Page 14 of Come Fly With Me

The mouse behind the counter blinked at Betty several times before whispering, “Mr. Benson didn’t say anything about ice cream.”

“Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream,” Grace chanted as she ran around the room.

“Aye, well, he mentioned it to me. Now, away ye go and fetch us some.”

The mouse, Betty couldn’t remember her name, cast a nervous glance toward the stairs up to Lake’s office. “Maybe I should check. He was very clear about watching the shop and the…uh…children.”

It didn’t take a genius IQ to deduce that Betty had also been on his list of things to watch.

She shrugged. “You do as you see fit, lassie. I’m no’ sure I’d want to interrupt such an important call over some ice cream, but I’m sure you know best. After all, you’ve been working here a whole month now.” She clasped her hands in her lap and pretended to be fascinated by the pattern on her tartan dress.

“I want ice cream,” Grace said loudly. “Chocolate, and strawberry, and sprinkles, and with a flake, and vanilla…” Her jet-black hair swished about her face as she danced around the room.

“She really wants ice cream,” Lexie told the mouse. “I like ice cream too. My favorite is chocolate chip.”

“I wouldn’t mind a wee cone myself,” Betty said. “But I understand if you feel you cannae go get one for me.” She heaved a weary sigh. “Lexie, love, help yer granny out of her chair. I’m sure I can manage to hobble down to the newsagent and get us some ice cream. Grace, my wee darling, see if you can find Granny’s cane.” She didn’t have a cane, but that didn’t stop Grace from running off to find it. Bless her wee heart.

“Hold on tight, Gran.” Lexie held out her tiny hand. “Daddy will be really upset if you hurt yourself.” Her large brown eyes were so solemn, you’d never guess she’d taken it upon herself to join in Betty’s con. Aye, Lexie was definitely her favorite.

“I’ll be careful.” Betty tried to sound vulnerable. “I might be a few years shy of a hundred, but I still have some life in me yet.” She muffled a fake groan as she reached for Lexie’s hand.

“Maybe I could run to the shop,” the mouse said. She gnawed at her bottom lip for a second, working through the dilemma in her tiny head. “It’s only a minute or two from here anyway. Right?”

Betty sank back into the seat. “If you’re sure. I don’t want you getting into any trouble, but I’d much appreciate the help, seein’ as my old bones are no’ what they used to be.” Which was utter rubbish. She was just as spry as she’d been at eighty. Maybe even at seventy—on a good day.

The mouse took in the wide-eyed, eager faces of the two little girls, then the relief on Betty’s—hopefully—innocent-looking face. The lassie nodded and reached for her jacket. “Yes, I’m sure I can run to the shop for ice cream. As long as you promise that none of you will leave while I’m gone, okay?”

“Cross my heart,” Betty said solemnly. Although she didn’t make the gesture because she wasn’t entirely sure where the stone-sized organ was located these days. “I’m no’ going anywhere, lassie, and I’ll make sure the bairns stay where you left them too.”

The young woman glanced back at the stairs to Lake’s office again before nodding. “Okay then, what flavor do you want?”

Betty made a show of thinking hard about her answer when, really, she didn’t give a flying fig about ice cream. In the end, she ordered what she assumed would take the longest to fetch. “I’ll have a three-scoop cone: chocolate, vanilla, and rum. Dipped in chocolate and with a flake. Grace will have three scoops an’ all, any flavors, but she’ll want sprinkles. And Lexie?”

Lexie turned her serious little face up to the woman. “I like the little tubs. I want chocolate chip with butterscotch sauce and two spoons.”

“Two spoons?” the woman asked.

Lexie nodded. “I always drop one.”

“Um, okay, eh, wouldn’t it be easier if I just grabbed some Magnums from their freezer?”

Three sets of shoulders slumped.

Betty let her head rest on the back of the seat and her eyes close. “Whatever you can manage. We don’t want to be a bother, do we, girls? Don’t worry, though, if I feel a bit more with it tomorrow, I’ll get your cones then.”

“No, it’s fine,” the mouse hurried to say. “I’ll get them now. Just don’t touch anything until I get back.”

“Dinnae fash,” Betty said. “We’ll be very well behaved. Won’t we girls?”

There was a chorus of agreement before the door closed on Lake’s latest receptionist.

As soon as she was out of sight, Betty launched herself from her chair. Which took some doing. Those chairs weren’t designed for wee round women with short legs. One of these days, she’d get around to having an ejector button built in to give her a bit of momentum getting out of the damn thing.

“Satan,” Lexie said, “are you being naughty?”

“Shh,” Grace hissed. “Mummy says we’re not to call Gran that.”

“It’s okay.” Betty rounded the counter and nabbed the key to the back room before tottering off in that direction. “I’ve been called worse, and anyway, I feel I’ve grown into the title.”