Just Desserts Read Online Free Page A

services dredged the tarn in search of a ditched aeroplane. It was years ago and these men’s fathers used to laugh about it, for some reason. Might that have been the one?’
    â€˜It could have been,’ said Leo. ‘Interesting that the dredging was seen as amusing. When was this? Can you remember the guys’ names or which tarn they were discussing?’
    But that was the limit of Tom’s knowledge on the subject. They had just been the road menders. He turned the subject to a discussion of Bobby’s nursery curriculum and how he and Lucinda were both hoping the Christmas production at the end of term wouldn’t interfere too much with the children’s progress.
    â€˜He’s only two!’ said Penny, unable to help herself.
    â€˜Christmas production?’ Frances emerged from her dream world. She was the artistic one in the family and now gazed at her nephew with speculative interest. ‘What’s he going to be? I can make him a costume.’
    Lucinda’s eyes met those of her husband, both of them clearly appalled at the thought of Bobby dressed in one of Frances’s fabulous ragbag outfits, yet scrupulously unwilling to discourage her in practising for her chosen career.
    At that moment, looking at her daughter and son-in-law united in alarm, Penny’s uppermost emotion was sharp relief that nothing was truly wrong between them. She was so grateful she dolloped more ice cream into Lucinda’s bowl and gave Bobby another helping of chocolate pudding. It said much for Lucinda and Tom’s state of mind that neither of them noticed.
    Leo saw the exact moment when Penny relaxed. Good, he thought. Lucinda might be a tiresomely self-satisfied young woman, but he didn’t want Penny worried about her. He chuckled inwardly at Bobby’s chocolate-smeared face. His parents were going to notice any moment now and there would be an outcry. A civilised one, because that was the sort of people they were. This was all to the good, because Tom wouldn’t be able – out of sheer good manners – to avoid Leo’s innocent questions about the comings and goings at Lowdale Screw Fittings.
    Accordingly, when Lucinda gave a faint scream at her son’s face and Tom urged her in a low voice to clean Bobby as if it didn’t matter and not give him complexes for life about eating chocolate, Leo struck.
    â€˜I suppose you’re used to roadworks up at the Enterprise Park, are you? There looked to be a number of new developments when we drove past. Very encouraging in a recession.’
    As he had hoped, Tom glanced at him in a harassed way, caught between politeness to a guest and concern for his son’s psyche. ‘Some, yes. But it’s only usually a case of leaving five minutes earlier to get to work on time.’
    â€˜Isn’t it noisy with all the workmen clattering about? And the comings and goings? I noticed a digger and trucks outside the Screw Fittings place. There was enough building material piled up to last into the middle of next year.’
    â€˜Yes.’ Tom gave a distracted look at Bobby. ‘Yes, it’s always busy there. But it doesn’t really bother me. Once I’m inside, I’m inside.’
    Leo could well believe that. ‘Good thing, though, if they’re keeping local firms in business.’
    Tom frowned, his attention caught. ‘It’s odd you should say that. When our offices were being spruced up over the summer, we used local men. But none of the lorries going to Lowdale Screw Fittings are from this area at all. I’ve noticed when I’ve been stuck behind them.’
    Leo would have bet on that too. He exhaled with satisfaction and proceeded to extract details in a delicately unobtrusive manner. One thing about geeks, they might only focus on one thing at a time, but they had tremendous powers of observation when forced to be idle.
    â€˜Thank you for lunch,’ he said