12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
I t was freeing, not being beholden to a six day a week training schedule, and to start, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I hadn’t had a break from rowing since I’d set up the café, and I’d already found the venue back then, so the moment I stepped away from training, I’d jumped straight into setup.
This time was different. I spent a week just scouring the internet for premises suitable for a shop with a deli. Ideally it would be close to the café, but the area around the river was sought after and expensive, and it was unlikely something would come up that ticked all my boxes. So I expanded my search area, looking specifically at the more affluent parts of town with good footfall and easy parking.
I wandered around the areas, getting a feel for them, people watching in coffee shops and striking up conversations with shop owners until I had a solid shortlist of options. And then I doubled down on the internet searches and called a few commercial property agents. No one had anything that fit, but they all promised to keep a lookout.
I still had to run my existing businesses, and I was training every day, but now I didn’t feel like I was letting my crew down, I felt lighter, happier, liberated. Whereas before I’d dreaded going to the rowing club because I hadn’t wanted to see my crew, now it was only Andrew I wanted to avoid, even if I did stare longingly at the picture of us on my phone a hundred or so times a day.
I hadn’t seen or heard from Andrew since I’d told Theo to fuck off, and I’d filled the silence with all kinds of irrational thoughts. Maybe our friendship was over. Maybe he’d already found a new girlfriend—perhaps the Spanish, gazelle-legged woman from his party, or the chocolatier his family loved so much. Or maybe he'd discovered just how much time I spent fantasizing about him, and was even then enlisting the help of a lawyer to take out a restraining order against me.
To stop myself dwelling on Andrew every waking moment of every day, I’d taken to making lists, and today it was the turn of the kind of suppliers I wanted in the shop, followed by a Pinterest board of interior inspiration, then a list of similar shops across the country to check out online.
I was feeling highly productive by the time I closed my laptop and headed out to help with the café’s lunchtime rush, where I lost myself in the rhythm of taking orders and making drinks.
Two hours passed before I came up for air. It had been a fun lunch shift with plenty of regulars and even a bit of harmless flirting with the hot guy from the butchers farther along the street. I hung up my apron, feeling more content than I had in weeks, and was contemplating a run before the evening rush when my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize, and I picked it up just as Andrew pushed open the café door. I shrank back into the corridor to my office, silently thanking the universe for the excuse to avoid him.
‘Hello?’ I said, picking up the call.
‘Hi, Miri. It’s Paul from Hudson and Stoker . We spoke a few days ago about commercial premises for a shop?’
‘Yes!’ Paul’s words grabbed ninety five percent of my attention, the other five preoccupied with tracking Andrew’s progress through the line. ‘Do you have something?’
‘A brilliant little place has just come up in Portico. It’s currently split. Half’s a hair salon, and the other half’s a café and bookshop. It has amazing potential.’
‘Why’s the owner selling?’ Portico was a great area, not too far from the river, and near the top of my short list.
‘The guy who owns the building wants to retire, and the owner of the hair salon is his wife. I think they’re off to the continent as soon as they find a buyer.’
‘What about the café? The person who runs that doesn’t want to take on the salon?’
‘She can’t afford the whole premises, and I get the impression it’s more of a hobby. The opening hours are erratic, and she’s retirement age, too, and is best friends with the owner of the hair salon.’
‘Right,’ I said. ‘When can I see it? And what’s their timeline?’
‘They’re keen to sell ASAP, and you’re welcome to see it now if you can slip away? You’ll be the first through the door.’
‘Yes!’ I breathed, the word out so fast I surprised even myself. ‘Text me the address and I’ll be right there.’
‘Good news?’ said Andrew, who’d picked up a chicken and pickled red onion focaccia from the counter.
I quickly hid my phone, or more accurately, the picture covering the background, and said, ‘A property agent thinks he’s found a good option for my shop in Portico.’
He smiled warmly. ‘That’s amazing, Miri.’
‘I’m heading out to see it now.’
‘Good luck!’ he called after me, as I high tailed it out of there, no idea what to say to him.
But when I reached the parking lot, I found my van had been blocked in by not one, but two cars. ‘Shit,’ I said aloud, pulling out my phone and swiping to find my taxi app.
Andrew appeared over my shoulder, his takeaway lunch in hand. ‘I can give you a ride.’
I jumped and spun around, nearly dropping my phone. ‘Oh, don’t worry. I’ll grab a cab. You’re busy.’
‘Miri, I’m going that way. My office is in Portico.’
‘Oh … um … well … if you’re sure you don’t mind?’
His face morphed into a look that said, stop it and get in the damn truck, so that’s what I did, but as soon as our doors closed, the air turned thick and charged, as though one little spark might make the whole cab explode.
I looked out of the window as Andrew pulled into the slow-moving traffic, feeling his eyes roam over me as we stopped at a red light.
‘Are we going to talk about it?’ he asked, his tone gravelly.
I turned to him with a blank expression, my heart skipping a beat at how good he looked in his open-necked shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his muscular forearms. ‘About what?’
He huffed a laugh as he turned his eyes back to the road, the light now green.
‘About how you told Theo to fuck off in front of half the rowing club?’ He sounded pleased, and when he glanced back at me a smile tugged at his lips.
‘He’s an arsehole,’ I said with a shrug. ‘Someone needed to.’
‘Glad you finally noticed.’
I scowled hard. ‘I’ve always noticed,’ I spat. ‘Do I think he’s attractive? Yes. But I was only ever interested because there was no one else. I haven’t had a steady boyfriend in years, Andrew. I work all the time, and when I’m not working, I’m at the rowing club. Theo has the personality of a horny dog, but my options are limited.’
Andrew stopped at another red light and this time when he turned to look at me, my words had wiped the smile from his perfect lips, his eyes stormy.
‘And it’s not like you want to date me.’
His eyebrows shot up, but I was done walking on eggshells around him, something about my newfound freedom, or maybe the excitement of going to see a potential property, making me throw caution to the wind. ‘This is me,’ I said, opening the door and jumping out. ‘Thanks for the lift.’ I slammed the door behind me and didn’t let myself look back as I headed along the street to the hair salon.
Andrew’s truck drove past, but I refused to look at him, busying myself with scanning for the property agent, who was climbing out of the tiniest car I’d ever seen.
‘Paul!’ I called, as he turned around.
‘Miri! Good to meet you in the flesh.’ He shook my hand. ‘This one’s an absolute gem; it’ll get snapped up in no time, mark my words. Details …’ He thrust a folder at me but didn’t give me time to even glance inside before ushering me into the salon, which was empty, save for a woman in her late fifties wearing a snakeskin patterned shirt, her hair a platinum blond perm.
The woman jumped up from her seat and clip-clopped around the counter on her impossibly high heels. ‘Hello! Miri, isn’t it? Paul says you want to start a shop.’
‘Uh … yes.’ I gave her a warm smile. ‘He said you’re relocating?’
‘Sun!’ she squealed. ‘All year round! Can you even imagine such a thing?’
I laughed, then gave her the answer she so clearly wanted. ‘Sounds divine,’ I said, even though it didn’t sound divine to me at all. I liked seasons, enjoying the constant changes and how there was something different to appreciate at every stage of the year.
‘I was thinking you could put the shop in this section,’ said the woman, walking to the back. ‘With the counter over there by the door, and then knock through to the café—you’ll want that space, too, I’m sure, and Sue’s happy to pack it all in. We put the wall up when we bought the place. Nothing structural to worry about. Of course it’ll need a refit, but I’m sure you’ll have ideas about that. Paul said you own Miri’s café down by the river?’
I nodded, but she was already speaking again.
‘Such a lovely, stylish place. But cozy, too. We’ve been many times.’
‘Yes, it’s wonderful,’ said Paul, cutting in at the first available moment. ‘Feel free to take a look around, Miri. I need to run Mrs. Banns through a few things. We’ll just be a minute.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, hurriedly turning my back, grateful for the reprieve.
‘And of course you should go next door,’ Mrs. Banns added. ‘Sue’s expecting you!’
‘Will do!’ I pulled out my phone to take some photos, and my heart lurched when I saw a message from Andrew waiting to be read. I ignored it and started snapping because who knew how long I would have before Mrs. Banns relaunched her attack, and what if the message was bad? What if he made me feel foolish for the tentative fly I’d placed on the water? Yeah, right, it was probably more accurate to describe what I’d done as hurling a stone into a millpond … but I couldn’t think about that now.
I forced him from my mind and was soon lost in my task, imagining where I would put counters and stands and what would work best in terms of customer flow. When I’d given the salon a thorough once over, I headed out onto the street, then into the café next door, which was quaint but rundown, with peeling paint and dated everything.
‘Hi!’ said the plump, grey-haired woman behind the counter, her long, knitted cardigan a little dowdy, such a contrast to Mrs. Banns. ‘You must be Miri?’ she asked in a gentle tone.
‘Yes,’ I said tentatively. ‘Nice to meet you.’ A couple of the tables were occupied, but the customers mostly ignored us, too involved in their conversations.
‘I’m Sue. Nice to meet you, too.’ She looked at me appraisingly, and then a knowing gleam appeared in her eyes. ‘Did Shelly pounce on you? I’m afraid she’s got a bit of a habit of that.’
‘She seems … lovely,’ I said diplomatically, wondering what about my body language had given it away.
Sue chuckled. ‘She is, but she’s also a tornado. Don’t worry, I won’t keep you. You have a good rummage around. Rest rooms and kitchen are out the back. Want a coffee?’
I smile gratefully. ‘No, thank you, but I appreciate the offer.’
She nodded, then turned her attention to the two mothers with prams trying to maneuver their way into the tight space around the door. I went into the back and took a look at the kitchen and restrooms—both dated—snapped some more pictures, then headed back next door, thanking Sue on my way out.
‘Well?’ demanded Mrs. Banns the second I was through the door. ‘What do you think?’
I froze for a split second, then said brightly, ‘I like it!’ Because what else could I say?
‘Great! I knew you would. It needs a bit of TLC, but that’s a good thing—means you can put your own stamp on the place. It’s got solid bones, and there are apartments above. The leases run for another year or so, so you’d need to honor those, but after that you could do what you wanted with them. Lots of potential, I’m sure you agree. And such a nice area. We’ve seen it just get better and better during the years we’ve been here.’
‘That’s great!’ I said, turning my attention to Paul and sending him an, it’s time to go look. ‘Thank you so much for letting me come by so quickly.’
‘We want it to go to someone nice,’ said Mrs. Banns, leaning across the counter and slapping it with her palm.
The image of a wigwam filled my mind as Paul ushered me towards the exit. ‘Thank you!’ I called as we left.
Paul showed me the apartments upstairs, which also needed modernizing, and then he ushered me back to his ludicrously tiny car. ‘I’ve got to rush off, I’m afraid. Any immediate questions before I go?’
‘Um …’ My mind whirled. There were probably a million things I should ask him, but I couldn’t think of a single one.
‘Everything you need is in that pack,’ he said, motioning to the folder he’d handed me earlier. ‘But be quick because it won’t hang around for long.’
‘Right, thanks,’ I said, glad this intense situation was drawing to a close. ‘I’ll let you know ASAP.’
He waved his hand in acknowledgement, then slid into his car in a slick, well-practiced movement and sped off, leaving me feeling wrung out and disappointed, although I wasn’t sure why, exactly.
I hurried down the street, just to put distance between me and the salon. I’d planned to get a taxi back to work, but walking felt wonderful, the stress falling away with each deep inhale and passing step, so I kept going on foot. It was only a couple of miles, so wouldn’t take too long.
I let my mind wander as I walked, my eyes scanning the pretty Victorian terraces lining each side of the street, then tracing the curves of the river as it came into view. It was only when I pulled out my phone to snap a picture for Instagram that I realized I still hadn’t read the message from Andrew.
I opened it immediately, and a breathy laugh broke free as I read his words.
Andrew 14:19: Did you just run away from me?
A giddy feeling flooded through me and I had to resist the impulse to clutch the phone to my chest, my steps suddenly light and breezy as I typed my reply.
Miri 15:02: No.
His reply came instantly.
Andrew 15:02: Liar.
I huffed out a delighted giggle.
Miri 15:02: You’re not as polite as everyone thinks you are.
Andrew 15:03: Yeah, well, that’s on them.
Miri 15:03: And now I see why they think you’re intimidating.
Andrew 15:03: Which is it? Polite or intimidating?
Miri 15:04: You’re such a man.
Andrew 15:04: I’m glad you noticed.
I’m glad you noticed ? A cloud of butterflies took off in my chest, their wings so powerful, I was surprised to find my feet still on the ground. What the hell?
Andrew 15:05: How was the viewing?
I stared at the river, telling myself not to get my hopes up, but then my phone vibrated, and I was shocked to see an incoming call from Andrew. We never spoke on the phone. Or at least, not unless there was something transactional or time sensitive to discuss. There was no reason for him to call me now.
‘Hey?’ I said, holding my breath as I answered.
‘Easier to chat. How was it?’
I went mute for a moment, rendered dumbstruck by this foreign experience. ‘Uh,’ I said, so he would know I was still there. ‘The woman who owns the salon is a lot. In a good way. Kind of.’ Why was I telling him about her? I was rambling. This was not the answer to his question. ‘It was a great space or … it could be. It would need a full refurb.’
‘How do you feel about that?’
‘Hmm … I’m not sure I’m up for one that big,’ I said, not realizing that was what I thought until the words came out.
‘Why not?’ he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
‘It would be expensive, and I wouldn’t be able to open until it was done, which would be a while, so the financial risk would be high. And I’ve got two other businesses to look after and no one I can rely on to run those, so, I … I think it might be too much.’
‘We could help,’ said Andrew. ‘Noah could do the refit, and I could help him. And I’m sure your crew would pitch in, too.’
Discomfort had me biting the inside of my cheek. ‘Andrew, it’s a business, not a charity. I can’t expect my friends to give up their free time.’
‘Yeah, but we’re more like family.’
No. Even just the idea made me awkward and … ‘Would you ask them to help you with your business?’ I asked, and he went silent. ‘Everyone has their own stuff going on.’
‘Do we though? Really? We go to work, row, and sleep. We spend every weekend together. Most of us are single. What exactly is it you imagine us doing with our time?’
‘That’s not the point.’
‘Miri, what if we want to help you? What if people want to earn their ten percent discount?’
I froze next to the steps to my apartment, something in his tone making my insides turn to mush. ‘I would feel bad. And anyway, I’m not sure it’s the place for me. I need to think about it.’
‘Well, if you need us, we’re here. Got to go, I’ve got a meeting, but I’ll see you tomorrow at club night?’
‘Uh … Yeah, I’ll be there.’
Confused didn’t even begin to express my feelings as I hung up. For long moments I just stood and stared at the picture of Andrew and me on my phone. He’d called me. To chat. And before that he’d flirted via text. What was this? What was going on?
I hurried up the stairs and pulled on my running tights. I had some newfound energy to burn, and it was a bright, beautiful day for a run by the river.