“I do. But no, it’s not work. Sorry, don’t worry; I’m okay. Really.”
To her credit, Monica didn’t push any further. Instead she returned to her desk, opened the drawer, and pulled her purse out from its depths. “Here.” She handed over a fiver. “Get me two, please.”
Carmen ignored the proffered money. “My treat.”
“But—”
“I insist. You’ve used your initiative this morning, and that needs rewarding.”
“I have?”
“By insisting I get out of here. It’s best for all of us if I shake off this mood.” Carmen grinned at her, then retrieved her handbag. “I’ve got my mobile if anyone calls and—”
“Carmen, with all due respect, we can handle it until you’re back.”
Carmen rubbed her forehead. “Of course. Sorry.” Sometimes it was hard to let go, even though she had recruited Monica for that very reason. “I’ll be back in a while.”
Monica threw her a wave, her attention already back on her own screen.
After letting her receptionist, Beverley, know where she was going—and obtaining an order for another custard tart—Carmen trotted down the four flights of stairs and out of the main door. The morning that greeted her was glorious, with warm sunshine and a blue sky dotted with small, fluffy white clouds.
Alma’s was located a few blocks away, tucked down a side street. The walk lifted Carmen’s spirits; the streets weren’t too busy in the middle of a Monday morning, and the air was, for once in the centre of London, fresh and easy on the nose. She smiled to herself—she actually walked with a spring in her step. Who’d have thought, given how bleak she’d felt all weekend?
The café wasn’t very busy when she arrived. An older couple sat at one table indoors, and outside two of the four smaller tables were occupied. She was about to step through the open front door when her eye was caught by the person at the table nearest the door. Was that…?
“Ash?” she tentatively asked.
The woman looked up, and a broad smile split her face. “Hey! Carmen, isn’t it?”
“It is. Nice to see you again.” Carmen didn’t know why Ash was here, but it was rather lovely to see a vaguely familiar face out and about on her escape from the office. “You live around here?”
Ash laughed. “I wish! No, I heard this place had the best Portuguese custard tarts in town, and I made a long diversion on my way to work to find out if it was true.” She pointed at a plate that looked as if it might have actually been licked clean. “It seems it is.”
Carmen chuckled. “It really is. I haven’t been here in a while, but I’ll be leaving with a box of five.”
Ash’s eyebrows shot up.
“Not all for me!” Carmen hastily added. “Tempting as that might be.”
Ash nodded. “I’ve had one, but I’m seriously considering having a second.” She paused. “Hey, if you’re not in a rush, do you maybe want to sit and eat one with me? I’ll feel better if I’m not eating alone again.” She grinned and spread her arms as if to show how perfectly suited the table was for two people rather than one.
The table she had chosen was directly in the warm sun, and Carmen had time, so why not? “That sounds great. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“No, it would be good to have some company. Especially with someone who won’t judge me for the second tart.”
“Definitely no judgement here. Okay, give me a minute, I’ll just order.” Carmen walked into the café, paid for six of the pastries—two on a plate and four in a to-go box—and a double espresso, then returned to Ash with a large tray that held all the purchases. She placed it on the table before sitting and lifting the plate. “Here, one of these is yours.”
“Wait, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but…” Carmen shrugged. “At the risk of sounding overdramatic, it’s good to be outside and spending time with another human being unrelated to my job, so think of this as my thanks for that.”
“At least let me pay you for it.” Ash reached into her pocket.
“Please, no. My treat.”
Seeming to accept there was no point in arguing, Ash sat back. “Well, thank you. Next time will be on me.”
“Sounds good.”
Ash smiled at her, and once again Carmen was struck with how…handsome she was. It was a word she had always reserved for men up until now, but she realised how easily it applied to Ash. She wasn’t wearing any make-up, and she didn’t need it. Carmen loved Ash’s fashion sense—today her T-shirt was bright yellow with a big red cartoon heart in the centre of her chest. And her hair looked amazing. She’d used some kind of product to slick her long fringe to the side. It totally worked.
“I like your hair today. I mean, I liked it the other day too,” she added, “but this style looks just as good.”
“Thanks. I like to mix it up.”
“You’re lucky.” Carmen ruefully pointed at her own curly hair. “Really can’t do a lot with this.”
“I guess. But the curls totally suit you, so at least there’s that.”
“True! It would be a lot worse if this is what God gave me and it didn’t suit me at all.” Carmen laughed.
“Always be thankful for small mercies.” Ash pulled her plate closer. “Something my gran used to say a lot.”
“Wise woman.”
“That she was.” Ash picked up her pastry. “Cheers!”
Carmen picked up her own pastry, and they touched the edges in a pastry toast before each leaning in and taking a bite from their own.
“Oh God,” Carmen mumbled around her mouthful.
“I know, right?”
Carmen swallowed. “How could I forget how good these are?”
They finished their treats in silence, but they shared smiles and chuckles as they did so. Carmen wondered why she felt so comfortable sitting here, stuffing a pastry in her mouth, with a woman she hardly knew.
“So good,” Ash said when she’d finished. She licked a finger, pressed it against the
