Too Late... I Love You

by Archer, Kiki

  “No ring.” Ryan was whistling in discovery. “Divorced. That’s how she’s got the money for those Gucci jeans.”

  “You can’t get Gucci jeans.”

  “No, not in Ethel Austin where you shop, darling, but you can in the places where she shops.”

  Connie laughed. “You’re so mean to me.”

  “Oh you love me for it, and your style’s nothing but unique.” He nodded his head towards the woman. “Her style, on the other hand, is top drawer.”

  “What would I have in common with her? She’s at least a foot taller than I am.”

  “I’m not asking you to seduce her. Simply say hello.” He nodded. “Shall we call her Amal? Like Amal Clooney? George Clooney’s new wife. Or what about Seductress, because of her eyes?”

  “What eyes?”

  “Oh Connie, your observation skills are soooo poor.” He nodded again. “Her eyes, look. They’re deep like the sweetest milk-chocolate and rich like the moist winter soil.”

  “You’re so full of bullshit.”

  “Yet another reason why you love me so much. Okay, sod it, let’s just call her Tight Arse.”

  “I thought you said she was rich?”

  “No! Physically! Look at her arse. It’s perfectly tight.”

  Connie blushed. “I’m not looking at her bottom.”

  “Oh sorry, I forgot. You’re totally unable to look at another woman with lust in your eyes. One day, Connie. Trust me. One day.”

  “Muuuuuuuuuuuuuumeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” Connie jumped up. It was an innate ability for any mother to recognise her child’s cry in the first millisecond of hearing it.

  “Muuuuuuuuuuuuuumeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

  “It’s okay, Noah, I’m coming, I’m coming!” She hurtled towards the blocks and swooped down to pick up her son, scooping him into her arms. “It’s okay, sweetie, it’s okay. Are you hurting?” She jigged him up and down as he caught hold of his tears.

  “Liss bash Noah.”

  “Liss? Who’s Liss, sweetheart?”

  Connie stopped jigging as the woman entered her space. “I’m so sorry, I think it was Alice, my daughter. Is he okay? There was a tussle with the blocks.”

  Connie stiffened as the woman bent down and stroked Noah’s head.

  “Alice can be rather forceful at times. I really am sorry. It’s our first time here and already we’re causing a fuss.” The woman paused and stretched out her hand. “Hi, I’m Maria.”

  Connie stood still, lost in the milk-chocolatey eyes of seduction.

  Chapter Four

  “She shook your hand, so what were her hands like?”

  Connie inhaled deeply. The rich aroma of real coffee paired with the quiet buzz of the quaint little shop always worked to relax her. “They were soft.”

  Ryan wiped some mocha froth from the top of his lip and encouraged her with wide eyes. “How soft are we talking? Good hand cream soft? Or never worked a day in her life soft?”

  “I don’t know, just soft. Can we stop debriefing now?” She reached for her drink and blew gently. “Our encounter was momentary.”

  “Connie Parker, you seriously need to work on your sensuality skills. Did her touch make you tingle? Was her grip one of power and dominance, or delight and desire? You know you can sense a person’s feelings towards you via their handshake, right?”

  “She’d only just met me! She didn’t have any feelings.”

  “Hotty with the botty’s daughter assaulted your son. She must have felt apologetic.”

  Connie automatically glanced to the left at the small children’s play area penned off in the corner of the room. It was one of the main reasons why she loved Mariano’s. It had all of the features of other big brand coffee shops but was designed with mothers in mind. She spotted the yellow t-shirt and smiled at her son. “It wasn’t an assault.”

  “Did she use two hands when shaking? That’s a sign of apology,” Ryan paused, “but it can also be a sign of falseness.”

  “She just introduced herself, said, Hi I’m Maria, and shook my hand. Okay?”

  The pitch was high. “Okay.”

  Connie used her little finger to scoop away some of the froth from the rim of her mug before sipping again. She looked up to the Gustav Klimt prints that hung on the walls and focused, as always, on the one called The Kiss.

  Ryan glanced at the vibrant image, aware of Connie’s distraction. He watched her and tutted. “Look at you, lady, seductively sucking on your finger.”

  Connie reddened and wiped her hands on her paper napkin. “No, I just like that picture, and I had cream on my finger.” She ignored the wiggling eyebrows and gave Ryan what he wanted. “Fine, we’ll talk about her. But what sort of woman shakes hands at a playgroup anyway?”

  “The type of woman who’s too classy for Top Dog’s gang and too clever for Titty’s nonsense. I can’t believe you just left her standing there, ripe for the picking. Didn’t you see how Earth Mother and Crusty swooped in?”

  “Noah wanted a drink. I said hello back to her, I told her not to worry about the tussle and then I got him his beaker.”

  “Well in two weeks’ time I want a third wheel on our bike, please. We’ve been at that playgroup for a year now. It’s about time we gathered our own gang. We could call ourselves the cool ones, or the normal ones,” he paused, “and let’s be honest, Maria’s the only woman in the past 365 days who looks like she might actually make the grade.”

  “I told you, I’m not going next week.”

  Suddenly Ryan squealed silently, frantically shaking his head as he flapped his fingers, overcome by extreme excitement. “She’s here!” he hissed.

  “Who?”

  “Amal Clooney! Seductress! Hotty with a botty! She can’t keep away!”

  Connie felt an unfamiliar surge of adrenaline dancing through her chest and instantly accepted how dull her life must have become to experience such a buzz at the fact the newcomer to the playgroup had shown up at the coffee shop too; but this was her life now and she was willing to embrace it. “Where?” she hissed in return.

  “Behind you. Don’t look. Don’t look. She’s scanning around. I think she needs a high chair.”

  “This one’s Noah’s.”

  “Alright, Miss Selfish! Wait, wait, it’s okay, she’s got one.”

  “Good, there are always loads in here.”

  Ryan continued his low-voiced reportage. “She’s got a table, she’s got a high chair. It looks like she’s trying to get Alice strapped in, but nope, Alice isn’t playing ball.” Ryan sat up taller. “What’s this? She’s getting table service!”

  Connie couldn’t help it, she turned around. The barista was kneeling next to the high chair and handing over one of the large chocolate coins available at the counter for a ridiculously high price. “They never do that for Noah!”

  “You never get him to sit down.”

  “Because he loves the playpen so much, and anyway he does sit down when I call him for snacks.”

  “Therefore you don’t need the barista’s help.” Ryan looked over at the scene and shook his head. “Oh no, now that’s not okay.”

  “What? Tell me. I can’t keep turning around.”

  “He’s brought over… what looks like…” he squinted dramatically, “no way, a caramel ice frappe!”

  “For Alice?”

  “No! Maria. He’s got Alice a fruit juice.” Ryan lifted his hand to his forehead and peeped, quite obviously, through his fingers. “Now there are two of them, fawning all over her, and look, the queue at the counter’s started to build.” He reached across the table and tapped Connie’s purse. “I bet she tips well. Do you ever tip when you’re here?”

  “No, it’s expensive enough as it is.”

  “Exactly my point. We need to go over. If she’s in our gang we’ll get much better service.”

  Connie took a gulp of her mocha. “Women like her don’t mix with women like me. We’re in different worlds,” she paused and wiped the top of her lip,
“and anyway, you already get preferential treatment wherever you go. Flying first class to Malta, aren’t you?”

  “You’re not in different worlds. You went to the same playgroup and now you’re both in the same coffee shop,” Ryan winked, “and yes, of course I am, darling, but stop changing the subject.”

  Connie shrugged. “I hate forced friendships. I’m not going over.”

  “Muuuuuuuuuuuuuumeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

  With one quick jump she was out of her seat and over to the playpen, kneeling next to her son and holding his middle. “Hey, big man, what is it? Are you okay?”

  “Liss, Liss, Liss, Liss!” The little boy wiggled out of his mummy’s grasp and took hold of the white picket fence that had been penning him in, jumping up and down as he continued to shout. “Liss, Liss, Liss, Liss!”

  Connie glanced back at the table she and Ryan had just been observing. She lowered her voice. “Oh yes, good boy, that’s Alice isn’t it.”

  Noah got louder. “Liss, Liss, Liss!”

  “Shush, shush, shush, shush, shush. Alice is having some lunch with her mummy. Would you like your snacks now?”

  “Snacks with Liss!”

  “No, no, no.” Connie picked up her son and got herself out of the playpen. “Noah sit with Mummy and Ry Ry.”

  “Noah sit with Liss.” The little boy shouted even louder from his now elevated position, waving frantically in the direction of his new friend. “Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiss!”

  Connie turned around in mouthing apology to everyone in the coffee shop, unable to avoid Maria’s smiling eyes. She nodded back at them, turning instantly red.

  “Come say hi,” mouthed Maria, signalling her over.

  She shook her head and pointed at her son before miming the act of eating as she signalled down to the high chair. Connie cringed at herself, always so rubbish at acting.

  The beautifully shaped lips continued to articulate the words. “Come on.” Maria was holding up her index finger. “Just one minute.” She pointed down at Alice who was grinning from ear to ear and waving both hands.

  Connie could tell that her cheeks were now crimson as she struggled to keep hold of her son. She hated moments like this, embarrassment and shyness always getting the better of her. She shook her head and tried to mouth back. “No, I’ll...” It was too late. Noah had succeeded in wiggling himself free and was now marching, on his tip toes, towards Liss’s table.

  “Go get her, cowboy,” muttered Ryan from his seat next to the show.

  “Oh stop it,” Connie hissed, finding her game face and following her son. Edging past the old couple who were eating their buttered teacakes and toast, Connie realised she was far too nervous to enjoy the aroma. It was her usual treat of choice whenever she came to Mariano’s. A fruit teacake with butter and jam. Not today though. Today she had to make small talk with a woman of stature, a woman of presence, a woman whose calibre far outshone her own tiny light. Maria was a beacon, she was a match. Maria was a lighthouse, she was a torch – one of those crappy self-revving ones. Maria was a… Connie stopped herself. Maria was standing there smiling. Speak, Connie, speak.

  “Sorry, Noah can be so loud. Don’t let us disturb you. Noah say hello to Alice and let’s leave Alice and her mummy to have their lunch in peace.” Connie watched as her son reached onto the highchair and helped himself to a raisin. “Noah, no! They’re Alice’s raisins.”

  The dark-haired lady laughed. “It’s fine, honestly.”

  “Sorry, he’s...” Connie shuffled on the spot, finally lifting her eyes to Maria’s.

  The brown eyes smiled at the connection. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “Yeah, we come in here lots.” Connie cringed at her sparkling wit and repartee.

  “What do you think of it?”

  “Hi guys, sorry to interrupt. I’ve just had a call from a client. I’m needed.” Ryan stretched out his hand to Maria. “Ryan Morley, private masseur. You two met at the playgroup, didn’t you? Connie can be incredibly shy, can’t you, Con?” He nudged his best friend with his elbow. “It’s alright if she joins you, isn’t it? The kiddies will probably be off in the playpen soon so it seems silly for you two to sit all alone.”

  Maria returned the handshake and smiled. “I’m Maria.”

  “I know. Connie’s already told me lots about you.” He paused and nodded his head. “She was right. You do have the softest hands imaginable. Anyway, I’ll go and grab the highchair and drinks.” He turned to Connie and smiled. “I don’t want you berating me for leaving you in the lurch.”

  Connie could feel the heat radiating out from her neck, face and forehead; even her earlobes felt as if they were on fire. “No, no, it’s fine.”

  Maria reached out and touched Connie’s shoulder. “Oh do, it would be nice to chat. Look at them, they look like twins.”

  Connie was unable to study the mops of blonde hair; all she could feel was the hand on her shoulder. She shifted slightly and took hold of herself. Calm down, head up, act normal. “Okay,” she managed to say.

  “Great.” Maria clapped her hands together. “Can I get you a drink? A snack?”

  Connie managed to breathe, pleased that the contact was over. “No, no, it’s—”

  Ryan cut in as he placed the highchair next to the table. “Your mocha’s empty, Connie, and we were going to order some lunch.”

  Maria nodded. “So that’s one mocha and what’s Noah drinking?”

  “No, no, he’s got his beak—”

  Ryan continued. “He loves the fruit juices, like Alice, and we usually let him share a panini. The ham and cheese one. Connie likes the toasted teacakes with butter and jam, and we sometimes let Noah choose a cake at the end.”

  Maria smiled. “I’ll get a selection. Are you okay to watch Alice for a minute?”

  Connie didn’t realise it was a rhetorical question and stood frozen in shock as the woman with the penchant for leaving her daughter with complete strangers made her way to the counter. “She’s left her kid with us!”

  “She’s only at the counter.”

  Connie continued to gasp. “She doesn’t even know us! Who does that? I’d never do that. What if we were weirdos?”

  “Speak for yourself.”

  “Plus she’s one of those touchy feely type women. You know how much they scare me. Did you see her squeezing my arm?”

  Ryan lifted Noah up and placed him in the highchair next to Alice. “She’s just normal. You’re the one with the issues.”

  “Please don’t leave me. Say your thing’s been cancelled.” Connie paused. “You have got a thing, haven’t you? You did get a call, didn’t you? This isn’t some stupid ruse to make me make friends, is it? It better bloody not be, Ryan. I’ll come out in hives.”

  Ryan placed another chair at the table. “Sit down and act cool. She seems lovely. It’ll do you good.”

  “Not when I end up in hospital suffering from palpitations it won’t.”

  He reached out and held both sides of the blonde hair, cupping Connie’s cheeks in his hands. “Chat. Make small talk. Enjoy the company.” He kissed her button nose. “You’ll be fab.”

  “They’re the three things I’m most crap at.”

  “Connie Parker, you’re a strange little beast.” He smiled and pushed her down onto her seat. “Talk to Alice then, she seems cool.”

  Connie looked at the two highchairs and couldn’t help smiling. Noah had taken charge of the raisins and was carefully sharing them out. “You owe me, Ryan.”

  Ryan shook his head. “No, I think it’s you who’s going to owe me. Right, I’m off. Say bye to Maria for me.”

  Maria stepped up to the table. “No need, I’m back. It was nice to meet you.”

  “Oooh you’re like a midnight black panther, very stealthy.” He nodded. “You ladies enjoy. Connie, I’ll call.”

  Connie watched as her best friend strode away. She had no option but to fill in the silence. “That was quick service. They’re usually so s
low at the counter.”

  “Are they?”

  “Yes, and the prices are simply outrageous. Their large drinks are the same size as the regular drinks in Starbucks yet they’re much more expensive. Plus you only get a small slice of cake.” She paused as a barista arrived at their table.

  “Miss Mariano, did you want cream with the mocha?”

  Chapter Five

  Connie silently begged the ground to swallow her up. Here she was, less than thirty seconds in and already attacking the owner of what was actually her favourite ever coffee shop. “Sorry, I was just thinking of something to say. I really didn’t mean it.”

  Maria pulled out the padded chair and sat down. “It’s fine. It’s good to get feedback.”

  “No, no, I love it in here. I really do. The prices are fine and the service is great. That children’s playpen is simply genius.”

  The laugh was warm and endearing. “There’s no need to go overboard.”

  “No, honestly. Noah loves the fact he can watch CBeebies in there without me moaning at him, and all the toys are fantastic. He can’t get enough of the bead runners and the abacus, and that little slide’s just perfect. It’s so reassuring as a mother to know they’re fenced in, and that it’s at the back so no one’s walking past who shouldn’t be walking past if you know what I mean?”

  “Do you always talk this fast?”

  Connie flushed. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to dig myself out of the hole I so gloriously fell into.”

  The laugh came again. “It’s fine. You weren’t to know, and like I said before, feedback’s always important. I’ve been out of the business for over three years now.” She looked at her daughter in her high chair and smiled. “I wanted to do the whole stay at home mum thing properly, so I avoided coming in.”

  Connie instantly warmed to the comment. “I’m a stay at home mum too,” she said, smiling, “and if you had come in you’d have seen that I’ve been part of the furniture here for the past three years.”