Isla laughed softly, and Mack felt a lot of tension leave her body. Well done, Flo. You’re doing well. Mack knew that Flora’s social awkwardness did not end with adults, so she was really trying hard.

“Aye, he is—he loves Isy.” Now to help with Isla’s social awkwardness. “Isy, get your list out. We’ve got shopping to do.”

“Oh yeah.” Isla fished into her pocket and brought out her iPhone.

This was Mack’s plan for today. From all that she’d learned from her encounters with Flora, and being around Isla, she realized that there should be something to break the ice, something to relax both Isla and Flora, so the two socially anxious people didn’t stand struggling with what to say.

As Mack lay in bed last night, she thought about the thing that they both shared, that relaxed them—Dexter.

Having Dexter there would break down the tension, and then giving Isla a list of things to buy would give her something to say, a structure of a conversation to start off with.

“What shopping?” Flora asked.

Mack didn’t reply for Isla and encouraged her to speak. “My mum, Auntie Mary, Grandpa all gave me a list of things they would like from the shop. I’ve got it on my phone.”

Flora grinned. “Lovely.”

Mack gripped Isla’s shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t forget Murdo and Jamsey.”

“Oh yeah, Murdo and Jamsey work for Mum,” Isla said.

Flora turned to Sandra and said, “I think we should close a little early. We’ve got a big order to fulfil.”

“Will do.” Sandra went over and snibbed the door and turned the Open sign to Closed.

“Let me show you around, and then we can see to your shopping list.”

Flora held out her hand, and Isla looked up at Mack. She gave her a small nod. Mack watched with pride as Isla walked off with Flora. She’d done it. With careful planning, she’d brought these two socially awkward people together.

* * *

Flora led Isla behind the counter. She had been nervous about meeting her. As an adult you were meant to be relaxed and in control when meeting with youngsters, but high school children like the ones that came into her shop every day still made her shiver and shut down in fright. That’s why Sandra worked the till at lunchtime and after school.

The noise high school children made made Flora freeze and took her straight back to navigating the corridors of school, while feeling like she was on the edge of meltdown. And more often than not, she was.

But when she saw Isla hiding behind Mack, she knew this wouldn’t be the case with Isla, especially with Dexter there. He both calmed her down and gave her a subject to talk about when there was a lull in the conversation.