Page 13 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

‘Sorry, flower, but you were chuntering away to yourself and you looked so stressed out, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.’ She was dressed in her workwear of a neatly tailored black trouser suit and crisp white blouse, a designer handbag over her shoulder.

Her glossy blonde hair was swept back into a neat French pleat.

Jasmine puffed out her cheeks and released a noisy sigh. ‘I wish I could say I was, but I was called up to school; problems with the kids. You’ll never guess who’s back.’

‘Who?’

‘Jason Scragg.’ Jasmine watched as Stella’s face paled. ‘And he’s brought his kids with him.’

‘You’re kidding me.’

Jasmine shook her head. ‘Wish I was.’

‘Two ticks.’ Stella hurried round to the passenger side of the car, her high heels clicking over the pavement. She climbed in beside Jasmine, twisting round to face her friend and filling the small space with her clean, crisp perfume. ‘Tell me everything, leave nothing out.’

Jasmine heaved another sigh. ‘I’ll just text my mum, tell her not to worry, that I’ll be back soon.’

That done, she proceeded to recount the contents of the meeting at school to Stella.

Her friend screwed up her face. ‘Hideous little brats!’ She’d never made a secret of her dislike of children – the exception being Zak and Chloe, with the recent addition to that exclusive list being Maggie and Bear’s baby Lucia.

Career-driven, Stella was the first to admit she didn’t have a maternal bone in her body and, consequently, children didn’t feature in her future.

‘Mind, shocked as I am to hear Scraggo’s back in town, it doesn’t surprise me that his offspring are as obnoxious as their father,’ she said distastefully.

‘Yeah, same here.’ Jasmine nodded sadly.

‘I know you’ll be worrying that it’s going to be a case of history repeating itself, but from my perspective, I can assure you it looks very different,’ Stella said in her usual no-nonsense manner.

‘For starters, school are fully aware of the situation and have assured you they’ll deal with it, which is a far cry from our day when the teachers seemed to turn a blind eye to what that worm Scraggo was doing.

Old Troutface Trousdale was a complete waste of space as far as student well-being and bullying was concerned, especially when it came to the Scragg family.

If he spent as much time being an effective headteacher as he did twitching that irritating moustache of his, then Micklewick Bay Primary would’ve been one of the best schools in the area. ’

They both chuckled at the memory, each giving a quick burst of the “Troutface Mouth Wiggle” in the way they used to as pupils.

‘In all seriousness, looking back, I actually think Troutface was scared of Scraggo’s father.’

Jasmine nodded; her friend had a point. ‘I reckon you could actually be right there.’

‘Hmm. I’ve developed a nose for these things.

’ Stella’s work as a criminal barrister meant she encountered a whole host of unsavoury characters and relationship dynamics.

It afforded her an insight into how they operated and had enabled her to fine-tune her senses.

Her gut feeling concerning situations were rarely wrong.

‘And don’t forget poor little Max Grainger had no one at home to stick up for him.

Zak and Chloe have you, and heaven help anyone who takes you on, Jazz!

Jeez! You’re like a lioness protecting her cubs, ready to tear the throat out of anyone who hurts or upsets them!

Fierce doesn’t remotely cover it.’ They both laughed heartily at that.

‘I completely hold my hands up at that, but in my defence, apart from my mum and dad, I’m the only one they’ve got, which is why I’m so protective of them.’

‘Jazz, trust me when I say, there’s no “only” about it where you’re concerned.

You’re the most amazing mother, Zak and Chloe are a credit to you.

I don’t think I’ve seen kids more loved or better cared for than those two – and little Lucy’s included in that now, too.

And don’t forget, I kind of know where you’re coming from with your family dynamics; it was the same for me growing up, with it being just me and my mum. ’

‘True.’ Jasmine nodded. Stella had grown up in a single parent family with Alice, her mum, grafting all hours.

She’d set up Spick ‘n’ Sparkle so she could make a better life for her and her daughter.

Stella hadn’t met her father until recently, though what she’d seen hadn’t made her regret his lack of involvement in her life.

But the key difference between Stella’s and Zak and Chloe’s situation was that Stella’s father hadn’t died in tragic circumstances as Bart had.

The hope or possibility that she’d be able to connect with her father at some point hadn’t been snatched away as it had with Jasmine’s children.

‘And I think there’s a teeny-tiny factor we’re forgetting about.’ Amusement danced in Stella’s eyes.

‘What’s that, then?’ Jasmine asked.

‘Er, don’t tell me it’s slipped your mind how you whooped Scraggo’s arse in front of pretty much the whole school? I doubt very much he’s forgotten. It’s the stuff of legend; gave you superhero status for a considerable length of time afterwards.’ Stella gave a throaty giggle.

‘I hadn’t forgotten about that.’ Jasmine smiled sheepishly.

In truth, it hadn’t been far from her mind since her mum had sent the text mentioning the Scragg name.

‘But we were kids then, and much as I could willingly throttle his little brats right now, I can hardly do to them what I did to him! I’d end up in court with you defending me, and correct me if I’m wrong, but I reckon the judge and jury wouldn’t be too sympathetic to my cause. ’

‘You know I don’t defend, Jazz,’ Stella said dryly, a smile hitching up the corners of her mouth.

‘Thanks!’ Jasmine shot her a look of faux hurt.

She and the rest of their friends were all aware that though Stella was a criminal barrister, her practice was exclusively prosecution; she refused to represent the sort of “scrotes” as she called the defendants involved in her cases, which were predominantly gas-lighters, wife beaters and drug dealers.

‘I’m only joking, and anyway, I didn’t mean that. I just mean he’ll be wary, that’s all. Trust me on this, Jazz, Scraggo won’t want his kids to attract your attention.’

‘Which leads me very nicely on to telling you about someone I ran into just before I got to my car.’

‘Ooh, I’m intrigued. Who is it?’

‘Max Grainger.’

Stella paused, as if allowing Jasmine’s words to sink in. ‘Max Grainger, as in the little Max Grainger we’ve just been discussing.’

‘The very one.’

‘Wow! I wonder what he’s doing back in town. You don’t think it’s got anything to do with Scraggo and his return, do you?’

‘I’m not sure, we didn’t get much of a chance to talk, so I’ve no idea if he’s here to stay or just on a fleeting visit.’

‘And how did he look?’

‘Well, he’s grown – a lot! Still has the same sort of happy-go-lucky smile and twinkly eyes, but he must be over six feet tall and has filled out a heck of a lot – there’s no trace of the skinny little kid he used to be. And though he was dressed casually, he looked smart, too.’

‘Not that you paid much attention, of course.’ Stella chuckled.

Jasmine gave her friend an “I’m really not in the mood for that” look. ‘All I’m saying is that he looked like he’d done okay for himself.’

‘Which is what we’d all hoped for him,’ Stella said.

‘Exactly.’ Now Jasmine thought about it, it was good to think Max’s life had turned out well for him. She found herself hoping he’d be true to his word and call in on her parents, knowing how much they’d love to have a catch-up with him.

‘And going back to what you said about you and your parents being all the kids have, I’m afraid I’m going to have to pull you up about that,’ Stella said, interrupting her thoughts.

‘Oh?’

‘Slightly hurt that I have to remind you, but hey…’ Stella gave a shrug, feigning offence before fixing her with a smile.

‘I’m only teasing,’ she said, nudging Jasmine with her shoulder.

‘But joking aside, I don’t want you to forget that Zak and Chloe – and you – have got us, your best friends, and we love you.

You only have to holler if you need anything, no matter what it is, and we’ll be there for you, day or night. ’

Not for the first time that day Jasmine felt her throat constrict and tears burn her eyes. She blinked quickly, hoping her friend hadn’t noticed. Jasmine didn’t do emotion in front of anyone, not even her best pals. ‘Thanks, Stells, I’m here for you, too,’ she said, her voice tight.