It was tipping with rain when we arrived at Yellow Pages, the bookshop where I’d organised a signing for Jack. That didn’t seem to have deterred the crowds though. There was already a long line of kids and parents out front, waiting for the place to open.
‘There’s Diana,’ Jack said as we approached the place. He waved to a woman by the door and she peeled away from the crowd to greet us. ‘She said she’d try to make it up from London. Think she’s keen to meet this uber-efficient new PA of mine.’
Diana’s style screamed Great British Summertime: long floral dress, jewelled flip-flops and a blue Regatta raincoat. When she pulled down her hood, a handsome middle-aged woman with twinkling eyes and a no-nonsense mouth looked back at us.
‘Hiya, Di,’ Jack said, dipping down to kiss her cheek.
Diana crinkled her eyes as she submitted to the kiss. ‘Hullo, young Duffy. How’s my favourite client?’
‘Dunno. I’m all right though.’ He nodded to me. ‘This is Kitty.’
Diana examined me while appearing not to examine me at all – a good trick if you can manage it. I saw her gaze flicker over Jack’s arm, slung around my shoulders, and her pursed lips broke into a smile.
‘Good to finally meet you,’ she said, pumping my hand vigorously. ‘I’ve been following your career with interest. Jack’s keywords have gone through the roof since he’s had you working for him.’
I frowned. ‘His what, sorry?’
‘Keywords. The number of results for things like his name, the books or characters in a search engine. The rejuvenated website and social media stuff are working wonders.’
I flushed. ‘Oh. Thank you.’
‘What time do we start, Kit?’ Jack asked.
‘Ten minutes till they open. We should get you inside.’
Diana smirked. ‘Guess who’s here again, Jack.’
I followed her gaze to a mass of pink braids and a pair of oversized spectacles attached to a scarfy middle-aged woman in the crowd.
‘Who is it?’ I asked.
Jack groaned. ‘Sonia.’
‘Jack’s got a special vein in his temple for Sonia,’ Diana told me with a laugh. ‘No matter where he goes in the country, there she is at the front of the queue. Come on, we’ll get him in the back way so he’ll be safe from the adoring multitudes.’
We headed round the back of the old pink-sandstone building, taking a wide route to avoid the queue.
Inside I sought out the fawning elderly owner, whose sallow complexion and high domed forehead made him look like a cross between Bert from Sesame Street and a liquorice torpedo, and introduced Jack. The man sat him down behind a table piled high with copies of Tilly and Billy Go to Sea while Diana took my elbow and guided me to a sheltered corner that hid the large-print romances.
‘We’ll be safe here,’ she whispered. ‘Things are about to get manic.’
As soon as the doors opened, I saw what she meant. Noisy kids and parents flooded the room, the owner chappie having a hell of a time trying to corral them into any kind of orderly queue.
We watched the lady with the pink hair, Sonia, claim what she seemed to think was her rightful place at the front. The Bert-from-Sesame-Street owner flanking Jack opened his mouth to object, but something in Sonia’s determined expression must’ve put him off. He caught her eye and hastily closed it again.
‘Mr Duffy! It’s me!’ Sonia said, flashing Jack a delighted smile.
‘It’s not!’
Her brow furrowed. ‘Yes it is, it’s Sonia. Don’t you remember me?’
‘Couldn’t forget you, could I?’ Jack said, with his best attempt at gallantry. ‘Just joking, Sonia. It’s nice to see you again.’
Sonia’s face couldn’t have illuminated any more if he’d taken his top off and invited her to cover him in whipped cream.
‘You really mean it, Mr Duffy?’
‘Of course I do. And I told you before you could call me Jack.’
‘Wow!’ The sound escaped from her like an exploding steam engine.
A mother was behind her in the queue, her little boy gripping a copy of Tilly and Billy Bake a Cake against his chest. She tutted impatiently, but Sonia was oblivious.
‘I got your new book as soon as it was released. I queued up outside the bookshop till it opened,’ Sonia told Jack breathlessly. ‘They said I was the very first one to buy a copy. The first, anywhere!’
‘That’s great, Sonia,’ Jack said. ‘Did you like it?’
‘Oh, yes! I think it’s your best one yet.’
He smiled. ‘You say that every time though.’
Her face fell. ‘Oh, but I didn’t mean the others aren’t good. They’re all brilliant. Please don’t be offended, Mr Duffy.’
‘I’m not offended, I’m flattered. And please try to call me Jack. Mr Duffy’s my mother’s name.’
She blinked. ‘Don’t you mean your father?’
‘No, my mother. We’re an unusual family.’
Sonia’s brow knit into a confused frown and Jack was forced to explain again that he was joking.
‘How’s Sandy?’ she asked, casting a smug look over her shoulder like someone in on a special secret.
‘Grand. Her babies are getting very grown up now. I’ll send you a new photo if you like.’
‘Oh goodness, would you really? Thank you!’ Sonia’s eyes were like dinner plates. ‘Are they all going to live with you?’
‘One is. The others are going to live on a farm.’
‘What’s your one going to be called? I can make him a jacket to match Sandy’s and sew his name on.’ Her eyes sparkled at the prospect.
‘It’s a little girl. Muttley.’ He nodded over to me. ‘My friend Kitty there named her. After the cartoon, you know?’
Sonia turned to look at me, and I saw her eyes narrow.
‘I didn’t know you had any friends who were ladies,’ she said, sounding sulky.
He smiled. ‘A couple. But none of them say the nice things about my books you do.’
‘Oh God,’ I whispered to Diana. ‘Why do I get the feeling I’m about to have my eyes scratched out?’
She laughed. ‘Sonia’s harmless, just a big kid really. I think Jack’s got sort of fond of her over the years.’
My eyes widened. ‘Years? Bloody hell, how long has she been at it?’
‘Since he started, pretty much. The first time she turned up at one of his signings, Sophie was still with us. I remember her being distinctly unimpressed.’
I turned to face her, pulling my eyes away from Jack and Sonia. ‘Seems like you’ve got to know him pretty well.’
‘I have,’ she said, casting an affectionate glance his way. ‘I’ve got a lot of clients, but Jack’s the only one I’d call a friend.’
‘How come?’
‘I suppose we got closer after his wife died. He’s got that sort of lost boy quality, hasn’t he?’
‘Yeah. I know what you mean.’
‘I’m glad he’s got a couple of us now anyway. Until you came along, I think I was the best friend he had who wasn’t covered in fur.’ She rubbed her chin. ‘For as long as the supply of Immac holds out, at least.’
I smiled. ‘Don’t go saying that kind of thing around Sonia. Next thing you know she’ll be on your doorstep with a lifetime’s supply of Ladyshaves.’
‘Heh. Yeah, she’s not big on irony.’
‘How did he become a client?’
‘The usual way. He sent in some of his work,’ Di said. ‘Well, I’d have been a mug to turn that down. I emailed within ten minutes of opening the envelope with an offer to rep him.’ She shook her head. ‘Couldn’t believe it when I met him.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Suppose I’d formed this idea from the Tilly and Billy cartoons of a little old grandpa in cord trousers and slippers. Then into my office strides this strapping lad in his twenties… thought for a minute someone had sent me a strippergram, until he told me who he was.’
I laughed. ‘You should be so lucky.’
She patted my arm. ‘Well, don’t worry, we’re just good friends. I’m old enough to be his…’ She looked over at Sonia. ‘…Er, biggest fan.’
It was nearly two hours later when Jack finally finished. After the signing he did a live reading, then kept his seat while the throng of Tilly and Billy fans filtered out.
When most of the others had gone, a dad and little girl approached him. The child was clutching something against her chest, blushing furiously.
‘Go on,’ the father whispered. ‘Show Mr Duffy what you brought.’
‘Scared,’ the girl whispered back. ‘Don’t wanna any more.’
Jack smiled. ‘No need to be scared, sweetie. What’s that you’ve got? Something to show me?’
‘’S,’ the child faltered.
‘Yes, Mr Duffy,’ her father corrected.
‘’S Mr Duffy.’
Jack laughed. ‘Well, it’s just Jack. What’s your name, kid?’
‘Isla.’
‘Can I see what you’ve brought, Isla?’
Isla looked at her dad, who nodded encouragingly. ‘It’s okay, princess. Let Mr Duffy have a look.’
After hesitating a moment, Isla made up her mind. She thrust the little booklet she was holding at Jack, her eyes scrunched closed.
‘She made it herself,’ Isla’s dad said, his face shining with pride. ‘Didn’t you, princess?’
The little girl nodded so hard it looked like her head might bob off. ‘I want to make books when I grow up too, like you, Mr Duffy.’
Jack flicked through the book with interest, spending a fair amount of time on each page.
‘What’s your story called, Isla?’ he asked.
‘Molly and Polly Drive a Car.’
Jack smiled at the casual plagiarism. ‘I like that.’ He held up the page he was looking at. ‘Is this Molly and Polly here?’
‘’S. They’re dollies.’
‘And what’re they driving?’
‘Spiderman car.’ She puffed up a little. ‘That’s like the one I’m gonna have. When I’m a rich lady.’
‘Good choice,’ he said. ‘Is Spiderman your favourite superhero?’
‘’S. Coz he’s fast and he can climb stuff and he’s got all this sticky stuff.’
‘Web, right?’
‘Yeh, web, coz he’s half spider, ’cept he’s not got lotsa legs like a real spider coz that’d be too gross. And the web stuff comes off his hands and he catches all the baddies with it and throws them into prison.’ The little girl’s eyes sparkled as she chattered, quite relaxed now Jack had put her at ease. ‘And that’s sooooo cool.’
‘That is cool. Hey, can you guess my favourite superhero?’
She squinted one eye at him. ‘Erm… Spiderman?’ she asked hopefully.
‘Nope.’
‘Hulk?’
‘Right! Wow, got it in two. No one ever guessed that fast before.’
Isla looked pleased with herself, and her father smiled at Jack.
‘I’m guessing the in-depth superhero knowledge means you’ve got kids of your own?’ he said.
‘No,’ Jack said, colouring. ‘No, none of my own.’
He couldn’t see me, but hidden among the shelves, I felt my cheeks pinkening in sympathy with his.
Kids weren’t something me and Ethan had really discussed in depth. To be honest, he’d tended to deflect the issue, putting me off when I brought it up with excuses about his career and our finances. Exactly why had only really became clear when I’d finally seen the bank statements he’d been hiding from me.
Still, there’d always been an assumption, by me anyway, that a family would be part of my future, when the time was right. But now, with Jack…
Well, it was early to be thinking about anything like that. It was less than a week since our relationship had made the jump from friend-slash-employer to lover-slash-friend-slash-employer. But I couldn’t help thinking about it, all the same. Would Jack, apparently unable to face the idea of a life indoors, ever be able to have a family? And if not, was I willing to give up on that dream to be with him?
I could see Di examining my blushes from the corner of one shrewd eye, but she had enough delicacy not to say anything.
Isla had fixed the book in Jack’s hands with an anxious look. He smiled when he saw where her gaze was directed.
‘Don’t worry, I won’t pinch it,’ he said, handing it back to her. She took it from him and clasped it against her chest, breathing a sigh of relief at having her masterpiece back. ‘It’s a brilliant book, Isla. I bet your mummy and daddy are super proud of you, aren’t they?’
The little girl flushed. ‘Not Mummy. She’s in heaven.’
Jack looked at Isla’s dad, who responded with a sober nod.
‘Then she’s proud of you in heaven,’ Jack said gently. ‘Can I ask you to promise me something?’
‘’S.’
‘Promise me you won’t stop drawing. Because the more you draw, the better you’ll be. And since you’re already so good, in a few years you’ll be one of the best drawers there is.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Better’n you?’
‘Easy peasy. But you have to keep practising, then you can buy all the Spiderman cars you want. Plus, ice cream. Everyone needs more ice cream.’
The little girl’s face shone with determination. ‘I will. I asked Santa for all new pencils this year. I’m going to practise and practise and practise till I’m better even than Summer Jessop.’
‘That’s a girl in her class,’ her dad said to Jack with a laugh. ‘There’s a bit of rivalry. Thank you, Mr Duffy.’
‘Just Jack. You’re welcome.’ He smiled at the man. ‘Keep encouraging her, won’t you?’
‘I couldn’t stop her if I tried,’ the man said with a fond smile at his now beaming daughter.
‘And you write to me if you want me to tell you anything,’ Jack said to Isla. He nodded towards me and Diana. ‘One of those ladies can give you a little card with my address to keep. Nice to meet you, Isla.’ He held out his hand and Isla shook one finger solemnly.
‘Good with the kids, isn’t he?’ I whispered to Diana while the little girl and her dad headed towards us.
‘Because he never talks down to them,’ Diana said. ‘He’d have been a great dad. You know, him and Sophie were trying when she—’ She broke off, fixing on a smile for Isla and her father as they joined her.
I was left to myself a moment to ponder the new information Diana had let slip. Instinctively, I rubbed my stomach.
While Di sorted out the little girl and her dad, I wandered over to Jack.
‘Hulk?’ I said, raising an eyebrow.
‘Obviously. He’s a big green lump of uncontrollable rage who smashes stuff, what’s not to like?’
I shook my head. ‘You’ve got layers, man.’
‘Who would you have picked then?’
‘Thor.’
He curled his lip. ‘Seriously, Thor?’
‘Yeah. He’s got such glossy hair. I like a superhero who knows how to condition.’
‘Sorry, Kit, just realised this isn’t going to work. It’s not me, it’s you.’
I laughed and punched his arm.
‘So what do you want to—’ I broke off when I caught sight of a couple of kids in the thinning crowd. ‘Oh my God!’
‘What?’ Jack said. ‘What is it?’
‘Get your things. We have to go.’
He frowned. ‘What? Kitty, I can’t just—’
‘We have to go! Come on!’
But it was too late. I’d been spotted.
‘Aunty Kitty, Aunty Kitty!’ a little voice yelled. A small body barrelled into my leg, shortly followed by a second.
‘Where’ve you been?’ Toby demanded imperiously. ‘Mummy said you were on holiday but you’ve been gone ages.’
‘Um. Hi boys. Why’re you… where’s your mum?’
‘Here.’
I looked up from them to see Laurel, shaking her head in shocked disbelief.