Stirred with Love (15 page)

‘Morning, sleepyhead,’ Kate greeted Chloe as she walked into the coffee shop the next day.

‘Morning.’ Chloe shielded her eyes from the sun’s bright rays. ‘Looks like another hot day on the horizon.’

‘It does indeed. What do you fancy to start this fine Monday morning off? A tall or a skinny? Cappuccino or latte? Decaf or regular? I still feel like I need more practice so you can be my guinea pig.’

Since Chloe’s attempt to produce a cappuccino had resulted in burnt offerings – she’d no idea before then that you could
scald
milk – Kate had taken it upon herself to oversee some staff training. After Tom had kindly explained that the water needed to be plumbed in first, so that it was hot all the time, she’d grabbed the instruction book and read it from cover to cover. Once it had been fitted correctly, she and Chloe had pressed every button, pushed every lever and made every coffee concoction going, just in case.

‘I’ll have a mocha, please.’ Chloe scraped a high stool across the newly finished floor and jumped up on to it. ‘Did you manage to catch up with Louise?’

‘No.’ Kate shook her head. ‘She wasn’t in when I called. I really wanted to see her this weekend too. I feel like I haven’t spoken to her in ages. Maybe I should have rung her first.’

‘Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise.’

‘I know but I should have made more of an effort to keep in touch.’

‘You can’t be in two places at once,’ said Chloe.

‘Hmm.’ It didn’t do anything to assuage Kate’s guilt.

Moments later, Kate slid a cup and saucer towards Chloe. Chloe glanced down at it. Lilac with delicate cream swirls, gold edging around the rim. To say it was a cup was a bit of an understatement. It seemed enough for two ordinary cups of coffee. But then, this was no ordinary coffee shop.

With pride, she took in the ambience she’d helped to create. Three walls were covered in delicately striped cream and lilac wallpaper. The beech wood panelling on the front of the counter blended pleasingly with the bold colour of the lilac-painted wall behind it, and was the same colour as the flooring. The mirrored tiles behind Kate added extra depth without trying and there was a place for bits and bobs to authenticate the shelves above. The serving hatch was barely visible due to Terry’s expert joinery skills.

Chloe was pleased that Lily had acted upon Kate’s suggestion to move the counter to the back wall. With the till situated at its far end, it gave them more room to manoeuvre. And they’d installed a narrow worktop beneath the smaller window, allowing four people to sit on high stools and look over the square instead of into the coffee shop.

There were only a few minor details to sort out now. The windows had to be dressed. Chalk boards needed to be fitted to either end of the tile panels. Once Terry had finished the window seat in the bay window, the two settees Lily had ordered would be placed either side. Very Friends, Chloe surmised.

Lily had decided that the first coffee and slice of cake were to be free. If the shop was busy on its first day, they’d be off the starting line. All they had to do then was keep the whistle blowing, get over the hurdles and head straight to the finish.

‘Penny for them?’ Kate clicked her fingers in front of Chloe’s face. ‘Are they hot or are they not?’

‘Huh?’

‘Your thoughts! You’ve been sitting in a trance for a few minutes now.’

Chloe swished the remains of the coffee around the bottom of the cup. ‘It looks great, doesn’t it?’

‘It does. We should be proud of ourselves.’

‘It’s a little scary though, don’t you think?’

‘I’m terrified!’ said Kate, with a grimace. ‘I’m scared that the first cup I carry will tip up in the lap of the first customer we have. Forcing a headline such as ‘‘coffee shop clown throws a party – all over the first customer. Woman to sue.’’

Chloe giggled self-consciously. ‘It’s not going to be that bad, but I want it to work so much. I can’t imagine having to go home, tail between my legs, admitting defeat.’

Suddenly Kate’s light-hearted mood changed as she remembered the unwelcome reminder of home she’d had last night.

She sighed, not wanting to share too much with Chloe. ‘Well, at least you’ve got a home to go back –’

‘Hey.’ Chloe stopped her in mid flow with a pointed finger. ‘Come on now.’

‘I know, I know.’ Kate practiced that stuck-on smile again. ‘I’m as strong as I want to be, so you keep telling me. The only problem is that I’m unsure how strong I
need
to be.’

Just before the staff meeting that evening at seven, Kate made a visit to the retail park and bought another mobile phone. She didn’t want to risk Nick ringing again when he was feeling low.

‘Been treating yourself?’ Lily picked up the box that Kate had discarded on the counter top when she came downstairs.

‘Nick caught me off guard last night,’ Kate explained, ‘so I thought I’d better get a new one. I’ve wanted to update mine for ages anyway.’

‘Ah, I wondered what was bothering you. You’ve been really quiet today.’ Lily sat down. ‘Did it upset you more than you thought to see him yesterday?’

‘Actually, I was more relieved to think that I might have done the right thing.’

‘And now?’

‘Now, I’m not so sure.’ Kate screwed the plastic wrapping up into a ball and launched it toward the bin, secretly pleased when it landed where it should.

‘Do you miss him?’

‘I think I miss being part of a couple more, if I’m honest. But I have to know that I did the right thing. Maybe I should go and see him again, talk it through. Just to be sure.’

Lily wanted to say that she thought Kate was already sure but decided to leave her to it as the phone burst into tune as she pressed a button.

‘Are the boys here yet?’ she asked instead.

‘In the kitchen.’

‘And Chloe?’

‘I’m here.’ Chloe’s curls bounced freely behind her as she walked across the room. She smiled at Lily. ‘The diva has arrived. So now we can begin.’

Lily smiled back, envious of her youthful self-assurance.

The kitchen door crashed open. Tom walked steadily across the room with a tray of glasses.

‘Champagne!’ Alex came up behind him, holding a bottle in each hand. ‘It’s Lily’s treat.’

‘This place looks amazing now,’ said Chloe as she pulled out a chair. The new ones had silver powder-coated metal frames and high backs, with upholstered seat pads in complimentary colours. Lily had disagreed on glass topped tables, instead choosing a chunky beech effect for hassle free cleaning, but it had still had the desired result. She raised an empty glass as Lily joined them all. ‘To The Coffee Stop and all that sail in her.’

Lily smiled. ‘We’re not in a ship, Chloe.’

‘Definitely not!’ said Kate as the cork flew across the room, narrowly missing the mirrored tiles behind the bar. ‘This is one business that isn’t going to sink.’

‘Here’s to us,’ said Chloe. ‘For being such a kick-ass team.’

‘Here’s to Lily,’ said Kate. ‘For giving us the chance to work together.’

‘Here’s to the lads!’ Alex chirped up. He put his right foot on his opposite knee. Size eleven’s, Chloe noticed, thinking immediately what was said about men with big feet.

‘Down to business, I suppose,’ Kate began as she checked the list in front of her. ‘Can everyone be here around nine on Friday morning?’

It had been Chloe’s idea to change the opening day from Saturday to Friday. She’d been people watching and wasn’t sure if there was enough passing trade at the weekend. Lily and Kate had thought it was an excellent idea.

Before anyone could answer, Kate moved swiftly on. ‘Although we don’t officially open until twelve, there will be lots to do. Here’s hoping we don’t get a break. Our aim is to be rushed off our feet.’

‘Do you think we should practice what to say to the media?’ Alex looked directly at Kate for an answer.

Already she was forecasting a sarcastic one. ‘What do you mean?’

‘In case we say the wrong things!’ He slapped a palm on his forehead. ‘What if I slip up and start revealing all my darkest secrets to a reporter? You know what they’re like. Once they get you talking, they twist and connive the best tale you’ve got and make it into
The Exorcist
.’

‘And me,’ said Tom. ‘I have so many ex-girlfriends that could tell tales. It might ruin your reputation if you mix with us. Maybe we should hire a publicist.’

‘Yeah, someone like Max Clifford,’ said Alex.

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Who would want to know about you anyway?’ Chloe chided. ‘They’ll be more interested in us lay-dees.’

‘Oh, but you don’t know –’

‘Come on now. Let’s get back on track.’ Lily moved them along. She was finding it hard to keep up with them all talking at once. ‘Are we all clear what we need to be doing?’

‘Yes,’ said Alex. ‘Tom is to hand around cakes and sandwiches and I have the respectable job of clearing tables.’

‘I’m glad you’ve listened to something,’ remarked Chloe. ‘Or else there’ll be no time for champagne.’

‘If you’d let me continue,’ Kate said haughtily, ‘we can finish the agenda.’

Chloe giggled and then held her head down as Kate frowned. ‘I’ve left school. Remember?’ she muttered.

‘Am I coming on a bit heavy?’

Three bobbing heads acknowledged Kate. Lily chose to abstain.

‘Well, I’m nervous too,’ said Kate. It was true. Only last week, she’d woken in a panic thinking she’d forgotten to lock up and they weren’t even open yet.

‘I just want everything to be perfect,’ she added.

‘With you at the helm, I’m certain it will be.’ Lily touched her arm lightly to let her know everything was okay. Kate had done a brilliant job. They both had actually, and she was really proud of what had been achieved in such a short space of time.

‘But we’re not in a ship,’ Chloe mocked, to break up the tension. It had started to get to her too, the more the week moved to a close. She checked through the agenda again. Kate was to be at head of the counter. Then, if it became really busy, which she prayed it would, she’d be taking orders and waiting tables. The local newspaper reporter was due at eleven-thirty, Lily was to say a few words and then, they hoped, the rush would begin.

‘Chloe! Are you with us?’

Chloe looked up guiltily. ‘Sorry.’

Lily patted her hand too. She felt a bit like Florence Nightingale. ‘Don’t be nervous. It’ll be exciting. I can feel butterflies in my tummy already.’

‘Butterflies?’ snorted Alex raucously. ‘I’ve got pterodactyls flapping around in mine and I’m only here for the day.’

When the meeting finished, Kate shared out the champagne. ‘Here’s to The Coffee Stop!’ she said as she raised her glass.

‘Here’s to our first day.’ Chloe followed suit. ‘May my feet stand the pace.’

Lily stayed seated as she spoke. ‘Here’s to my Bernard. God bless his soul.’

‘Well,’ Alex feigned tears before getting to his feet. ‘Here’s to the boys!’

Tom whooped in agreement.

Three pairs of eyes bore into Alex’s, so much so that he could feel himself colouring.

‘OK, OK,’ he relented, throwing up his glass again. ‘You women are so mean! Here’s to the girls too.’

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ten o clock that same evening and Kate was still mulling over Nick’s words. ‘Come home, Kate,’ he’d said. ‘I’m not good without you.’ Even though she knew she was being stupid, she wanted to ring him.

The words of an article she’d read popped into her mind. Didn’t it say something about speaking the truth when you’re drunk? That your true feelings come out, whether you like it or not? Perhaps this was Nick’s way of saying he’d made a mistake. He sounded sincere, she thought, and he’d been really nice to her yesterday.

But was she reading too much into things? Maybe she
wanted
to read too much into things? Maybe the fact that they hadn’t given their relationship another try would haunt her until they did. The perfectionist in her still refused to give up. It was that thought that scared her the most.

It was no use. She’d have to speak to him to sound him out – but not on the new phone. She picked up her rejected mobile and rang him.

‘Hi, Nick, it’s Kate,’ she said in a sing song tone when he answered.

‘Hello.’

‘Feeling a little more sober today?’

‘I suppose so.’

‘You said –’

‘Look, Kate, I was a little worse for wear last night. I may have said some things that I shouldn’t have.’    

‘You said you wanted me to come home.’

‘We both know that wouldn’t work.’

‘But I thought –’

‘I’m sorry,’ he interrupted her again, ‘but it was just the alcohol talking. I wasn’t thinking straight. Obviously, I shouldn’t have called you.’

‘Obviously,’ she answered, realising that she’d lost a night’s sleep over nothing.

After a few more sentences of small talk, she disconnected the call and went through to the living room, only to find it empty. She switched on the TV. In lengthy detail, the news presenter spoke about a blazing fire at a paint factory but Nick’s face kept appearing before Kate’s eyes.

What was going on? Why had he been so flippant after the things he’d said last night? Kate wished she could switch her affection on and off like that. Things would be much easier. Familiar feelings started to creep back and, in frustration, she shook her head to rid it of his image. How could she have let herself be taken in by his charm again!

When Chloe joined her a few minutes later, Kate felt the need to share her thoughts.

‘If you ask me, you’ve had a shock,’ Chloe said afterwards. ‘You haven’t seen Nick in ages, yet he used to be there every day. He’s bound to have that affect on you.’

‘I know,’ Kate agreed. ‘But I wasn’t prepared for the rush of feelings I had when he said he wanted me to go back.’

‘But I thought you were getting over him?’ Chloe sounded confused.

‘So did I. I was okay when I saw him yesterday. I realised that I’d made the right decision, no matter how painful it was to move on. But he really got to me last night, made me think all sorts of things.’

‘So tell me what would be different if you tried again?’