Chapter Six
The gang was getting peckish and had decided to send Danny to get some take-out. Aggie, seeing the connection between him and her daughter, seized the opportunity to talk. "Do you mind if I come with you Danny? I need some air."
"Of course not." He replied with a smile.
Stacie looked up at her mother, surprised that she had asked.
"Ok," Danny said, putting on his jacket, "Be back soon."
He opened the door and motioned for Aggie to go through. "Ladies first."
Danny and Aggie chatted the whole way to China Kitchen, the local Chinese take-out. She had asked him about his life, and how he became a conman, and Danny, being Danny, was only happy to talk about himself. He told her about his family and how they had all been crooks, and bad ones at that. That he had basically moved to London to try and make a name for himself, and that it wasn't until him met Mickey, Ash, Albert and Stacie that he had really begun to enjoy himself.
"I hope you don't mind me asking," Aggie said, "but why don't you get a real job?"
Danny pondered her question for a while before answering. "I don't know." He said. "It's just this is all I've ever known. And now that I've got people in my life that I can rely on, I don't think I could give it up."
Aggie watched Danny's face as he talked. She could see he had a twinkle in his eye, a determination, a passion.
"You really love it, don't you?" Aggie asked.
A smile grew across Danny's lips. "Yeah, I do."
They walked for a few yards without talking. Both were trying to think of what to say next. Aggie was desperate to find out what Danny felt about her daughter, and Danny was trying not mention Stacie at all, knowing that he would say something stupid.
Unfortunately for Danny, Aggie was the first one to speak. "Stacie loves doing what you all do. I worry about her though."
"You shouldn't, Mrs Monroe. She's safe with us."
"I know she is. I realised that today. When I first saw her this morning she looked so happy and beautiful, like I hadn't seen since before Jake left."
Danny stayed silent, unsure of what to say.
"So what about you Danny? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Danny let out a small laugh, surprised by her question. "Uh, no. No girlfriend."
"A handsome young man like you, why not?"
Danny smiled. "Well, the girl I like isn't interested."
Aggie knew who he was talking about. "I think she is. She's just shy."
Danny stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Aggie.
"Danny, it's ok. I know you're talking about Stacie."
Danny was shocked. "How'd you know?"
"Let's just call it a motherly sense."
Danny didn't know what to say. He had only just met Aggie a few hours ago and she had already guessed about his feeling for her daughter.
'Am I that obvious?' he thought to himself.
"Danny. It's alright. I won't say anything." She said to try and reassure him. "Listen, good things come to those who wait. It just takes time with us Monroe girls."
Danny felt strangely comforted by her comment. "Thanks Mrs Monroe."
"No problem. Oh, and call me Aggie. Mrs Monroe makes me sound so old."
Danny laughed. "Ok."
Danny and Aggie arrived back at the hotel, carrying over eight bags of Chinese food.
"Oh, thank goodness. I'm starving!" Stacie exclaimed as they walked through the door.
Danny walked over to the coffee table and laid out all the food. "I basically got one of everything. So help yourself."
Ash brought over some plates and cutlery and handed them out. They were soon joined by Mickey and Albert.
"Thanks Danny." Mickey said.
"Yeah, thank you Danny." Stacie said, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. Danny flinched as she did this, the conversation he had just with Aggie still fresh in his mind. Stacie noticed and looked at him with confusion. It was something Danny had never done before, and she was shocked.
"Ok." Danny said "lets all tuck in."
