CHAPTER TWO
I realised I was instinctively hurrying towards Katja’s van, hoping I could take shelter there.
Luckily, she wasn’t dealing with a customer, so I was able to quickly ask her if I could hide behind the van.
Looking bemused, she stared at me, probably thinking I was joking. But she quickly realised from my panicked expression that I was deadly serious.
Swiftly scanning behind me as if she was expecting to see a mad axeman on the loose, she murmured, ‘Why not go in the van?’ She ushered me towards the driver’s door. ‘It’s open.’
‘Thank you.’ Relieved, I got in and slid down low in the seat.
My ragged breathing sounded loud and laboured in the silence of the van. But I forced myself to slow it down, trying to focus on each individual breath, rather than the turmoil that was going on inside my head.
I held out my hands and saw they were shaking.
They said you couldn’t run from your past. It would always catch up with you.
Was today going to be the day that it finally did?
*****
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ asked Katja, peering at me worriedly.
‘Yes, thanks. I’m fine, honestly. I didn’t mean to be so dramatic.’ I managed a nervous laugh, although I was still having to grip the arm holding the coffee beaker to stop it trembling. ‘I don’t usually behave so weirdly, I promise you.’
The danger was over. In the rear-view mirror, I’d caught a glimpse of a familiar car driving away, in the direction of the market exit.
When I’d got out of the van, Katja must have seen how shaken I was because without even asking, she poured me some coffee from her flask and stirred in some sugar, which she said was good for shock.
I sipped it gratefully, although my insides were still rolling around queasily. ‘Sorry, Katja.’ I smiled sheepishly at her. ‘You must have been wondering what on earth was going on.’
‘Hey, Rosie, you don’t have to apologise. But... do you mind me asking who you were running from?’
‘Oh, no one. Really. My reaction was completely over the top.’ I felt such a fool now. ‘It was just a face from the past that I wasn’t expecting to see again.’
She nodded understandingly. ‘I know that feeling. Old boyfriends have a habit of rearing their ugly heads when you’re least expecting it.’ She grinned and I relaxed a little, grateful for her assumption that it was an ex of mine. She pulled a queasy face. ‘Richard came into the café yesterday.’
‘Oh, no. How are things between you two now?’ Katja and Richard had split up a few months ago, and she was now happily dating the lovely Caleb, boss of the nearby eco-friendly house-building project.
She shrugged. ‘Fine. I mean, a bit awkward, but it always is, isn’t it, when you run into your ex unexpectedly?’
I nodded.
‘So is that what it was? An ex of yours?’
I swallowed. ‘Er, no, actually.’
‘Right.’ She looked at me speculatively.
I racked my brains, trying to think of a way to explain my bizarre behaviour that would seem likely.
‘It was... well, it was someone I used to know when I lived in Brighton. But... well, I’d rather not renew the friendship, if you know what I mean.’
Katja smiled. ‘Enough said. I can think of a few acquaintances I’d hide from if I saw them. But the danger’s past, has it?’
‘It has.’
‘Good.’
I searched my brain for an easier subject. ‘How’s Ellie, by the way? Still enjoying her maternity leave?’
Ellie had given birth to a beautiful baby girl three weeks earlier.
After some bleeding and a worrying dash to A&E a few weeks before, in the end their daughter had rushed into the world on Ellie’s due date, in four hours flat.
It had been a normal and totally uncomplicated birth.
Ellie and Zak had decided to call her Isla.
They’d given her the middle name of Rose, after Ellie’s lovely mum who was living with dementia.
Katja beamed. ‘Mum and baby are doing just fine. In fact, I can’t believe how well Ellie’s coping. She looked amazing when I called round for coffee yesterday after my shift.’
‘Did she?’ I looked at her in surprise. ‘Gosh, good for her. I’m sure I went around looking as if I’d been dragged through a hedge backwards for at least the first three months after Amelie was born.’
Katja nodded. ‘I always had the impression new mothers lived in grotty pyjamas and were shadows of their former selves, being so sleep-deprived. But Ellie had actually found the time to blow-dry her hair and even put on a bit of make-up.’
‘Wow. That’s impressive.’ I was genuinely amazed. ‘My hormones were all over the place. I doubt I’d even have remembered what a hairdryer was , never mind think about using it!’
Katja laughed. ‘I honestly thought it would be me making the coffee and tidying up a bit for her. But the place was immaculate, she already had the coffee on – fresh coffee, at that! – and sweet little Isla was fast asleep, looking angelic and utterly edible in her Moses basket.’
‘Aw, how lovely. Was Ellie dressed, then?’
‘Yup. In her best jeans, although her top did look a bit crumpled.’
I tutted in fake disapproval. ‘You mean she hadn’t bothered to do an ironing? How utterly disgraceful.’
She chuckled. ‘I know. I’ll have to have a word with her. Standards slipping and all that.’
‘I guess she has Zak to help out. I can imagine him being a very hands-on dad.’
‘Well, yes, he is. But he’s really busy right now, working on the edits for this new book he’s written. He had to zoom down to London to see his new editor yesterday – all very last-minute – so I didn’t even see him when I called in.’
I sighed. ‘I’ve never been as organised as Ellie. I’ve got to make endless lists otherwise I’d forget everything.’
‘I guess it’s one of the reasons she’s so successful in business.’
I nodded. ‘It amazes me how she manages to keep so many plates spinning at the same time.’
‘She loves being busy,’ said Katja. ‘In a way, I suppose Isla is just another plate to spin.’
I chuckled. ‘But the cutest, most miraculous plate of all.’
‘Yes. That’s what she is. A little miracle. After everything Ellie and Zak went through on their IVF journey, they must thank their lucky stars every day to be blessed with little Isla in their lives.’
A customer approached Katja and my heart gave a leap of horror. ‘Gosh, I’d better get back to my stall.’
‘Is no one looking after it?’ Katja looked surprised.
‘I... just had to get away,’ I muttered, embarrassed. My shock sighting had derailed me so much, I’d even managed to forget all about my customers! ‘I don’t know what came over me.’
‘At least you’ve got the cash with you.’
I nodded, patting my money belt. Looking over, I could see a couple standing reading the chalk board at my stall. ‘Thanks, Katja. I’d better dash.’
‘Can you keep a Thai green curry aside?’ she called after me. ‘I’ll be along later to collect it.’
I stuck my thumb up and raced back to the stall.
‘Sorry to keep you waiting.’ The couple turned and I conjured up a bright smile. ‘Is there anything I can get for you?’