forced my mouth to upturn.
Noah went over to the kitchen bookshelf and his fingers skimmed the contents until he stopped at a paperback. ‘Take this,’ he said. ‘It’s about a shepherd boy finding his own destiny. I find it very inspirational.’
I glanced at the cover. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
‘Thanks,’ I said, my voice feeling scratchy again. I grabbed my handbag and slipped the book into it as I hurtled out of the shop. Eyes down, I headed towards the car park and almost slipped on a spilt ice cream. Finally I reached my yellow car, wondering if, ever again, I’d feel as sunny as it looked. I scrabbled to let myself in and collapsed onto the seat. I lowered my chin to my chest for a moment.
And breathe.
Eventually I pulled the door shut and stared vacantly into the distance. I could, of course, escape to Wales and move in with my parents, but that wouldn’t be fair on them. They’d love seeing their granddaughter but would only worry about our future – and Dad wasn’t in the best of health since his stroke. Plus, April would want to see her dad regularly. I could never deny her – I sighed – nor him, that.
I groaned. And I couldn’t ban her from seeing Skye. That meant I’d have to learn to be civilised in front of my ex-friend. But I could do this, right? I looked back for examples in my adult life of where I’d succeeded in overcoming a difficult situation. I shuffled in my seat. Nothing came to my mind. Was Zak right? Had I relaxed into my cushy life so much that I’d simply stagnated?
I reached into my handbag, to check that I’d got the pecan brownies. I had but, urgh, my phone wasn’t there. I must have left it on Noah and Elle’s kitchen table. Reluctantly I left my car and hurried back. I entered The Coffee Club, my spirits once again warmed by the tempting smells and hubbub of friendly chat. I approached the glass counter. Noah stretched out his hand, holding my mobile.
‘I would have come after you,’ he said, ‘but I wasn’t sure where you’d parked and you left so quickly I probably wouldn’t have caught up.’
‘I’m sure you could – I’ve seen you jogging around the village.’
Elle rolled her eyes. ‘Obsessed he is. Goes through about four pairs of trainers a year. He’s taking part in a race in the summer.’
‘Gosh. That’s a serious proposition.’
‘And talking of serious propositions …’ Noah looked at Elle and she nodded, just before serving a customer who’d appeared at the counter to pay. Noah took me to one side, fingers against my arm, revealing a combination of strength and gentleness. ‘We’ve just been talking. I don’t know if you’ve noticed the advert on the shopfront. I’ve been looking for extra staff for a fortnight now and found no one suitable. The café is becoming busier and busier with caffeine-mad customers now coming from other villages to try our different beans. Despite not being local, a few have even joined the tasting club. I’m chuffed to bits, but it means we urgently need help. Someone we can trust – and even better if they know the locality. We can’t pay top rates but, well, we’d be willing to throw in accommodation for the right person.’
Why was he telling me all this?
‘The cottage has a loft conversion with twin beds and a tiny living area. We keep meaning to do it up and rent it out. Don’t get me wrong. It’s clean and has a good view of the stream behind the cottage. It just needs a lick of paint. And it’s private – there’s a lock on the door. We have two bathrooms downstairs. Obviously we’d share the kitchen.’ Those mellow, tawny eyes stared at me. ‘The job and room are yours if you want, Jenny. Until you find your feet. Or for longer, if you wish. Just let me know when you’ve one hundred per cent decided about your future with Zak.’
I gasped. ‘No. I mean … me? I don’t even know how to operate a till and … That’s so generous but it’s … it’s too much. I’m grateful but …’ My head swirled. I blushed as the thought entered my head: Zachary Masters’ wife working in a coffee shop? What a come-down. Never.
Those comforting eyes crinkled for a second. ‘You’d be great, Jenny. You know all the mums and kids – in fact everyone in the village. You’re personable. It takes a while to learn how to make all the various coffees, but you could do the till and clean tables until you found your confidence. Of course, my actual role is super-complicated and important …’
We smiled at each other and I swallowed. Who was I to turn down any job? And this could really be a thing – me and April moving out. A job. A place to stay. A small kitchen with no Aga or fridge full of champagne. But hope. A – my chin trembled – a new beginning.
‘But you hardly know me,’ I mumbled. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful.’ Okay. I had a lot to learn about impressing potential employers, but to invite an overemotional mum in with her young daughter? That was quite a generous act. His domestic set-up would change dramatically. And he hadn’t had time to give it much thought. My brow furrowed.
He fiddled with the cuff of one of his rolled-up sleeves. ‘Like I say, we’ve been meaning to rent that room out,’ he said eventually. ‘And …’ he shrugged ‘… The Coffee Club means the world to me. I’d much rather employ someone who’s part of the village and who understands how things tick in Laventon.’
‘Like how Steph, the hairdresser, complains about EVERYTHING but doesn’t really mean it?’
‘Exactly. And how Postie likes to drink his coffee out on the front pavement –’
‘So that he can smoke?’
Noah gave a thumbs-up.
‘Oh, I don’t know. It’s such a decent offer.’ It was. Pride had no place in my life now. And The Coffee Club had the warmest, friendliest ambiance I could hope for. ‘I wouldn’t want to let you down.’ My cheeks flushed. ‘What with being a student and then moving in with Zak, I’ve never actually had a job.’ Heat spread down my neck. ‘Ridiculous, isn’t it, for a thirty-two-year-old woman?’
He leant forward and squeezed my shoulder. ‘Don’t underestimate yourself, Jenny. You’ve been working as a stay-at-home mum. Like thousands of other women. That means you are a counsellor, an organiser, and a diplomat all rolled into one. Plus, I saw you serving refreshments at that charity catwalk show you arranged in the town hall last month. You did a great job.’ He pulled a face. ‘Elle dragged me along.’
I raised an eyebrow, surprised that simple dresser Elle had such an interest in clothes.
‘I heard you charm everyone into buying a plateful of mini fish ’n’chips with their wine. There’s a skill to dealing with the public like that.’ Her shoulders bobbed up and down again. ‘Why not think about it? Take a few days. Honestly, you’d be doing us a huge favour. But …’ He took his hand away. ‘I understand if you’ve still not made up your mind about leaving. We don’t want to be a catalyst for the breakup of your family.’
A lump formed in my throat and my vision blurred as I gazed around the shop.
Noah caught my eye. ‘I know it’s no mansion, but we’ve got storage space in an outhouse and a good-sized garden for April, right in front of the stream.’
I sniffed. ‘No, it’s great … your offer … it …’ I gulped. ‘It’s so kind.’
Yes, it was small.
