we could add your opinion into the pot, Leo. I have a strange suspicion that you’d be on my side.’
Leo laughed uncomfortably. ‘I don’t do marriage guidance, guys. Keep me out of this.’
‘Nope. Sorry. You’re not escaping that easily,’ Max said.
Leo looked at Ellie, who still hadn’t spoken. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were set in an unusually thin line.
‘I’ll just get myself a cup of coffee and disappear to the sitting room with the papers, if that’s okay,’ Leo said, making her way to the fancy machine and hoping she didn’t have to ask for instructions.
Ellie came across and gently nudged her out of the way with her hip.
‘Don’t worry. It’s just Max being obstinate, and it’s getting up my nose. Nothing serious,’ Ellie said. ‘I merely suggested that we could perhaps go to a few car showrooms today and see if there’s a car he would like. Better than driving round in that old rust bucket.’
‘I’ll have you know that you were delighted when we bought that old rust bucket,’ Max said. ‘But now it’s clearly not good enough.’
Leo realised that her appearance had done nothing to defuse the row, and she really wanted to escape. The coffee was coming through - slowly - but Ellie was obviously set on making Leo one of her favourite cappuccinos, and that was going to take a few minutes.
‘So you get the picture,’ Ellie went on. ‘We’ve got all this money, and I have a fantastic car, and Max insists on driving round in a six year old Peugeot that’s way past its best.’
‘The difference is, Leo, that I bought and paid for that car myself,’ Max said. ‘If I can’t afford a new car because I don’t earn enough, then I’m not having one. End of.’
Why, Leo thought, were all sides of this argument being addressed to her? As if she were going to be the referee. Well, they could think again.
‘Listen guys,’ she said. ‘Whether you get a new car or you don’t is absolutely nothing to do with me at all. I don’t know why you think he needs one, Ellie, but on the other hand I don’t know why you are so adamant you’re not having one Max. So I am not taking sides. Okay?’
‘For somebody who refused The Old Witch’s money herself, I thought you would be with me on this,’ Max muttered, absently pouring more juice into Jake’s Moshi Monsters cup.
‘Oh for God’s sake, Max,’ Ellie said. ‘That’s different and you know it. We’ve got the money. It’s ours. Why are you being so unreasonable?’ Ellie sounded genuinely distressed, which seemed like an excessive reaction to Leo, who would have let him keep his car if that’s what he wanted.
‘And, Leo, I didn’t see him complaining about the money spent on his media room last night - did you?’ Ellie asked.
Oh where was that coffee?
‘That’s different. I had no say in the matter. You did it as a surprise, and I would be pretty ungrateful if I told you to take it all out again, wouldn’t I?’
‘Speaking of your media suite, Max - am I allowed to take my coffee in there, because I seem to remember you mentioning that it was sound proofed?’ Leo asked in her most innocent tone.
‘No - you can forget that. Gulp it down quickly and grab some toast. Max can have the kids. We’re going shopping.’ Ellie said with a look of irritation. ‘We’ll go and spend some of The Old Witch’s money.’
Ellie grabbed her keys.
‘Oh, and while I think about it Max, what happened to the keys Sean brought round last night? We could give those to Leo.’
Max looked puzzled.
‘I don’t know. I left them on the worktop, I think. I presumed you’d put them away.’
Ellie gave an exasperated tut.
‘I didn’t move them - so you must have put them somewhere else.’
Max was known for losing stuff, and Leo saw a glimmer of a fond smile from her sister as they made their way out of the door.
* * *
Ellie was glad to escape the house, and Max was happy looking after the twins. He’d find something fun to do with them - and always something that didn’t cost a penny. He would get them making things, or exploring the garden for bugs. They’d have a great time. She smiled as she thought of their chunky little bodies, crouched down and looking in wonder at a worm or a shiny black beetle.
She should have been there