, ‘when our kids are grown up and off our hands.’
‘Woah! Hang on a minute,’ said Polly, ‘I haven’t even got to the lovely man and babies bit yet.’
‘Oh, but you will,’ said Josie, as though it was just a mere formality.
To be honest, I was having as much trouble getting past the baby thing as Polly was. Anything beyond that was totally outside the realms of imagination.
‘Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever have children,’ said Polly in a reflective mood. ‘I mean it would be great if it happened, but I’m not getting my hopes up. I’d want the engagement party, big wedding and cottage in the country first, and none of those are looking very likely at the moment.’
‘Aw, you’re such a traditionalist at heart, Polly,’ said Josie.
‘That’s what comes from working in a florists!’
‘What about you, Ellie?’ Josie asked. ‘Is your biological ticking in your ear?’
‘Not really. I mean it’s something I would definitely want for the future, but not now. Like Polly, I’d want a settled relationship first and, besides, there’s so much I have to do at the pub. To be honest, a baby now would be a bit of disaster. That’s why being a godmother is the next best thing – I get to experience all the good bits, without having to go through the messy, scary parts.’
‘Yeah,’ said Polly, pulling a face at my words. ‘We’ve both got plenty of time ahead for the whole babies thing.’
‘Well you two need to get a wiggle on because I want our children to go to the same school in the village and become friends, and when they do finally leave home, we’ll be able to have our own grand adventure, just the three of us, going off touring the world.’
Polly shrugged. ‘Well, count me in, even if I bypass the husband and babies bit.’
‘Ellie?’
‘Sounds good to me,’ I said, joining in with the spirt of things.
‘Let’s make a pact that we’ll do it then,’ said Josie. She picked up the bottle of Prosecco and topped up all our glasses, raising her glass to the air. ‘To the Leyton Girls’ Grand World Tour of 2050.’
I raised my glass to meet Polly’s and Josie’s, signing up for our future adventure. Well, there was nothing like planning ahead.
*
We’d demolished another bottle of Josie’s distinctly quaffable Prosecco, munched our way through all the bread and cheese and laughed till we’d made our tummies ache.
‘Why don’t we do this more often?’ asked Polly.
‘We should,’ said Josie, ‘you’re always welcome here, you know that.’
I glanced at my watch. ‘I could sit here all night long, but I really ought to get back to the pub.’ I stood up and stretched my arms wide, shaking out my aching legs that had been scrunched up beneath me all night. I always liked to put in an appearance at the pub at the end of the day just to check everything was okay.
‘I’ll walk with you,’ said Polly, standing up before falling back down again and giggling. She tried it again, at a slower pace this time, wobbling slightly before steadying herself on me, her arms waving comically in the air. ‘I think I may have had one glass too many,’ she said. That was the understatement of the year!
After we’d said our goodbyes to Josie, I linked my arm through Polly’s in an attempt to keep us both upright and we lumbered our way back through the streets of Little Leyton towards the twinkling lights of The Dog and Duck in the distance.
‘Let’s have a nightcap,’ I said as I pushed open the big oak door of the pub, the low lighting and warmth beckoning us in. There were a few people in the front bar but they were making moves to go. ‘I’ll go and makes us a milky coffee,’ I told Polly. ‘Grab a seat. I won’t be long.’ Polly tottered away unsteadily and I made my way towards the bar.
‘Hi Gemma,’ I said, greeting my new barmaid, who was busy clearing glasses from the counter, ‘how it’s been?’
‘Good, I think,’ she said, looking relieved. ‘It’s been incredibly busy. We’ve not stopped all night, and my legs, I didn’t think they’d be aching so much, but it’s been great fun. I’m feeling much more confident now than I was at the beginning of the evening.’
‘Great, that’s what I like to hear. And you’ll get used to being on your feet all the time. You can get off home now, if you like.’ I was so pleased that Gemma seemed to have taken to it so well.
She went off to collect her coat and bag from the back and I wandered through the pub rounding up the stragglers. I poked my head round the entrance to the snug bar to see who we still had in. I stopped abruptly, my brain not making sense of what my eyes were seeing. Oh god! Nothing could have prepared me for this particular straggler.
‘What on earth is going on here?’
A group of young lads were laughing and bantering, obviously in high spirits, but it wasn’t them I was bothered about. My gaze landed on the young girl who was perched on one of the lad’s laps, her arms draped around his neck and her head resting on his chest, all doe-eyed and red pouting lips. There was no keeping the disbelief from my voice.
‘Katy?’
Nine
‘Oh hiya.’ As brazen as you like, Katy looked me up and down before returning her attentions to the unsuspecting young man she was currently entangled with.
‘Please don’t tell me you’ve been drinking, Katy?’
The furtive glances between the lads gave me the answer I needed to know.
‘Oh for goodness sake! What are you playing at?’ As far as I knew Katy had gone off hom
e before I’d left for Josie’s and I’d presumed she was staying in all night watching a film as she’d mentioned. Obviously not! If I’d been squiffy a moment ago, finding Katy in this condition had sobered me up straight away.
‘I’ve just had a couple that’s all. It’s no big deal.’
‘No big deal? You do know she’s underage,’ I accused the boys. ‘She’s seventeen. You could all get into big trouble buying her alcohol. Not to mention the trouble you’ll get me into as well. I could lose my licence over something like this.’
‘Nothing to do with us,’ said one of the lads. ‘We’re just hanging out. Katy’s bought her own drinks.’
‘Is that true, Katy? Who served you?’
‘Oh god, I am so sorry.’ Gemma came in behind us, looking sheepish. ‘I did ask for I.D. and I thought everything looked fine.’
‘Look, will you all stop talking about me as if I’m not here.’ Katy swung her legs off the lad and edged away from him on the wooden bench. ‘It’s only a few sodding drinks. What’s the problem? Who’s even going to find out or be bothered in this dump?’
‘I’m bothered, Katy,’ I snapped, feeling affronted by her insult. ‘This is my pub and I spend a lot of time and effort to ensure I run a respectable business here. I don’t appreciate you taking advantage. Show me that I.D.’
Katy reached inside the back pocket of her jeans and handed it over reluctantly. I turned it over in my hands.
‘Where did you get this?’
‘Off the internet. It’s dead easy when you know how.’
I bent the card in two and put the pieces of the offending item in my back pocket.
‘Hey!’ Katy scrambled over the table at me, her arms flailing. ‘That cost me a tenner.’
‘Tough luck. Come on, lads, it’s going home time. I want you all out of here.’
‘I am so sorry,’ said Gemma again, looking as though she might burst into tears. ‘All of this is my fault.’
‘Not at all, Gemma. You did everything right. The only person at fault here is Katy and I’ll deal with her later. You get off home now.’
Fury simmered inside my veins. Looking at Katy now it would be hard for anyone to believe she was only seventeen. The fresh-faced teen I’d met before had been replaced by a heavily made up young woman, with jet black eye liner sweeping up at the sides of her eyes, false eyelashes, powered skin, and deep red lipstick. She would pass for twenty-one any day of the week.
The boys made moves to leave, muttering amongst themselves, and picked up their jackets and slunk out the bar, giving me a nod of their heads on their way out.
‘Hey wait for me, I’ll come with you,’ Katy called, stumbling over a low stool.
‘No you won’t, young lady,’ I barked, surprised to hear my mother’s voice tripping off my tongue. ‘I need to talk to you. What do you think Max would say if he knew about this?’
‘Max doesn’t give a shit about me,’ she said vehemently, the teen Katy definitely back in force now.
‘You know that’s not true.’
‘It is! And besides he’s away tonight so I can do exactly what I like.’
She flung her arms wide and attempted a twirling manoeuvre but only toppled over again, this time over another stool on the other side of the table. She landed on her bottom on the floor.
‘How much did you have to drink exactly?’
‘Can’t remember. One or two. I’m fine. Really fine,’ she said, grabbing onto the table and hauling herself up. ‘Absolutely fine.’
‘What were you doing with those lads? I’m sure they’re all decent boys, but you can hardly know them, Katy. You don’t want to be putting yourself into difficult situations that you can’t easily get out of.’
Oh good grief. I really was turning into my mother, but I knew my reaction was nothing compared to what Max’s would be if he was here.
‘I can look after myself you know.’
‘Sit down there and don’t move. I’ll make you a coffee.’ I poked my head around the corner and called to Polly, beckoning her from the other bar. I explained the situation and asked her to sit with Katy while I made the drinks.
‘There you go,’ I said, a few minutes later, handing Katy a strong coffee, ignoring the fact she was turning her nose up at my offering. ‘Drink it.’ I went back into the kitchen to collect the drinks for Polly and me, putting a splash of brandy into our coffees. I didn’t know about Polly, but I was in need of something. ‘What do you think you’re playing at, Katy?’ I asked, sitting down to join her at the table.
‘I don’t know why you’re making such a big thing about this. It’s only a few drinks. And I am almost eighteen.’
‘Almost being the pertinent word. You’re underage and I would have thought with Max away you would have wanted to show him that you can act responsibly and that he can trust you to leave you on your own. Not go out and get completely wasted.’
‘Ugh, I don’t know why you keep going on about Max. He doesn’t care what I do. I’m just a pain in the arse to him like I am to Mum and Alan. He’s just looking for an excuse to send me back to Spain. ’
‘That’s not the case at all. You’re his family and that means a lot to Max. He only wants what’s best for you.’
‘Ha! Family? Are you joking? We don’t know how to do that. Well not the good bits. We can do the bad bits, the lies and rows, the disappointments and secrets. Dysfunctional, I think you’d call it. No wonder Max got out as soon as he could.’
From across the table, Polly flashed me a questioning look. ‘All families are a bit that way,’ she said. ‘Trouble is you can’t do much about them. You’re stuck with them. That’s why I love my friends so much!’
‘Well, I haven’t got many of those either,’ she said, with a dejected sigh. ‘You won’t tell Max about this, will you? He’ll just have a massive go at me.’
‘Oh Katy!’ What the hell was I going to say to Max? He’d be absolutely furious, that much I knew, and I wouldn’t fancy being in Katy’s shoes when he did find out. ‘The thing is, you’re putting me in a difficult position. Max should know what’s happened here tonight. He is your guardian while you’re here, after all. If he finds out that I’ve been keeping something from him, especially something about his little sister, he’ll go absolutely spare.’
‘Well, he doesn’t have to find out, does he? Not if we don’t tell him. Please.’ Katy’s deep brown eyes travelled from me to Polly pleadingly. ‘I’m really sorry. Honestly I promise you it won’t happen again. No more drinking until I’m legal. If that’s what it takes.’
‘I don’t know, Katy.’
‘Pleeaaaase!’
I made the mistake of glancing at Polly, who was giving me the same imploring look as Katy.
‘Okay, okay, but just this once, Katy. Don’t let me down again.’ I shuddered, trying to rid myself of the image of Max’s angry face bearing down on me. ‘I hate doing this, Max is my boyfriend and I shouldn’t have to keep secrets from him but…’ I sighed. ‘Maybe it’s best if we keep this one quiet’
‘Oooh, thanks, Ellie,’ she said, looking genuinely relieved. ‘You’re a babe.’
I dared to look across at Polly again, and she shrugged her assent as though there hadn't been any other option.
Katy sighed and slumped forward onto the table resting her head in her arms. ‘Ugh… That coffee is disgusting, it’s making me feel really ill.’
‘Ha! Right. It’s the coffee that’s making you ill not the vodkas you’ve been tipping down your throat tonight?’ Polly said dismissively.
Katy’s eyes rolled as she lifted her head gingerly from the table. ‘Look, can I stay here tonight? I don’t really want to go back to the manor now. It’ll be pitch black walking home and being alone in the house will be really creepy.’ She wriggled her shoulders, shivering. ‘There are all sorts of funny noises there, it wouldn’t surprise me if the place was haunted.’
‘Don’t be daft. There’re no ghosts there. Anyway, you can’t stay h
ere. You’ve got the dogs to think about and they can’t be left overnight. Don’t worry though, Polly and I will take you home and get you tucked into bed. You’ll be absolutely fine.’
‘I bloody well hope so. But I just want everyone to know that if I do get murdered in my bed tonight then that’s down to you.’
‘The only person you’ve got to worry about murdering you is Max, if he finds out what’s happened tonight,’ I said, gesturing for her to get up.
‘Fine. Let’s hope you’re right. I’d hate for my unnecessary death to be on your conscience for the rest of your life.’
Polly shook her head and rolled her eyes. ‘Blimey she’s a bit of a drama queen this one, isn’t she?’
But that wasn’t the end of the drama. As soon as Katy stood up, she swayed on her feet, her skin taking on a grey cast; any colour, and there wasn’t very much of it in the first place, completely absent from her cheeks.
‘Oh god, I might just need… I feel… I really… I think I’m going to be…’
Too late! Katy lurched forward and all the excesses of her night were promptly sprayed over the floor of my lovely snug bar.
‘Don’t worry,’ I said, dashing off in search of the mop and bucket thankful that it was a stone floor and would be easily cleanable. Even more grateful that Max was several hundred miles away and not around to witness to this pretty little episode.
‘Everything okay?’ asked Andy, wandering in, probably wondering what all the commotion was about. He’d been down in the cellar trying to fix our temperamental ice machine.
‘Fine, just a little accident here. I’ll get it cleaned up and then we’ll take Katy home.’
‘No worries,’ said Andy, slipping his jacket off again, ‘I’ll see to it. You get off. Looks as though you’ve got enough on your hands as it is.’
‘That’s why I have the best bar staff in the country,’ I said, giving Andy a kiss on the cheek.
‘Come on, Digby,’ I called, his ears pricking up at the prospect of an unexpected late night walk.
Summer at the Dog & Duck Page 8