by Melissa Hill
The last comment came from the village queen bee herself, Cynthia Roland. Since she was a young child, Cynthia had basically taken over the place with her know-it-all smirks and her insistence that she know everything about everyone. In comparison, Cynthia made Ita’s gossipy and judgemental tendencies look like child’s play.
Today, she was joined by the group of women who called themselves the Lakeview Mum’s Club, but whom Ella had more often heard referred to as ‘The Mummy Martyrs’. Flanked at both sides of Cynthia, they travelled in packs with their strollers and baby carriers. Each carried a designer nappy bag in their designated colour, a fresh bottle or dummy and a nasty attitude.
Time had not changed much from when these women were in school and their accessories were backpacks, makeup cases, and an unsuspecting boyfriend from the football team. Now all married to successful men working in Dublin, the girls had no other purpose than to rule Lakeview with an iron fist. They dictated everything from what hairstyle was de rigeur at the beauty salon, which drink was in vogue, and which boutique was a must to visit for the latest fashions.
Dare to contradict them or refuse to play nice to their demands, and there would be consequences. Their refusal to shop in certain places in the village had closed several new business down. Ella knew it was a delicate balance, so she either played along or avoided them altogether. The drama, in her opinion, was way beneath her.
But today, there was no other staff to take their order or to set up high chairs for their crying, snotty children. It was all on Ella to make sure their needs were met to their impeccable standards.
She seated the group in the front section of tables closest to the window but more importantly far enough away from the other customers. The women preferred it this way. They could chat loudly while watching and judging the townspeople pass by the windows. Their children, on the other hand, could be supervised by Ella as she worked the counter and checked out customers from the front.
“It’s such as shame about this place. It was always so … what is the word, um … charming.” Deirdre piped up first, ignoring the fussy baby to her right as he attempted to grab at the ketchup bottle next to him.
“I agree, but what can you do to stop progress?" Emer was practically salivating at the thought of a coffee giant moving in. "I’m hopeful that we'll finally get that Starbucks this place desperately needs.”
“Well I for one, will be glad to get an upgrade," Cynthia agreed. “This town needs to get with the times. No more run-down takeaways or discount grocers.” She wrinkled her nose. “With the closing of this place, I can see the whole Main Street changing for the better.” Of course, Cynthia had to own the idea that what the place needed was big businesses putting out what had been in place for years before her time as queen bee.
“Hear, hear!” Emer laughed loudly as she agreed with Cynthia’s proclamation. The whole group cackled together as they discussed popular chains that should replace some of the older shops on the street.
Not a single stone was left unturned, or any business left unscathed as Deirdre even took notes on the girl’s opinions as if she was the acting secretary of a select town meeting.
AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, Ella headed over to take their orders. As she passed by the door, a hooded figure entered quietly with eyes focused straight ahead. The two collided, with Ella stumbling a bit. The other person caught her, giving Ella a chance to realise who she had run into.
“Oh I’m sorry Heidi! I didn’t see you coming in.” Ella hadn’t recognised her either with her face concealed in an oversized sweatshirt that almost certainly belonged to her husband. From what she could tell, she was makeup free and her hair had been hastily gathered in a messy bun at the top of her head.
“Are you OK?” Heidi whispered towards Ella with her head deliberately turned away from the window, but Ella wasn't quite sure if she was referring to their brief collision or the fact that her husband’s financial carelessness was putting her out of business.
“I’m fine. Just getting used to this cane. Why don’t you take a seat wherever you can find one, and I’ll bring you a fresh cup of coffee.”
“Thanks Ella.” Heidi quickly shuffled herself to the back of the room, finally settling on a place near the end of the counter. Her back was turned from the window as she studied a menu.
Ella made her way to the girls’ table with pen and paper ready for their orders, but the girls were too distracted by the new entry to pay her any heed.
“Is that who I think it is? Gemma, is that her?” Emer ducked in towards the table’s centre with her finger pointed directly at Heidi’s back.
“I’m not sure. It’s hard to tell without the nanny following her every move.” Gemma whispered.
“Who does she think she is? That girl has no class.” Cynthia refused to keep her voice down like the rest of them. She said it loud enough for everyone in the surrounding area to hear. “You think that her husband going bankrupt would make her a humbler person. Yet it seems as if her money was the only thing forcing her to play nice.” All but one of the women nodded solemnly at Cynthia’s seemingly deft observation.
“I heard they never had all the money they claimed to in the first place.The reason Paul was fired from the bank was because Heidi had put them into so much debt with her spending.”
“That’s not true, Deirdre. It’s because Paul was caught stealing money, probably so that Heidi could spend, spend, spend on that spoiled little brat of hers!” Emer was going straight for the jugular.
“Gemma, is it true that they have already sold the house?” Cynthia sat up straight at the thought of fresh news to add to Heidi’s tales of woe.
“Not yet. Paul says they’re still trying to hold on to it.”
“But if they have to sell the house where will they move to? Certainly not to our estate, I hope.” Deirdre sounded absolutely frightened at the prospect of a bankrupt family moving in across the road.
“No, but I think they are looking for something smaller, maybe an apartment.”
“AN APARTMENT.” Cynthia laughed maniacally at the thought of Heidi downgrading to a tiny apartment. The rest of the girls joined in, their laughter overtaking the conversations of the other diners that were not already eavesdropping in. All but Heidi had turned to pay attention to what the women had to say.
“I think that is enough, Cynthia.” Ella made her presence known as she tapped the well-coiffed woman on the shoulder.
“Excuse me?” Cynthia seemed genuinely shocked to hear of anyone interrupting her conversation.
“I said, I think that is enough. I am politely asking you to keep your voices down so as not to disturb the other diners. We all just want to enjoy our food in peace.” Ella stared daggers at the rest of the women. She was one hundred percent serious about her command.
“Well, oh dear. It looks as if we have disturbed the rest of the customers, what few you have.” Her voice oozed with sarcasm and disregard. “OK, we promise that we will keep our voices down, Ella.” She batted her eyes innocently at the café owner. The rest of the women snickered loudly.
“Cynthia Roland, I have known you since you were a small child, and while I have refused to step in before, I am saying this now—you are no longer welcome in this establishment. If you cannot respect my wishes or the lives of the other, respectable customers, then you will not be served here. Do I make myself clear?”
The girls stared wordless at Ella. One of their babies began to cry, but the mums continued to ignore her. All eyes were placed squarely on Ella and back at Cynthia. The rest of the café seemed to have leaned in to see what would happen next. You could hear a pin drop.
“Well, ladies, it looks like we will take our business elsewhere. This café has lost all charm and appeal to me anyway. Perhaps it is good that this place be gutted and replaced by something more civilised.”
Ella burst in anger. “You four wouldn’t know civilised if it slapped you in the face. I recommend that you leave now before I call
Colm out here to escort you and your ill-behaved cohort out this door.”
With that, she turned, picked up the coffee pot, and began to serve the rest of the customers who had sat in silence—some with their mouths gaping at the sight of her scolding the women.
THE GROUP LEFT without another word, slamming the door behind them. Ella watched from the corner of her eye as they struggled with their pushchairs and their fussy, irritable children. In front of the café window they remained, each loudly debating about what had just happened. Cynthia, in a rage, fled first away from the group and Julia followed suite, running to keep up with her. Emer hesitated, but eventually followed at a quick step.
Gemma stayed behind. With her toddler in her arms, she glanced back into the café as if she wanted to come back inside. Yet, after a few seconds of hesitation, she picked up her nappy bag from the ground and headed towards the lakeside car park where the women had parked their identical cars. Her head hung low as she disappeared out of Ella’s sight.
The café remained silent for several minutes. All were looking to Ella to make a move or to say something else. In the air was a mix of fear, respect, and wonder.
Ella hated it. She had never kicked anyone out of her café before, and now with her final weeks upon her, she had made the place inhospitable. But while she wanted to feel ashamed at how childishly she handled the situation, she couldn’t help but give herself a pat on the back for standing up to the bullish women. After all, what harm could they do to her now?
She began to circle throughout the café. At each table, she greeted those she had yet to say hello to and listened respectfully as each gave their regards about her retirement. Instead of impatiently answering, she instead chose to give hugs, free coffee, and kind smiles to those who seemed genuinely shaken by the loss of her business. This was the side of the village that she had loved and adored all these years.
As she reached the end of the tables, she could not help but notice that Heidi remained at the counter. One of the waiting staff had served her a cup of tea and a ham sandwich. Yet, she had barely touched her food or her drink. Instead, she kept her eyes towards the back of the room, away from the rest of the prying town that had overheard what the others had said about her and her husband.
Ella took a deep breath. While the last thing she wanted to do was chat with Heidi, she knew that she couldn’t just ignore her for any longer. She could not avoid the situation.
Circling the counter, she placed herself directly in front of Heidi’s stony gaze. She could instantly tell that the younger woman had been crying. Her eyes were muddy and her face had streaks from where the tears had flowed. Ella handed her several napkins to which she silently dabbed at her cheeks.
“Heidi, I think it’s about time you and I talked about what’s going on with our party.”
13
Heidi had heard almost every word uttered by her ‘friends’, but it was nothing compared to what she had been through.
For several days, talk had spread like wildfire throughout the village of her husband’s job loss and their bankruptcy. Vultures had practically lined up to take shots at the formerly affluent family that was now reduced to pieces.
While Heidi had done her best to avoid the crowds, the gazers, and the gossip (and even her own family) it followed her everywhere. Whether she was dropping her daughter off at creche or picking up detergent from the local corner shop, there was always someone whispering in a corner about what had happened to them.
Even poor Amelia wasn’t immune. Just yesterday, she had asked Heidi why daddy was at home in the afternoon. When Heidi explained that Paul was trying to get a new job and that this was a little ‘holiday’ for the three of them, Heidi’s two year old began to use the word fired as if it was just something she knew had happened. Nothing was more heartbreaking than realising your toddler had to be a witness to other’s insensitivities. Heidi couldn’t take it anymore, so she took Amelia out, away from prying eyes and cruel mouths. Amelia’s new childminder was Paul, who looked after her as he sent out CVs and made phone calls to old business associates.
Meanwhile, Heidi had taken it upon herself to handle everything else in order to shield Paul from some of the village talk. She picked up boxes from the hardware shop, sold her beloved clothes and shoes at a designer exchange in Dublin, and occasionally stopped in for groceries at Tesco. She listened to the rumours, the backhanded comments, and the laughs just so she could try and protect the two people she loved from being exposed.
But what had happened at Ella’s just now was beyond compare. While most locals attempted to hide their contempt for Heidi and her family’s situation, these women, including Paul’s own sister, seemed to be openly rejoicing at their terrible situation. It made Heidi sick to think that just a week or two ago, she was sitting in their homes, playing with their children, feeding them snacks and goodies. Heidi was once apart of that group of women, and now she was abandoned and smeared as if their history never mattered.
However, as much as Heidi wanted to be mad at the rest of her former friends, she had realised early on that much of the town’s maliciousness was perhaps her own doing. For all of these years she had cultivated this character, this facade, of a woman who had everything she could ever ask or desire for. She put herself on a lone pedestal for all those to admire. Who wouldn’t blame these people for looking down on her when she faltered and failed? Who could stop them for feeling no remorse for the person who refused to share their good fortune and wealth but instead kept to their mansion on the hill?
Heidi had even gone so far as to lie and cheat her way there, and Ella was her most recent victim. She shouldn’t have presumed to host the Christmas party at her house, especially now that there may no longer even be a house.
NOW, face to face with Ella herself for the first time since word was out about her family’s affairs, she felt the swell of regret and remorse for her actions. Here was a woman who just defended her honour to a group of customers who practically ran this town, yet Heidi had nothing to show her gratitude. She had nothing to give the one woman who had the nerve to put an end to the cruel comments and incessant laughter.
She was barely paying attention when Ella came over and gently touched her elbow. “We can go in back to my office if you want to get out of here.”
Heidi could see that Ella was also upset, but she instantly realised that this woman actually felt bad enough for her to offer some more kindness. She sighed and nodded as she blew her nose into a napkin. Removing her hood, she followed Ella to the back of the kitchen where Colm and the other staff worked. The mood around her was sombre, but occasionally, someone cracked a joke, and the group would laugh together. It felt like family; it felt like a home.
Ella unlocked the office door, turned on the lamp in the corner, and pulled her desk chair next to the only empty one. The office was all wooden, almost like a den. No doubt that this office once belonged to Ella’s husband. It had that feel of a man’s touch. The vintage, worn desk had to be original as well. Ella had obviously wanted to keep as much of her family as she could in this place.
Heidi had realised that she had not known much about Ella’s situation. She had heard several years ago that the café had once belonged to Ella’s father-in-law and when he passed away, she and her husband had kept it going. However, Ella’s husband died several years later, leaving her all alone to run the place. Heidi had never confirmed this, and was not about to broach the subject now, but she felt the guilt of not knowing this woman who had given her so much hospitality and loyalty better than what she had. And now her husband’s financial mismanagement was about to take it all away from her. Just when she was about to celebrate her thirtieth year in business.
“Well, I think we are going to need to make some changes to our plans for the Christmas party in light of both our new circumstances, don’t you?” Ella began, obviously wanting to be in control. It was a complete change from their other meetings when Ella would sit back and list
en to Heidi ramble on about her opinions and choices.
“Yes," Heidi mustered. "I think that’ll be necessary.”
“Let’s start with the basics—venue first. I think we are going to have to move the party here to the café. Space isn’t a concern and seeing how today is going, I am thinking that some may be avoiding the party altogether. Not that it will be much of a loss to us…” She winked at Heidi. Even in this awkward situation, Ella was there with a bit of a joke and some charm to boot. “But the good news is, and I suspect you have heard, I will be retiring at the end of this month and will be closing the café for good.” She emphasised the word “retiring” enough so that Heidi quickly caught on. “I will need to get rid of the furniture, the counter, and much of the decor and kitchen items in anticipation. With that, there will be much more space available for folks to mingle and chat.”
Heidi nodded in agreement. She couldn’t help but wonder why Ella wasn’t angry at her for the café shutting down. Surely she knew her family was behind the end of the place?
“So while I am moving the party to the café, I still need you Heidi. I need help coordinating the music, the decorations, and the food. I will also need someone to help spread the word about the changes to the invitations. Can you do this? I mean, do you still want to do this?”
“Yes, I do. Of course I want to help you. I want to make this party the best this café has seen in years.” She was earnest in her response, because she knew she owed it to Ella to make this party exactly as she had wanted. If that meant putting herself out there to the rest of the town, Heidi would be happy to take whatever flack may come her way from the busybodies and the judgemental gossips. This she would do in service of Ella.
“Well, Colm has planned the menu, we have already started baking, and now I will just need help deciding on decor. You’re the best at this. What do you think?”
Heidi was taken aback by Ella and her kindness in still letting her be involved in the party, considering. But she was more than grateful to be of any kind of help. It was the very least she could do.