Page 41 of Flowers Go Flying in Crumbleton

‘Erm… well… can I talk to her now?’ he said.

Caroline went quiet for a moment. ‘Okay, fine.’

Murray could almost hear her pout.

‘Murray?’ came Milly’s voice.

‘Yeah… hi?’ he said. ‘You okay?’

‘Yeah,’ said Milly. She sounded like she was smiling. ‘Caroline weighs a ton.’

‘Meanie!’ came Caroline’s voice in the background.

‘So…’ said Murray, suddenly lost for words now that he had Milly on the line.

‘So… how are you?’ said Milly.

‘Oh for goodness sake!’ said Caroline. There was another round of scuffling and the phone beeped.

‘Erm – you still there?’ said Murray.

‘This is Caroline,’ said Caroline. ‘See – that’s exactly why I didn’t let her call in the first place. I knew we’d be here until Christmas just waiting for the pair of you to say something useful. Your girlfriend wants to ask you on a proper date.’

‘I didn’t—’ squeaked Milly.

‘You hush!’ said Caroline, using her scary dinner lady voice again. ‘Murray you’ve got three choices. Hotel, Milly’s place or your place.’

‘Not the hotel!’ said Murray quickly. Somehow, he didn’t think he’d be heading back there for a while.

‘Not his place,’ came Milly’s voice. ‘I’m crap at rowing!’

‘Right,’ said Caroline. ‘Milly will cook dinner for you tomorrow night. Be there at six-thirty.’

‘I can do that,’ said Murray.

‘I can’t cook,’ said Milly.

‘So go to the bakery for some pasties and pretend!’ huffed Caroline. ‘Murray,’ she added, turning her attention back to him, ‘dress smart!’

‘I’m not wearing a suit,’ said Murray.

‘Tell him to wear his towel!’

‘Milly says to wear your—’

‘Yeah, I heard,’ chuckled Murray.

‘And don’t even think about bringing her flowers,’ said Caroline. ‘She likes cola cubes, though!’

The line went dead.

Murray stared at the handset for a long moment. He had a date with Milly. A proper date. Sure, Caroline hadn’t actually given him her phone number… but he’d be able to rectify that when he saw her tomorrow. It would be the first thing he did. Okay - maybe the third thing. First, he’d hand over a huge bag of cola cubes, second, he’d kiss her… then he’d get her number.

‘Sounds like a plan!’ he said to himself with a determined little nod, which belied the tangle of nerves already expanding in his stomach. He was just about to replace the handset when it started ringing again.

‘Hello?’ he said, his heart pumping, a broad smile spreading on his face as he prepared himself for another round of the Caroline and Milly show.

‘Mate. It’s Josh. So – what did you think of my speech? Genius, right?’

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