Clean Break Read online

  ‘Ssh, kids, we’re all going to have pudding, and a main course too – but this is my special night out,’ said Mum, steering Vita and Maxie out of the fat man’s way. He smiled at Vita and rubbed his tummy back at Maxie.

  ‘We’ve just got to find somewhere nice to eat, that’s all,’ I said, trying to sound positive.

  ‘Well, we’ve been looking long enough,’ said Gran. She wiggled her foot out of her pink strappy sandal and rubbed a sore toe, wincing. ‘It’s obvious we’re not going to stumble across somewhere cheap but decent by chance. If only we could speak a bit of Spanish, then we could ask someone.’

  The fat man turned round to us and pointed at himself enquiringly. Gran was taken by surprise and wobbled on one foot. He caught her quickly by the elbow and steadied her.

  ‘Thank you!’ she said. ‘Sorry – gracias, señor.’

  ‘You’re very welcome,’ said the fat man, his blue eyes twinkling.

  ‘You speak wonderful English,’ said Gran, shoving her sandal back on.

  ‘I should hope so. I am English, though I’ve lived here for several years now. I was eavesdropping shamelessly. I think I know the perfect place for you all to have a lovely relaxed meal. It’s a real family restaurant, and they’ll make a big fuss of the children. It’s only down the next alleyway and round the corner. Shall I show you?’

  ‘How very sweet of you. Yes please!’ said Gran.

  She started chatting away to him while we trooped along behind. We heard Gran asking if his family all lived in Spain too. She made attentive cooing sounds of sympathy when he said his wife had died a year ago. Then she looked over her shoulder at Mum, giving her a wink. Mum looked appalled.

  ‘Oh God! She’s matchmaking again!’ Mum whispered. ‘What is she like?’ She saw I was looking anxious. ‘Don’t worry, Em, if this place of his looks out of our league we’ll just say we don’t fancy it. I’ve been thinking, I’d rather like to get fish and chips and eat them on the beach. Wouldn’t that be fun?’

  I knew Mum was just saying that because she was worried this fat man’s recommended restaurant was going to be too expensive. But it turned out to be the perfect place, a small friendly very cheap restaurant crammed with local families. They were sitting on wooden benches, with red candles on the tables and red-and-white place mats. A red-cheeked lady in a red-and-white checked apron greeted us as if we were long-lost relatives. She made Vita twirl round to show off her outfit, she tickled Maxie under the chin, and she stroked my long hair. She said in Spanish that she thought my hair was beautiful, definitely my crowning glory. The fat man translated for me.

  ‘Don’t you wish we could speak fluent Spanish, Julie?’ said Gran. She gave the fat man a big lipsticky smile. ‘You’re so clever. I don’t suppose you could translate the menu for us too? In fact, why don’t you join us for supper? We’d love that, wouldn’t we, Julie?’

  ‘Mum!’ my mum hissed.

  ‘Now then, don’t look so embarrassed. He can always say no,’ said Gran.

  ‘But I’m going to say yes please!’ he said. ‘I’m Eddie, by the way.’

  ‘I’m Ellen and this is Julie, my daughter. She’s separated, on her own now. Julie, make room for Eddie. Em, mind out the way. Come and sit beside me.’

  I glared at Gran. I didn’t want to be stuck sitting beside her. I didn’t want this Eddie muscling in on my special meal for Mum. I sighed meaningfully and started heaving myself up off the bench.

  ‘No, no, Em, you stay where you are. I’ll sit next to your gran,’ said Eddie, settling himself. ‘So, Ellen, are you single now too?’

  ‘Oh yes, I’m definitely single,’ said Gran.

  ‘I’m single too,’ Vita announced, knowing it would make them all chuckle. ‘I used to have this boyfriend Charlie right from when we started in Reception, but he wouldn’t play in the little house with me so I chucked him, and then in Year One I had two boyfriends, Paul and Mikey, and they kept fighting each other and they wouldn’t stop even though I kept telling them off, so I chucked them both and then . . .’ She went on and on and on. Eddie laughed obligingly, and then turned to me.

  ‘What about you, Em? Have you led a checkered love-life too?’

  ‘Em doesn’t like boys, she just likes her boring old books,’ said Vita, sighing at her sad sister.

  ‘I’m a total bookworm myself,’ said Eddie. ‘So what do you like to read then, Em?’

  ‘I’m really into Jenna Williams,’ I said.

  ‘What sort of books does she write?’ Eddie asked, unbelievably. He’d never ever heard of Jenna Williams!

  Before I had a chance to tell him all about her, Gran jumped in again.

  ‘Our Julie’s a great reader too, always got her head in a book,’ she said. ‘Isn’t that right, Julie? She reads all sorts, even classics.’

  ‘I don’t, Mum! I just had a go at Pride and Prejudice once, after it had been on the telly.’

  ‘She’s so modest, my Julie. She was bright at school, could have gone on to university, but – well – she had other plans,’ said Gran, shaking her head at me.

  ‘I didn’t go to university myself. Left school at sixteen, did an apprenticeship, worked my way up the building trade, got my own business, did very nicely, thank you, then when the kids were off our hands I sold off the business and planned to sun myself in Spain and live happily ever after.’ Eddie shook his head sadly. ‘But then my wife got ill, and it didn’t work out the way we wanted.’

  ‘How sad. Still, you never know what might be in the cards for the future,’ said Gran. She smiled at him and passed him the menu. ‘Right, Eddie, we’re in your hands. What shall we eat?’

  I glared at Gran again. I’d wanted to show Mum the menu and tell her to choose whatever she fancied. Gran and this Eddie seemed to have taken over completely. Eddie felt we should sample a proper paella, all of us sharing. Gran said she thought this was a splendid idea, though she looked a little taken aback when this huge sizzling plateful arrived and she saw it was seafood and rice. It smelled marvellous but we all wondered if there were tentacles and slimy fishy bits hidden in its depths.

  ‘Fantastic!’ Gran said determinedly.

  Vita and Maxie weren’t convinced.

  ‘I don’t like it,’ said Vita. ‘Can’t I have chips?’

  ‘Chips!’ said Maxie.

  ‘Now don’t play up, you two,’ said Mum.

  ‘Oh, let them have chips, if that’s what they want!’ said Gran, unbelievably. ‘Anything to keep them quiet!’

  ‘What about you, Em? Would you like some paella?’ Mum asked. Underneath the table she reached for my hand and gave it a quick squeeze.

  I ended up having a big plateful of paella and a huge portion of chips, and they were both delicious.

  ‘I like to see a child with a healthy appetite,’ said Eddie.

  ‘That’s our Em,’ said Gran, not breathing a word about my diet.

  I decided to make the most of things and ordered a big ice cream for pudding. So did Eddie. Vita and Maxie clamoured for ice cream too, but Mum asked the waitress if they could share one on two plates. Mum didn’t want an ice cream herself, or any other kind of pudding, though I tried hard to persuade her.

  ‘Surely you’re not on a diet, Julie, there’s nothing of you,’ said Eddie.

  ‘She’s lost a little weight because life’s been a bit of a struggle for her recently,’ said Gran. ‘But things are looking up now, aren’t they, dear? Though she does work ever so hard. She runs her own hairdressing business – she’s so enterprising. Tell Eddie all about the Good Fairy business, Julie.’

  ‘Oh Mum, give it a rest!’ said my mum.

  Eddie excused himself tactfully and went off to the gents.

  ‘Isn’t he gorgeous!’ said Gran, leaning forward, showing quite a lot of her chest above her pink lacy top. ‘Julie, for pity’s sake, talk more, try to impress him. He’s obviously very smitten but you’ve got to encourage him.’

  ‘I don’t want to,’ said Mum. ‘I kee