Or walk – It’s only seven miles
Beckett
With a pram?
Well, no, seeing as I was too busy sending petty messages to a random taxi driver to order one.
Mary
I can use the papoose
Beckett
You had a baby a month ago. I’m guessing you’re even more shattered now than you were then. Besides, there’s more snow forecast. Please don’t even think about walking to Bigley with a tiny baby.
Mary
Do you always use perfect punctuation in your messages?
There was a two-minute wait this time, which felt like twenty. The last comment was supposed to be more light-hearted banter than a reaction to him implying I was being stubborn and foolish, but during the past few months of isolation I’d lost all perspective on these things. I reread the conversation about fifteen times, wondering if instead I came across as slightly unhinged.
When the next message contained only his bank details, I shrivelled up in embarrassment and dismay.
After an agonising few seconds, there were two more pings.
Beckett
I only want £265. The Moses basket is a gift. For Bob, not you (if that’s still what you’re calling him?). If you pay me any more I’ll drive over and post the extra through your letterbox.
And yes, I always use punctuation, due to being a thirty-two-year-old doctor speaking to a friend, not a teenage boy sending offensive memes to his mates.
Oh, boy. He even spelled out his age.
But I hadn’t messed things up between us, and £265 felt like small change considering what he’d done for me was priceless.
Were we going to make it more than a few hours in this house without someone crying, ever again?
To my surprise, we ended up chatting for a few more minutes about Bob, how I was doing, whether the forecast was right about more snow, and then, emboldened by the combination of Beckett calling me a friend and sleep-deprived semi-delirium, I took a risk.
Mary
I really want to take the car seat back and bring a bunch of flowers or something for Yara and Patty
Fancy coming with me?
Beckett
Do you mean, would I fancy giving you a lift?
Mary
Excuse me, I’ll pay you the standard fare. Not even ‘friend’ rates. Just thought you might like to say hi, too!
Beckett
So, you’d be the one doing ME a favour? Paying me to take you to the church so I could say hello?
Mary
