Ted leans towards me. ‘We’ll get one soon.’

‘We will,’ Julie says. ‘You need to believe Ted and me about that.’

‘I’m turning over a new leaf. No criticism. No disbelief.’

59

Caprice

So, Saffron, my plan to make you mistrust my son because of his relationship with Julie didn’t work. But I have a new, more enticing project now. How will my son be able to resist the wholesome reality of a beguiling young woman like Hayley?

As usual you are home late, and I’m watching cartoons with the children.

‘Would you like to go and see Frozen 2 next Saturday?’ I ask.

‘It’s for girls,’ Ben and Harry reply in unison.

You are out next Saturday; I heard you telling Miles you were going Christmas shopping. I grit my teeth in disappointment. Taking them to the cinema would have just been so easy. All I would have had to do is ply them with sweets, fizzy drinks and popcorn, close my eyes and sleep. But now I’ll have to up the ante. What about a trip to the theatre? The Lion King? I know they want to see that. And then McDonald’s at the back of Waterloo station. Going to McDonald’s always seems to please them.

I log into the Ticketmaster website and spend a small fortune on the best tickets in the house.

60

Miles

Thursday night. Curry night. Mother, Ben, Harry and I are tucking into a takeaway. Lamb rogan josh, okra with chilli and ginger, Bombay potatoes, peshwari naan and pilau rice. Hayley is at the pub with Jono. You have escaped home and work, Saffron, for a rare outing on your own.

‘Ben and Harry, I’ve booked a special treat for you this Saturday,’ Mother announces.

‘What, Caprice, what?’ Harry asks, almost jumping out of his seat with excitement. ‘Tickets to see The Lion King, and then tea at McDonald’s.’

The boys jump out of their chairs and race around the table jumping and whooping.

‘That’s very kind of you, Mother. Now, boys, calm down and finish your curry.’

One more circuit of the table and they obey me.

‘Thank you so much,’ Ben says as he slips back onto his seat.

‘Miles,’ Mother says in her instructing tone, ‘I need to ask you for some help this weekend. I want you to help Hayley plant some rose bushes that are being delivered from David Austin’s in Wolverhampton this Saturday. And keep an eye she plants them properly. I’d supervise myself if I hadn’t booked this treat.’

‘Isn’t it a bit late for planting roses?’

Mother smiles. ‘No. Late autumn fall is a fine time to plant. Otherwise I wouldn’t have bought them. And Hayley loves plants. Helping me with this is a real treat for her. So what do you think?’