The 'phone call

But fate was on Leonard's side. Well, sort of.

Leonora had just slowed down, and was about to pull in to double-check that she had brought everything with her. As usual she was convinced she had left something behind.

So she heard the 'phone ring. She grabbed it quickly, thinking it must be a dire emergency so early in the morning, and flicked it open. And managed to cut it off. Now Leonora was very good at sending text messages but she was worse than useless at actually speaking on calls. Mainly because she usually forgot whether or not she was meant to press a button before she spoke.

She looked at the detail of the last call received. Leonard. She frowned. Why on earth was Leonard ringing her? Had she left something behind after all? She looked at the 'phone puzzled and decided to sit there for a few minutes in case he rang again. He didn't. Typical of Leonard, she thought, and was reaching towards the ignition when the 'phone rang again.

But it was a message. From Leonard of course. "Ring me."

Leonora was annoyed. Bossy git. She keyed in "Why?" and sent the reply feeling pleased with herself.

Then the 'phone rang again. Leonora was getting more and more irritated. Even when she had left to go home, Leonard was still getting up her nose.

In fact she was so annoyed she managed to work out how to answer the 'phone.

"Yes," she snapped.

"Morning Leonora, it's Leonard here."

"What do you want?" she said very ungraciously.

"Why have you left? I thought you were staying for a few days," he said in his most conciliatory tone.

"Oh, I'd forgotten that I already had a commitment for today, sorry about that. I left a note explaining though," she said in an off-hand but not too irritable sort-of fashion.

"I've read it. But you made a commitment to us too, and Mrs Leonard and I were so looking forward to spending a few days with you and going out for walks with Tata.

"Tata was very disappointed. As soon as you had left, she came in immediately to tell me how sad she was. She thought you were going to take her out for an early morning drive and a walk," he added, pleased with himself at his line of argument.

Leonora felt herself weakening. She knew she was being manipulated and that Leonard knew her feeble excuse was totally fictitious.

"I'll have to turn round and come back, and I'm quite a way down the road now," she said, not even convincing herself this was a good answer.

"You can't even have reached the end of town yet."

Leonora glanced at the sign in the distance marking the end of town and sighed.

"Why don't you text whoever it is and tell them you have been unavoidably delayed?" he suggested.

"I really am sorry about being out yesterday when you arrived. I'll make it up to you by taking you out for lunch at a vegetarian restaurant - whichever one you choose," he said in his best genuine and sincere voice.

"Please come back Leonora. We can all have breakfast together and then go out for a fine walk."

Leonard waited. He thought he had put up a good argument, reasoned and thoughtful. He considered mentioning the little crutches huge desire to spend more time with Leonora but thought that would definitely be overkill.

Leonora realised she was being precious and childish - Leonard always brought out the worst in her - and decided to behave like an adult. For a few minutes at least.

"OK," she said. And ended the call before she changed her mind.

Then she looked for somewhere suitable to turn the Series round to head back towards Leonard's.

Meanwhile, Leonard and Tata looked at each other and smirked.

"Ruff ruff," she barked.

"Thanks Tata, I thought it was rather well done too.

"So what do you reckon? Definitely has to be geocaching this morning if I have to suffer a vegetarian lunch, and pay for it too.

"Followed by, let's see, a long conversation about my new gun, a few of my new essential gadgets, and possibly a visit to a military display or at the very least a military museum."

Leonard smiled at Tata again, looking forward to the day's sport.

Tata flopped down to conserve her energy for the day's walk. She might get to run through rivers and dig holes in the sand. It could be a good day. She hadn't decided if she wanted to be driven in Leonora's tatty-looking vehicle though. On reflection, it didn't really suit her image.