Page 36 of A Family Affair
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They’d walked from the train station up to the Northern Quarter where Levi had booked a table in a quirky fusion restaurant where the onus was on relaxed and informal. The staff were friendly and chatted away as they took their orders, two giant burgers and sweet potato fries. Honey saw this as a sign. Especially when they both chose halloumi cheese on top.
I mean, how could we be more in tune?
This, and the way Levi made her feel like she’d known him for ages, helped spread some much-needed calm through her tense body.
Honey, never one for dressing up unless it was absolutely necessary, was glad she’d stuck to her uniform of jeans – her best pair, her precious vintage Sex Pistols T-shirt showing a blacked-out face of her ex-majesty the Queen, and her beloved flowery Dr Martens.
He was wearing a similar jacket to the one he had on when she met him, but this was dusky blue, or maybe just faded, and underneath a grey paisley shirt and deep blue jeans. He clearly had his own style and it suited. They matched in a fashiony way. It was another good sign.
‘I like your jacket, Levi. It looks retro. Did you get it from one of the shops around here?’ The area was known for little boutique stores and the well-known antique and designer centre, Affleck’s Palace, was a stone’s throw away.
‘I do pick up bits and bobs from Affleck’s, but this is one of my dad’s old jackets. There’s a room at my mum and dad’s that’s used for storage, and I found loads of his stuff in the big wardrobe. Mum’s a hoarder of family things and those four walls are like a shrine to tat and useless objects. I was actually in there looking for a snorkel and found a treasure trove of retro clothes. I’m glad you like it though.’
Honey saw from Levi’s face this was so, and she was glad she’d commented. ‘So do you still live at home?’
He shook his head. ‘No, I moved out about a year ago. Broke Mum’s heart and all my grandparents’ too, but I wanted my own place and thought it might get me out of mini-bus duty. I was on call twenty-four-seven. Not that I minded too much, but it was getting to a stage where I was reverting back to my teenage self and being sent on daft errands by my loony family.’
Levi must have picked up on Honey’s bemused expression and let out a sigh. ‘Right, I haven’t explained about our home for grannies and grandads, have I?’
Honey shook her head, eager to hear what he meant.
‘So, bear with me, because there’s a few of us, and you might need to stop me if you get confused…’ he paused then continued when Honey gave a nod.
‘We lived in what used to be Mum’s family home. It’s in Chorlton, it’s a bit trendy now but wasn’t always, anyway, it’s huge, eight bedrooms, built in the Victorian era. Melba Villa, that’s its name. It was inherited by my maternal great-grandma who ran a bed and breakfast lodging house for travelling salesman and single, professional ladies. All very respectable and above board.’
Honey interrupted. ‘Ooh, I’ve seen dramas like that, set in the fifties, where the landlady was really strict, and you had to follow the house rules or else.’
‘Yep, that’s the kind of thing. Well, that great-grandma is no longer with us, but then my Grandma Birdie took over. My mum worked in a care home most of her life, but helped out a lot at the B&B. When Grandma and Grandad Birdie retired…’ Levi stopped when Honey raised her hand.
‘Why are they called Birdie? Is that their surname?’
At this Levi chuckled. ‘Nope… it’s because they had a budgie, well a few actually and when I was little, I got confused which set of grandparents was which, I mean let’s face it, there was so many people coming and going I wasn’t sure where lodgers and family ended. So I called my grandparents after their pets.’
‘That’s priceless, so go on… what are your paternal grandparents called?’ Honey was loving this glimpse into Levi’s family dynamic especially when he grimaced.
‘They were Nana and Grandad Kitty-cat.’ Levi immediately hid his face in his hands to conceal his embarrassment, but she could see he was laughing behind his fingers.
‘That’s just brilliant. I love it! Do you still call them that?’
Peeping out he said, ‘NO! I’m notthatsad.’
Honey would have thought it endearing, not at all odd or sad, if he’d said yes. Anyone else might have been another story. ‘So, go on. What happened when they retired?
Levi reappeared from his finger-shield and rested his arms on the table. ‘Well, me, Mum and Dad lived there anyway. I grew up in that house and loved being around my grandparents, and seeing the guests come and go.
‘They worked for as long as they could, neither of them wanted to retire, but Grandad Birdie had a stroke and Grandma refused to let him be cared for anywhere than at home. Shortly after, she had a fall and broke her hip, and struggled to get about after that. Long story short, Mum left work and became their carer.’
Honey sighed. ‘That’s very sweet and I bet they preferred it to be your mum, rather than a stranger.’
‘Oh definitely, and then, when the Kitty-cats became infirm, they moved in too. We also have my Uncle Norris – he didn’t have any pets thank God. He was one of Grandma’s lodgers who had nowhere to go when she closed. And then there’s Great-grandma Pins who’s actually my step-grandma on my mum’s side and as old as the hills but that’s anotherhuuugestory and hurray, saved at last, our food is here.’
Honey watched as the waitress placed their meals on the table, but the second she walked away, simply had to ask, ‘Please tell me why your great-grandma is called Grandma Pins. I won’t be able to settle until I know.’
Levi rolled his eyes and grimaced before answering. ‘Well, this is a corker… she used to have a black poodle called… wait for it… Pins The Knicker Ripper.’
Honey was in tears before she managed to ask why. Luckily, Levi filled the gap.
