He looked at me, confused. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘That!’ I said, pointing at his car. ‘Maybe you didn’t get the full message. We are collecting two small boys whom I cannot guarantee to stay clean for more than ten minutes at a time and that—’ I bent and pointed at the pale leather inside the car ‘—is not going on my tab. So, thanks all the same but we’ll take mine.’
‘Come on. It’ll be fine. I take full responsibility.’
‘Charlie, I—’
‘Libby! I believe we’re in a rush. Just get in the car. Please.’
I gave him a look. ‘Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’
* * *
‘No way!’ Liam, my eldest nephew, pushed past my brother’s leg as Charlie pulled to a stop on the drive.
‘Awesome!’ added Niall, his eyes big in his face as he took in the swanky car, its engine ticking quietly in cooldown.
‘You realise I am never going to be able to get them in my own car again now, don’t you?’ I said to Charlie as he walked round to me.
‘Hi, Auntie Libby!’ The boys rushed over and both gave me a hug at the same time. ‘Did you get a new car?’
‘No, this is my friend, Charlie. It’s his car.’
‘I love your car! It’s awesome!’ Niall repeated.
‘Thanks.’
‘It’s like James Bond’s car,’ his brother added, still gawping.
‘Less gadgets though, unfortunately,’ Charlie replied.
I’d forgotten Liam’s James Bond obsession. There was a possibility we’d have to physically remove him from the car later.
‘DB11. Very nice,’ my brother said as we approached the front door, the boys trailing behind, heads still turned towards the car.
‘This is my friend, Charlie Richmond. Charlie, my brother, Matt.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Charlie said, as the two men exchanged a handshake.
‘Thanks for doing this, Libs. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything…’ I saw his eyes flick to Charlie, and I was pretty sure Charlie did too, but we both pretended to ignore it.
‘No, not at all. Charlie had just dropped in to say hi, and then offered to drive.’
Matt peered towards the car and blanched. ‘Oh, God. Pale leather.’
‘I warned him.’
Charlie laughed. ‘Really, it’s fine.’
Matt handed over a bag of stuff for the boys, plus their booster seats, and thanked me again for taking them.
‘I’m not sure what time I’ll be done. Can I call you?’
‘Sure. No problem. Have they had lunch?’
‘No, I was just about to start finding something when the hospital rang. God, I sound like the worst father, don’t I?
