by Helen Mcginn
The sun threw dappled patches of light across the bright green grass. Kate and Robin had been gone for less than ten minutes and Flora was letting rip as the three of them sat around the table. Pip and Tom sat side by side under the tree, their mouths and tongues matching the vibrant blue colour of their ice pops.
‘You know what she’s like. I honestly don’t think she means to, but she just can’t help herself.’ Billy knew his mother didn’t really deserve defending but he didn’t want to fuel Flora’s fury any further.
Johnny topped up Flora’s glass with the last of the red wine. ‘I think she just wants what’s best for you, Flo. I mean, I can understand her horror at the thought of me not having a “proper” job…’
‘But this might just be a proper job and she’s writing it off before we’ve even started! She doesn’t even really know what you did beforehand, let’s be honest about it.’
Billy put his hand on his sister’s shoulder. ‘Look, she has no idea what I do really either. She works on top-line information only, as we know. And anyway, what you’re about to do is really exciting! I’m kind of jealous…’ Billy looked across at Pip and Tom. ‘Hey, where’s mine, you little toerags?’ He gestured at their lollies.
‘I’ll get you one, Uncle Billy. What colour would you like?’ Tom was already on his feet, delighted to be of service.
‘Hmm, I think I want my mouth to look as revolting as yours does so I’d better go for blue too.’
‘Be right back!’ Tom shot off towards the kitchen.
‘Don’t drip yours on the floor inside!’ Flora shouted after him. ‘Well, that’s kind of you to say, Billy. But it might be a non-starter if Mack says no. Then we’re back to square one.’
‘Well, I’ve got a good feeling about it.’ Billy clapped his hands.
‘Me, too,’ said Johnny, pushing his doubts back down for now. ‘Anyway, how’s your work going?’
‘Fine. Busy, actually. It’s been a tough year but buildings still need building. Looks like I might be off to work for another company soon, though.’
‘Headhunted again?’ Johnny laughed.
Billy looked slightly embarrassed. ‘Yeah, I guess.’ He ran his hand through his hair. ‘But I’m not really sure about it. It’s more money, but it would mean staying in London and I’d hoped to move out of the city at some point. Maybe move nearer to the coast.’
‘Near us? Oh, please do, Billy. God, we’d love that! Babysitting on tap…’ Flora laughed. ‘Ooh, how’s…?’ Flora waved her arms around her head, willing the name to come back to her.
‘Ruby?’ Billy volunteered, putting Flora out of her misery.
‘Yes, Ruby! Exactly, Ruby… What happened?’ Flora had learned from experience not to grow fond of Billy’s girlfriends, given the fairly high turnover, but she’d really liked the sound of Ruby.
‘You don’t want to know.’ Billy shook his head.
‘Oh, I think we do, Billy.’ Johnny nudged his brother-in-law playfully.
Billy looked sheepish. ‘She ended it. I was a bit gutted, to be honest with you. But I just wasn’t…’ He trailed off.
‘What? But we didn’t even get to meet her! And she sounded so lovely! God, you’re annoying sometimes.’
‘I know, I’m sorry. I’m just not very good at…’
‘Being a grown-up? Oh, come on, Billy, you’re going to have to be one sooner or later.’ She threw a grape at him across the table.
‘Now who’s being childish?’ said Billy, dodging it neatly. ‘I know, I know. I’ve been an idiot. But I’m meeting her next week; she’s agreed to one drink.’ He picked up another grape from the table, returning fire on his sister.
‘Well then, try not to fuck it up.’ Flora laughed, catching the grape and popping it in her mouth.
As children they’d been peas in a pod, born barely eighteen months apart. They’d grown up in the house where their parents still lived, a rambling old farmhouse set back from the banks of the Beaulieu River. Of course, there had been the usual sibling fights, usually over disputed toy ownership or what to watch on television, but mostly, they’d had each other’s backs. Flora, being the eldest, was in charge but Billy was usually happy enough going along with whatever activities his elder sister had planned for them. Even if that did mean dressing him up in their mother’s old clothes and painting his face thick with make-up pinched from her dressing table in order to perform plays that Flora had written (and usually insisted on starring in).
They spent much of their childhood summers on bikes or building dens in the garden, taking food rations so they could stay out all day. Flora would make sandwiches, carefully wrapping them in paper and putting them in a tin. Billy’s job was stealing as many biscuits as he could without being caught. He was particularly good at it. Sometimes they’d sneak down to the river that flowed beyond the garden, and fish or swim in the cool waters when the tide was in, even though they’d been strictly forbidden to do so without an adult around. When the tide was out, they’d race around on the mudflats, covered in thick dark grey mud from head to foot and sliding into the water to wash it off.
When Flora was ten years old and Billy almost nine, his pride and joy had been his BMX bike. Flora would look up from her book from time to time as Billy tried to perfect his jumps and bunny hops. Once, when she hadn’t looked up at the right time, Billy had let out a long squeal of pain. She had run over to him, lying on the floor having come off his bike, to see his arm lying at a strange angle. Leaving their bikes, she’d practically carried him home as fast as she possibly could, then waited whilst their mother had taken him to hospital. He’d returned home hours later with his arm in a cast. ‘Broken in two places!’ he’d said, pleased as punch. It became quite the talking point, Billy’s story of the jump. It grew more dramatic with every retelling.
Flora persuaded Billy to paint the cast, covering it in green paint they’d found in the garage. Kate was horrified, ordering them to wash it off. When they tried, the plaster disintegrated, falling off in chunks into the sink. Back to the hospital they went, to get a new cast put on. They still managed to swim in the river that summer, Billy holding his arm aloft so as not to get the cast wet. Together, they were a real team.
When Flora hit her teens she lost interest in her little brother for a short while, finding him simply too annoying. But that didn’t last long; he was far too much fun for Flora not to want to be around him. By the time they were in their late teens, they shared friends and stolen booze and cigarettes alike. When Flora left home to go to university, Billy missed her dreadfully. The house seemed so quiet without her and he felt quite lost, noticing for the first time how much he and Flora had been one unit, his parents another.
The following year Billy joined Flora in the city as soon as he got a job. They lived about a mile apart, meeting up pretty much every week in the pub at the end of Flora’s road for a catch-up over a few drinks, sometimes with friends, sometimes just the two of them. They tag-teamed when it came to calling home, each covering for the other if their mother complained about a lack of communication from either side.
When Flora went to meet him after telling him about Johnny’s proposal and their impending parenthood, Billy had been ecstatic. ‘But don’t you think it’s a bit quick? I mean, we’ve haven’t been together for that long.’ Flora knew her brother would be honest.
‘That’s because the previous ones weren’t the right ones. But if this feels right then do it. He’s so good to you, Flora. He clearly adores you. And he’s definitely different from the rest of your ex-boyfriends. God, some of them were dire.’ Billy rolled his eyes dramatically, then grinned at her.
‘You make it sound like there was an army before Johnny! There weren’t that many.’
Billy opened the packet of crisps between them, one of four. He could never buy just one packet. ‘Look, he’s just… he seizes opportunities. And I think that sort of freaks you out because you like things to happen, well…’
‘What are you
trying to say? I can be spontaneous if I want to be! I mean, I’m having a baby! That wasn’t part of the plan, not yet anyway.’ Flora laughed.
‘Come on, Flo, you know what I mean. Just don’t overthink it. But for the record, I think he’s brilliant. And I think he’s kind of perfect for you.’ Billy picked up his now empty glass and pointed at hers. ‘Time for another lime and soda?’
Every other month Flora and Billy always made the trip home together to see their parents for Sunday lunch. Flora loved those journeys. They’d always stop at the same service station before they’d even left London, usually both a little hung-over, loading up on drinks and snacks in an attempt to feel better before they reached their parents’ house about two hours’ drive away. Kate would make a great fuss of them coming, only to make them feel they were putting her out almost as soon as they got there.
And even though Flora was now the host, officially a grown-up with children of her own, she still couldn’t bring herself to confront her mother about her behaviour. Instead, when they were together they all reverted to their assigned roles – Billy the kid, Robin gently reassuring – whilst Kate peppered the conversation with digs wrapped in conversational tissue paper at Flora. At least, that’s how it felt.
‘I’m so sorry but I’m going to have to make a move.’ Billy leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. The children sat on either side of him in their pyjamas, sipping hot chocolate. They’d talked into the early evening, discussing ideas for the wine shop. Flora sat with her notebook in front of her. Tomorrow she would talk to Mack about their ideas, and see what he had to say.
‘Please don’t go, Uncle Billy!’ Tom pleaded.
‘Come on the trampoline with us!’ Pip begged her uncle, hoping he could execute the backwards somersault he’d managed the last time he’d been down to see them.
‘I really don’t think I can.’ Billy patted his stomach. ‘I’m still stuffed. Sorry, Pip – next time, I promise.’ Billy held up his little finger to Pip. ‘Pinkie promise, isn’t that what you always say?’
‘Pinkie promise.’ Pip hooked her little finger round Billy’s, shaking it and nodding her head earnestly.
‘Well, we’re just pleased you made it, Bill.’ Johnny stood up, picking up a few empty plates as he did.
‘I know, for a minute I thought you might bail on us,’ said Flora.
‘Never!’ Billy grinned at his sister.
‘OK, well, listen, we’ll do this again soon. And next time, maybe you might want to bring a friend…?’ Flora couldn’t help herself.
‘I think we all know that’s not going to happen.’ Billy stood up, his tall frame towering over his big sister. He hugged her, lifting her up from the floor. ‘Thank you, Flo.’
‘Not so late next time, please.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Billy bowed his head, solemnly. He turned to his brother-in-law. ‘Thanks, Johnny… and let me know what happens with the shop. I can help if you need to do some kind of refit… with any contacts you might need.’
‘Thanks, Billy. That would be great. We’ll let you know.’
As they stood on the front step of their house, waving him off, Johnny put his arm around Flora. They watched his car disappear in a cloud of dust. ‘You miss him, don’t you?’
‘I really do. It was so lovely to see him. I just wish we saw more of him.’
‘He’d bug you if he was here all the time. That’s what little brothers do.’ Johnny laughed gently.
‘I guess. Still, I miss him.’
Johnny tightened his arms around her shoulders. ‘Come on, you get them into bed, I’ll clear up. Then we’ve got a business plan to write.’
‘Now? Really?’
‘Not the whole thing, just enough for you to take Mack through tomorrow, so he knows we’ve really thought about it. We need him to see we’re really serious about this.’
‘Thank you.’
‘What for?’
‘Seizing opportunities.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Just that.’ She rose up on her toes to kiss him, then turned to go inside, smiling as she left.
8
Mack woke to the sound of the phone ringing downstairs. He reached for his watch by the side of the bed. It was just past nine o’clock in the morning. Slowly, he made his way downstairs, the shop still in darkness. The phone stopped ringing just as he got there but soon started again.
‘Hello?’ His voice was gruff with sleep.
‘Mack? It’s Flora. I know you said not to come in today but I wondered if I could. I need to talk to you about something.’
Mack looked across from behind the counter to the front door. The sign on the back of the door hung in its usual place, the word ‘OPEN’ facing him.
‘Yes, Flora, of course.’ Mack was pleased to hear her voice. He still felt terrible about having to let her go. ‘I’m not intending to open today, actually. Thought I’d use the day to tidy up a bit. The estate agents want to come and have a look around.’
‘Well, about that… Can you put them off until I’ve been in? I need to talk to you about an idea I’ve had.’
Mack switched the light on behind him. ‘Um, yes, I suppose so. I’ll give them a call now.’
‘Great. I’ll be with you in about half an hour.’
‘I’ll get the coffee on, then. See you shortly.’ He put down the phone and looked around the shop, feeling surrounded by the presence of people and places as much as bottles. He made his way back upstairs, a tiny spark of hope in his heart.
By the time Mack was dressed and downstairs, Flora was already at the door. He went to unlock it, instinctively reaching to flip the shop sign over, stopping himself at the last minute.
‘Morning, Mack.’ Flora was smiling from ear to ear. ‘I’m sorry again to call so early but I just wanted to get here before you did anything.’
‘Coffee?’ Mack headed back towards the pot, two empty cups on a tray ready for them.
‘Ooh, lovely. Yes, please. Listen, I’ve got a proposition for you.’
‘Go on.’ He poured the coffee and handed Flora a steaming cup.
‘Thank you.’ She put it straight back down, unable to stop herself. ‘OK, I have good news and bad news. I’ll start with the bad. Johnny’s been made redundant…’
‘Oh dear, I am sorry to hear—’
Flora cut Mack off. ‘No, it’s fine, honestly. He got a fairly good redundancy package; he’s been there for, God, I can’t remember how many years. Anyway, the point is, what he’d really like to do is run his own business, and so we thought, if you’re happy to, we could perhaps take over the lease of the shop. Obviously, you could still live above – if that works for you, if you wanted to, of course – and we hope you would still want to be involved in the business. But we wouldn’t want you to feel like you had to, you know? It would be totally up to you how much or little you do.’ Flora looked at him, hopefully. ‘So, what do you think? I mean, take your time, you don’t have to…’
Mack took a sip of his coffee and put his cup on the counter, turning his face away from Flora.
‘Mack, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bulldoze you. Johnny did say perhaps we should wait a bit, ask you more formally. If so, please ignore everything I’ve just said.’
‘Flora…’ Mack turned his head to face her. The tears in his eyes were barely perceptible but Flora knew him well enough to spot them. ‘Are you sure you and Johnny want to take this on? I mean, it’s not going to make you very much by way of income…’
‘We both really want to do something we love. Johnny’s going to – if you say yes, that is – draw up a proper business plan, take it to the bank so we can afford to do it properly. We’d plan to move some of the business online, all that kind of stuff. And if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But we’re willing to give it a go. What do you think?’ She held her breath.
‘I think that’s just about the most wonderful thing I’ve heard for a long time.’ Mack’s face
broke into a wide smile. ‘But are you sure you really want an old man like me around?’
‘Mack, we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. So yes, we really do want an old man like you around, as much as you want to be.’ Flora laughed, relieved. ‘Now, shall I turn that sign on the door over?’
Mack raised his cup to hers. ‘We should be doing this with wine really, but yes, turn the sign over.’
She moved towards the door.
‘And, Flora? Thank you.’
‘Fingers crossed.’ Flora smiled back at him, then flipped the sign over.
‘So, what did he say?’ Tilda sat on the swing next to Flora. They’d gone straight to the playing fields after school pickup in the hope the children might run off some energy.
‘Well, it’s not a done deal, by any means. We’ve still got to secure a business loan, but Mack’s keen and that’s the most important thing, I guess.’
‘Flora, that’s fantastic news. I mean, your own wine shop!’
‘Well, it won’t technically be ours but it’s as near as we’re going to get to having one for the time being. So yes, we’re over the moon. Johnny seems genuinely excited about it.’
‘Well, you’re going to have some sort of launch party obviously.’ Tilda loved a party, throwing them on the flimsiest of excuses. Her children’s parties were as much for the adults as they were for the kids. ‘Let me help you organise it?’
‘That’s a great idea, but we’ve got masses to do before we get to that, not least sort the stock out. Mack’s carrying stuff he’s had for years and we definitely need to get some more affordable wines in if we’re going to compete with the supermarket over the road. But at least the shop is in fairly good nick. We’ll have to have a clear-out, freshen it up and build a few more shelves so we don’t have piles of boxes all over the floor. Maybe get a tasting bench…’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I like the sound of it.’
