Summer at the Kindness Cafe

by Victoria Walters

  Eszter smiled. ‘She’s very hard to say no to.’

  He chuckled. ‘I have learnt that this summer. I’ll leave you to your thoughts but Huntley Manor would love to have you both.’

  Eszter watched him go, pleased that he was certain she could do this. She supposed all she needed to do now was believe it herself.

  Her phone rang then and she answered Anne’s call, immediately worried about Zoe. ‘Is everything okay?’

  ‘Yes, but we just had the post delivered and there’s a letter for you.’ There was a silence before Anne continued in a shaky voice. ‘And I think it’s from Nick.’

  Chapter Six

  Louise was just finishing up her lunch in the hospital canteen when she looked up and saw Alex walking past the doors. Her heart immediately reacted to him. She wondered if they had seen the consultant yet and hastily grabbed her bag and hurried after him.

  ‘Alex!’ she called when she walked through the doors, and he stopped at the end of the corridor.

  ‘I’ve been looking for you,’ he said, turning to face her and then he smiled.

  ‘It’s good news?’ she said, reading his expression as a positive one.

  He started walking towards her. ‘It’s not cancer!’ Alex reached for her and she found herself wrapped in his arms. He pulled back to look at her. ‘It’s just a nasty infection but once she has antibiotics, she’ll be fine. There’s no sign of any cancer cells returning so she can stay at home, and they won’t need to check on her for another six months; she just needs to go to the GP if the infection doesn’t clear up.’

  ‘Oh, Alex, I’m so happy for you.’ Louise hugged him again and then pulled away, a little self-conscious at their sudden affection. She smiled. ‘Please give Hazel and Sarah my love.’

  ‘I will, I will. I had to find you before we went home. Hazel is going to bed, and I’m heading back to work but maybe I can see you later? We could have a celebratory drink?’

  Louise wished Alex was asking her as a date but she knew that he meant just a friendly one; still, it was a chance to be with him and she wasn’t going to turn that down. ‘That would be great. What about Huntley Manor? My treat.’

  Alex grinned. ‘I’d better dig out a tie then.’

  ‘I’m really pleased for you all, Alex.’

  ‘I know. You’ve been so great with Hazel, well, with all of us. Right, see you tonight then?’

  She nodded. ‘You will.’ She watched him head off to rejoin his family, beaming from head to toe. Hazel was okay, and he wanted to celebrate with her. Louise dared to hope that she hadn’t ruined any chance of the two of them being together, and went back to finish her shift with a huge weight having been lifted from her shoulders.

  ***

  Abbie loved the attics at Huntley Manor. They stretched across the top of the main building, beams high above your head, dim lighting, and so many boxes that people had stored up there over God knows how many years. She had already found some gems to help spruce up the hotel, and even Thomas had forgotten half of what was hidden up here. While he dealt with lunch, Abbie had come up to root around for any more hidden treasures she could find.

  She moved to the back where she hadn’t had a good look yet. There were so many boxes; the Huntleys were most definitely hoarders but it was lucky that they were, as it meant they didn’t have to spend much on extra furniture or artwork: it was all here ready and waiting.

  There was something furry sticking out of one of the boxes so Abbie went to investigate and ran her hand over the soft fabric. She pulled and out of the box came a large fur coat. It smelt a little musty but it was obviously beautifully made. Abbie wasn’t sure about wearing fur even if it was vintage so she laid it to one side and knelt down beside the box to see what other items might be inside. The whole box was filled with clothes.

  ‘Ooh,’ she breathed, pulling out a long, slinky dress. She stood up and held it up; the fabric was delicate silk, the colour a midnight blue, and it looked pristine. She bent over and pulled out the next dress – a shorter, fringed cocktail dress in black. She held it against her and gasped.

  ‘Everything okay?’ Thomas called, climbing up the ladder.

  ‘Look what I’ve found!’

  He walked over. ‘I wonder who they belonged to.’

  ‘They’re perfect for the party,’ she said, excitedly. ‘I mean, do you think, would you mind if I borrowed them?’ She knew Louise would look stunning in the blue one, and the shorter one had stolen her heart.

  Thomas smiled. ‘Of course you can, take them, keep them. You have developed a real knack for unearthing treasure up here. My grandmother’s fur! Wow, she wore that every winter. It used to smell of her perfume, though.’

  ‘Some of this you might be able to sell, you know.’

  ‘Do you think?’

  ‘We should get an expert up here,’ she said, looking around. She had picked out things to display in the hotel but hadn’t thought that there could be things that were worth money up here before. ‘It’s worth a try, isn’t it?’

  ‘Honestly, what would I do without you?’

  Abbie met his gaze and felt herself blush. ‘You don’t need to worry about that, I’m sticking around for a long time yet.’

  ‘Is that a promise, Miss Morgan?’ he asked, stepping closer to her.

  ‘If you make it worth my while,’ she replied with a raised eyebrow.

  He chuckled softly and reached for her, pulling her towards him. ‘I have a few ideas about how I can do that.’

  Abbie’s breath hitched. She didn’t ever want to lose Thomas from her life. She leaned in, certain he was about to kiss her, and then there was a crash from behind them. She jumped and dropped his hand. ‘Oh, my goodness!’

  Thomas stepped back, unsteady himself. He looked behind her. ‘Looks like you loosened a lamp; it’s toppled over back there. Or my ancestors are making themselves known to us.’

  ‘Ooh, you could definitely make more money if you had a ghost here.’

  Thomas laughed. ‘You can add it to the website. Come on, I think we need a strong cup of tea. Pass me the dresses, and I’ll carry them down for you.’

  Abbie was disappointed that their moment had been ruined but she knew that there would be more. There was no rush. They had the rest of the summer, and far beyond, with any luck. Abbie passed him the dresses and gingerly stepped over the boxes to follow him back down to the hotel, making a mental note to Google antiques experts in the area and get someone up here to cast their eye over it all. If they only found one valuable item, it would help Thomas.

  Chapter Seven

  Eszter arrived back at Anne’s house and called out to them as she opened the door. Anne announced they were in the kitchen so she hurried through and found them at the table, tea and cake in front of them as usual.

  ‘You might want to go into the living room,’ Anne said after Eszter had kissed Zoe hello. Eszter nodded and said she’d be back in a minute. Anne obviously didn’t want Zoe to know there was a letter if Eszter didn’t want her to. She agreed it was best she looked at it first.

  Her heart in her throat, she went into the living room and closed the door behind her. There, on the coffee table, was the envelope. She walked slowly towards it, hardly daring to believe her eyes, but Anne was right, that was Nick’s writing. The letter was addressed to her at Anne’s house. How?

  She sat down in the armchair and sucked in a calming breath. She picked it up with shaking hands. She was terrified but desperate to read his words again. ‘You can do this,’ she whispered into the empty room. She opened the envelope slowly, being careful not to rip it, and inside was a letter in Nick’s hand. There was no doubt about it.

  She leaned back in the chair to steady herself as she unfolded it and started to read.

  Dear Eszter,

  I finished writing my final letter to you and was gripped with panic that it contained the last words I’d ever get to say to you, so I immediately started to write you another one. I asked our
landlord to keep it and post it to you in August when hopefully you are there in Littlewood. I have complete faith that you have got on that plane, stormed into my hometown, and transformed the place. I know that sending this to my mother’s house is risky but I also know that you’ve never shied away from a challenge, and no one ever says no to you, so I am confident that it will reach your hand.

  I can only imagine how your summer has gone. What I hope is that you have fallen in love with Littlewood.

  When I walked away as a younger man than I am now, I kind of hated the place. I was angry at my father, and my mother for always sticking by him, and was desperate to change my life. I felt stifled there, I suppose. So, I left and travelled, and found you and more happiness than I could have ever expected. But as I get closer to leaving you, I keep thinking about growing up there and I realise that I was lucky. It’s a small and quiet place but it was always safe and welcoming, and it is my home, no matter how far I have run from it.

  I wish I could have gone back with you. Just to see it one last time. And my mother. I wish for so many things to be different but I can’t change the past now. All I can do is hope that you and Zoe have enjoyed your summer there, and my mother has got a chance to know you both. I know that she will love you both as much as I do, who could not?

  I bought you a return plane ticket, and the date you are due to come back to Hungary is approaching very soon. I don’t know what you are planning to do next but I know that whatever you do will be a great adventure. You can’t go back to our old life so you must create a new and incredible one for you and Zo. And you will. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.

  Please don’t dwell on the past or what might have been. For whatever reason, I am not meant to go on this next adventure with you both, however much I wish to. But that’s okay. You’ve got this.

  You are a wonderful woman, Eszter, and you’ll be the best mother in the world to Zoe. Don’t ever worry about that. Follow your heart, and you’ll be fine, and know that I’ll always be watching over you both from wherever I go to next.

  A love like ours never dies. It will always be with you, and it will always be with me.

  Love to my mother and to Zoe and to Littlewood. And to you. Carry me with you wherever you go next, okay?

  All my love, Nick

  Eszter held the letter to her heart as the tears streamed down her face. What a wonderful thing for Nick to have done. Somehow, he knew that when the end of summer came she would be pining for his advice. And he had given it. It was the sign she had been looking, waiting, for. Nick seemed to have known that Littlewood would win a place in both her and Zoe’s heart and this letter seemed like his blessing to start a new life there. She knew that he would always watch over them, she could still feel him with them, and now she had the strength to make the decision she had been so nervous to make.

  She allowed herself a moment of anger that Nick had been taken from them, such a wonderful man, and then she wiped away her tears and got up out of the chair, ready to start the next phase of their life.

  ***

  Abbie waited in the reception of Huntley Manor for Eszter, who had rung her half an hour ago and asked to meet her there. She paced back and forth until she heard her name called. Eszter walked towards her with a warm smile on her face. Abbie pulled her in for a quick hug. ‘Is everything okay?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘Let’s get a cup of tea,’ Eszter said, linking her arm through Abbie’s.

  ‘You’ve become British this summer,’ Abbie said with a laugh at Eszter’s love of a good cuppa. They settled in the lounge of the hotel in two armchairs near the fireplace and the waiter brought over a pot of tea and two scones with clotted cream and jam.

  Abbie poured them both a cup and then leaned forwards in her chair to look at her friend. ‘So, what did you want to talk about? You sounded serious on the phone.’

  ‘I’ve made my decision,’ Eszter began, taking a quick sip of her tea. She told Abbie all about the letter that had turned up at her mother-in-law’s house. ‘I still can’t believe that he had the foresight to write it and have it sent to us here. It’s just like him, though, he was always thoughtful, and it was lovely, if difficult and sad to read. It’s really the last time I’ll hear from him.’ She took a moment to compose herself. ‘But it was a perfect letter, and it gave me the sign that I was looking for. Abbie, Zoe and I would love to stay in Littlewood and I would be so excited to work with you, if you’ll still have me.’

  ‘Oh my God!’ Abbie cried, hastily putting down her tea so she could jump up and squeeze Ester tightly. ‘Of course, I still want to! This is the best news. We really need champagne, not tea.’

  ‘We can still toast,’ Eszter replied with a relieved smile.

  Abbie held up her cup and saucer. ‘Here’s to you staying in Littlewood, and our new business. May we have tons of success!’ They clinked the china together. ‘I can’t believe Nick wrote to you like that but I’m so happy he did. What did he say that made you decide to say yes to my offer?’

  ‘He told me to follow my heart, and as soon as I walked into our office I knew I wanted to do this, but I was nervous, you know? I talked to Zoe, and Anne, and we all agreed that this is the best thing for us. We’re going to move in with Anne and get Zoe enrolled in school for September. I have a couple of weeks left at Brew but I’m ready to start with you whenever you like.’

  ‘Wow, this is going to be great. I know you’ve never worked in PR before but you’re great with people, and that’s all we need, plus we’re both organised so we’ll have no problem with the admin side of things. We need to think about the big stuff first, what we’re going to call the company, what we want to offer people, and set up a website. It’s going to be challenging but fun too, I hope.’

  Eszter smiled. ‘It will be. I can’t thank you enough for thinking of me. I am going to work so hard.’

  ‘We both will, but moving here has opened my eyes to see that there is so much more to life than work. I don’t want this business to ever take you away from Zoe. We can be successful but also enjoy our friends and family here, can’t we?’

  Eszter nodded. ‘Definitely. And it’s so kind of Thomas to let us use the office here. It’ll be a big help not having to worry about rent to start with.’

  ‘He’s so confident that we can do this.’

  ‘Well, we’d better prove him right then, hadn’t we?’

  Chapter Eight

  Louise bumped into Abbie and Eszter as she made her way to Huntley Manor. ‘What are you guys up to?’ she asked, looking at their smiling faces as they walked towards her.

  ‘We have the best news,’ Abbie greeted her sister. ‘Eszter has decided to stay in Littlewood, and we’re going to be partners!’

  ‘Oh, wow, that’s great!’ Louise replied with a smile.

  ‘We’ve been plotting for hours and realised we needed to go home and eat something,’ Eszter said. ‘Zoe and Anne will be wondering what happened to me.’

  ‘I’m really happy for you guys,’ Louise said, excited that both of them would be staying in her town with her. She had loved having them this summer, and now it didn’t have to end. ‘I also have good news,’ she said, telling them about Hazel being given the all-clear on cancer. ‘I’m meeting Alex now actually for a celebratory drink.’

  Eszter and Abbie exchanged a sly look. ‘A drink? With Alex, eh?’ Abbie said, nudging her sister.

  Louise sighed. ‘As friends,’ she said slowly so her sister would grasp it clearly.

  Abbie sighed. ‘Surely now you have no more excuses? His niece is going to get better, and there’s no need to hide how you feel any more.’

  ‘Shh!’ Louise hissed, looking around to make sure Alex wasn’t there to hear her. ‘I need to do it in my own time, okay?’

  ‘Just don’t take too long,’ Eszter said. ‘You never know how much time you actually have.’

  Louise softened. She knew how hard Eszter still found life without her husband, and s
he was right – Louise didn’t want to miss her chance and see Alex with anyone else. She just wished she was more confident about doing it. ‘I promise I am getting there. I’d better go and meet him anyway.’

  ‘Have a lovely time, okay?’ Abbie gave her a quick hug, and with a cheerful wave from Eszter, they carried on walking and Louise took off in the opposite direction towards the hotel. She was trying not to feel nervous. This was Alex, after all, and rarely had a man made her feel like she could be herself. The girls were right, the time had come to tell him that she would like to be more than friends; but when she thought about actually saying those words, aloud, to him her throat felt as if it was going to close up.

  She walked into Huntley Manor and spotted Alex at the small bar in the lounge area. There were a few guests around and she could definitely see the place was becoming more of a destination again. She took a deep breath and walked up to him. ‘Hi,’ she said with a shy smile.

  Alex turned and his face lit up. ‘Louise, you made it. You look lovely,’ he said, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘What can I get you?’

  ‘A glass of wine, please.’

  When they had got their drinks, Alex suggested that they took them outside as it was a clear, warm evening. They stepped out onto the terrace, finding a free table overlooking the grounds. Louise understood why Abbie had been unable to say goodbye to the place. There was a magic in the air of the late-summer evening in such a stunning location.

  ‘To Hazel,’ she said, lifting her glass.

  Alex grinned. ‘To good health and happiness for us all,’ he added and clinked her glass with his. ‘I’m so glad we decided to do this, it’s been such a stressful week. Hazel and Sarah just wanted a quiet night in but I definitely needed this,’ he said, taking a long sip of his cold beer.

  ‘I’m so glad she’s going to be okay, I can’t imagine what you’ve all been through these past months; let’s hope there’s better things to come,’ Louise replied, crossing her legs and leaning back in the chair. She was perfectly warm in her cropped jeans and white shirt and she hoped that autumn stayed away for a bit longer. ‘I’ve had even more good news today,’ she said, telling him about Eszter’s plans. ‘Honestly, I thought I was perfectly happy here but this summer having my sister around, and meeting Eszter, it’s been so lovely. I’m so happy they’ll be staying.’