‘Just get up those stairs,’ she says wearily. ‘Or I’ll betelling your dad just how cheeky you’ve been to me this morning.’
Maisie heaves a dramatic sigh. ‘Hewon’t mind. Wejogged to school yesterday and it was really good fun.’
‘Was it, now?’
‘We weren’t even late.’ She stares at her stepmumchallengingly.
‘Well, you will be today if you don’thurry up.’
‘Okay. Keep your wig on.’ Maisie flings open the door thatleads up to the flat, and we hear her stomping her way up the stairs.
Ellie closes her eyes for a second as if she’s holding ontoher patience by the merest wisp of a thread. Then she marches to the foot ofthe stairs. ‘And by the way, youwon’tbe going to Jessica’s for teatonight,’ she calls sternly. ‘You’ll be coming straight home after school.’
There’s no reply from above, and Ellie – looking white-facedand completely frazzled – slumps into a seat with a groan.
I catch her eye and she gives me a rueful smile. ‘Sorry,Mackenzie. You must think you’ve come to work in a madhouse. It’s not usuallyas stormy as this first thing in the morning.’
I smile in sympathy, pausing in my task of delivering newlyprinted menus to every table. ‘Iknow an eight-year-old who actuallypainted spots on her face with red marker pen just so she could miss school.’
Madison turns. ‘Do you have children, Mackenzie? You nevermentioned it.’
Taken aback, I stare at her wordlessly for a moment beforeturning away to a table by the window. ‘Erm... actually, Idon’t.’
‘Right.’
A cold hand squeezes my insides.
Why did I mention Poppy?
The atmosphere is suddenly tense and I’m praying Madisonwill leave it. But as I concentrate on making sure the menu is fixed firmly inplace in its little cupcake-shaped stand, I’m aware of her hovering behind me.
‘It’s in back to front,’ she says, and I turn, puzzled.
She points. ‘You’ve put the menu in the groove the wrongway? No one will be able to read it.’
‘Oh.’ I stare at it. ‘So I have.’ I shrug it off with alaugh. ‘I did it deliberately, of course. Just to keep the customers on theirtoes.’
Madison grins. ‘Of course you did. Never mind, you haven’tworked here long. You’ll get the hang of it eventually.’
‘Don’t be so condescending, Maddy. Mackenzie’s doing justfine.’ Ellie gives me a reassuring smile from behind the counter.
‘And she’s much nicer to work with thanyouwere whenyoufirst started here,’ points out Katja with a mischievous grin.
‘Hey, that’s not fair,’ Maddy protests. ‘We were incompetition for the job, you and I, and I was just desperate to get it, that’sall.’
‘By employing underhand tactics to steal it from under mynose?’ remarks Katja. ‘Nice.’
Maddy does an exaggerated pout. ‘I was keen. That’s all.’
‘And horrible,’ adds Katja cheerfully. ‘But never mind,you’ve improved a hell of a lot since those early days.’
‘Now, now, girls. No squabbling.’ Ellie shakes her head atme. ‘They’re the best of friends now, Mackenzie. Although sometimes youwouldn’t think it.’
‘You can call me Kenzie,’ I tell them shyly. ‘Everyone does.’
Ellie nods. ‘Kenzie. I like it.’
There’s a thunder of footsteps on the stairs and Maisiebursts into the café, red-faced and giggling.
