Stirred with Love (13 page)

‘You don’t say! It’s a good job I have an iPod. At least I can switch off every now and then.’

Kate pulled a face at her before helping herself to another cracker. ‘Go on, anyway.’

 ‘There’s not much to say really. I live with my dad and my brother. My mum died in a car accident when I was seven. I’ve already told you that.’

‘Do you remember much about it?’

Chloe shrugged her shoulders. ‘Not really. We were on the way home from a wedding when a car raced towards us on the wrong side of the road. Apparently, Mum was alive when the fire and rescue unit freed her from the wreckage but she’d died soon after that.’ She put down her sandwich and sighed. ‘The stupid teenage driver received a six months suspended jail sentence and a fine, can you believe that?’

Kate shook her head. Chloe seemed more mature about things than she had ever been about her parents, even though she hadn’t lost either of them through death. Since Kate had met Nick, her relationship with her mother had become even more estranged. Somehow she felt it was easier not to go and see her, the time between visits becoming longer and when she’d moved to Lincolnshire with Trevor, it had seemed a perfect way out of what had become an awkward situation. She’d only been to visit their new house once in the past three years.

‘So you had to be the woman about the house?’ she probed gently.

‘Most of the time,’ Chloe scoffed, thinking of Maddy trying to muscle her way in.

‘Girlfriends got in the way?’

‘One in particular. The one he’s with now, in fact. Maddy’s been on the scene for three years. She’s forty-two.’

‘Does she have any children?’

‘A son, Callum, but he doesn’t live with us. He’s off at uni.’

‘I bet she’s good for your dad, though?’

Kate felt the temperature in the room go decidedly chilly. An unofficial one minute silence followed so she stirred her coffee noisily while she waited for the atmosphere to change.

Kate raised her eyebrows, urging her to continue. ‘Chloe?’

‘I just –’

‘– don’t like her?’

‘I…I was just a kid when Mum died,’ Chloe tried to explain, unsure even if she could, ‘and it changed my life so much. It was my dad who took me to dance classes until I got fed up of them. It was my dad who made me look like a shaggy dog instead of a princess when he’d attempted to do my hair. It was my dad who I had to drag to the shops to buy me new clothes. I should have done all that with my mum. Maybe being robbed of that made me too dependent of him. I’ve had him to myself since then, I suppose.’

‘So, is she nice?’

Chloe’s curls flailed about as she nodded her head. Maddy hadn’t let herself go in her forties like so many women seemed to. In a way, she was a perfect role model. She was a successful business woman, not afraid to be independent and lived a full life, not merely an existence. But she could never replace her mum.

‘I know that my dad loves her…really loves her,’ she said. ‘And it hurts.’

Kate could see tears glistening in Chloe’s eyes. She’d always thought there would be a young girl in there somewhere, underneath that grown up exterior.

‘Is that why you moved away? To give them time to be together?’

Chloe was confused. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Maybe you’d feel threatened by any woman who tried to muscle in on your dad? It’s understandable. I would have felt the same.’

‘I tried really hard to get on with her but I was so jealous. I’d hear them laughing in the conservatory and I’d be so narked that I’d storm in and start moaning about something or other, just to change the mood. Ben was forever having a go at me. It’s caused no end of rows.’ Chloe took a sip from her drink and guiltily averted her eyes for a moment. ‘I’ve been a right bitch, really.’

‘Don’t worry,’ Kate tried to appease her. ‘It’ll work itself out. One day you’ll see the funny side of things.’

‘I bet Maddy doesn’t find things funny. I love my dad, Kate. I suppose I owe it to him to try and get on with her.’

‘What does your dad do for a living?’

‘He sells shoes. We have two factories and five outlets with his name above the doors.’

‘And you’ve never wanted to work for him?’

Chloe shook her head. ‘No, neither has my brother. Luckily for us, Dad’s been really understanding about it.’ Her voice became lower for a moment as she imitated her father. ‘I’d be proud to have someone to take over when I’m old and grey, but I won’t push either of you into working for the family.’ But we have benefited from it really. He gave us each a second-hand car on our seventeenth birthdays and an allowance to help us through college. Ben’s training to be a solicitor. I haven’t decided what to do yet.’

Their conversation changed back to lighter subjects and they talked about the new items that they’d chosen for the coffee shop and how the refurbishment was moving on. Before they knew it, they were back on to the subject of Nick and it was Kate’s turn to talk.

‘You must have been happy at one time,’ said Chloe. ‘You did marry him, after all.’

‘Yes, I suppose it was good for most of the time.’ Kate switched the kettle on again. Picking up Chloe’s mug, she tried to explain how she felt about the relationship without raking up too many gory details. ‘I loved him so much when we first got together. I suppose that’s why it’s so hard to let go. I’ve been with him for so long.’

‘I just don’t see why you split up.’ Chloe’s face sported a puzzled expression. She’d never been in love, not like Kate and Nick. She’d thought she’d loved Joe Broadman when she was in high school, but she’d soon tired of him after the novelty of her first long term relationship wore off.

‘It’s complicated.’ Kate didn’t expect Chloe to understand. ‘I don’t know why but we started to argue all the time, over nothing really. On the odd occasion I went out with friends, he’d accuse me of flirting with other men. If I was going anywhere with Louise, my friend from work, he’d goad me, try to start an argument to make me feel guilty. I think I made him feel insecure – maybe because I was growing away from him.’ She spooned coffee into the mugs, added sugar for Chloe and turned back. ‘Sometimes it wasn’t worth the hassle and I’d stay in to keep him quiet. But then I’d become resentful and we’d end up arguing anyway. I felt like I was trapped.’

‘Maybe you and Sam should get it together then?’

Kate frowned. ‘Where did that come from?’

Chloe flicked a knowing look. ‘It’s obvious he fancies the pants off you. I can’t understand what’s taking you so long.’

Kate felt herself blushing. ‘God, I’m not ready for that yet. Besides, he’s far too young for me.’

‘But it’s obvious that you fancy him, too.’

‘No, it’s not!’ Kate baulked. ‘It isn’t, is it?’

‘There’s no shame in it, Kate.’

‘Maybe not, but –’ Chloe stared at her. ‘Stop it. You’re making me blush.’

‘Why don’t you ask
him
out?’

‘Because.’

‘Because?’

Kate grinned, finally finding the funny side. ‘I’m not ready to go out with anyone yet. I need to be on my own right now.’

‘But you could have some fun.’

‘Look, it’s hard to explain why so leave me be.’

Chloe wasn’t put off by her resistance. ‘What you need is a good seeing to by another man. If you stay on the shelf much longer, your fanny faloo will be sealed over if you’re not careful.’

‘My fanny fa…what?’

Slow footsteps alerted them to someone coming down the stairs.

‘Oh no, it’s the ghost of coffee coming to drown us in his brew,’ Chloe whispered. Kate giggled.

‘So, this is what you get up to once my back is turned.’ Lily tutted good-humouredly.

‘Did we wake you?’ Kate pulled out the empty chair beside her and Lily sat down.

‘No,’ said Lily. ‘I was already having trouble sleeping. What have you been chatting about?’

Kate and Chloe shared a smile.  

‘Oh, you know,’ said Chloe. ‘This and that.’

‘Yeah,’ Kate winked conspiratorially at her. ‘Something and nothing.’

‘I’ve decided to let you know the name of the coffee shop,’ Lily announced at their next meeting. They’d had so many over the last few days that, for purposes of comfort, they’d changed tactics and were now congregated in the living room. Lily sat in her favourite armchair by the window. Kate and Chloe shared the settee.

‘Thank god for that,’ said Chloe. ‘I’m getting fed up of people asking me when ‘the caff’ is going to open.’

Lily unfolded a piece of paper and held it up for them both to see.

‘Mi Tierra?’ Chloe frowned. ‘I’ve never heard of that. What does it mean?’

Kate, too, racked her brain but failed to come up with any understanding of the words.

‘It’s pronounced me ti-air-a and it means my homeland,’ Lily explained. ‘Seeing as home is where the heart is, or so the saying goes, I thought it would be rather appropriate. And rather quirky and modern. What do you two think?’

Kate sat in thought then raised her eyebrows. ‘It’s different,’ she said.

‘I like it,’ nodded Chloe. ‘Sounds quite cool, really.’

Lily folded the paper in half again. ‘Good. That’s settled then. The coffee shop name is Mi Tierra.’

As Lily moved onto the next thing on her list, Kate repeated the words to herself.

Mi Tierra?

There was something not quite right about it, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Lily wiped floury hands on her apron as she waited for the next batch of baking to cool down whilst keeping a watchful eye on the timer so that she didn’t burn the chocolate-chip cookies. It was only seven a.m. but she had a lot to do today. As she sat in the bay window, watching all the commotion in front of her as the stall-holders parked up on the road to unload their vans, she made a mental note to remind herself that she needed to make another appointment with Mr Stead. There were lots of things she had to see to before time ran out. Everything seemed to be happening so fast.

In roughly one hour’s time, she’d be able to cross her pen straight through the words ‘baking for the market’. It hadn’t been an easy task to complete with Terry and his boys around to get in her way but they were working extremely hard to finish on time. Terry had informed her last night before he left that they were on schedule.

Kate’s idea about hiring a stall to promote the coffee shop had been an excellent idea. Free pieces of their wares to sample would be far more tempting than leaflets that would be discarded for the market cleaner to sweep up. And, hopefully, it would entice customers in to try other things.

So far, near on three weeks had produced an enormous effort to transform the café to a coffee shop. Lily had been astounded at how much had changed in that short time. She’d thought she’d been optimistic about opening up in four weeks but Kate and Chloe had treated it as a challenge. Just as well, because she was used to a far slower pace when she had worked with Bernard.

When Lily next glanced at her watch, she pulled herself to her feet. It was time to check the oven. The cookies would be done by now. And, along with everything else she’d baked, surely there’d be enough to last out the morning.

‘Would you like to try a piece, sir?’ Kate greeted the elderly man who stood in front of her. He took a tiny square of ginger cake, dipped his cap, and continued with his walk. Well, at least he had manners. Kate sighed. Even giving cake away was a hassle, she’d found out this morning after people had flocked around her, pushing and shoving as if they hadn’t got a minute of their time to spare.

Somerley market wasn’t a huge affair – there were thirty stalls at the most, only one of everything, apart from clothes and shoes – but it was hugely popular with the locals. Kate didn’t have a minute to look around as she had planned, to try and gauge the type of clientele that might frequent the coffee shop. By the time the church clock chimed out eleven noisy times, they had practically given away most of the morning’s allowance on schedule. Thankfully, she could mark her idea down as a success.

She turned to see where Chloe was, only to find her deep in conversation with three young teenagers. All boys about her age, they congregated around her like she was the real Nicole Kidman. Kate watched as Chloe pulled back her head and did that irritating flick with her hair that had them all but panting and Kate seething with jealousy.

‘Not many left to go,’ Chloe nudged her arm minutes later. ‘It didn’t take as long as I thought.’

‘It didn’t take
you
much time at all.’ Kate glared at her. ‘I’ve done most of the hard work.’

‘Chill out. I’m only doing PR.’ Chloe laughed at the scowl on Kate’s face. ‘One day, you’ll realise how much hard work it is to flirt. Oh, maybe you’ll get your chance now.’

Busy organising what was left on top of the table, Kate was unaware that Sam had crept up beside her.

‘Hey, Katie,’ he smiled. ‘Can I bite into your cookie?’

Kate scooped up the crumbs she’d wiped into a pile before coming up level with a pair of sparkly eyes. While Sam treated Chloe to a smile, she’d flicked her eyes from top to toe and back again, deciding he was a real treat to behold. A hand ruffled his blond hair where his hard hat had flattened the spikes.

‘Of course you can,’ she replied, automatically mirroring his action by running a hand through her own hair. She hoped her lipstick was still intact as he dipped his head to one side and gave her a wink of a brown eye. He was taller than her, she realised, aware that standing next to him was much better than staring up at him from the pavement.

Chloe observed Kate as she got back into flirting mode. For an old girl, she was certainly giving him the works – unknowingly of course. Sam was hanging onto her every word. It was obvious to Chloe that they fancied each other. Surely it would only be a matter of time before he asked her out.

She loaded her tray with the remainder of Lily’s cakes. ‘I’m going to shift these, seeing as
you’re
too busy to help.’

Kate’s jaw dropped as Chloe strolled past, tongue in cheek. ‘And you accuse me of flirting?’ she had the audacity to whisper before Kate could retaliate.