Beverly: Chapter 2
When I walked into the kitchen the following morning to find the table set and fruit chopped, I got the first inkling that my daughters might be up to something. I could count on one hand the number of mornings I’d seen them up before ten on a Saturday and the last time we’d eaten breakfast together at the table was when they were about six. Most mornings breakfast consisted of Louise grabbing a banana as she rushed out to catch the bus. Grace was so scatty about breakfast I’d started giving her extra lunch money, making her promise to get a snack at break time.
“What’s going on?” I pressed my hand against Louise’s head. She didn’t feel hot.
Grace smiled sweetly and directed me to a chair. “We don’t know what you mean. Coffee?” She held up a pot and I nodded.
“Please.” I looked from Grace to Louise. “Well? What’s going on?” I asked again. “Why are you two up?”
“Why shouldn’t we make our favourite mother a nice nutritious breakfast ahead of a busy day?”
“Busy day? Who said anything about a busy day?” I mentally ran through my agenda for the day. I was pretty sure there was nothing taxing planned. I needed to knock on a few doors later but that was about it. It was then that the penny dropped. “Oh I get it, this is about the dog again, isn’t it?”
Grace did her best to hide a smirk but Louise burst out laughing.
“You little …”
“Can you blame us?” Louise asked, her eyes wet with tears. “It’s just too funny. We couldn’t let you go out again without at least hearing all the gossip.”
I grabbed one of the strawberries from the bowl on the table and bit into it. “Well if it gets me table service at breakfast, it might be worth it.”
“So go on then, tell us all about it,” said Grace.
I shrugged. “Not much to tell. She’s called Tortoise.” I gave them both a stern look, daring them to giggle. “She’s five, Beverly’s had her since she was a puppy.”
“Do you think she’d let us take it for a walk?” Grace was uncharacteristically animated. “I’ve never seen a sausage dog before, except in YouTube videos.”
“I’ve got to find her first, remember?”
“Well yeah, but you always do.”
I was touched by my daughter’s faith but I didn’t share her optimism. “If she really has been stolen she could be long gone by now.”
“Ha, ha, good one Mum!” Louise was laughing again.
“It’s not funny Lou. Her poor owner’s distraught.”
“But with such little legs.” Louise looked from me to Grace. “Long gone?” She started giggling to herself as she wandered around the kitchen, picking up plates and putting them in the dishwasher.
“Ignore her,” Grace said. “Do you want some help? I could come with you when you knock on doors if you like?”
“Really?” I felt my spirits lift. It wasn’t often that either of the girls took much interest in my work and it would be lovely to have company. Door to door could get pretty repetitive. “That would be great, thanks! Let me finish this then I’ll go and get ready.”
I quickly finished my breakfast before rushing back upstairs to get dressed, keen to get going before Grace changed her mind.
Twenty minutes later I was starting to regret my daughter’s offer of help. I was swiftly coming to the conclusion that working alone was much more efficient. We’d only spoken to three people and if I had to listen to her complain about how cold she was for much longer I was likely to lose the plot.
I sighed. “How about we go for a coffee to warm up?” It was Saturday after all, there was only so much work one could be expected to do on the weekend and it would be nice to sit and chat.
“Make it a hot chocolate and you’re on. I know just the place!” Grace’s eyes lit up as she led me in the direction of a pokey cafe. “You get the drinks in, I’ll find us a table upstairs.”
Before I could protest, Grace turned and headed up a narrow flight of stairs into the belly of the building. I looked around as I waited in the queue. This place had to be a fire hazard and I shuddered to imagine my children spending countless hours with their friends in this death trap but quickly shook the thought away. I knew I had a tendency to be overprotective when it came to Grace and Louise.
Tray loaded with drinks and a custard slice each, I carefully edged my way upstairs and soon spotted Grace sitting at a table near the window.
“Oooh custard slice, yummy. Thanks Mum.”
I took a sip of my coffee and was forced to admit that it was good. “How’d you know about this place?”
“Me and the girls come here sometimes on a Saturday. The hot chocolate is to die for!”
“Not literally I hope!”
“What?” Grace looked confused.
“Nothing.” I paused. “So how are things with you?” It wasn’t often that I got time alone with either of my girls and I was keen to make the most of the opportunity.
Grace shrugged. “Alright I guess.”
“School going okay? Not long ’till the exams now.”
Grace and Louise were preparing for their A-levels. Louise had drawn up revision timetables and highlighted the relevant sections of her study guides months ago. Her bedroom was like an Aladdin’s cave, the walls covered in charts and checkboxes. Grace, by contrast, appeared to be taking the laid back approach.
She shrugged again. “It’s fine Mum, honest.”
“It’s just, you don’t seem to have done much in the way of revision yet love.” I chose my words carefully, keen not to compare her to Louise.
“I’ve got it all under control. Now tell me about these micro-pigs. Did Rob say where you get them from?”
And with that the conversation was over. I knew better than to push Grace. She was very bright, they both were, but if she got it into her head she was being steered in a specific direction, there was a better than average chance she’d overreact and throw the whole lot away. The last thing I needed right now was teenage histrionics.
I smiled, took a deep breath, and started to tell Grace everything I knew about the missing pets. I just had to hope I was doing the right thing by not pushing her. She was nearly an adult but that didn’t stop me from worrying about my headstrong daughter.