She pulled Sam into a hug for the first time in years.
And for once, Sam let her.
Chapter Six
Veronica
After breakfast the next day, the hug with Sam still at the forefront of Veronica’s mind, she felt as though a warmth had wrapped comfortingly around her shoulders for the first time in years. And despite the worry over what Audrey was going to do – or more to the point, what Simon was up to – Veronica felt as though these walls were finally filled once again with family. A real family. She’d woken this morning thinking it might have all been a dream until Sam smiled at her and said ‘Good morning’ in a cheery tone that suggested she’d also felt something shift the night before as she’d poured her heart out.
It was as they cleared the breakfast dishes that Sam came up with an idea that very nearly floored Veronica. Layla had just finished her piano practice, Audrey was packing her school bag and Veronica was washing up when Sam confided that the Mapleberry Mug was looking tired these days and in need of a bit of attention. ‘The paint around the menu board is peeling, same with the door leading out to the kitchen, the sofas and tables all look dull and in need of a lift.’
Up until now Veronica had hardly dared to hope her daughter was becoming a part of Mapleberry, but this surely showed she was. Sam’s boss had given her a lot more than a job, she’d given her friendship, another person Sam’s own age, another mum to hang out with and a way to escape the four walls of the house.
‘Perhaps Clare will give it a makeover in the new year,’ Veronica suggested.
‘Like our makeovers,’ Layla chimed. She’d done her piano practice already, filling the house with tunes that these days had Audrey humming away rather than complaining.
Veronica winked at Layla. ‘Yes, I suppose it is a bit.’
Sam found a plastic container to put in a couple of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for Layla to take to school and handed a couple to Audrey to slot into her packed lunch. ‘That’s the thing – she wants to do a makeover, but doesn’t have the money. I was thinking after I saw some of the items on the kindness calendar – helping a local, make something for someone, help with housework – that perhaps we could work together and tick off a few of those tasks together.’
Layla was all ears of course, even distracted from the heavenly scent of cookies. Veronica, never much of an actor, did her best to hide her surprise at Sam’s reference to the calendar, her hands still immersed in the warm soapy water she’d used to wash one of the mugs that couldn’t go in the dishwasher.
‘That’s a really kind idea, Mum.’ Audrey was no actor either and surprise was written all over her face. If only this girl knew what her plans with her dad were doing to her mum. Would it change her mind at all?
Layla was already getting excited about the items they could tick off the calendar and with a promise they’d make some plans straight after school, Veronica persuaded her it was time to go. Audrey was walking her there today and the little girl couldn’t be more excited, and if Veronica wasn’t mistaken, Audrey seemed to enjoy being in charge of a surrogate sibling.
That evening they all sat around the table and made their plans, Sam clearly mindful of involving Audrey but trying not to boss her about. In fact, she’d let Audrey lead some of the planning. Veronica was to be in charge of knitting some new cushion covers, some in purple and others in yellow, to inject a little colour to the worn sofas at the café. Sam would go and buy the actual cushions as well as the honeysuckle paint Audrey had suggested would work with the other décor already at the café. Audrey and Layla were all set to help with the painting so they planned to get all their homework done in good time and Sam had somehow persuaded Clare’s children to muck in after hours the day after tomorrow.
Veronica longed to be at the Mapleberry Mug to see it all finished, to witness the look on Clare’s face when she opened up the café. Well before school hours, Audrey, Sam and Layla had bundled over there together to see her reaction for themselves, and at least they’d taken plenty of photographs for Veronica.
‘She was thrilled,’ Sam reported the minute she returned from the café after her shift. They were having a cup of tea and Sam was putting her feet up before going back to meet Clare for a celebratory glass of wine at the pub. ‘And she loved the cushion covers.’
‘I’m pleased.’ Veronica had knitted faster than she’d ever done before to get them all finished, but seeing the photographs of the transformation now, her handiwork on the sofas as well as the new paint on the walls around the counter, she felt a part of it all.
Sam, mug of tea clasped between her palms, smiled. ‘Audrey has changed so much since she came here. That’s a good thing,’ she added. ‘I was really proud of her last night; she was bossing Clare’s kids around even though they’re a lot older, she made sure it all got done and nobody cut any corners. She had one of them polishing the coffee machine until you could see your reflection in it.’
‘I can well imagine she had you all organised. You should be very proud of her.’
‘I am.’ A look passed between them both before Sam finished her tea. ‘Now, do you mind if I take over the bathroom? I want to relax before I go back out again to meet Clare.’
‘Help yourself. You and Clare get on
