Summer at the Kindness Cafe

by Victoria Walters

  ‘That’s how you know it’s working. So, Eszter, have you had any more thoughts about my offer?’

  Eszter looked at Abbie. ‘You know how grateful I am, and I’m excited about it but I need to feel sure that I’m making the right decision if I choose to stay in Littlewood, you know? I don’t want to do the wrong thing for Zoe.’

  ‘She loves it here, though, doesn’t she?’ Louise asked gently, not wanting to push her into anything but really hoping she would decide to stay. She hadn’t really realised how lonely her life had been until these two came into it, and Alex, and showed her that her heart really wanted to be open and full of love again.

  Eszter nodded. ‘She seems to have really settled in now that she’s made friends, and she and her grandmother are so close already. How do you know, though? How do you make such a big leap?’

  ‘All you can do is follow your heart,’ Abbie said. ‘I know that I made the wrong decision in going back to London with Jack but if I hadn’t tried it, I would never have realised that I wanted my own business or what this town, and everyone in it, really meant to me. So, I don’t think you can make the wrong choice really; everything you do leads you to where you need to be.’

  ‘When did you get so wise?’ Louise asked her sister.

  ‘It’s Littlewood. You showed me how wrapped up I had been in the wrong things before. Kindness, family and friendship were what I was missing. And now I have them, I want to make sure you all do too. We can be happy here, I can feel it in my bones. Can’t you?’

  They all looked at one another, and Louise was sure that they could all feel it; they just had to believe in it.

  Chapter Three

  Eszter sat in the room that had been her husband Nick’s bedroom when he was growing up in Littlewood. Zoe and Anne were downstairs baking together, something that had become their favourite pastime, and Eszter had slipped in there on her way back from the bathroom. The room was just a guest room now but if they took up Anne’s offer of moving in with her if they stayed in Littlewood, then it would become Zoe’s room.

  She tried to imagine Nick in there but it was still difficult, having only ever known him in Hungary. She hated to think he hadn’t enjoyed his childhood. All she wanted was for Zoe to be happy. She knew that losing her father would leave a permanent scar but she was determined to be the best mother she could be for her. But did that mean keeping her here in Surrey or taking her back to Budapest? Eszter knew that Anne was different now. She had lost her controlling husband and had to deal with the pain of losing her only son, from whom she had been estranged for far too long, and she knew that she wanted to be a good grandmother for Zoe, to make up for the past. But Zoe had another grandmother too.

  Eszter pulled out her phone and called her parents’ house in Hungary. She usually spoke to them later in the day but sitting there in Nick’s room, she needed to know what they thought about Anne asking them to stay, and Abbie offering her a brand-new career. She was surrounded by people who wanted them to stay where they were but her parents were back in Hungary and might very well offer a different perspective.

  When her mother answered, they exchanged pleasantries in their native language, and Eszter felt the pang she always felt when she spoke to them. She missed them and her quiet, country hometown in rural Hungary, but there was nothing there for her and Zoe so it wasn’t an option to move back home. She just had to decide what other option to take up. ‘Mum, I need your help,’ Eszter began then and told her how Littlewood was trying to get them to stay. ‘I honestly don’t know what to do. Zoe seems to like it here, and I’ve made friends, and I’ve always wanted to have my own career so it’s a wonderful opportunity but it would mean living so far away from home. Am I jumping into something because of losing Nick? How do I know what I should do?’

  Her mother listened and waited a moment before responding. ‘Darling, I think you’re so worried about it because you feel like you do want to stay there, and that’s a huge change to make. If you didn’t want to stay you would have already said no. Perhaps you’re waiting for a sign that it’s the right thing for you to do? But we don’t always get a sign; we just have to weigh up the pros and cons, and follow our gut as to whether we should do it. What is your heart telling you?’

  Eszter closed her eyes and thought. ‘I think you’re right, it’s telling me to go for it but I’m scared. What if I get it wrong? What if it doesn’t work out? And I’ll miss home, and you and Dad too.’

  ‘You’ll still spend holidays with us. We will always miss you but you have to do what is best for you and our Zoe. You have sounded happier since going there than you have since you lost Nick.’

  ‘I feel like he’s with us in some way here. Is that crazy?’

  ‘Of course not. He sent you there, it was his home, you’re bound to feel close to him there. You’ll always feel close to him. And I know he is looking down on you both. Trust yourself, Eszter. When you told me you were marrying an English man you hardly knew, I was worried, you know that, but you two were a perfect fit. You believed in your heart then, didn’t you?’

  Eszter felt a tear roll down her cheek, and she smiled down the phone. ‘I was so sure of him.’

  ‘And you’re sure now, aren’t you?’

  Eszter hesitated. She had been so worried about making such a life-changing choice when she was still grieving but her mother was right: it did feel like it was the right thing to do. ‘Something is holding me back.’

  ‘Why don’t you speak to Zoe? See what she thinks?’

  ‘Shouldn’t I be making our decisions?’

  ‘Why? It’s her life too. And she’s your main concern, isn’t she?’

  ‘Always.’

  ‘Well, then. Dry those tears, Eszter. You know what you need to do.’

  Eszter thanked her mother and they said their goodbyes with love and when she hung up, she let the tears flow freely. She looked around the room, and pictured it filled with Zoe’s things. She was sure her daughter would want the walls changed to blue, her favourite colour, and would love the view of the garden. Eszter wiped her eyes, and decided her mother was right, Zoe needed to have a say in this decision too.

  ***

  Louise walked into Brew on her way to work. The weather had cooled a little and she was wearing a denim jacket for the first time in a few weeks and thought that autumn was teasing its approach. She greeted Joy at the counter. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Good. We just had Abbie in here, full of excitement for this party she’s throwing at Huntley Manor. We’re expecting a lot of people in town so Harry and I have been coming up with ideas for cakes and extra food we can put on in the day.’

  ‘It’s certainly going to be a big occasion. I just need to find something to wear.’

  ‘Yes, she warned us the party is themed. But I can’t see Harry dressed as a 1920s gangster, can you?’ They both laughed as Harry walked past with two plates of eggs and bacon for a couple waiting at a table. ‘What can I get you?’

  ‘Two coffees to go, please. I’m going to drop one in for Alex on my way. They are meeting the consultant today and I can only imagine how worried they all are.’

  ‘Well, that’s a lovely thought. You girls have really embraced our kindness mission. I swear half of the Kindness Board is full of things you, Abbie and Eszter do for everyone,’ Joy said as she prepared the coffees for her.

  Louise glanced at it and smiled. ‘You inspired us at the start of the summer, and it’s given all three of us a lot of pleasure. I didn’t think kindness could change things so much but look at what’s happened already.’

  ‘Give Alex our best wishes, won’t you? These are on us, no arguments,’ Joy said, giving Louise a stern look when she tried to protest. Joy handed her the two takeaway cups.

  Louise smiled. Joy was indirectly responsible for her admitting her feelings about Alex and for finally gaining the courage to decide to move on from her past romantic hurt. She had made a pact with Abbie and Eszter to be kinder to herself,
and she was finally embracing the challenge. ‘Thanks, Joy.’ She walked out and got into her car to drive the short distance to Alex’s veterinary surgery in the High Street. He lived in the flat above it. She knew it was a tiny gesture on such a difficult day but she wanted to show him she was thinking of him, and repay all the times he had cheered her up with a Brew delivery. She jumped out of her car and knocked on his door.

  ‘Louise,’ he said in surprise when he opened it up.

  She could tell he hadn’t slept well. ‘I just wanted to drop this off on my way to work,’ she said, handing him his coffee. ‘I’ll be thinking of you all today.’

  He smiled. ‘Thank you. We’ll probably see you at the hospital later. I just hope it’s not the news we’re dreading, you know?’

  ‘I hope so too.’ She reached out and touched his arm. ‘I’d better go.’

  He nodded. ‘Thank you again.’

  ‘It was no trouble at all. Take care, Alex.’ She walked away and got into her car, and when she looked back, Alex was watching her and lifted his hand in a wave. She waved back, wishing that the sight of him in the doorway hadn’t made her heart leap. She drove to work, praying to the universe to spare Hazel and her family any more pain.

  Chapter Four

  Eszter, a cup of coffee in her hands, sat at the kitchen table with Zoe while her daughter was colouring, and broached the subject of staying in Littlewood with her. ‘Have you been enjoying your summer here, Zo?’

  ‘Yes,’ Zoe said, looking at her picture with a critical eye. She added a smudge of blue. ‘I like my friends, and Gran. Plus, we have a lot of cake here.’

  Eszter smiled. ‘I have something to ask you then. Your grandmother has told me that she will miss us very much when we go back to Hungary at the end of the summer, so much so, she’s asked if we would like to stay longer, and if we wanted to we could go and live at her house instead of this cottage. What do you think about that?’

  Zoe put down her pencil, and looked at her mother. ‘That could be fun. Would I have my own room there?’

  ‘Yes, and she’s already said you can decorate it however you want. And it would mean that you’d go to school in Littlewood; we wouldn’t be going back to Hungary. Would you mind that?’

  ‘I don’t think so. I like my friends in Hungary but I’ve made some nice ones here, and Dad always said he liked going to school here, didn’t he?’

  Zoe’s memory sometimes amazed her mother. Eszter smiled. ‘That’s right, he loved it, which is why he always wanted to be a teacher himself. He especially loved his English teacher, and all the books he loved to read and gave to you were there because his teacher told him to read them.’

  ‘I wonder if he’s still there. The teacher.’

  ‘I can ask Anne. So, you think you might like to live in Littlewood? It’s very different from Budapest, isn’t it?’

  Zoe nodded solemnly. ‘But it feels like home, doesn’t it?’

  Eszter smiled, and felt stupid when she started to well up again. ‘It really does.’ She pulled Zoe in for a hug. ‘You’re a very clever girl. I think we should do it. We don’t need to stay any longer than what we’re happy with, okay? So, you tell me if you’re homesick, won’t you? If you’re no longer happy here?’

  ‘I will, Mum. Can I finish my colouring now?’

  Eszter laughed, and let her daughter go. She felt as if a big weight had been lifted from her. And she knew what she needed to do next.

  ***

  Abbie smiled to see Kate’s name flash up on her phone. ‘Hello, stranger,’ she answered.

  ‘Hi, Abbie. How are you?’

  ‘I’m good, but what’s wrong?’ Abbie asked, sensing a harassed edge to her friend’s voice.

  Kate sighed. ‘I hardly slept last night and I have to rush to a meeting soon. I thought I should call you though, I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else.’

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Jack.’

  Abbie sat down on her bed. Why was her ex still finding his way into her life? After she had found out he had been stealing from the company they used to work for, Abbie had left him in London and cut off all contact with him although he had text her to say he missed her. ‘What did he do now?’

  ‘I was at a bar last night with some colleagues, and he showed up, drunk already, and came over. He just got worse and worse through the night, completely loud and obnoxious, just causing chaos really. He ended up shouting at one of the bouncers and they got into a scuffle. He was escorted out, and they called the police. I had to go to the station. They let him off with a caution and I took him back to my flat so he could sleep it off.’

  ‘Oh my God, Kate.’ Abbie couldn’t believe how off the rails Jack had gone. ‘What happened this morning?’

  ‘I woke him up before I had to leave for work. He had the hangover from hell, and was sorry, but he kept asking about you, and saying that his life was in ruins. You know, real self-pitying stuff. I told him you’d moved on, and he needed to pull himself together. I told him to go and stay with his parents for a bit, get out of London and clear his head. He kept saying he’ll never get another job, and I told him he wouldn’t if he kept acting like he did last night. I saw him off in a taxi. I’m exhausted.’

  ‘I bet you are. I’m so sorry you had to deal with all of that.’

  ‘It wasn’t the best night. I mean, I do feel kind of sorry for him, but he’s really not doing himself any favours. He needs to get a grip.’

  Abbie felt bad for him but Kate was right: he needed to start taking responsibility for his actions, and turning things around. ‘Should I ring him, do you think?’

  Kate thought for a moment. ‘Personally, I wouldn’t. I don’t think it would help. He needs to get over you, and realise that it’s over for good. If he keeps relying on you, he’ll never change. He’s made this mess, he needs to be the one to sort it out.’

  ‘I guess you’re right. I can’t help but feel bad. Everything is going so well here, you know?’

  ‘You have nothing to feel guilty about,’ Kate replied firmly. ‘He’ll be fine, he’s a big boy. I just didn’t want you to hear about this from anyone else. You concentrate on your new business, and your new man. Who I can’t wait to meet at the party.’

  Abbie smiled into the phone. ‘I can’t wait for you to meet him too. Thanks, Kate. I know you’re right.’

  ‘Yes, I am, always,’ she said with a laugh. ‘Everything will be okay. Right, I’d better go to this meeting, hideous.’

  ‘Take care.’ Abbie hung up and chewed her lip. She was worried for Jack. It seemed as though losing his job, and her, had broken him, but the only person that could help him now was himself. She wanted to get in touch but she knew that it wasn’t right for either of them. She just had to hope that he pulled himself out of the funk he was in and soon. She had to focus on her own life but it was hard when you cared about someone, even though they had lied to you as he had done.

  Why did everything have to be so complicated?

  Abbie was glad she could get up now and go to Huntley Manor and be with Thomas who she knew would never treat her like Jack had done. That’s what she would focus on.

  Chapter Five

  Eszter left Zoe with her grandmother and walked to Huntley Manor. If she was going to move to Littlewood, she would need a job. Brew wouldn’t need extra help outside of the busier summer months, and she felt ready for a bigger challenge. She had always taken any job just for money; she had never pursued a career, never felt a passion or calling for anything in particular. Abbie was offering her the chance to build her own business, and the idea was both exciting and terrifying. She slipped into the hotel and headed upstairs to the room that Thomas Huntley had offered as their future office. Abbie had shown it to her but she wanted to see it again by herself to see if she could imagine working there.

  Eszter loved the hotel. She knew it was silly to have such romantic notions of the history here in England but there was romance to thinking abo
ut everyone who had been in this house before her. Budapest was a beautiful city but she had often begged Nick to tell her more about the royal family in England, about the history of the country he was born in, and had often pictured the two of them staying in an old house much like this very one, waking up in a four-poster bed together and taking a long walk in the beautiful grounds. She was sad that they hadn’t come to the UK together before it was too late but she was determined to make the most of being here now.

  Eszter walked into the empty space and went straight to the window where she looked down at the grounds. It would be a lovely place to work, there was no argument about that.

  ‘Ah, Eszter, it’s you.’

  She jumped and turned to see Thomas Huntley peer around the door. ‘Is it okay? I just wanted to take another look.’

  He stepped into the room. ‘Of course. I hope that means you’re interested in coming to work here with Abbie?’

  Eszter looked around the room. She could picture how they would make it their office. She had never thought of herself as having a vivid imagination, but being in Littlewood, she seemed to have started dreaming more than she had done since she was Zoe’s age. ‘It would be lovely,’ she admitted.

  ‘But?’

  ‘I’ve never done anything like this before,’ she replied. ‘What if I’m not up to it?’

  ‘I know we don’t know each other very well but your story, coming here alone with your daughter after losing your husband, it seems to me that you can do whatever you put your mind to doing. It was very brave of you to come here this summer, and if you decide to stay then I’m sure you will be successful because you have the courage and determination, and what more do you really need? Abbie is here to help you as well. She is sure that the two of you are meant to do this together.’