A Year at The Cosy Cottage Café_A heart-warming feel-good read about life, love, loss, friendship and second chances

by Rachel Griffiths

  “Hello ladies,” Chris said as he smiled at them. “I’m going to have a lazy day being carried around by this bunny, aren’t I?”

  “It looks so real,” Honey said as she lifted one of the fake legs. “Except for the tiny feet on the end of the legs.”

  “Chris doesn’t have tiny feet at all do you, love?” Allie kissed him and he sniggered, so Honey feigned interest in her nails, pretending she didn’t understand the intimate joke.

  “Time to get the food out and the music on?” Jordan asked as he emerged from the kitchen, closely followed by his boyfriend, Maxwell. The young men were dressed as giant Easter eggs in colourful costumes decorated with glitter and bows. Their straw cowboy hats had painted eggshells dangling from string around the edges.

  “Absolutely…” Allie clapped her hands. “Jump to it crew!”

  Once the food and drink was set up on the trestle tables under the gazebo, and the local band had set up in the corner, the Easter party got underway.

  Children arrived with their families, and drinks were poured. The band played a range of covers from Fleetwood Mac to Whitney Houston to Ed Sheeran, and soon the café garden was full. Honey smiled as she strolled around speaking to villagers and offering them refreshments. Allie’s café was the heart of the community and people of all ages had gathered for the party and the annual Easter Egg hunt.

  “Honey!”

  She turned to see Dawn and Rick walking up the path. Rick was pushing a very trendy looking pram with the hood up and behind them came their older children, Laura and James. Laura was dressed like she’d just stepped off Strictly Come Dancing and James seemed to be some sort of spaceman in white trousers and shirt with a wide brown belt and what seemed to be a brown towel pinned to his shoulders.

  “Great costumes, guys.” Honey said as she crouched in front of Laura and James.

  “They spent a lot of time deciding what to wear,” Dawn explained when Honey stood up.

  “I’m James Skytalker.” James patted his chest then pulled a plastic light sabre from his belt.

  “Of course, I could see that straight away.”

  He reached behind and gave his towel a flutter.

  “And Laura is a mingo dancer.” James pointed at his sister.

  “A mingo dancer?” Honey frowned at Dawn and saw that her friend was biting her lip.

  “He means she’s a flamenco dancer.”

  “Ah…” Honey snorted. “Comedy gold out of the mouths of babes, right?”

  “All the time,” Rick said. “You should hear the questions we’ve had about where the baby came from and about breast feeding.”

  “Oh no!”

  Dawn nodded. “He shouted when he first saw me nursing Alison because he thought she was eating me. When I explained that I was feeding her, he asked how I get milk out of my armpits.”

  “Mummy, can we go and see Jordan and Max?” Laura interrupted.

  “Yes of course. Keep an eye on your brother.”

  Laura nodded then grabbed James’s hand and they ran over to Jordan.

  “And how is the little one?” Honey asked.

  Dawn smiled. “She’s beautiful. Keeping us awake until all hours but with Rick working from home now, I don’t have to do it all myself. Although I do tell him to stay in bed as he can’t exactly breastfeed her.”

  “I could give her a bottle if you’d express.” Rick gazed down at his daughter.

  “I know and I will in time. I’m just afraid that she’ll like the bottle more than me.” Dawn shrugged and cast an apologetic smile at her husband.

  “I only want to help as much as possible.” Rick kissed Dawn’s head. “I wasn’t there as often when Laura and James were babies and I want to be hands on this time around.”

  Honey leant forwards to peer into the pram and she gasped.

  “She’s so perfect, such an angel.”

  “Thank you. We think so too, especially now that her cheeks have filled out a bit. When she was first born she had that slightly squashed look but now she looks more baby than butternut squash.” Dawn laughed then pushed the hood of the pram down. “Would you like to hold her?”

  “Oh… uh…” Honey dragged her gaze from the baby and glanced around them. “Uh… perhaps later? It’s just quite busy and I’d be nervous about dropping her and the egg hunt is about to start and uh…”

  Dawn placed a cool hand on Honey’s arm. “It’s okay. No pressure. As and when you’re ready. I know babies can be scary things.”

  “Thank you.” Honey did want to hold the tiny baby but was also terrified of doing so in case she lost control and burst into tears. A sobbing bunny was not what the children of Heatherlea needed to see when they were about to embark upon their egg hunt.

  “I’d better go and give Allie a hand, so I’ll see you in a bit.”

  She gave the baby one more longing glance then crossed the lawn to find Camilla and Tom talking to Allie and Chris. Tom had HP with him and the dog’s eyes widened when he spotted Honey.

  “Wow! The chick, the strong bunny and the pretty Easter Bunny.” Camilla grinned. “You three look fabulous. It’s like spring has well and truly sprung.”

  “Ha ha!” Honey shook her head. “I guess if you’d worn your cat costume you’d be chasing us round by now.”

  Camilla grimaced. “I can’t wear that costume when I’m near HP… it must remind him of the night we met.”

  They all laughed. When Camilla had gone to Tom’s Halloween fancy dress party in a very sexy cat costume, she’d gone outside for some fresh air and bumped into Hairy Pawter. The bulldog had pounced on her and she’d been mortified when Tom had found her pinned to the decking by his dog.

  “Anyway, he seems to like your bunny outfit too.”

  Honey looked down at HP. His mouth was hanging open and his stubby tail was wagging madly.

  “Is he all right?” she asked Tom. “He’s not going to pounce?”

  Just as she asked that, HP moved closer to her large white feet and cocked a leg.

  Tom shouted, “NO!” but it was too late and Honey’s right foot was instantly warm and wet.

  She stared at the spreading yellow stain on her bunny foot then met Tom’s eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, Honey. He never does that.”

  “He must just get excited around costumes.” Camilla snorted.

  “It’s not funny.” Honey shook her head. “It’s not even my costume.”

  “Ah don’t worry about it,” Allie said as she waved a hand dismissively. Her face was red and tears trickled down her cheeks as she laughed.

  Honey started to laugh too; it was just her luck that a dog had decided to water her rabbit feet!

  “Right let’s get this Easter egg hunt going.” Allie strode over to the corner where the band had set up.

  “Good morning egg hunters!” she said over the microphone.

  The villagers responded with cheers.

  “Are we ready for the annual egg hunt?”

  “Yes we are!” the children sang.

  “All children taking part, go and grab a basket from Jordan and Max then make your way to the front gate.”

  When every child had a basket and they were all gathered at the front of the lawn, Chris went and stood in front of them.

  “On your marks… get set… GO!”

  Children streamed around him, racing in all directions around the café garden. There were squeals of delight and laughter as the small foil-wrapped eggs were located and deposited in baskets. The egg hunt led them around the sides of the café, under benches and tables and even rooting around in planters and hedges.

  When children started to return to their parents, their baskets full and their faces hot and sweaty, Allie tapped on the microphone again.

  “Well done, everyone! Okay… does anyone have a purple egg?”

  A hush fell over the garden as children searched through their baskets.

  “I do!”

  All heads turned to James who was holding the s
mall purple egg aloft.

  “Congratulations, James Dix-Beaumont! Bring the egg here, lovely.”

  James marched up to Allie and handed her the egg.

  “Right, you have won a special prize, James.”

  “Have I?” His face lit up. “What is it?”

  Honey met Dawn’s eyes and she shook her head. Every year there was a different prize for finding the purple egg, and Allie refused to tell anyone what it would be prior to the egg hunt.

  Jordan arrived at his mother’s side, carrying a large box wrapped in shiny silver paper.

  “Wow!” James exclaimed, making everyone laugh.

  “You don’t know what’s inside it yet,” Allie said, as Jordan set the box down in front of James.

  “But it’s huge…”

  James’ eyes were wide as he knelt next to the box and tore off the paper. When he lifted the lid, his mouth fell open and he scanned the crowd.

  “Mummy? Daddy?”

  “Yes?” Dawn and Rick waved at him.

  “It’s lots and lots of books.”

  “Wonderful!” Rick said.

  “Thank you so much, Allie. Me and the mingo dancer will read all of them.”

  “It’s flamenco dancer, James!” Laura flounced over to him and peered into the box. “But yes we will. They’re all the new ones from the book charts.”

  “That’s right.” Allie nodded. “I had some help from Mandy.”

  “Okay, everyone please help yourselves to refreshments and afterwards there will be games for the children and more music from Erica and the Heatherlea band.”

  Honey filled her plate with an array of delicious foods. The buffet was, as always, incredible. She helped herself to asparagus, spring onion and mint tart, mini salmon and dill en-croutes, scotch eggs, rosemary and sea-salt brioche rolls and peppers stuffed with couscous, courgette and mozzarella. When she’d eaten her fill of savoury delights, dessert included chocolate and spice hot cross buns, chocolate Battenberg, chai-spiced carrot cake and lemon-curd ice cream.

  Underneath her bunny costume, her belly groaned, but she consoled herself that she wouldn’t need to eat again until the next day.

  “How’s the food?” Allie asked as she appeared at Honey’s side with another tray of cakes.

  “I’m so full, I think I need to sit down before I keel over.” Honey patted her belly.

  “I had help from Chris, Jordan and Maxwell, so I can’t take all the credit, and a few people brought some of the side dishes too.”

  “It was all delicious. It’s a shame Dane isn’t here to enjoy it.” Honey suppressed a sigh. She was missing him more today than she had all week.

  “Why don’t you try a Cosy Cottage Café spring spritzer?” Allie nodded at the drinks table where Jordan was dancing round with a cocktail shaker, the eggs on his hat bobbing in time to the music from the band.

  “What’s in a spring spritzer?”

  “Lavender syrup, lemon juice, Lillet rose vermouth and prosecco.”

  “Sounds delicious.”

  Honey headed over to Jordan and watched as he made her drink then she thanked him and looked around. The café garden was still busy but she fancied a sit down, so she went around the side to the pergola, where it was quiet.

  She sat on a bench and closed her eyes, enjoying the music from the band, the murmur of conversation from the villagers and the pretty birdsong from the hedge that bordered the garden. The spring sun was warm on her face and the sweet scent of freesias from the pots on the table teased her nostrils. Everything was perfect. Except for…

  “Honey?”

  She started but kept her eyes closed.

  Was she hearing things? She must be. That had sounded like Dane. She must be missing him so badly that she was imagining the sound of his voice.

  “Honey? Are you awake.”

  She blinked.

  “Dane? What are you… how are you…”

  He sat next to her.

  “Honey, you look great. I wasn’t even sure if it was you for a moment until I got closer.”

  “Oh… this old thing.”

  “You like dressing up then?”

  “What?”

  “Well… unicorns… bunnies.” He smiled but he had dark shadows under his eyes.

  “I do like getting into the spirit of things, yes and this was for the sake of the village children, so…” She shrugged. “Got to make an effort, right?”

  He nodded.

  “You’re home early.”

  “Yeah… the course runs until Friday. Some of the teachers with children and family commitments came back early and I couldn’t face staying away for another day.”

  “What about the head teacher? Won’t she be disappointed?”

  “I explained that although I’m thoroughly committed to the job, I do have things in my life to sort out too. She seemed to take it quite well, better than expected really. Said that I needed my head in the right place to start the summer term, so to go home and sort things out.”

  “Do you think she meant it?”

  He nodded. “She just wants to know that her staff members are committed to the children of the school and that’s fair enough. I’d want the same for my own children.”

  Honey sipped her drink.

  “This is delicious. Want me to get you one?”

  “In a bit. I need to talk to you first.”

  He took one of her hands in his. His palms were warm, his fingers long and lean and her heart fluttered as she recalled how it felt to have those hands on her face, in her hair and roaming over her skin.

  “Honey… I had to know where we stand. If you don’t want to be with me then I will have to accept that and move on but I can’t stop thinking about you. You have such a generous heart, a sweet nature and you’re loyal to your friends. I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re also very independent, but sometimes… that independence means that you push people away.”

  She nodded. “I know. I’m sorry. But it’s more than that. See… I really like you. In fact, I care for you deeply but I’m afraid.”

  He caressed her palm with his thumb.

  “I’m afraid too. Nothing worth having comes without risk, you know?”

  “I know. But, Dane, you pushed me away too.”

  “I did. With my busy schedule. I was terrified I wouldn’t get the job and I’d have to move away and the thought of not seeing you and being around you hurt me. But the irony is that I missed so much time that I could have spent with you because I was working so hard.”

  “I know you have to work hard but you also need—”

  “Balance.”

  “Yes, balance.”

  “That was one of the reasons I decided to take up yoga, wasn’t it? Plus I needed to try to loosen these old rugby tensions.”

  “Did I help with that at all?”

  “You did. But I think I need a live-in yoga teacher.”

  “You what?”

  His eyes widened. “Did I say the wrong thing?”

  “Uh… no… but…”

  “Move in with me, Honey. Let’s give this a go. I’d love to see you every morning and hold you every night.”

  “Wow.”

  His face dropped. “I’ve scared you.”

  “No… no, you haven’t scared me but you have surprised me.” She swallowed hard. “In a good way.”

  “What do you think, then?”

  “Dane, I need to tell you something. The reason I ran away after our night together wasn’t because I didn’t want to be there but because I hadn’t told you everything about my past.”

  He shook his head. “You don’t need to tell me everything.”

  “Okay, not absolutely everything, but there are things… like when I was with Elliott, we had a… I had a…”

  He squeezed her hand, gently encouraging her to continue.

  “I lost a baby,” she whispered, her heart contracting as she vocalized the words, releasing them onto the breeze.

  “You los
t a child?”

  She nodded, her vision blurring.

  “I’m so sorry, Honey.”

  “The pregnancy wasn’t planned and I was young, but just as I started to accept the idea of being a mum, it was over.”

  He took her drink and placed it on the table then opened his arms and embraced her. She pressed her face against his neck, breathing him in and a sense of calm and security filled her. Dane had her back; he wouldn’t hurt her or leave her, he was in this for the long run.

  She leant back and gazed up at his face.

  “I’ve stayed away from relationships and intimacy because I was terrified of it happening again. The idea of losing another baby was too much for me and I was filled with guilt because I always believed it was my initial lack of enthusiasm for the pregnancy that led to me miscarrying. Kind of like a punishment.”

  “Honey,” he lifted her chin and met her eyes, “it wasn’t your fault.”

  “I know. I spoke to Elliott about it and I’ve read about it. I’ve spoken to other women in online support groups. I know that I’m not to blame but there’s a lot of guilt attached to losing a baby.”

  He nodded. “Women often blame themselves. My mum lost a baby after she had me. She told me about it when I was older and said that she was filled with guilt. If only she’d eaten better, rested more… the list went on. But it wasn’t her fault and it wasn’t your fault.”

  “I also… I shut down and pushed Elliott away. I couldn’t bear for him to touch me, kiss me, even be near me. It was as if I was punishing him for what happened.”

  “I’m sure he understood.”

  “He does now but back then, we were so young and it was all so raw. I know I was cruel to him when he needed comfort too. It’s why I find it so hard to open up… why I’ve struggled to tell you how much I care. I never want to be the reason why you hurt, Dane.”

  “I care about you too. A lot.”

  “Dane, you said something earlier about children. I don’t know if I’ll be able to…”

  “Look, we’ll be together in everything as a team and make decisions together. We’ve plenty of time. I want to be with you… get to know you better.”

  “I had a D and C after the miscarriage and developed an infection. There could be scarring of my womb and that could make conception difficult.”