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Johnny watched them both, amused and amazed at how this drink could seemingly transport both Mack and Flora to another vinous place. Finally, after various noises of appreciation, Flora declared it heavenly.
‘And if you try it with a bit of cheese, this one especially…’ Mack picked up a piece of crumbling blue cheese and popped it into his mouth.
‘Ooh, good idea.’ Flora did the same.
‘So, what makes this so special, Mack?’ Johnny reached for a piece of cheese too.
‘Well, Madeira is a funny thing. Basically, back in the seventeenth century, the wine from the island of Madeira was transported on ships in barrels to the tropics and, actually, people realised the wine tasted better once cooked by the sun. Nowadays, most Madeiras are artificially heated up and aged, but the finest ones are still stowed away in casks in the eaves of lodges on the island and heated naturally over years by the sun. Like this one…’
‘Hence the baked flavours?’ Johnny looked more closely at his glass.
‘Exactly. Do you like it?’ Mack looked from his glass to Johnny.
‘It’s one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever tasted in my life.’ Johnny raised his glass to Mack.
Flora joined him. ‘Thank you, Mack. What a treat. You didn’t have to open this just for us.’
‘I didn’t. I opened it for me, too.’ Mack smiled, then looked back at the bottle. ‘Good wine always tastes better when you drink it with good friends.’
‘Well, thank you.’ Flora raised her glass to his. ‘I’m very glad you did although I’m relieved I didn’t get this in the exam. I would have been stuffed.’ Flora took another sniff.
Johnny looked at his watch. ‘I’m sorry to break up the party but our taxi will be here in about ten minutes. I’ll come and pick up the car tomorrow morning.’
Flora looked around the shop. ‘Well, if you’re happy, Mack, I think we’ve done as much tidying up as we can now. We’re all set for our first proper day tomorrow.’ She crossed her fingers.
‘Absolutely, you two get going. I’ll see you in the morning, Flora.’ Mack picked up the bottle. ‘Here, take this home with you. I’d rather you finished it off over the next few days. It’s not going to keep.’
‘Really?’ Flora took it lovingly from Mack. ‘Thank you so much. That’s very kind of you.’
Just then, her phone sounded from inside her bag. Rummaging to find it, she pulled it out and punched in her passcode. ‘Message from Billy. He says he hopes we liked the DJs…’ she scanned the message, ‘… and he’s sorry he couldn’t make it, but it was murder on the motorway, apparently.’ She dropped her phone back into her bag. ‘I’ll reply on the way home.’
‘Thanks again, Mack. See you tomorrow. I’ll just go and get the kids from upstairs.’ Johnny picked up Flora’s coat from the back of her chair as he passed and held it out to her.
Just then, the sound of breaking glass pierced the air.
Flora spun round. ‘What the hell was that?’
On the floor, just in front of the wall of fine wine at the back, lay a broken bottle. Red wine seeped out slowly, spreading fan-like across the floor.
Before Mack could get up, Johnny had crossed the room, checking the shelves to make sure nothing else was about to fall.
Flora joined him. ‘How on earth did that happen?’
‘What was it?’ Mack called across.
Carefully, Flora picked up the biggest bit of glass, the label still intact. ‘Volnay ’82 from… I can’t make out the domaine.’
‘Don’t worry, I know which one that was.’ Mack tried to make light of the accident but he was clearly shaken. ‘Someone must have picked it up off the shelf to have a look and not put it back properly. It was a bit past its best, if I’m honest, so we don’t need to worry too much. Come on, you get going. I can clear this up.’
Flora turned to Mack. ‘Absolutely not. I’ll go and grab the bucket and mop and find something to put the glass into. It won’t take a minute. Johnny, you go and get the kids and, Mack, pour yourself another glass of this.’ Flora put the Madeira bottle back down in front of Mack.
‘If you say so, Flora.’ Mack smiled and poured a small measure into his glass.
15
Stephen stood a little away from the rest of the group, drawing heavily on the cigarette held between his thumb and forefinger. The others were climbing into the car, laughing at some joke Stephen clearly wasn’t in on.
‘Come on, what are you waiting for?’ his friend Joe called.
