Summer at the Heartbreak Cafe: Summer Sweet Romance (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 0) (10 page)

I
n the final
week of August, the café was not as busy as it had been for the previous three months.

Nina served a few customers in the morning, but now it was eleven and it was almost empty.

The last few days, she had not seen much of Sam, although he popped in regularly for a quick breakfast and a stolen kiss if the opportunity allowed.

But for the remainder of his stay, he was kept busy with his novel. He’d told Nina that she had opened up the pores of his creativity, and his mind was overflowing with ideas for his novel.

She was happy for him, but she missed spending long hours with him, being together or just holding each other.

Today, a cloud of sadness was hovering over her. The last few days had given Nina an inkling of how hard it would be when he went back to Dublin.

She felt an emptiness that hadn’t existed before. It was easy to think that you could keep everything in perspective. She wondered how other people handled summer romances. Already she could tell that she wasn’t handling hers very well. She wanted Sam to be with her forever.

Yet he had his own life. He was a successful author who had responsibilities. But more than that, he probably only felt attracted to her. When they were together, Sam never gave an inkling to what his thoughts were. He never said what he felt about her, and so Nina also took her cue from him and never said anything.

They were just two people out to have fun together weren’t they?

A familiar figure walking down the street caught Nina’s attention. It was Emma, her hair bouncing as she walked. You would think that she was going somewhere fancy by the way she was dressed. But that was Emma’s way, Nina thought fondly, and was happy to note that her previous resentment for her friend had disappeared.

She pushed the door and walked in. Nina met her halfway and the two women hugged.

“Hi, good to see you, where have you been lately, busybee?”

“I’ve been around, actually,” Emma said, then leaning forward conspiratorially she added, “and I’ve got news.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense, tell!” Nina said, getting caught up in the excitement.

“Well, I met someone over at the golf course.”

Nina’s eyes widened. Emma was fast; she attracted men like bees to flowers.

“His name is Chris and he’s a property developer. He owns a chain of hotels all over the world, and guess what? He wants us to have a relationship.” Emma said, her eyes falling. “I’m not sure if I know how to do that.”

Nina laughed. “Is he kind?”

Emma contemplated Nina’s question, and then nodded. “He is, kind and sweet, which of course also means a bit boring. But he and Mikey are getting along great. He’s teaching both of us how to play golf.”

“Hold on to that one then. Men who are good with kids are a rare find,” Nina said, thinking of Sam who was brilliant with Patrick.

“I know. Did I mention that he’s rich too?” Emma said and both women laughed. “So any news with you?”

Nina wondered whether to tell her about Sam. She thought of the way Emma had just confided in her without any reservations and decided to go for it.

“Actually …” Nina said coyly.

“You’re blushing!” Emma banged the table. “You’re seeing someone too? Who? Do I know him?”

“Stop being dramatic, we’re not telling everyone here,” Nina said, looking around. “And yes, you do sort of know him. Sam.”

Emma’s eyes widened like saucers. “Sam the author? You snagged that cold human being who wouldn’t give me the time of day?”

Nina laughed at her friend’s expression.

“He’s sweet and kind and very thoughtful.”

Emma squinted. “Are we talking about the same person?”

And she was off, making Nina laugh with her antics. From the description that Emma gave, it was clear that this new guy was a good match for her.

They spoke for a while longer and when her friend left, Nina’s spirits were higher. So what if it was a summer romance? She would hurt for a few weeks but she would never forget Sam.

With that she whistled as she went about her work.

“What are you so happy about?” Ella said to her when they found themselves alone behind the counter.

“Nothing in particular.” Nina said. “I’m just happy.”

“Lucky you.”

Nina looked at her employer and friend in surprise. “What’s wrong, it’s not like you to be so down in the dumps.”

“I hate the end of summer, it makes me feel so maudlin. The change is too drastic. I love the way Lakeview is full of activities and people during summer. I hate autumn time,” she groaned, making Nina burst out laughing.

She pulled Ella into a quick hug. “Summer will be back sooner than you know. Besides we have winter to look forward to then. Maybe another famous Christmas party?”

“After all the drama last year,” Ella said wryly, “I’m not sure my heart could take it.’

T
hat evening
, Sam popped over to Nina’s flat for dinner.

She had made a casserole and salad, and Sam brought a bottle of wine. It was awkward with Patrick there because they had to keep their feelings for each other hidden. Whatever was going on between her and Sam was theirs alone and Nina did not want her five year old privy to that part of her life.

The day she introduced someone as her boyfriend to her son, it would be a serious relationship, Nina thought, serving chunks of the casserole.

“What are we celebrating?” she asked afterwards, when Patrick went to watch TV and she and Sam remained at the table.

“Can we not have nice wine when there’s nothing to celebrate?” Sam teased.

“We can, but something tells me there’s more to it than that.”

“You’re right, there is. I finished my first draft today,” he said beaming.

“Oh wow, that’s brilliant. Congratulations.”

Though a moment later, the implications of Sam finishing his novel hit her, and Nina grew solemn. Now, he had no reason to remain in Lakeview, did he?

He would soon leave and return to his exciting life in Dublin. She felt sad and bereft as though he had already left, and she felt his touch when he lifted up her chin to look at her eyes.

“What is it? You look so sad.”

Nina plastered a smile onto her face. “Nothing, I’m grand.”

“You’re not a very good liar you know,” he said. “It’ll be hard for me too. You and this place has become so special to me.”

Nina smiled at his attempts to cheer her up.

“Ah, we lead such different lives,” she said.

Sam looked puzzled. “How so?”

“Well, you have this exciting life as a famous author, jetting from one awards do to the other. Going on book tours to exotic locations. For us here, life is fairly quiet. Lakeview is lovely but hardly the most glamorous of places.”

Sam looked at her, astounded. And then to Nina’s surprise, he burst into laughter.

“Is that how you envision my life, Nina? You couldn’t be further from the truth. I live alone in a house way too large for me. I don’t have a cat or a dog, I dislike pets. I wish I could take you and Patrick back with me.”

Nina’s heart beat hard.

“But I can’t ask you to do that. I can’t uproot you and your son from your home - and leave your dad, I know that,” Sam continued, and shook his head. “It’s true what they say about people not appreciating their surroundings. The couple of months that I’ve been here have been wonderful. You’re so lucky to live here, Nina. You all know each other; it’s like one big happy family.”

“I suppose we are.” Nina agreed.

“Where I live, I don’t even know who my neighbour is. I wake up, write for a couple of hours, then respond to emails and return calls. Most afternoons, I’m out in the garden or on the sofa reading a novel—my reward for the morning’s work. As for the awards dos and books tours, they’re not as exciting anymore. I’ve done them for so many years.”

“So when are you leaving?” Nina said.

Sam looked at her for a moment. “Tomorrow.”

She gasped. “So soon?”

“I have to. My publishers have been waiting for this book for a
long time
. I need to go home and go over it with my agent and talk to my editor. There’s not much time remaining between now and the publication date. Not to mention that the lease on the cottage is up now anyway.”

Looking at him and hearing the excitement in his voice as he spoke about his book, Nina realised that for Sam, summer was well and truly over, and so was their affair.

She envied him for his ability to move on so quickly and to remain detached. She thought back to Ella’s words. Sam was used to this kind of thing.

Nina forced a smile and promised that she would not act needy.

“I’m so happy for you,” she said.

“Thanks. For a while there, I really thought I’d lost my mojo,” Sam said. “I’m going to head off in the afternoon, give us a chance to have a few last moments together tomorrow morning before I go?”

“Sure.” While Nina appreciated the gesture, she could see that already Sam’s mind was already back in Dublin.

She had no choice but to come to terms with the fact that this time tomorrow, the man she’d fallen in love with would be too.

A
couple
of leaves slid down from the patio parasol when Nina snapped them shut.

Today was the official end of summer. The kids were back at school tomorrow.

Sam had been gone for two weeks now, and still the deep hole of emptiness lingered.

She hated walking around with a long face, even Ella had commented on it. Nina, who loved all the seasons was feeling weighed down by the thought of the approaching autumn.

She missed Sam with a fierceness that surprised her. He had filled her life with such excitement and affection and worst of all … hope. She snapped the last parasol shut and stood there lost in thought.

“It’ll get better you know, and you’ll have all those nice memories in the meantime,” Ella said making Nina jump.

“I didn’t hear you coming.”

‘I know. You look so sad and lost, love. Have you forgotten what we talked about before? About keeping things in perspective?”

“Easier said than done.”

“Trust me, you’ll be all right with time.” Ella patted her on the shoulder and returned inside.

Nina looked at herself as her boss and friend might and suddenly felt ashamed of herself. She was behaving like a lovesick teenager, which would not help matters at all.

She threw her shoulders back and made a resolution to move on.

Sam had not as much as called her once since he left. So why should she spend her valuable time crying over a man who had clearly moved on?

Nina decided that her first line of business when she left work today was to go home and browse the internet for tourism educational courses.

Now that Patrick was starting school she needed something else to focus on. Why not pursue something that everyone seemed to think she was so good at?

Despite her melancholy, at this decision, Nina felt something akin to excitement.

A
utumn had well
and truly begun to make its appearance, and Ella shuddered at the biting cold and rain that she knew was just round the corner.

Paddy Collins had stopped coming for breakfast, but Ella knew she would see him next summer when he ventured out again.

She thought about the summer tourists who had come to Lakeview this year with more than one kind of baggage.

Grace and her boys; Ella hoped that the young mum had managed to hold on to that sense of peace she had gotten from her stay here. Would she ever see her and her boisterous twins again? It was difficult to tell. When the summer visitors left, they were always so sure of their return, but until you saw them again, there was no way of knowing.

The person that Ella felt sure would return though, was Marianne. She chuckled as she remembered how she and her husband had been in the last few days of their holiday. Like new lovers, holding hands at every opportunity.

Ella knew that some people managed to hold on to that chemistry for all of their lives. Perhaps it would be the same for Marianne and Donal. They would come for their summer break in Lakeview even when their hairs were greying.

That would be lovely.

Something had changed in Nina this summer too though. Like a light switch had been flicked on. She was now talking about pursuing a course in tourism. Ella felt so proud of her she could burst. It wasn’t the easiest thing going back to college after so many years and with a young son in tow.

She seemed to still be pining over Sam the author, though. He had been devastatingly handsome, and for a moment there Ella had wondered if there might be more in that romance than just a summer fling.

But clearly it wasn't to be. Such a shame.

Really that girl deserved everything. She hoped that Nina would be lucky like she herself had been with Joseph, and find someone to love and to grow old with.

There was no greater comfort in life.

T
hree weeks later
, Nina walked from the bus stop, enjoying being outside in the cold air after being cooped up in a lecture hall all morning.

Grey clouds covered the skies and the air was chilly. The few leaves still on the trees were golden and brown. Nina knew that in a couple of weeks, none of them would remain, and the trees would stand empty and lifeless.

Her shoes made crunching noises as she stepped on the leaves covering the path. She thought of Sam and wished that he could see autumn in Lakeview.

Now, in the ensuing weeks since his departure, that empty feeling had gone, and in its place a sadness that followed her wherever she was.

He never completely left her mind though. He appeared when she least expected, the image of his face swimming before her eyes, so close if she reached out she could touch him.

Those were the times when she missed him with a longing that bordered on being physically painful. She often wondered what he was doing, but knowing nothing of his life, it was difficult to imagine. She conjured up a picture of how he had described his house and his everyday routine.

Her favourite image was one of him in faded jeans, sprawled out in his back garden or on the sofa, reading a book, his eyebrows creased in concentration.

Deliberately she yanked her mind away from Sam. Thoughts of him always left her low and demotivated. Instead she thought about her new classes in tourism. Nina enjoyed her classes, but it still felt good when Friday came.

It was her time to relax and be with her son. She rarely worked in the cafe nowadays once the summer rush was over, and her weekends now consisted of walks with Patrick, dinner at her dad’s house, and homework.

Patrick found it hilarious that his mother had homework too.

She neared the entrance door of her flat and when she looked up; Nina thought she could see the outline of a man standing on the steps of the building.

She quickened her pace, trying to make out who it was. Her dad maybe? But no he had a key ….

As the outline became clearer, Nina stared ahead in disbelief.

Could it be?

It
was
…

Sam stood up when he saw her and walked to meet her. Without thinking, Nina dropped her bag and ran into his arms. She drank in the masculine scent of him, forgetting to compose herself. She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.

Then she stepped back and looked at him in disbelief.

“It’s really you.”

Sam laughed. “It’s such a treat to see you. For the last few weeks I kept imagining how it would feel to see you and to hold you, but nothing came close to how I feel just now.”

“How do you feel?” Nina said.

Sam’s chest visibly rose as he inhaled deeply. “As if I’ve come home.”

Nina fell into his arms again and then led him inside. She pulled him into the hallway, not caring who saw her, and shut the door. Upstairs in her flat, they turned to each other and kissed hungrily.

Nina felt herself melting into him. He ran his hands over her back and pulled her close. “How long till Patrick …?” he began.

“An hour,” she breathed.

“That’s just about enough time for what I have in mind. God, I’ve missed you, Nina,” Sam said.

How had she managed without him? Nina asked herself. And how would she manage when he left again?