Read Online Miss Potterton's Birthday Tea by Amanda Prowse - Free Book Online

married? Surely she wouldn’t have got involved with a married man? He smiled at the thought, realising that everything he knew about her had come via his mother before she died and was therefore skewed by her views and his aunt’s rather unforthcoming nature. He liked the idea of trying to figure out the puzzle of her in her ninety-fourth year.
    â€˜Where does the name Marley come from?’ Miss Potterton asked rather abruptly. ‘Was it a fondness for Dickens?’
    â€˜What?’ Marley stared at her.
    â€˜Your name. Marley. Are you named from the novella? After Scrooge’s partner?’ She spoke a little louder, as if increasing the volume might help his understanding.
    Tina scooted back into the room and placed the fresh pot of tea in the centre of the table. ‘Oh no, Miss Potterton. Marley’s one of his middle names.’
    â€˜What’s your first name?’ Ian asked.
    â€˜Bob,’ he replied, and bit into a tiny crustless chicken sandwich.
    â€˜What’s your other middle name?’
    â€˜Gibson,’ he muttered through a mouthful of food.
    â€˜Don’t eat with your mouth full.’ Tina tutted.
    â€˜He asked me a question!’ Marley pointed at Ian with the remainder of his sandwich, again speaking with his mouth full.
    â€˜So your name is Bob Marley Gibson?’
    Marley nodded.
    Ian chortled. ‘Gibson as in the guitar maker?’
    â€˜His dad was a big fan.’ Tina smiled and sipped her tea, which had cooled and was almost unpleasant.
    â€˜Of Dickens?’ Miss Potterton asked loudly.
    Tina and Ian laughed.
    Ian noted Tina’s slight shudder as she tasted her brew. He lifted the pot and poured hot tea into her cup.
    *
    The champagne and tea continued to flow through the afternoon. There was the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’ and the cutting of cake. Tina produced a batch of crumbly scones glued together with clotted cream and fresh raspberry jam, and there was gooseberry tart to follow.
    At five o’clock Miss Potterton stood up. ‘I should like a nap.’
    Without a word of thanks or further discussion, she walked slowly from the table and made her way towards the hallway. Ian got up and took her elbow, guiding her along, leaving her at the entrance to her bedroom, much to the relief of them both.
    â€˜Is it okay if I push off, Mum?’ Marley slipped his arms into his jacket as he asked.
    â€˜Yes, love, and thank you for today. You’ve been great.’
    â€˜Great to meet you, Marley, and I hope our paths cross again. If I can be of any help…’ Ian shook the boy’s hand.
    Marley smiled. ‘Thanks,’ he replied, with the polite dismissal of a boy who had learnt not to rely too heavily on the word of any man who presented himself as a temporary role model.

13
    Ian poured another glass. ‘He’s a nice boy, and he seems to love college.’
    â€˜He does. Mind you, I liked school, too – not that I learnt much.’ Tina sipped her champagne.
    â€˜It’s interesting, isn’t it? I hated every second and learnt a lot. I went to this small private school for boys in the middle of the countryside, where I learnt how to pass A levels, read Latin and recite the periodic table.’
    â€˜Wow! I went to an inner-city school in Bow, where I learnt rhyming slang, winkle picking, and how to sew on your pearly buttons and do the Lambeth Walk. General Cockney behaviour.’
    Ian slumped forward, he was laughing so much. ‘I’m picturing it! That’s so funny!’
    â€˜I sometimes wonder what I might have done if I’d gone to a school where people had actually given a shit about my education.’
    â€˜What would you like to have done?’
    She shrugged. ‘Dunno. Suppose if I was starting again, if I was young and had all the time in the world, I’d like to learn floristry. I spend an awful lot of time looking at flowers and plants