A Spot Of Bother

104

Jean was looking for Jamie. To make up for all that hoo-ha in the kitchen. To say how sad she was that Tony wasn’t coming to the wedding.

She bumped into him coming down the stairs. And clearly no one had told him about Eileen and Ronnie staying in his room.

Jean was going to explain that she’d spent a long and rather embarrassing morning in the library in town finding a special bed-and-breakfast where he and Tony would not feel out of place. She was rather proud of having done this and she’d expected Jamie to feel grateful. But he was not in the mood for feeling grateful.

“You just didn’t want Tony and me sleeping in this house, did you?”

“It’s not like that, Jamie.”

“I’m your son, for God’s sake.”

“Please, Jamie, not so loud. And in any case now that Tony’s not here-”

“Yeh, that’s solved all your problems, hasn’t it.”

A door opened somewhere nearby and the two of them went quiet.

Ray, Katie and Jacob appeared at the head of the stairs. Luckily they seemed not to have heard the argument.

“Ah, Jamie,” said Ray, “just the bloke we were looking for.”

“I colored in a Power Ranger,” said Jacob, holding up a magazine.

“We need a favor,” said Katie.

“What sort of favor?” asked Jamie, who was clearly annoyed at being interrupted in the middle of an argument.

Ray said, “Katie and I are going out for a meal, and Jean’s meeting up with her brother. We wondered if you’d mind babysitting Jacob.”

“Oh, I’m afraid I’m not staying here tonight,” said Jamie, turning to Jean with a sarcastic smile.

“Maybe your father can look after Jacob,” said Jean, trying to deflect attention away from Jamie. “I think it’s about time he rolled up his sleeves and did something useful round here.”

“Jesus, no,” said Jamie.

“Jamie,” said Jean. “Your language.”

“That’s naughty-naughty,” said Jacob.

“I’ll look after Jacob,” said Jamie. “Sorry. Forget what I said about not being here. Wasn’t thinking straight. Sorry. No problem. Come on, little man, let’s have a look at your Power Ranger.”

“It’s Yellow Ranger,” said Jacob.

And the two of them headed upstairs together.

“What was that all about?” asked Katie.

“Oh nothing,” said Jean. “So, where are you going for supper? Or is it a big surprise?”