Page 15 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

‘True.’ Jasmine nodded. Stella had grown up in a single parent family with Alice, her mum, grafting all hours. She’d set up Spick ‘n’ Sparkle so she could make a better life for her and her daughter. Stella hadn’t met her father until recently, though what she’d seen hadn’t made her regret his lack of involvement in her life. But the key difference between Stella’s and Zak and Chloe’s situation was that Stella’s father hadn’t died in tragic circumstances as Bart had. The hope or possibility that she’d be able to connect with her father at some point hadn’t been snatched away as it had with Jasmine’s children.

‘And I think there’s ateeny-tinyfactor we’re forgetting about.’ Amusement danced in Stella’s eyes.

‘What’s that, then?’ Jasmine asked.

‘Er, don’t tell me it’s slipped your mind how you whooped Scraggo’s arse in front of pretty much the whole school? I doubt very muchhe’sforgotten. It’s the stuff of legend; gave you superhero status for a considerable length of time afterwards.’ Stella gave a throaty giggle.

‘I hadn’t forgotten about that.’ Jasmine smiled sheepishly. In truth, it hadn’t been far from her mind since her mum had sent the text mentioning the Scragg name. ‘But we were kids then, and much as I could willingly throttle his little brats right now, I can hardly do to them what I did to him! I’d end up in court with you defending me, and correct me if I’m wrong, but I reckon the judge and jury wouldn’t be too sympathetic to my cause.’

‘You know I don’t defend, Jazz,’ Stella said dryly, a smile hitching up the corners of her mouth.

‘Thanks!’ Jasmine shot her a look of faux hurt. She and the rest of their friends were all aware that though Stella was a criminal barrister, her practice was exclusively prosecution; she refused to represent the sort of “scrotes” as she called the defendants involved in her cases, which were predominantly gas-lighters, wife beaters and drug dealers.

‘I’m only joking, and anyway, I didn’t mean that. I just mean he’ll be wary, that’s all. Trust me on this, Jazz, Scraggo won’t want his kids to attract your attention.’

‘Which leads me very nicely on to telling you about someone I ran into just before I got to my car.’

‘Ooh, I’m intrigued. Who is it?’

‘Max Grainger.’

Stella paused, as if allowing Jasmine’s words to sink in. ‘Max Grainger, as in the little Max Grainger we’ve just been discussing.’

‘The very one.’

‘Wow! I wonder what he’s doing back in town. You don’t think it’s got anything to do with Scraggo and his return, do you?’

‘I’m not sure, we didn’t get much of a chance to talk, so I’ve no idea if he’s here to stay or just on a fleeting visit.’

‘And how did he look?’

‘Well, he’s grown – a lot! Still has the same sort of happy-go-lucky smile and twinkly eyes, but he must be over six feet tall and has filled out a heck of a lot – there’s no trace of the skinny little kid he used to be. And though he was dressed casually, he looked smart, too.’

‘Not that you paid much attention, of course.’ Stella chuckled.

Jasmine gave her friend an “I’m really not in the mood for that” look. ‘All I’m saying is that he looked like he’d done okay for himself.’

‘Which is what we’d all hoped for him,’ Stella said.

‘Exactly.’ Now Jasmine thought about it, it was good to think Max’s life had turned out well for him. She found herself hoping he’d be true to his word and call in on her parents, knowing how much they’d love to have a catch-up with him.

‘And going back to what you said about you and your parents beingallthe kids have, I’m afraid I’m going to have to pull you up about that,’ Stella said, interrupting her thoughts.

‘Oh?’

‘Slightly hurt that I have to remind you, but hey…’ Stella gave a shrug, feigning offence before fixing her with a smile. ‘I’m only teasing,’ she said, nudging Jasmine with her shoulder. ‘But joking aside, I don’t want you to forget that Zak and Chloe – and you – have got us, your best friends, and we love you. You only have to holler if you need anything, no matter what it is, and we’ll be there for you, day or night.’

Not for the first time that day Jasmine felt her throat constrict and tears burn her eyes. She blinked quickly, hoping her friend hadn’t noticed. Jasmine didn’t do emotion in front of anyone, not even her best pals. ‘Thanks, Stells, I’m here for you, too,’ she said, her voice tight.

SEVEN

The chat in her car with Stella had helped settle Jasmine’s emotions such that she felt sufficiently calm to head to her parents’ house without the risk of her anger and indignation bursting out of her in front of her children. Desperate to get her kids home, she gave her mum a hurried and abridged version of what had been discussed in the meeting at school, telling her she’d go into greater detail later. ‘Oh, my days, sounds like a horrible case of déjà vu!’ Heather said.

‘And you and Dad might want to prepare yourselves for a surprise visitor.’ Jasmine deliberately saved telling her mum about Max until she’d shared what had happened up at school.

‘A surprise visitor? Please don’t tell me that Scraggo’s threatened to call here?’ Heather’s outraged expression made Jasmine laugh.

‘No way! Don’t go worrying about that, he wouldn’t dare.’

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