The way this conversation was going, Dan had to admit he found thatdebatable.
‘I looked for a pair of trainers hanging over anelectricitywire.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘That’s anurbanmyth.’
‘Is it? Then I gotlucky.’
‘Lucky?’ said Dan. He couldn’t believe she’d just said that. ‘Mum, you gotarrested.’
‘I know,’ she replied. ‘And I’m sorry, it won’t happenagain.’
As far as Dan was concerned, it shouldn’t have happened in the firstplace.
‘So did the police charge you with anything?’ heasked.
‘They gave me a caution. They said it wasn’t in the public’s interest to prosecute a dying woman.’ His mum raised a smile. ‘It’s seems having cancer has its benefitsafterall.
Unable to see a positive side to any of this, Dan shook his head. It was a ridiculous situation from start tofinish.
‘You know if you’d asked,’ he said. ‘Explained it all to me, I’d have gone and bought the cannabisforyou.’
His mum smiled. ‘I know you would,’ she said. ‘Which is exactly why I kept everything to myself. I can afford to get a criminal record, youcan’t.’
Dan downed the last of his whiskey and wondered if life could get any worse. Not only was his mother dying, she was now trawling the streets attempting to buy drugs. He knew he couldn’t stay mad at her foreverthough.
He got up from his seat to give her a hug, not sure which of them needed it the most. ‘Why us, Mum?’ he asked, putting his arms around her. ‘Why do we have to gothroughthis?’
‘Hey,’ his mother replied. She pulled back and looked him directly in the eye. ‘Don’t you be getting all morbid on me. I’m not done for just yet. We still have things to do,remember?’
‘Like what?’ said Dan. ‘Because as far as that Bucket List is concerned you won’t be going on any more trips, if that’s what you’re thinking. Especially if today’s anything togoby.’
‘Like making sure your love life is sorted,’ she said. ‘That’swhat.’
In all the excitement, Dan had forgotten about his up and coming date with Maeve. He tried not to show it, but his heart sank. It might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but thanks to Missy and her unwanted influence, he no longer felt sure he could go throughwithit.
13
Annabel satat the counter chewing on the end of a pencil. She was trying to come up with new ideas for the shop’s window display. While the display she already had was okay, she felt the time had come for a fresher, more exciting way to advertise her wares. Putting pencil to paper, she began to sketch, before changing her mind and scribbling all over it, ready to startagain.
The doorbell rang and Annabel looked up to see Dan making an entrance. She wondered what he wasdoinghere.
‘Morning,’ he said. ‘I come bearing gifts.’ He carried two take-away coffees and handed one out to Annabel as heapproached.
‘Thank you,’ Annabel replied, still surprised to see him hereatall.
He automatically dragged a stool over to the counter and sathimselfdown.
‘Make yourself at home, why don’t you?’shesaid.
Dan laughed. ‘I was just passing and thought, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably ready for a brewbynow.’
Annabel smiled. She pulled the lid off the polystyrene cup and peered inside. ‘You know me too well,’shesaid.
A silence descended between them and Annabel found herself enjoying the quiet. It felt pleasant,companionableeven.
‘So, what’s new?’Dan finallyasked.
She tried and failed to come up with something. After all, when it came to anything out of the ordinary taking place, Dan had been around to witness events for himself. ‘Nothing,’ she replied. ‘Whataboutyou?’
