Page 13 of Autumn in Sycamore Park
‘It’s okay … I’m about done.’
Jennifer smiled. ‘Well, in that case, do you want to grab a coffee from that van? It’s a bit chilly this morning.’
Amy looked up, stared at Jennifer for a few seconds as though grasping for the energy to speak, then nodded. ‘Ah … sure. Plus a bottle of water.’
They headed over to the burger van, where the line had got a little longer, people queuing for coffee, tea, and hot breakfast rolls. When their turn came, the proprietor, a middle-aged man with a glistening bald head and a kind smile nodded at Amy.
‘Hello again, Amy. Been a while. The usual? Double pork roll?’
Amy, clearly friends with the man, nodded. ‘Thanks, Pete. Extra mayonnaise, but hold the chilli sauce.’
‘I’ll put in a leaf of lettuce just for balance,’ Pete said, giving her a wink. ‘Who’s your friend?’
‘Jennifer,’ Jennifer said. ‘I live round the corner. Just moved in this week.’
‘Well, lovely to meet you. The name’s Pete, Pete Markham. You’ll find me here every Saturday and Sunday, sun, rain, wind or snow, if we were ever lucky enough to get any. And if you ever get married, I’m your man.’
Amy gave a little titter, and Jennifer wondered if she’d missed some joke.
‘Okay, sure.’
Pete rolled his eyes at Amy, then gave an apologetic smile to Jennifer. ‘I meant for catering. This is a side gig. I can go full gourmet if you need. Website’s down there.’ He leaned forward and pointed at the side of the van underneath the serving window.
‘Thanks.’
‘So welcome to Sycamore Park. I hope to see you around.’
‘Pete does the best pulled pork roll in Brentwell,’ Amy said, sweat dripping off her face as she smiled.
‘Ah, but if you want proper food, go and see Angela up at the Oak Leaf over there,’ Pete said.
Jennifer smiled. ‘We’ve met,’ she said. ‘And you’re right, the food is great.’
‘The best,’ Pete said. ‘But since she’s not open yet, what can I get you? Another double pork?’
Jennifer would have preferred something a little healthier, but Amy had a conspiratorial look in her eyes, and it was Saturday after all.
‘Go on, then,’ she said. ‘And the largest coffee that you do.’
‘Coming right up.’
They tooktheir coffees and pork rolls to a bench near the duck pond that was warmed by the morning sun through the trees. Jennifer let Bonky off his lead to wander among the bushes by the waterside, then held her disposable coffee cup in both hands to warm them. Amy, buoyed by her morning run, gulped down a bottle of water and then chewed through her roll almost as quickly. She wiped her mouth on her sleeve, suppressed a belch, then turned to Jennifer.
‘So, how was your first week? You’re still here, so it must have gone okay.’
‘Up and down,’ Jennifer said. ‘I can only remember about half my kids’ names, and twice this week I took them to the music room instead of to the gym, but otherwise, I’m surviving.’
‘No melted jelly beans on your seat yet?’
‘Ah, no.’
Amy gave a sage nod. ‘Keep an eye on Danny Long. His brother Rick is in my class, and I’m sure he was the instigator. How they’d know I’d be wearing white trousers on Wednesday, I have no idea. The worst thing is that I didn’t even notice until lunchtime, so it had dried hard.’
‘I’ll check my chairs,’ Jennifer said.
Amy gave a snorted laugh. ‘It still tasted okay, though. A bit woody from the benches in the playground, but not too bad.’ Then, with a cough and a smile, she added, ‘I’m just joking. I dropped it in Christopher’s coffee.’
‘Who?’
