Cait didn’t know why she was asking about Liz and her social profiles; it wasn’t as though she was interested in her. But Tom looked excited, so she would at least humour him for a few more minutes.
“That’s her on the left. You know her best friend, too. Jill. Works the river cruises down the bottom.”
Cait’s eyes widened. “Oh. Her.”
“It sounds to me like you’ve met before.” Tom eyed Cait suspiciously.
“Two Christmases ago,” Cait explained. “She showed up here absolutely sloshed. I don’t know how she made it up the hill, but she basically fell through the door when I opened it. Asked for a room because she couldn’t find her keys.”
“And did you give her one?”
“I did. I couldn’t let her go home alone only to sit on the porch. It was the year we had that bad snowstorm. And she was in heels. I’ll always remember that.”
“Well, she seems nice. I’ve bumped into her a few times. She asked me if she could tag along at Cumbria Pride last year, but I wasn’t going. I’d just split up with ‘he who shall not be named.’”
“Ah. Him.”
“He’s back with his ex, you know. God, he makes me sick.”
Cait cleared her throat. She didn’t want to hear about exes and relationships this morning. Seeing Harper with Callie last night still hurt deep in the pit of her stomach.
“Sorry, I think Jude is calling me. Can we talk about this later?”
“Go and be the town’s best owner. While I be the town’s best breakfast maker.”
Cait smiled. “That has a lovely ring to it. Maybe I’ll stick it on the next lot of promotion I have done.”
“It’ll pull them in. And if we stick your face on the flyers, you’ll have all the lesbians at your door!” Tom winked, spinning around as he flipped his sausages. “Ooh, I love a gay wedding.”
Cait loved Tom’s enthusiasm, but he had more chance of seeing Jesus Christ appear before him than Cait finding someone. After last night, she couldn’t bring herself to think about the possibility of dating. What was the point? It only left Cait disappointed.
Jude bumped into her as she left the kitchen, looking flustered. “Hey, sorry I was wondering if you could give me a hand? I’ve got a call waiting for a booking, last night’s walk-in forgot to order breakfast, and one of the cleaners has lost her keys to the rooms.”
Cait took a calming breath. “Okay, which cleaner?”
“Margaret.”
Cait smiled, shaking her head. “That’ll be the third time since Christmas that she’s misplaced them. And they always end up being in the same place.”
“Any ideas?”
“Yep. In the fridge in the lounge. Check there and if not, let me know, and I’ll go searching.”
“The fridge?”
“She brings her own milk each morning. Oat.”
Jude frowned. “We provide oat milk here.”
“I know. I’ve told her. She said she likes to bring her own in case I let her down.” Cait shrugged. At least that was one thing sorted. Now they had less to deal with. “I’ll take the walk-in. You take the call for the booking. Which room?”
“Walk-in is staying in room 7. And she’s sitting at table 3.”
“Okay. Good. Now you can stop panicking.” Cait placed a gentle hand on Jude’s shoulder. “Go and take the call, and then I’ll have a coffee if you’re making one.”
Jude smiled, rushing out of the breakfast room and towards the stairs. They both knew better than to let a booking slip through their fingers. If they didn’t call back as soon as possible, their potential guests would simply go elsewhere.
Cait approached table 3, a sense of anxiety swirling in her belly. She recognised the head of blonde hair.
Callie.
“Oh, hi.” Callie offered a pearly white smile. “I’m so sorry I forgot to book breakfast last night.”
“That’s okay,” Cait managed to keep her tone in check, removing her small notepad from the back pocket of her jeans. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have a full English if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Can I get you more coffee or fresh juice?”
“No, I’m okay. Thanks.”
Cait nodded, keeping her eyes focused on the notepad. She pretended to write something down, but she was merely avoiding eye contact with Harper’s girlfriend. “Won’t be long. If you need anything, give me a shout.”
“Actually,” Callie started, “I wanted to say thanks.”
“For?”
“You’re Cait, right?”
Oh God. “I am, yes.” Cait did find Callie’s eyes this time. They were sincere, gentle, but Cait knew what this woman had done to Harper in the past so the kind eyes wouldn’t wash with her.
“Harper was telling me that you’ve been helping her out.”
“We’re a community around here. We don’t like to see people struggle.”
“Thanks for looking after her. I made a right mess by putting the heating on when I popped up one weekend.”
Cait cleared her throat. “Yes. Harper said.”
“But I’ve made it right now. That’s all I could do.”
Please don’t hurt Harper again.
Cait’s emotions caught in her throat. She couldn’t be around this woman. Harper deserved better. “Well, I’m happy you two worked stuff out. I should get this order in for you.”
Cait rushed into the kitchen, handing over Callie’s order to Tom. He looked at her with narrowed eyes, her distress clearly written all over her face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Order for table 3. That’s the last one. If you need me, I’ll be in the office.”
“Cait?”
“Too busy to stop and chat, Tom.” Cait rushed back out of the kitchen, heading straight for the office. She should stick around and serve Callie, but she wasn’t sure what would come out of her mouth if she did.
Chapter Ten
Harper braced herself as she stepped out of the house, the windchill epic this morning. She had a video call with a client at nine, but she was out of milk for her morning coffee. That wasn’t ideal; Harper lived for her coffee, but she couldn’t drink it black. She needed a touch of milk and two sugars for her first in the morning, its ratio changing as the day went on.
She wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck, the mist visible over the mountains and the lake as she looked to her left. To her right, the place that had the milk. The milk she really needed this morning. God, I hate today! But it would improve. It had to. She had a potential new client about to go on her books, web design his requirement, and the past week had really seen an uptick in her services. She must have been doing something right.
As she crossed the small road separating her house from the B&B, Harper glanced up at the old Victorian house. The buildings around here were impressive, all built with a stacked slate that was more than worth its value on the market. It was like something from a quaint Christmas film. If anything, after this week, it was the one thing keeping Harper here.
Liar. Cait is the reason you’re happy here.
But she hadn’t seen Cait in a week. Not a peep out of her. Harper assumed Jude had gone back on his word of helping out at the B&B, so she’d decided to wait until Cait came to her. She was a successful woman with a lot of people wanting somewhere to stay, so Harper and her life troubles were the least of Cait’s concern.
She blew out a deep breath, taking the steep incline towards the nearest shop. A pint of milk, and she would be out of the cold for the rest of the day. She’d thought about heading down to the lake to clear her head, but it really was fresh today. Too fresh. Tonight wouldn’t likely be any better, the frost on the ground this morning strengthening that fact. This place was idyllic, but…Christ, it was also cold.
Harper eyed the shop she wanted, crossing the main road quickly even though there wasn’t a soul in sight. Maybe she would grab a paper while she was there and see what was going on in the l
ocal area.
Today marked the third Friday since she’d arrived, the leak that led to the flood now the least of her worries. But not seeing Cait had Harper bored out of her mind. Cait made her think. She made her want to sit and talk about anything that sprang to mind. But Cait was preoccupied with her livelihood, so Harper really couldn’t do anything about it.
Thrilled when she reached the shop, Harper removed her gloves and headed straight for the milk. Maybe she could jog back down the hill to warm herself up. She’d lit the fire before she left, and she had no plans to move from in front of it today.
Maybe I could get Cait’s number from the door and see if she’s free this evening. Harper didn’t know what she would say. She couldn’t exactly begin the message with “I miss you,” but she had time to think about it. Cait would be busy with the morning breakfast rush right about now anyway.
“Hi, good morning.” Harper beamed a smile at the shopkeeper. “Cold, isn’t it…”
“What else did you expect?” the older, greying man asked.
“Well, I didn’t really know. I used to live in the city, so the rural life is literally biting me.”
“You’ll get used to it. Just keep wrapped up warm and summer will be here before you know it.”
Harper took her glass milk bottle from the counter and grabbed a newspaper, handing over some coins. “Good advice. See you!”
As she stepped out onto the street, Cait landed in front of her.
Cait stared, her bobble hat adorable as it sat perfectly in place, dark curls poking out from the bottom. “H-hi.”
“Hello, you.” Harper’s heart fluttered. Cait looked beautiful but cold. “I thought you’d been kidnapped.”
Cait frowned. “Why?”
“Because I haven’t seen you in over a week. I mean, it’s closer to two but I haven’t been counting.”
“Right.” Cait rubbed her forearm, looking down at her feet. “Busy, I guess.”
“But that’s good,” Harper said, hiding her disappointment. “It means you’re a success.”
“Maybe, yeah. I don’t know.”
Harper studied Cait for a moment. This conversation seemed strained. “Well, it seems like you’re in a rush or you don’t have time, so I’ll let you get on.”
“Yeah. Bye, Harper.” Cait side stepped her, disappearing into the shop.
It was at that moment that Harper decided to hang around outside. They could walk back down the hill together. Keep one another company.
When Cait came back out of the shop, she looked puzzled.
“Thought we could head back down together...”
“Oh. Right, okay.” Cait took a quick pace, rushing in front of Harper as they left the shop front.
Harper wanted to enquire, to know if she’d done something wrong, but Cait was hard to read this morning. Harper had never felt so uncomfortable around her.
“Hey, I was wondering if you’re free this evening?”
“I’m not. Sorry.”
“Tomorrow?” Harper chanced.
Cait slowed her pace, sighing as she turned around. “I’m really busy at the minute. And I will be until God knows when.”
“I thought things slowed down at this time of year?”
“Seems I got it wrong. But that’s what I’m good at doing, so it’s no surprise really.”
What did that mean? “Well, it’s good that business is doing well, I guess.”
“Yeah. Great.” Cait backed away down the hill. “Look, I really have to rush. But it was nice seeing you.”
Cait turned to leave, but Harper wasn’t quite finished yet. “Cait?”
“Yeah?” Cait’s voice shook, her inability to face Harper confusing.
“Is everything okay?”
“Sure.” Cait’s eyes remained focused ahead of her. “But I really do need to get back. Guests are waiting on their papers.”
That was a lie. Harper hadn’t seen a single person pick up a paper when she stayed at the B&B. She pushed off her foot, jogging down the hill to meet Cait. “Wait. Just for a moment.”
“Harper…”
Harper turned Cait around, shocked and saddened to see tears falling down her rosy cheeks. “Hey, what’s wrong? I don’t like seeing you upset.”
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing if you’re crying in my company. Did I do something to upset you?”
“No. You’re perfect.”
Harper was taken aback. Nobody had ever called her perfect, nor had she ever professed to be.
“I just…my work with you is done, Harper. You’re thriving at home now, and Darren says all work is complete.”
“Well, yeah. But unless I was some kind of project for you, I don’t understand why you’re dropping me. I thought we were friends.”
“We are. But you have your life, and I have mine.”
“You’ve still not broken the routine then?”
“I was considering it. I thought I knew what I wanted,” Cait said, brushing stray hair from her eyes as an ice-cold wind whipped around them. “But I was wrong. So, I’ll stick to what I know and work myself into the ground.”
“That’s no life to live. You could be having so much fun.”
“I had my fun with you when you arrived here. And now it’s back to work. It’s my livelihood, and I can’t slack, Harper.”
Harper understood. She’d taken up far too much of Cait’s time. But she did appreciate it. If only Cait would allow her to show that, Harper may not feel as guilty as she did this morning. “Okay.” She nodded. “Well, my door is always open if you ever want to hang out.”
“That’s a delightful offer, but you know…” Cait threw her thumb over her shoulder. “Back to the grindstone.”
Harper watched Cait disappear down the hill, her mind drawing a blank when it came to understanding what had just transpired. Cait Taylor was never unwelcoming, but that was the impression Harper was getting this morning. She’d say maybe Cait wasn’t a morning person, but she’d seen her over several mornings now, and she’d always had that sweet, wonderful smile. Today, it was nowhere to be found.
“I’ll put our review up on TripAdvisor the moment we get home, Cait. It’s been another fabulous stay with you and Jude.”
Cait forced a full smile. Mr and Mrs Penny had stayed at the B&B many times over the years. “That’s great. Have a safe trip home, okay? And we’ll see you soon.”
“You will. We’ll be back for the summer. You know that.”
“Send me an email with some dates. I’ll make sure the suite you want is available.”
“Look at that, Ron. Isn’t she just wonderful?”
“As always.”
Cait kept the fake smile plastered on her face until her guests had climbed into their car, her body weary from the lack of sleep last night. It wasn’t any one thing in particular causing it, but knowing Harper was just down the street with her girlfriend didn’t help in any way.
“I’m off to the supplier.” Jude grabbed his coat from the stand by the door. “Need anything while I’m gone?”
“A new existence?”
“You’re still thinking about Harper…”
Cait wrapped her arms around herself, needing something to keep her grounded. “Bumped into her this morning when I went to collect the papers.”
“How was she?”
“Fine.” Cait lifted a shoulder. “She asked if I was free tonight or tomorrow, but I declined her invitations.”
“You can’t avoid her forever, Cait. You should at least stop by and tell her why you’re not willing to give her the time of day anymore.”
“That’s not what I’m doing. She just caught me off guard this morning. Next time, I’ll be friendlier.”
“If there is a next time.” Jude looked at her knowingly. “Considering she’s back with her girlfriend, I haven’t seen sight nor sound of her around here.”
Cait frowned. That was true; Callie hadn’t been around. “No. Me ne
ither.”
“Maybe it didn’t work out. That’s something to consider.”
“Perhaps I could stop by this evening. Apologise for this morning. It’ll give me an idea as to whether her girlfriend is there or not. Surely if she is, she’ll be around this evening.”
“Sherlock would hire you any day.”
“Oh, piss off!” Cait shook her head, managing a laugh. “I’ll get the invoices finished and then I’ll get my housework done. Do you mind if I take a few hours this evening?”
“Take all the time you need. I don’t have any plans.”
“But this is the second Friday in a row that you’ve had no plans…”
“Because I’m needed here. If it all goes pear-shaped and you’re home early, I might call in at the pub to see the lads, but, if not, it’s no big deal.”
“Thank you.”
Cait watched Jude leave, the harsh air pushing its way through the door as he went. She’d never been one to investigate anything, but something told her that Harper could be worth it.
Chapter Eleven
Harper yawned, her eyes burning as she focused on the template she was working with. Graphic design was her life, but web design seemed to be all the rage at the minute. As she contemplated taking a short break, maybe stretch her legs, her Mac started to ring, followed by her phone, her iPad, and her watch. “Jesus. Is there any need for everything to alert me?”
She grabbed her phone, answering the call direct, and relaxing back in her chair. “Hello, best friend. I thought you’d forgotten I existed.”
“I could say the same right back at you.”
“But you wouldn’t do that because you know how busy I’ve been with moving.” Harper grinned. She knew Autumn would be rolling her eyes and cursing under her breath. “Right?”
“Yes. Fine. Whatever you say.”
“So, what’s up?”
“Wanted to check in with you. How’s it all going up there in the land of icicles and frozen nipples?”
“Well, my nipples haven’t fallen off, so that’s something.” Harper laughed, bringing her knees up to her chest in her office chair. She missed Autumn and the banter they shared, but it wasn’t like they lived a million miles away, so it wasn’t the end of the world. Autumn would beg to differ though, judging by her reaction and how she’d sobbed as she waved Harper off. “How is back home?”
Breaking Routine Page 8