Chapter 77
CHAPTER 77
G emma felt nauseous. Kent was going to sell the Waterfront Café, and not to some owner who would keep the business running the way it had been for years, but into a soulless, profit-driven fast-food establishment. It made sense. He had probably bought the place at a steal from his uncle and saw this as a quick way of turning around a profit and getting the money he needed for the house in Hay-On-Wye. It made perfect business sense for someone with no sentimentality. How the hell had she ever thought she could be falling in love with a man like that? He’d probably been dating her, just so that she’d be distracted and wouldn’t see what was happening right beneath her nose. Well, she knew now, and she wasn’t going to let him get away with it.
“Are you alright?” Melissa said, as she continued to look at Gemma. “Do you want a drink? I can bring you something to eat if you like.”
“Sorry, you’re going to sell it? That man is buying your café?”
“Fingers crossed,” Melissa said. “At least that way I should be able to get some decent money from it.”
Gemma could feel the way her forehead had lined as she rubbed her temples and looked around the space, only for her eyes to fall on the till in front of Melissa. It was jet black, brand new, and remarkably similar to the one Kent had recently purchased for the Waterfront Café.
“You can’t be doing that badly?” Gemma said. “I mean, those things aren’t cheap.”
“The till,” Melissa let out a slight chuckle. “That was a gift. A sign of goodwill for seeking a valuation with Coffee-X. Basically, if they buy a place, they keep it, so it’s no loss to them.”
“Right, of course. They’re already purchasing for their new property,” Gemma said, feeling herself moving backwards as she spoke.
“Did you want something to eat or drink?” Melissa asked again. This time, Gemma shook her head.
“No, no, thank you. Actually, I think I need to head home. Yes, there’s something I need to do. Sorry, I’ll catch you later, and sorry about the sale too. I hope it gives you enough to carry on doing whatever you want.”
Gemma knew Melissa said something else. She probably wished her well and perhaps even apologised for dropping the bombshell on her, but Gemma didn’t hear. She was already marching out onto the street with her phone in her hand. For the second time in less than two weeks, she was sending an SOS message to the book club, and this time, everyone was included.