What’s in a Name?
‘Did I get an invite?’ Lucy asks, her eyes searching the
mantelpiece for a card.
‘’course.’
Figures
flicker across the television screen. Lucy knows this. It’s Strictly. She hates
Strictly. ‘Turn the TV over. There must be something else on.’
Leo
leans forward for the remote and begins to channel hop.
‘Stop!’
Lucy waves her arms like a swan with wing co-ordination problems. Leo stares at
the old lady. ‘I like this.’ She sits back and smiles.
‘Die
Hard.’
‘Yes. I
have a soft spot for Bruce Willis and that….German.’
‘He’s
not really German. That’s Alan Rickman.’
‘I know
who he is, young man. I’ve not lost it yet.’ Silence. ‘Where’s Emily?’
‘Making
tea, remember?’ Leo rolls his eyes and then hopes she hasn’t seen.
‘I met
your mother yesterday.’
‘Oh?’
‘She
seemed stressed.’
‘It’s
all the wedding stuff.’ Boredom crept into his voice.
‘She
used to go to school with my Brenda. Did you know that?’
‘Yes.’
Leo sighs. He was marrying Brenda’s daughter. Of course he knew that.
‘I’m glad
I’ve lived to see Emily settled.’
‘You’ll
go on for years.’
Lucy
looks at him sharply then laughs. ‘He’s a nice young man she’s marrying.’
‘Thank
you.’
Lucy
turns away. ‘Oh. I don’t think it’s you.’
Leo’s
heart stutters. ‘Yes it is. Don’t you remember? You offered to pay for the
honeymoon.’
‘Did I?’
Lucy stares hard at the TV. ‘I do like that German man.’ Then, ‘Alan, that’s
his name.’
Leo
groans. ‘Yes. I told you. Alan Rickman.’
‘No, not
him. Alan’s the name of the man Emily’s marrying. Hasn’t she told you yet?’
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