Marilyn reads a bit out loud in a fake posh voice. ‘“I’m determined to slim right down for my wedding day,” says lovely reality star Meghan, “and Lucy and Olivia’s Clean Food Café is the perfect place for guilt-free eating!” Guilt-free eating, for goodness’ sake! What’s so great about that, I ask you!’
I laugh. ‘I’ve seen Meghan Sparkle on YouTube and you sounded just like her there!’
‘Well, it makes me mad what that Lucy Slater did to you on opening day, making sure everyone went to her café and not yours. I’ve been in Spain for the past few weeks, but Betty told me all about it. And this—’ She flicks the magazine article distastefully. ‘Well, it’s nothing but a big, tacky publicity stunt, Lucy being friendly all of a sudden with a so-called “celebrity”. It’s so obvious Lucy’s just out to make money and get famous and that’s not what you want in a village café, is it? I’ve started telling everyone to boycott that place and go to yours instead, although of course, people do love a bargain. But mark my words, once there aren’t any more “introductory two-eat-for-one offers”, the tide will turn.’ She pops the magazine in her bag and pats my hand. ‘It will, you know.’
I smile gratefully, glad of Marilyn’s staunch support, and wave her on her way. That’s exactly what Theo said. The tide will turn …
Thinking of Theo makes my insides churn like a washing machine.
I’d love to believe he and Marilyn are right. But a few minutes later, when I walk past Lucy’s place, I can see that, as usual, most of the tables are occupied. They seem to be doing a roaring trade and I can’t help a little twinge of envy.
Not that it really matters any more, because by October I’ll probably be back at catering college and Honey Cottage will be up for sale.
A lump fills my throat and I have to put my head down and hurry back before the tears start. Safely home, I curl up in a ball on the sofa and sob as I haven’t done for a very long time – not since we first got Dad’s diagnosis a year ago. My bare arms are wet with tears and they just won’t stop. All the kind comments in the world won’t change things if I can’t get customers through the door …
The only bright spot on the horizon is my dinner with Jason, once he returns from his latest business trip.
At last, I get up and walk slowly to the bathroom, intending to wash the mascara streaks off my face. On the way through the hall, I notice the post on the mat. One of the letters is addressed to me. As soon as I pick it up, I know what it is.
Feeling sick, I yank it open. It’s from the building society, threatening action if no settlement of arrears is received within a fortnight. Even though I was expecting something like that, it’s still a shock to read the cold, hard words on the page.
Next moment, when my mobile phone rings, I actually laugh out loud. No doubt this will be Jason, calling to say he’s had second thoughts about dinner!
I’m tempted to ignore it, but something makes me pick up. If it’s more bad news, I may as well face it sooner than later …
It’s not Jason.
It’s Jake.
And what he tells me makes my head whirl madly like one of those old-fashioned spinning tops cranked up to high speed. I hang up and immediately start calculating timescales in my head.
Jake has managed to rejig his schedule. If I still need him, he can start work immediately. This is such amazing news, I feel like crying.
I pick up the phone to call my parents, picturing the delight on Dad’s face.
The Treehouse Café will open for business in August!
Chapter 29
After a sleepless night, during which I build The Treehouse Café in my imagination and design an entire fairy-tale interior (if money was no object), I phone Mum then Betty to break the good news.
Betty, especially, is really excited and I know the instant I hang up, she’ll be on the phone to Doreen to chat about it. Sure enough, ten minutes later she phones to tell me how delighted they both are that it’s all finally happening, and that she’d like to make a suggestion.
‘Of course. What is it?’ I smile, expecting Betty to say something like she wants to make the curtains herself so there’d be no raw fish in the hems this time.
‘Well, Doreen and I think you could do with a little break, what with all the stress you’ve been under. So we wondered if we could take over at the café for a couple of days.’
‘Take over?’
‘Yes. If we’re going to be helping out in The Treehouse Café when it’s finished, it would do us good to learn the ropes beforehand? So for those few days, we’d run the café and we could even do the baking if you like.’
‘Oh. Wow. That’s so kind of you. But are you sure you don’t mind?’
Betty chuckles. ‘Mind? We can’t wait!’
‘Well, in that case – yes, please!’ It’s only now that it’s being handed to me on a plate that I realise exactly how much I could do with a few days off from my usual routine.
They come round to the café later and during a quiet spell, I show them how everything works, and Doreen offers to bake the daily batch of scones, while Betty will make her favourite party piece, a black forest gateau.
I smile. ‘Very retro. I like it.’
‘You do?’ Betty peers at me anxiously. ‘We don’t want to be pushy. It’s your café.’
I laugh. ‘Listen, girls, it will be your café, too, soon, when the new place is ready, and I’m really going to need your
