Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by Kerry Barrett Page A

it kind of him, Esme?’
    ‘It’s very kind,’ I said, worrying I was going to sound sarcastic when I really didn’t mean to be. ‘He’s a very nice man.’
    Brent flashed me his smile again.
    ‘Drop me a text later and let me know when you want me to come get you. Will it be you going with her again?’
    ‘It will be, actually,’ I said, not sure if that was good or bad.
    ‘Great,’ Brent said. ‘I was hoping you’d say that.’
    We looked at each other awkwardly for a moment.
    ‘Well, Esme McLeod, I have some work to do,’ he said. ‘Could I trouble you for a herbal tea?’ He pronounced it ‘urbal’.
    ‘Cake?’ said Nell.
    ‘I shouldn’t,’ he said. ‘But I will. One of those flapjacks, please.’
    He took the plate and went to sit by the window where he got a laptop out of his bag and was soon deep in concentration.
    ‘He is gorgeous!’ Nell hissed at me as I dumped a chamomile teabag in a pot. ‘He makesme go a bit funny.’ She gazed adoringly at Brent, who was oblivious to her attention, and typing fast, his fingers flying across the keys.
    ‘He likes you,’ she said.
    I put the pot on a tray and added a mug.
    ‘No he doesn’t,’ I said. I gave her the tray. ‘You serve him.’
    Nell looked aghast at the suggestion.
    ‘Nooooo,’ she squealed, shoving the tray back at me. ‘I can’t. I’m too flustered. I’ll drop something.’
    With an over-exaggerated sigh I took the tray.
    ‘OK then,’ I said. ‘But you’re missing your chance here.’
    Nell laughed and took up position at the end of the counter where she could watch Brent without worrying he might talk to her. I went over to the window and put the tray down on Brent’s table.
    He glanced up at me.
    ‘What’s upstairs?’ he said.
    Surprised by his question, I frowned in confusion.
    ‘Oh sorry,’ he said. ‘I was just wondering. From outside you can see there are windows but there are no stairs in here.’
    ‘Oh,’ I said, understanding what he meant. ‘There’s a staircase out the back. It’s just junk up there really. Great views across the loch, though.’
    He nodded.
    ‘Must be,’ he said. ‘Must be.’
    He bowed his head to his computer again and I crept away.
    Brent stayed about an hour, then left with yet another beaming smile telling me he couldn’t wait to see Suky and me tomorrow. By the time he went home, there were no customers left, giving me plenty of time to brood over Jamie and how horrible things had been. Eventually, Mum called.
    ‘Harry’s on her way,’ she said. ‘Shut up early and come home – we’ll have a nice family dinner.’
    Brilliant. What a perfect ending to a perfect day. But I couldn’t say no, so Nell and Icleaned up what little mess there was, switched off the lights and locked up. Then together we walked up the path towards town.
    As we approached the road where we’d go our separate ways, Nell clutched my arm.
    ‘There’s Millicent,’ she said. ‘With Imogen and her brother Bradley.’
    I looked over. Millicent was standing at the bus stop – still wearing her tartan hat – with two beautiful blonde teenagers.
    ‘Are they twins?’ I asked Nell, who was trying very hard to hide behind me.
    ‘Yep,’ she said. ‘Twice as evil as normal people.’
    Given my own mother was a twin, I thought that was a bit unfair, but I didn’t disagree. As we watched, the bus drew up and the twins got on. Millicent waved them off, then began walking towards us.
    ‘Hello, lassies,’ she said in a cut-glass Home Counties English accent. I stifled a giggle.
    ‘Hello, Mrs Fry,’ Nell said. ‘This is Esme McLeod.’
    ‘Och, Esme!’ Millicent said. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’
    ‘And I you,’ I said politely.
    ‘You must be thrilled to be home,’ she said, rolling her Rs like Mrs Doubtfire. ‘You must miss the Old Country when you’re not here.’
    ‘Scotland,’ Nell said, helpfully. ‘She means Scotland.’
    ‘Erm,’ I said. ‘I like London.’
    ‘But