Page 65 of Clara's Secret Garden
He grins. ‘Better not. I’m driving. But I could murder acoffee.’
‘Great.’ I put my arm around Bertie, wondering if now is theright time to give him the lecture about never going off on his own like that.
But then I catch sight of Pru Collinson over the road,peering at us from behind the curtain, so instead, I steer Bertie quickly towardsthe house. Lois picks up the bike and we all walk up the drive.
In the kitchen, Shaun eyes the cake on the worktop. ‘Mmm. Isthat chocolate?’
‘Yup. Like a slice with your coffee?’ I whip off the coverand he gives me a thumbs up. Lois – looking as relieved as I am that the dramais over – insists on making Bertie his favourite hot chocolate withmarshmallows. And even though I can tell from his face that he’d prefer a glassof lemon squash, he drinks it anyway because he doesn’t want to disappoint Lois.
Shaun loves my home-baking.
I wait until he’s finished. Then I break the news that thecake he’s been praising to the skies has beetroot in it.
He takes it well and says maybe he should start being moreadventurous with his food.
‘You should try one of Clara’s curries.That’sanadventure,’ remarks Bertie with feeling. And we all burst out laughing.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
It’s after six and Bertie is starting to droop, so Irun him a bath and by seven he’s tucked up in bed, fast asleep.
As I go back downstairs, I can hear Lois interrogating Shaunabout his building company.
‘I bet you’re worth a bob or two,’ she’s saying as I walkin, and privately, I flick my eyes to the ceiling. Why does Lois always judgepeople on the size of their bank balance?
‘Not exactly.’ Shaun smiles ruefully. ‘I only started it ayear or so ago. But I can’t complain. Business is picking up.’
‘Good. Well, I’ll leave you two alone,’ says Lois, gettingup from the table. She flicks her hair over her shoulder and winks at me.‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Charlie Dimwit.’ And she waltzes out.
Shaun looks at me quizzically and I smile.
‘Charlie Dimmock? She’s a gardener on TV?’
‘Ah.’ He nods. ‘Nice nickname.’
‘Yes. Isn’t it?’ I shrug. ‘I suppose it’s better than Clara Chubface.’
He grins and shakes his head. ‘It sounds like you keep thisfamily together, single-handedly. When do you ever find the time to do thingsfor you?’
‘Ah, well, that’s the million-dollar question.’
‘I was thinking about you today when I was working over atBrambleberry Manor. Thinking about your plan to open a dance studio.’
I laugh. ‘Well, it’s more of a dream than an actual plan atthe moment.’
He nods slowly, studying me. Then he says, ‘Can I show yousomething?’
‘Er, yes?’
‘It’s a short drive away. Can you bear to leave Bertie inLois’s hands for half an hour?’
I smile. ‘After this afternoon’s performance, Lois wouldn’tdareput a foot wrong. So where are we going?’
‘I’ll tell you when we get there.’
‘Ooh, I’m intrigued.’
In the car, I try to make him tell me where we’re going. Buthe just smiles mysteriously and says he doesn’t want to spoil the surprise andthat we’ll be there in no time.
