Page 21 of A Wish For Jo
'Much as I'd love to, I need to get back behind the counter,’ Jo said hurriedly. ‘Enjoy your tea, ladies.'
Watching Jinnie and Wilma chatter away, Jo's mood took a downward turn. She had no grandparents, no parents, no children, no partner. Just a madcap genie haranguing her about wishes. How had it come to this?
Slipping out back to fetch more milk and a new batch of cheese scones, Jo's thoughts drifted to Harvey. How did he fill his days? He'd mentioned writing in the passing, but apart from that and the mysterious Lindsey, she knew nothing about him. Why had he ended up in Cranley, of all places? He was an enigma wrapped up in a puzzle, with an impenetrable outer layer.Do I really want to get involved with someone like that?
'Jo! Come and have a gander at this.' Wilma flapped her hand impatiently, Jinnie staring at the ceiling as if waiting for an escape ladder to appear.
'Erm, what am I supposed to be looking at?' Jo wiped her glasses on her apron and squinted at the teacup. It was empty, apart from a smattering of leaves that could be anything from a small colony of squashed ants to one of those weird ink-blot tests.
Wilma harrumphed as Jinnie dabbed at biscuit crumbs with a dampened finger. 'It's a ring! Honestly, I despair sometimes. Here's me in my eighties, and you two youngsters cannae see what's in front of your noses.'
'Gran, it looks nothing like a ring. At best it could be a mangled doughnut, but even that's a stretch.' Jinnie gave Jo a helpless look. 'And I know exactly what your game is, so wipe that butter-wouldn't-melt smile off your face.'
'Ach, it's clear as a bell. It's a ring, which means you and Sam are going to tie the knot and your poor old gran might see you wed before she shuffles off her mortal coil.' Wilma sat back, gave a hearty cough, and grinned.
'Gran, Sam and I are perfectly happy as we are. I know you've been bookmarking fascinators — I've seen your saved stuff on the computer — but it's not happening. Absolutely not.’ Jinnie sighed. ‘You don't need to put a ring on it these days, anyway. Something like sixty per cent of marriages end in divorce. I don't want to be another statistic, not when things are fine as they are.'
Hmm, thought Jo.Methinks the lass protests too much. Still, it was none of her business. Whatwasher business was the café, and the pressing need to get a certain genie off her back.
CHAPTER23
'Feeling better?'Jo looked up from her phone as a bleary-eyed Aaliyah shuffled into the kitchen. She'd been sound asleep when Jo got back from the café two hours ago, her faint snores emanating from the bedroom.
'A bit,' Aaliyah replied. ‘I just need some decent scran and a shower. Mind if I hop in the shower first, pet? Before you use up all the hot water, like.'
That would be a first, thought Jo. Aaliyah inevitably used up virtually all the hot water, leaving Jo to cower under a tepid stream with shampoo stinging her eyes. How anyone could take so long washing their bits defied belief. Did she soap each toe individually? Use a loofah to forensically scrub every inch of her gleaming skin?
'Be my guest.' Jo saw a WhatsApp notification and opened the message.Harvey. Her heart did a little skippety-hop as she read it:
Loved helping out for the party, Jo. Just wondered if you'd like to meet up again soon. Maybe bite the bullet and try the local pub? Whatever works for you. No pressure. Harvey
There was no kiss or smiley emoji, and an underlying sense of things being slightly off. Insecurity? Demons? And yet…
Jo realised that Aaliyah had headed to the bathroom, the rumble of the boiler signalling the probability that Jo would have a mere dribble of water left to perform her ablutions. She loved that word, even if Aaliyah did put the 'blue' into it.
Her fingers hovered over the phone. Her options were simple: a reply in the affirmative or a gentle let down.Thanks, but no thanks. See you around.She imagined Harvey's face if she went for the latter. She just couldn't do it. Jo told herself her motives were purely altruistic, one human being kind to another. Her inner voice — her mum's voice — screamed 'You like him, so stop analysing and get on with it!'
Jo typed:Sounds good. How about Saturday at The Jekyll and Hyde? Say 7, and the first drink's on me…She hitsend, and sat back.
Music blared from upstairs, and Jo contemplated what to eat. A seedling of an idea sprouted in her brain. She didn't want to cook, Aaliyah needed feeding, and the pub did a more than decent selection of grub.
An hour later, Jo and Aaliyah were seated at a quiet table. It was Thursday evening and only a handful of punters lined the bar. A crowd of giggling women in their twenties occupied a large table piled high with platters of chicken wings, cheese-smothered nachos and an eye-popping collection of empty and half-empty wine bottles.
'Someone's birthday?' Jo asked when Ed arrived with their drinks: a glass of Pinot Grigio for her and a Porn Star Martini for Aaliyah.
'Nah, I think Kylie got a promotion. To what, I haven't a clue, but they're making serious inroads into the rosé.'
Aaliyah toasted Jo with her drink and gave Ed the benefit of her bewitching smile. He grinned back before asking if they'd made their food choices.
'What do you fancy, Aaliyah?' asked Jo. 'I can recommend the Thai green curry, and the fish and chips is pretty spectacular too.'
'Ray and Liz have whipped up an incredible rabbit stew laced with cider and cream as today's special,' added Ed.
'Eww! There is no way I'm eating a fluffy bunny,' protested Aaliyah. 'That is gross.'
So says the hamster killer, mused Jo. And Aaliyah hadn’t recoiled in horror when she'd served up lamb chops the other day.
Placing their order — two Thai green curries — they sat back and surveyed the scene. Out of the corner of her eye, Jo spotted an inebriated Kylie tottering towards them. Her gait reminded Jo of a long-ago rough ferry crossing with passengers swaying from side to side as they attempted to stay upright.
