Introducing Mr Latte

Wednesday, July 23 08

Miss Rosie Bennet took her first steps today, surprising herself. Mrs Bennet was in her friend’s living room when her elder twin suddenly stood up, balanced for a few seconds and decided to head towards her mother. It was almost a little run of five steps and she was clearly proud of herself for doing so.

Reflecting on this milestone, Mrs Bennet felt it counter-acted the harder elements of the day. She hadn’t even had time to meet up with her precious friend, who she decided to refer to affectionately as Mr Latte. If Jane Austen could have a leading man in her book, so could she. But unlike Mr Darcy, Mr Latte didn’t show any pride or prejudice. His only competition was Mr Decaf Cappuccino, with whom Mrs Bennet was also well acquainted.

She had broken her own rules today and crammed in too much and she was feeling the brunt of it. Perhaps foolishly she had agreed to a writing commission for a well-known magazine, which had to be written within three days. As she was caring for five children all day, it meant any intellectual thinking had to be reserved for late evening – which she knew was a time when she would prefer to curl up on the sofa with a glass of ice-cold white wine.

As it happened Mr Bennet also had a deadline to meet. So the two of them hammered away on computer keys – he in the conservatory, she in the lounge.

Handing him a coffee at midnight – not the healthiest option, but essential in keeping the eyes open, she muttered: “You in your small corner and I in mine.”

The trouble was the two corners hardly met. But she at least took comfort in the fact the corners were at least in the same house.