Now that’s just rude.
I pull my hand back and fold my arms across my chest, irritation prickling me. “And you are?”
She locks eyes with me and snaps her bag shut. “I’m Sasha.”
“So, Sasha, do you work here?”
She looks at me like I’ve just asked the most ridiculous question ever, shakes her head and peers towards the stairs. “Is Nate up there?”
“Uh ... yeah.”
“Great.” Her lips peel back into a fake smile. “Be an angel and bring a cappuccino up for me.”
No please or thank you?
“Better make one for Nate too,” she calls over her shoulder. Her heels make an annoying clicking sound as she climbs the stairs.
“Yeah, I’d love to,” I mutter under my breath.
“What did you say?” Lois has appeared by my side.
I give a small shake of my head. “Oh, nothing ... just talking to myself.”
“Oh dear….” She grins. “First sign of madness.”
I pop into the grocery store on the way home from work and pick up some bread, eggs and avocado to make a light supper, and a mango because they looked so juicy and ripe. I get enough for Harriet and Rachel in case they want to eat with me.
By the time I get home, I’m shattered and my feet are throbbing like crazy. I’m not complaining though. Most of the time the café was so busy, I didn’t have time to think about anything other than getting food on plates and keeping the café clean, and that’s just fine with me. The best bit was mixing with all the different people. After Dad died, I dropped out of college and became a bit of a recluse. Today made me realise I’ve been cut off from other people for too long.
I find Rachel sitting in the sunroom, staring into space. Mellow music is playing in the background and she’s drinking from a glass tumbler. When she sees me, she immediately puts the glass down and slides it away from her. “Hi honey,” she says, running her thumb across her bottom lip. “How did your first day at work go?”
“It was good, thanks.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Must have been a bit boring though. Making coffee and wiping down tables all day….”
I shake my head. “There’s much more to it than that. Anyway, it was fun. I enjoyed all of it, even wiping down the tables.”
“But there are so many better jobs out there, Em.” She tilts her head. “Mine at the salon, for example.”
I don’t say anything. I’m not entering into a pissing match with her.
An awkward silence follows, so I raise my eyebrows. “Right. Well, I’m going to have a shower, grab something to eat and then I’m off to bed for an early night. I have a feeling I’ll sleep well.”
She inhales deeply, then she raises a hand. “Oh, hold on a minute. I have something for you.” She jumps up and grabs a piece of paper off the coffee table, jabbing it in my direction. “A Mr Peterson rang on your cell phone. He wants you to call him back as soon as you get a chance.”
I reach out to take the paper from her. “You answered my phone?” Damn, I didn’t even realise I left it behind.
“I hope you don’t mind. I thought it might be something important.”
I sieve through my memory for any dealings with a Mr Peterson in the past, but the name is unfamiliar. “Did he say what it was about?”
She shrugs. “He didn’t mention a subject. Do you think it’s related to Mike’s murder case?”
I flinch at her words. “I don’t know. It’s a possibility. I’ll try and call him now.”
I’m aware of her watching me as I pull up my missed calls and check the number she’s written matches the most recent one on the list. I feel uncomfortable so I back out of the room before I hit the call button.
It clicks the other and end then goes straight to a recorded message saying the office is closed and to please try again after nine in the morning. I look at my watch.
Damn. It’s the middle of the night back home.
I save the number under Mr Peterson’s name, making a mental note to keep my phone with me at all times in the future.
Chapter 9
On Tuesday morning it’s warm but there’s a cool breeze coming off the ocean. The first thing I do once I’m away from the house is pull out my phone and bring up Mr Peterson’s number, tapping the dial icon.
One of the dog-walkers I crossed paths with yesterday walks past and nods as her dog, a chocolate Labrador, races out of the ocean.
The phone rings a couple of times before a breezy female voice answers. “Mr Peterson’s office, can I help you?”
“Oh, hello. Can I speak to Mr Peterson please?”
“I’m sorry, that won’t be possible. Mr Peterson is in a meeting right now. Can I ask who is calling?”
“Goddamit, Percy,” the dog-walker shouts as the Labrador showers her with water.
I press my finger to my other ear so I can hear better. “Yes, my name is Emily Everett. Mr Peterson left a message for me to call him yesterday. I don’t suppose you have any idea what it was about, do you?”
I hear tapping sounds on a keyboard and a phone ringing in the background. “I’m afraid I don’t. All I can do is write down your name and ask him to call you back as soon as he’s free.”
I sigh. “Okay, thank you.”
“Is there anything else I can help you with, Ms Everett?”
I look out across the ocean. “Uh, yes, could you tell me what company or organisation Mr Peterson works for?”
“Sure. He’s the head of Fraud at Allied Bank.”
“Oh, right, you’re calling from the bank.”
Damn.
The line is silent for a moment and then I hear Mr Peterson’s assistant - I assume that’s who she is, draw in a deep breath. “Okay then, Ms Everett.” There’s a hint of impatience in her voice. “Thank you for your call. I’ll make sure Mr Peterson gets your message as soon as he is free.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.” I end the call, stop walking and tuck my phone away. Then I drop my head and pinch the bridge of my nose. I was so sure the call was going to be in relation to Dad’s murder investigation.
I arrive at the cafe just before seven. Nate’s Mustang is parked outside along with Lois’ Honda Civic, the café lights are on and when I try the door, it’s unlocked. I push it open and walk inside. Otis Redding’s Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay is playing in the background, there’s a delicious sweet smell coming from the kitchen and Lois and Riley are standing in the serving area slurping over-sized coffees.
“Here she is,” Riley says, reaching an arm out to flip the counter up for me.
“Thank you.” I smile as I walk through to join them.
“How are you this morning?” Lois asks.
“Not bad, thanks.” I drop my bag onto a low shelf and bend down to grab an apron. “How about you guys?”
“We’re just happy to see you,” Riley says. “It means we didn’t scare you off yesterday.”
“No chance.” I pull the apron over my head and fasten the straps. “Working here definitely beats staying at home.”
“Must be really bad,” Lois says, winking.
She has no idea.
I smile and catch the scent of something sweet. “Something smells good.”
Lois tenses. “Shit ... the pastries.” She slams her cup down and rushes into the kitchen area. As she throws the oven door open the area fills with a warm, sugary aroma. “Oh, that was close. Caught them just in time.”
Riley rolls his eyes. “Every morning,” he mouths. Then he leans over to pick up Lois’ discarded cup and takes it to the dishwasher.
I smile. They remind me of an old married couple. A happy old married couple.
There’s a clatter as Lois puts the tray of pastries on the work-surface. “Emily, once they’ve cooled, can you sprinkle this over the top?” She hands me a shaker. “It’s a cinnamon and sugar mix.”
“Of course.” My mouth waters as I put the shaker down next to the tray.
&n
bsp; Riley heads back with two fresh coffees. “Here you go, Emily. One’s for you and can you take the other one up to Nate. He’s in the office; it’s upstairs on the right. Save me hobbling up there.”
“Yes, of course. Thanks.” I take the steaming mugs off him. I want to ask him why he has a limp, but it seems too intrusive so I don’t say anything. I put my coffee on the side and then head upstairs with Nate’s. There’s a small landing at the top of the stairs with a door on either side. The door to the right is half open and I hear paper rustling on the other side. I take a deep breath and knock on the door.
“Come in,” Nate shouts.
He’s sitting in a chair in front of a computer monitor with an A4 sheet in one hand, twirling a pen between his fingers. He watches me enter with a bemused look on his face. “I knew it would be you, Emily. No one else knocks. And you don’t have to either.”
“Oh, right, I didn’t know if you were busy or not.”
“Never too busy for you,” he says, carefully placing the sheet of paper on top of a pile of others.
“I just came to bring you this.” I lift the mug ceremoniously before placing it on his desk. “From Riley.”
“Thank you.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m glad you came up. I wanted to have a quick chat with you in private to see how you got on yesterday?” A pause while he studies me. “Do you think you’ll be happy staying with us awhile?”
I nod. “Definitely. I enjoyed yesterday. It’s the first time in ages I’ve felt….” What is it I want to say? Normal? Distracted? “Useful.”
He grins. “I’m happy to hear it.” He puts his elbows on the table and links his hands together. “Lois and Riley couldn’t speak highly enough of you yesterday. I’m glad you guys all hit it off. Makes everything a lot easier.”
I nod. The feeling’s mutual.
He loops his fingers through the handle of the cup and slides it closer to him. “What was it you did in the UK?” he asks. “Before you came here?”
This is starting to feel like the interview I never had. I decide to omit the last six months. “I was at college.”
“What were you studying?”
“English Language and Literature.”
“Cool. Did you finish your course?”
I chew the inside of my cheek before doing a quick shake of my head. “I couldn’t. I had to drop out.”
His brow creases. “You had to? Why was that?”
I swallow hard as my hand finds my scar under my sleeve. Nate’s eyes follow the movement so I drop my hand away. “It was down to financial reasons,” I say hurriedly. “I couldn’t afford to support myself in London any longer so that’s why I needed to move in with my mom over here.”
“Oh, I see. Well that sucks. I know what it’s like living on the breadline, believe me.”
“It wasn’t easy.” I try to keep my voice light. “But I always knew I could come here if things ever got really bad, so I’ve had it easier than a lot of people.”
He looks away for a moment. Something’s on his mind and I can tell he’s deciding whether to share it with me. He takes his elbows off the desk and sits back in the chair. “We grew up poor,” he says, surprising me. “I mean really poor. Mom worked all hours to try and scrape enough money together to feed us and buy us clothes.”
“Was your dad not around when you were growing up then?”
He laughs. “He was there until I was about five. That was the problem. He was a gambler. He gambled away the house and the car and then left Mom with four kids under the age of ten, and a hell of a lot of debt.”
“That’s awful, Nate,” I say, quietly. “It must have been hard for all of you.”
He shrugs. “It wasn’t all bad, but it motivated the hell out of me. I work my ass off to keep this place successful.” He picks up his mug and swirls the coffee around. “It’s what keeps me focussed. Deep down, I’m afraid of losing it all one day and ending up poor again.”
“I can’t see that happening. I couldn’t believe how busy it got yesterday. This place must be a goldmine.”
His expression brightens. “Hey, I’m not complaining. Business is good. I just need to make sure it stays that way.”
His phone rings, bringing an end to our conversation. “Thanks for bringing the coffee up,” he says, hovering his hand over his phone.
“You’re welcome.” I smile and back out of the room, heading back downstairs to join Lois and Riley.
It’s not long before the bell tinkles and the first group of customers head in.
“It’s show time,” Lois says, straightening her apron.
The early morning rush all seem to be after some kind of caffeine fix. After battling with the beast and serving various lattes, frappuccinos and espressos, I begin dusting Lois’ sugar mix over the cooled pastries.
I’m completely engrossed in the task when I feel a shift in the air, giving me the distinct feeling of being watched. I look up and see Sasha standing a short distance from the counter. She’s wearing a sleeveless cream dress with a different over-sized handbag slung over her shoulder and her sunglasses are pushed high onto her scalp.
Her mouth is pursed and her eyes are scrutinising, but when she catches me looking her expression softens. She approaches the counter with her glossy lips curved into a smile.
“They look good,” she says pointing a perfectly-manicured fingernail at the pastries.
I force a smile. “They’re freshly baked. Lois made them.”
“They smell good too. I’ll have to try one.”
I put the shaker down sending clouds of sweet, orange dust into the air. “Sure. Can I get you something to go with it? A coffee, or....”
“No, I’m not staying. I just came in for a quick chat.”
Using a set of tongs, I pluck a pastry off the tray and drop it onto a plate for her. “Nate’s up in the office if you’ve come to see him.” I slide the plate towards her.
She lifts the pastry and inspects it with a suspicious eye. “It’s not Nate I want to talk to....” She breaks a corner off the pastry and pops it into her mouth. Such a tiny piece, she doesn’t even need to chew before she swallows. “Mmm, that is delicious.” She delicately dusts her hands over the plate, giving the impression she’s done eating. “Actually, Emily, it’s you I want to have a word with.”
My heart sinks. I pick a towel off the counter and wipe my hands. “Okay....” I arch my eyebrows. “What about?”
She flips the counter up and walks through. The scent of her perfume is so strong I can practically taste it.
“The problem is, Emily, I don’t know if it’s my place to say anything.”
Okay, she’s officially starting to irritate me now.
I glance over to where Lois is chatting to a table full of customers and silently will her to come back and save me from this, but she doesn’t even look up.
I turn back to Sasha, my smile tightening. “Look, if you feel you’ve got something to say, Sasha, then you should just go ahead and say it.”
She nods. “You’re right. But you need to understand this is in confidence. I’m only telling you this because you seem like a sweet girl and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Yeah right.
Her eyes narrow and she lowers her voice. “So, I need you to promise me this will stay just between us.”
“I’m kind of busy,” I say, tapping the counter. “So you’ll just have to come out with it.”
Her eyes burn into mine. “Emily, I need to know this won’t go any further.”
Jeez, she’s going to ask me to do a pinkie promise in a minute.
I sigh. “Of course. This is just between us.”
Her eyes linger on mine and she nods, seemingly satisfied. “It’s about Nate. I think you need to know what he’s really like.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What is he ... a monster or something?”
She smiles and shakes her head. “Nate’s not a monster. He’s actually a great guy.”
Her smile drops. “He’s not boyfriend material, Emily.”
“And that affects me how?”
She gives me a knowing look. “Let’s not play games. Nate’s a great-looking guy, right?”
I don’t know whether to laugh or tell her to get lost. “And you think I’m about to throw myself at him. Is that it?”
She half-smiles. “No, you’re putting words in my mouth. I don’t think you’re like that at all.” Her smile falls away. “It’s the other way round. You see, Nate adores women. And when he sees a girl he likes, he turns on the full Nate O’Shea charm, gets what he wants, but then about a week later he hasn’t got the time of day for her.”
I shake my head in disbelief. I can’t believe her audacity.
She registers my reaction and leans closer. “Believe me, if he hasn’t fed you any of his big lines yet, it’s only a matter of time.”
I force my voice to stay level. “Sasha, I find it insulting we’re even having this conversation. Nate’s my boss. My relationship with him is strictly professional and that’s exactly how it’s going to stay.”
She rolls her eyes. “Hey, don’t get all pissy with me. I’m not going to apologise for taking the time to warn you what he’s like. You’re young and you’re not used to guys like Nate. You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
I grit my teeth. “Well, it’s very….” I pause to find the right word. Obnoxious? Arrogant? “Kind of you to come here and enlighten me, but you needn’t have bothered. I’m not as naive as I look.”
She stares at me for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Okay. Well, no hard feelings. I just thought it needed to be said.” She flips up the counter and walks back through. I’m about to breathe a sigh of relief, but before she heads off she turns to face me again with a faraway look in her eyes. “There are plenty of girls around here who’ve had their heart broken by Nate O’Shea. I’d hate to see it happen to you.”
Chapter 10
The last couple of days at the café have been a happy distraction from all the crap in my life. I love the upbeat atmosphere of the place. I love working with Lois and Riley … and Nate. I’m enjoying getting to grips with all the different elements that make the café run smoothly, from the coffee machine, the grill and the relentless wiping down of tables, to sharing a laugh with the rich variety of customers that walk through the door on a daily basis. Most of all I love how my mood lifts whenever I enter O’Shea’s Place.
The Cold Hard Truth: A Gripping Novel About Secrets and Lies Page 6