Chapter 25
‘I’ve missed you so much.’ Clare almost knocked an elderly couple flying in her effort to get to my side of the shop counter late the following morning.
‘Sorry,’ she said, vaguely acknowledging them, ‘but she cannot serve you until I’ve done this.
’ She dropped her bag on the floor and hugged me tightly.
‘Ah, that’s grand. You can serve these nice people now.
I need a wee and a coffee. Hi everyone.’ With a dramatic wave towards my team, she disappeared into The Outback.
‘I’m so sorry about that.’
Thankfully the customers laughed. ‘I assume she’s a good friend,’ the man said.
‘You’d think so, but I’ve never seen her before in my life.’ They looked so shocked that I felt I had to quickly add. ‘I’m joking really.’
‘What’s the craic?’ asked Clare, reappearing with a drink after the couple left. ‘I hope you’ve organised a night on the town with your man Stevie and the delightful Rob.’
‘I haven’t organised anything but I can text Stevie to see if they’re free.’
‘You’re busy creating.’ She indicated the half-made bouquet on the counter. ‘Why don’t you give me your pathetic excuse for a phone and I’ll text Stevie while you finish? He won’t be able to say no to me. No man can.’
Grinning at her outrageous display of self-confidence, I handed over my phone.
Five minutes later, she emerged from The Outback and thrust my phone in front of me. ‘What’s this?’
I glanced down at the message from Nick from earlier that morning and blushed.
?? From Nick
Good morning I only left you 6 hours ago very chic in comparison to Skye’s flowery maxi dress.
‘Hi Sarah, good to meet you.’ Kate offered her hand and shook mine enthusiastically. ‘There’s something I wanted to speak to you about too.’
‘Really? Sounds intriguing.’
We moved away from the counter, leaving Cathy and Clare in charge of customers, and wandered to the end of the shop.