Page 16 of Kicks

They caught each other’s eye and fell about laughing.

“Blame me,” Billy said.

“Too right, I will.”

Billy sat on the stool. “So, diversify? To what?”

“Whining kids are the moneymaker. Believe me.”

Billy shook his head. “Nah, Ruby has that cornered. She’d kill us.”

Ruby Davies had a shop three doors down that sold an endless amount of toys and games. Billy had watched droves of customers coming in and out.

“I don’t know. Have a think about it. I’ve got to go soon.”

“Let me have a bit of time with this little tyke,” Billy said, kneeling next to Lennox, who was making a splendid abstract drawing with plenty of colour. “He has an eye for this.”

Lennox regarded Billy then gave him a huge grin. One that mainlined straight into his heart.

“I’ve missed you all. No matter what happens, let’s try and make more effort.”

Harry shifted. “Fine. How are things with you?”

“Good.”

“Are you…you know, seeing someone?”

“Ha! Chance would be a fine thing. Thanks for asking.”

Harry grabbed a newspaper that Billy had left on the side. He made a big effort of reading it. Billy regarded him sadly. They had been so close once.

“This is wonderful,” he said, returning to his nephew’s art. “Crystal is going to love it.”

“Hey,” Harry exclaimed.

Billy spun round. “What? You nearly gave me heart failure.”

He held open the paper. The headline readLocal company seeks stockists.

Billy frowned. “Oh yeah. What company?”

Harry chuckled. “It’s only bloody Pleasure Seekers.”

When Billy got home, Crystal already had jacket potatoes in the oven and busied herself preparing a salad.

“This looks great,” he said as he kissed her on the forehead.

“It’s the least I can do now I’m free.”

A swell of love for his fifteen-year-old sister burst in his chest. She’d dealt with far more in her young life than most grown adults. None of it fair.

“Only temporarily,” he reminded her. “How long until we eat?”

“Twenty minutes.”

“Come and sit with me a second.

Crystal narrowed her eyes. “That sounds big. Should I be panicking?”