‘Well, I don’t know what you’ve sold the most,’ she beamed. ‘Yourself or your ideas. Would you be interested in the supervisory position I mentioned?’
Kate’s stomach lurched forward and she tried to slow her breathing. She knew she was being silly but she hadn’t felt this excited in ages. This woman was giving her the opportunity to be there from the beginning of a new venture. She’d be able to have some say in the remodelling of the décor, choosing the new menu and variety of coffees. She’d be able to help with the promotion and build up of the business. And she’d be able to have a new start, away from Brentside, away from the house, away from the memories and, most of all, away from Nick. She had to give it a chance, even if it turned out to be a temporary thing.
‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘I would be.’
‘Good, then I’d like to welcome you to my coffee shop. Is there anything else you’d like to ask before you leave to catch your train?’
‘Actually,’ Kate opened the folder again and pulled out the photograph of Rosie she’d pushed in at the back. ‘There is one small item I need to discuss.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘Here’s to you then, Chloe.’ Ben raised his pint glass high in the air. ‘May the female of the family be a successful servant.’
‘It’s a waitress, actually,’ his sister corrected him as she touched her glass to his. ‘And I’m going to be the best and the cutest by far.’
They were sat in Carlo’s Pizza House. Chloe had chosen it as her farewell dining treat before she left for Somerley that Sunday afternoon. It had been a favourite of her mums and one she knew kept the memories alive for all three of them. The fact that it hadn’t changed over the years was an instant appeal. She’d always liked its simple sense of style, right down to the gingham checked table cloths and wooden chairs with raffia matting that criss-crossed the back of your legs if your skirt was too short. Plastic ivy entwined itself realistically around the window frames, and café nets added a touch of privacy from the passing crowds.
The overpowering smell of garlic brought her back to the present. Even at seven-thirty, most of the tables were full of diners.
‘What time will Dad be here?’ Chloe asked. She reached across the table for a chunk of Ciabatta bread.
Ben gently slapped her hand away. ‘You know you never finish your meal if you start picking now.’
Ignoring his remark, Chloe grabbed the bread anyway and ferociously ripped it into two.
‘He’ll be finished around eight. He’s told me to order champagne.’
Chloe threw him a look. ‘He isn’t glad to see me off, you know.’
‘Clever girl,’ Ben teased, and then his tone changed. ‘I still think you should have invited Maddy.’
Although Graham’s arrival saved her from the usual lecture, Chloe didn’t need reminding of her childish behaviour. She’d regretted not inviting her the minute she’d told Graham of her decision. It had been so obvious he was trying to hide his disappointment at her failure to at least try and understand how important Maddy was to him. But instead of relenting, Chloe had explained how she’d wanted it to be just the three of them. She’d almost gone back on her word when she saw how miserable it had made him, almost.
Ben got up to meet his dad halfway across the room. Chloe smiled. She loved to see men shaking hands. It seemed such an intimate gesture.
Graham kissed her cheek, his eyes scanning lightly over the low cut of her green top. ‘You look fabulous as usual,’ he remarked with a mixture of amusement and embarrassment as there was too much of his daughter’s cleavage on show for his liking. ‘I suppose you’ve ordered a calzone?’
‘You know me so well,’ Chloe answered. All guilty thoughts around her treatment of Maddy disappeared.
‘I do, my little one,’ Graham smiled, all thoughts of her treatment of Maddy still at the forefront of his mind. He handed her a colourful, squishy parcel. ‘Present from Maddy. She says you can swap it if you don’t like it, but she usually knows your taste.’
Chloe opened the tissue paper carefully. Inside was a halter neck top she had been looking at in a magazine the other day. Maddy must have noticed her coveting it.
‘Do you like it?’ asked Graham.
‘It’s okay,’ Chloe fibbed, her cheeks starting to burn with embarrassment. She might not like Maddy but she definitely liked the top. Ben raised his eyebrows knowingly but she ignored him as she wrapped it up again, making sure it was put out of harms way. She didn’t want anything to spill over that, thank you very much.
‘I can’t believe you’ll be leaving at the weekend.’ Graham sat down and pulled in his chair. ‘I’m going to miss you so much.’
Chloe threw her brother another look, this time one of contempt. Then suddenly the enormity of what she was about to do hit her. She stared at her dad as he studied the menu, his tie hung loosely around his neck, the stress of his day gently easing away as he entered into conversation with his son. She watched her brother as he relayed his working day to his father, giving her a wink as he caught her looking in his direction. Her eyes began to fill up, a heavy feeling hit her hard in the chest. Trying to concentrate on the words of an Elton John song playing quietly in the background, she gulped down a mouthful of wine.
‘Hey.’ Graham tilted her chin and wiped away the lone tear that had escaped with his thumb. ‘You’ll be fine without us.’
‘Sure you will,’ said Ben, for the first time witnessing how nervous Chloe was about leaving. ‘You’ll be having too much fun to think of us.’
‘My life’s not all fun,’ Chloe responded indignantly. ‘I can be taken seriously once in a while.’
Ben and Graham laughed so loud that even the chef stopped twirling the pizza dough around in his hands. Chloe opened her mouth to answer back, but instead picked up her digital camera.
‘Let’s have a group photo.’ She signalled for the waiter. ‘I need something to remind me of your ugly mugs when you’re not around to gang up on me.’
Ben came around to their side of the table and stood between them as they raised their champagne glasses in another toast.
‘To Chloe,’ they both cried as Chloe tried hard not to.
At quarter past eight that same night, Kate sat on the settee in her living room. Nick sat opposite her in the armchair.
‘I’m not sure it’s a good idea,’ he told her.
‘It’s a solution to our problem. I thought you’d be pleased.’
‘I’m pleased about moving back in here again.’
‘Well, let’s try it then.’ Kate sat forward. ‘I’ll go to Somerley for a month, see if things work out. You move back in and if I don’t like it, I’ll come back and we’ll sell the place, split the proceeds.’
‘I can’t see why we can’t sell it straightaway,’ said Nick.
Kate sighed. ‘Please. It’s only four weeks I’m asking for. I just can’t do this without knowing I have a back up plan.’
‘But giving up your job? To work in a café?’
‘It’s a coffee shop actually.’
‘Café, coffee shop, whatever. I just can’t see you –’
‘Don’t you think time apart might do us both good?’
‘No. You just don’t want our marriage to be over. That isn’t a reason for us to stick at it.’
Kate paused then, knowing he was right. She’d realised as soon as he’d set foot in the house that evening that it had felt different. There had been no fireworks, no ticker tape, like she had expected – like she had wanted even. And, although she had every right to feel sorry for herself because she’d been abandoned again, it wasn’t his fault. She had to sort that one out for herself.
‘Maybe it’s the thought of you with someone else that I can’t stand,’ she admitted that much to him.
Nick shrugged. ‘Maybe. Look, I’m sorry about pouncing on you the other night. Splitting up doesn’t mean I’ve stopped wanting what we had, wishing it could work again…like you do.’
; Kate nodded, fighting the urge to run and drape her arms around him. Part of her just wanted everything to be normal again. It would be much easier that way. But after she’d returned from her interview with Lily Mortimer, she’d had a feeling that she was going to be okay. It was simply a matter of time. And what Nick was saying now made complete sense to her. She needed to understand that she hadn’t failed to keep their marriage together. They’d both played a big part.
‘I do care for you,’ Nick added into the silence. ‘Part of me always will. But we have to move on.’
Funny you should say that, Kate thought, as she watched him leave the room moments later; waited for the front door to close behind him; listened for the familiar sound of his car reversing out of the drive way.
Because moving on was exactly what she couldn’t stop thinking about.
Later that evening, shot through with exhaustion, Lily settled down for the night with a hot drink. It had been extremely tiring work to find two friendly people to help with her plan. She’d been surprised at the amount of letters and phone calls she’d received. Perhaps putting it into five newspapers around the surrounding areas was a bit ambitious of her. At the last count she’d interviewed twenty-four men and women, from all over.
She cast her mind back over the array of strange characters that had made their way to the cafe over the past three weeks. That girl who’d turned up with a mouth full of chewing gum. She looked like a cow mulling over the right amount of grass. And when she opened her mouth to talk, after she’d placed the gum on the roof of her mouth, all Lily could get out of her were monosyllables. The girl had no character, wouldn’t do at all.
Then there had been Malcolm. He’d come across as a young sprightly man over the phone, but if the truth were known, he wasn’t far from retirement age. ‘Once I’ve got over my aches and pains first thing in the morning, I’m as good as any twenty -year old,’ he’d told her proudly. Lily could just imagine. He’d never make the early mornings. He’d probably manage to pull himself out of bed and get to work around eleven. No, he hadn’t been suitable at all.
Kate Bradshaw, on the other hand, had seemed perfect. She had a real air of grace about her. Lily had noted the shine on her hair, not a dark strand out of place. Her make up, subtle yet striking, accentuated her best features, easily her deep set, dark blue eyes. Her business knowledge had been excellent. She had the foresight to look at what the café could be and not what it was. Lily also surmised that Kate could use the move to Somerley to her own advantage.
Lily’s thoughts then turned to Chloe Ward. Lily smiled as she remembered the way Chloe had put her foot into things with the least amount of effort during her interview. She seemed full of life and, oh what beautiful hair. Masses of curls, cascading down her back. Piercing green eyes bewitching her as they sparkled with enthusiasm. There was an actress she reminded Lily of. Used to be married to that small Cruise fellow.
With great pleasure and an immense amount of relief, Lily ran a line straight through the last item on her long list of objectives. At last she could put her plan into place.
CHAPTER NINE
Kate stood on the front doorstep for a moment and looked back into the hallway of her home. For all she knew, that may be the last time that she’d clatter her heels on the flooring, glance through the rectangular mirror to see if she looked decent enough to be let out and try not to get her clothes hooked up on the dried flower arrangement sitting on top of the table.
It was weird to think that she was leaving. Over the years, how many times had she run through that front door, anxious to see Nick because she couldn’t wait to feel his arms engulf her in a bear hug? Rush in with news that she knew he’d be ecstatic to hear.
Sadly, she thought, there were far more times when she’d dreaded walking through the front door, knowing that all she’d be met with was a stony silence. The look that said, ‘don’t bother talking to me.’ The body language that said, ‘keep well clear, I don’t want to know you at the moment.’
With a grave sigh, she pulled the door shut, picked up the last three carrier bags and slung a faded red rucksack over her shoulder, nearly knocking herself off balance in the process.
‘I can’t believe you’re taking all this baggage,’ said Louise as she struggled to wheel a bulging suitcase down the short driveway.
Kate was taking more baggage than Louise realised – emotional baggage. She frowned, shoving a carrier bag full of Rosie’s toys onto the back seat of her car. Rosie was strapped into the passenger seat but still insisted on taking a look. With well practiced patience, Kate untangled her and sat her straight again.
‘Now, be patient,’ she stroked Rosie’s head reassuringly and gave her a rubber bone to play with. Maybe that would keep her quiet for some of the journey.
Stretching up to full height, Kate turned back again, this time to stare at the house. Now the day had come for her to leave and well, she was ready to go, but her feet were reluctant to move.
‘Are you okay?’ Louise asked her.
Kate shook her head. ‘I’m scared.’
‘Don’t be. It’ll be exciting.’
‘But I’m excited too.’
Louise gave Kate a hug. ‘You’ll be fine.’
Kate pulled back from Louise with a feeling of remorse, wishing that she wasn’t leaving her behind too. ‘I hope so. You take good care of that husband of yours. Don’t wear him out too soon.’
‘I won’t. And we’ll call and see you as soon as you’ve settled in.’
‘You mean once all the mess has gone and the place is looking decent?’
Louise grinned. ‘Yep, you got it. When all the hard work has finished.’
‘Well, toodle-pip then.’
Kate finally got into her car and started the engine. She forced herself not to look through the rear view mirror until she had turned out of Marble Close. Her stomach seemed to helter-skelter around. She wasn’t sure if it was due to nerves, or happiness, or merely the fact that she hadn’t eaten anything for breakfast and had only nibbled at a light lunch. Still, she had plenty of chocolate supplies in the glove box and it was only an hour and a half’s drive to Somerley at the most.
Pushing all feelings of doubt clearly away and wondering instead what the future would bring for her, with Rosie still securely fastened up by her side, Kate focused on the road ahead and sped off towards their new home.
‘Here we are then.’ Kate placed Rosie onto the floor two hours later and watched as she proceeded to sniff every inch of her new surroundings. Kate was so thankful that Lily had agreed to let her stay here, if only for a trial period of a month. She knew Rosie would win her over, especially as Lily had shown her a photo of a dog long passed away.
The double bedroom Lily had shown Kate to was at the back of the building. Kate pushed up a thick net curtain, mentally changing it to a lighter roman blind, and nosed at her surroundings. The window overlooked a cobble-stoned alleyway, with properties, mostly boarded up, behind. Not a very pleasant view but still, she didn’t intend on spending too much time in this room. Throwing Rosie’s cushion onto the bed squashed up against the wall, she wondered what Chloe would be like as she unzipped her suitcase. Lily had told her she was eighteen. She hoped they’d get on well. Fourteen years was quite an age gap.
She didn’t have long to wait because Chloe appeared in the doorway twenty minutes later. Instantly, Kate saw how her presence would lighten up any dreary room. Oh, the joys of being eighteen, she envied, taking in the spiral curls, long legs in skinny jeans, ballet pumps and the white vest underneath an oversized red t-shirt with a slashed neck.
‘Hi.’ Chloe smiled. She shrugged her right shoulder and her holdall slithered to the floor. ‘You must be Kate?’
Kate, embarrassed at being caught with her favourite knickers in her hand, quickly shoved them into a drawer. Rosie gave a grunt and headed across the floor, immediately demanding attention.
‘Yes, hi yourself.’ Kate swept Rosie up and onto the
swirly pink and white duvet. ‘Are you in the room next to mine?’
Chloe nodded. She began to stroke Rosie’s head, looking over as Kate grouped her toiletries and cosmetics together on top of the dressing table.
Kate was older than Chloe had imagined. She’d assumed she’d be working with someone the same age as herself. She hoped it wasn’t going to be a problem as she watched Kate’s array of jumpers and t-shirts being put into the drawers. There didn’t seem much in the way of things that she could borrow, she sighed inwardly, as she scanned the rest of the suitcase.
Kate straightened up to her full height and Chloe realised that she’d be known as the tall one again. Kate was small and thin, with hair that she envied already. Chloe would love to have straight hair of any colour. At least there were choices with straight hair.
‘Lily’s making coffee for us,’ she said. ‘I’m going to dump my stuff and go downstairs. See you in a minute.’
‘I’ll settle Rosie and then come down to you,’ Kate shouted after her.
Hearing her name, Rosie bounced around like a kangaroo while Kate wondered where on earth she was going to put her cushion. It was bad enough that she had to stay in here. With all her snoring and twitching, she’d be lucky to get any sleep. Hastily, she pushed it under the dressing table and prayed that she’d settle quickly.
Chloe was waiting for her on the landing when she came out of the room minutes later.
‘So, what made you come here?’ she asked as Kate walked downstairs in front of her.
‘Oh, you know,’ Kate glanced back shyly. ‘A new challenge, a change of scenery. Something like that. How about you?’
‘Oh, you know,’ Chloe jumped down a step at a time, ‘my first job, my first salary, my first taste of freedom away from home. I’ve just finished my A levels.’
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