Chapter Five

When Danny finally joined the group at Eddie's Bar it was almost noon.

"What took you so long?" Ash asked. "Surely it didn't take you nearly two hours to have a shower?"

"Well, something as gorgeous as me doesn't just happen you know." Danny replied. "I'm a work of art."

"Yeah right." Ash scoffed, laughing at Danny cockiness.

"So what have I missed?" Danny asked, looking around the table.

"Not much." Mickey said, waving Eddie over.

"Where's Stacie?" Danny said noticing her absence.

"She got a phone call from a friend about 15 minutes ago. Said it was urgent." Mickey replied, looking at a sheet of paper in his hands.

Danny looked over at Eddie. "Black coffee, when your ready, Eddie."

Stacie was sitting at her favourite seat in the local Starbucks. She kept looking at her watch, waiting for the arrival of her visitor.

"Stacie!" a woman's voice called. She looked up, and there, standing in front of her was a tall, dark-haired middle aged woman.

"Mummy!" Stacie said, a smile beaming across her face. "How've you been?" She stood up and gave her mother a hug.

"Oh not too bad." Her mother replied. "How are you? You haven't called me for a while. I was worried."

Stacie lent across and touched her mother's hand, grateful for the concern. "I've been good. Busy, but good."

Stacie's mum, Aggie, although she didn't really approve of what she did, knew that her little girl was in good hands with the crew. She had met Mickey countless time and knew that he was a high-quality person. She also knew that Albert was a father-figure to Stacie, something that she didn't have growing up, and that Ash was somewhat of an uncle as well. They only member of the crew that she didn't know was Danny Blue. She knew that Stacie was extremely fond of him but had never discuss him to length.

"There's something different about you Stacie." She said, "You look happier than I've seen you for a long time."

"I am, mum. Everything's going well and I've almost got enough money now that I'll be able to get that house I've always wanted."

Like all mothers, Aggie had a second sense when it came to her daughter. She could see that she was hiding something, something of the personal kind. "So, have you been seeing anyone?"

"Nah." Stacie answered, "Why do you ask?"

"It's just…." Agnes hesitated.

"It's just what?"

"This may sound really strange but you have a glow about you. Like when someone's fallen in love."

Stacie nearly choked on her Latte. She couldn't believe that her mum was saying the same thing Mickey had said back at Eddie's bar.

"Are you ok?" Her mother said, quickly grabbing a napkin and handing it to Stacie.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

Stacie nodded and wiped her mouth her trouser suit which now had spurts of coffee on it.

"How about we go on a little shopping spree?" Stacie suggested, trying to change the subject.

A huge smile spread across Aggie's face. "Really? You don't have to."

"No I want to." Stacie said, her smile reassuring. "It's good that I can do something nice for you."

"Ok then. Let me just use the bathroom."

When Stacie knew her mum was out of sight, she let a huge sigh. She couldn't believe that her mum had said the same thing that Mickey had said earlier in Eddie's Bar. 'What do they mean 'a glow'?' she thought.

When her mum reappeared, she stood up and took her arm. "Where do you want to go first?"

"Oh I don't know. London confuses me."

"Ok." Stacie said. "How about Jimmy Choo? They've a got a great sale on their shoes at the moment. And by the looks of it you need a new pair."

By the end of the day, Stacie and Aggie both had shopping fatigue. They had gone into every designer shop in London and had come back to the hotel to with their hands and arms full of bags.

"Are you sure Mickey won't mind me coming back here?" Aggie said, scarred of imposing.

"Are you kidding? He'll be happy to see you."

When they reached the room, the door was already open. Ash was fiddling with the lock. "Hey Stacie."

"Hey Ash. You remember my mum?"

Ash stood from his knee and shook her hand. "Hello Aggie. How are you?"

"I'm good thanks Ash. How are you?"

"Good. Just fixing this lock. It keeps getting jammed, you see."

Stacie and Aggie both smiled. "We'll leave you to it then." Said Stacie, who moved past him into the room. Aggie followed slowly. She put her bags down next to the door, glad to be rid of the wait.

"Busy day?" a voice said from across the room. It was Mickey. Stacie walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I hope you don't mind that we came back here." She whispered in his ear.

"No not at all. She's family." Mickey made his way toward Aggie. "Nice to see you again Aggie. It's been a while."

"Nice to see you too Mickey. How are you?"

"Oh you know, moving along."

Mickey directed Agnes to the sofa. "Thank you." She said.

Stacie joined her, armed with two cups of tea. "Here you go."

"Just what I needed." As she took a sip she could see Albert and Danny coming towards her.

"Albie, you remember my mum, don't you?" Stacie said

"Of course I remember. I remember every pretty face that I see." Albert said, using the old Stroller charm.

"Hello Albert."

Aggie had never met Danny before and had never been able to put a face to the name. He's was better looking than she had imagined, older than she thought too.

"This must be Danny." She said standing up to inspect him properly.

"Hello, Mrs Monroe. I can see where Stacie gets all her good looks from." He said with a wink, shaking her hand.

"Thank you, Danny." Aggie could feel her cheeks slightly blushing. "It's nice to meet you."

She looked across at Stacie who had kept her gaze on Danny. When Danny looked back at Stacie, Aggie couldn't help but notice that he had the same adoring smile that Stacie was giving him.

"Oh." She said at a whisper, there conversation in the coffee shop suddenly making sense.

"So," Danny started, "who's up for a game of poker?"