Thirty-three
Erica was feeling cheerful as she prepared to meet Kate next day. It had been too late to call Briony last night, but she’d done so this morning before breakfast and confirmed that her daughter-in-law and granddaughter would be arriving the following Saturday to spend a week with her. She had already arranged to have the week off work and was looking forward to spending time with them. The message from Lou had been a surprise, inviting her to the neighbourhood welcome drinks she’d mentioned when she picked her cat up. It was to be next Saturday too, the same day Briony was arriving. Erica was yet to reply. She’d work out what to do later.
Arriving early for her meeting with Kate, Erica wandered through the bookshop part of Books and Coffee , browsing the table of new releases. She had picked up a book by one of her favourite authors and was reading the blurb before deciding whether to buy it, when a voice asked, ‘Did you receive my message about drinks next Saturday?’
Damn! She should have realised she’d bump into Lou here. She hadn’t forgotten it was her bookstore but had been too busy thinking of other things. ‘Hi, Lou,’ she said, stalling. ‘I did, but I got home late and…’ She really had no excuse and didn’t want to appear rude. It was kind of the older woman to arrange for her to meet her neighbours. ‘Thanks for going to the trouble of arranging it. My daughter-in-law is arriving with my granddaughter that day so…’
‘Bring them along. The more the merrier. And we oldies could do with some livening up. How old is your granddaughter?’
‘Only a few months. She’ll probably sleep through it.’
‘Well, then. No problem.’
‘No.’ Erica knew there was no way of avoiding the event. ‘I guess I’ll see you there.’
‘We’ll be in my place if it rains,’ Lou said, ‘and no need to bring anything. I’ll pick up some food from here and the guys will provide the grog.’
‘Right.’ Now she’d agreed to attend, Erica hoped it would be a fine evening. The plan was to meet at four on the beach across from the row of cottages. Her heart lightened. Perhaps she’d enjoy it. At least Briony would be there to help her overcome any of the awkwardness she might feel at meeting a group of strangers.
‘Do you want that one?’
Erica realised she was still holding the book. She glanced down at it. ‘Yes, please.’
She took it to the counter where Lou dropped it into a paper bag with the name of the store emblazoned on the side, paid for it and promising to see Lou the following week, made her way through to the café.
Kate was already there, seated at a table by the window.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ Erica said. ‘I got caught up in the bookshop.’ She held up the bag containing the book.
‘No problem. What did you buy?’
Erica pulled out the latest Di Morrissey. ‘I’ve always loved her books,’ she said.
‘Me too. We should read this one at the book club. It’s my turn to select the book next month and I’ve been trying to decide what to choose. I didn’t see you at this month’s meeting.’
‘No, I had a late shift at work and was too exhausted to make it. I was sorry to miss the discussion as I really enjoyed the book. How did it go?’
Erica listened with interest as Kate gave her a rundown of what the members of the book club had said about the Nicci French book, until they were interrupted by Denny asking them if they wanted to order.
‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘I’ll have a skinny cappuccino thanks.’
‘The same for me,’ Kate said, ‘and can we have two of today’s muffins specials, please? You don’t mind me ordering a muffin for you, do you?’ Kate asked Erica when Denny had left. ‘They do such amazing ones here. I always have the daily special.’
‘You come here a lot?’
‘As often as I can. I love this place. The danger is that I usually end up buying a book too.’ She laughed.
Erica laughed too. She was sorry she hadn’t made time to meet with Kate before now. It was so good to talk about books with someone who shared the same taste, and to do it over coffee in these delightful surroundings was a bonus. ‘We should do this more often,’ she said.
‘Absolutely!’
Their coffee and muffins arrived, the strawberry and white chocolate muffins warm from the oven and smelling delicious.
‘Tell me about yourself,’ Kate said, when they had devoured the muffins and ordered a second cup of coffee. ‘What brings you to Pelican Crossing? I know you’re Joe’s sister but not much else.’
Erica winced. She didn’t want to recount her sorry story to her new friend, but she had to say something. She took a deep breath. ‘My husband died recently. I grew up here, and it made sense to come back to be close to Joe.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I do recall hearing something… How does it feel to be back? I’m not sure I could go back to my hometown.’
Erica thought for a moment, a variety of emotions flooding her. ‘Good, on the whole, though the memories can be difficult to handle,’ she said, trying to be as honest as she could, while also trying not to think of Jamie and the memories he invoked. ‘What about you? You’re a relative newcomer too.’ She took a sip of coffee and waited.
‘Oh, a chance to do something different, you know, the opportunity to get out of the city, to have a sea change. Isn’t it supposed to be what everyone is looking for these days?’ She picked up her cup as if to signal that was all she was prepared to say.
Erica wanted to ask more, but didn’t want to pry. No doubt Kate would reveal more in her own good time, if their friendship progressed. She was aware of all the things she had chosen not to reveal too.
‘Joe tells me you have a dog,’ she said instead, deciding to change the subject.
‘Bear,’ Kate clasped her cup in both hands, a warm smile on her lips, ‘my German Shepherd. He’s a dear. I don’t know what I would have done without him.’ For a fleeting moment, her eyes clouded over before lightening again. But that moment told Erica that her new friend had suffered too, and she felt a strong sense of affinity with her.
‘I’d love to meet him,’ Erica said, remembering what Poppy had said about her getting a dog herself. She’d forgotten that conversation in the excitement of going sailing with Jamie. She’d speak with Rhana soon, she vowed, find out when her next litter was due and check with Livvy about having a dog in the cottage.
‘You must come to dinner. I live in one of those old houses behind Main Street, a couple of blocks from here. You?’
‘I’m renting a cottage from a friend. It’s on the other side of the harbour.’
‘Oh, one of those cute little cottages? Isn’t that where that friend of Joe’s lives, the one with the fishing charter business?’
‘Jamie Whittaker? Yes.’ Erica didn’t want to talk about Jamie, especially not with Kate. She remembered the interest she’d shown in him at Joe’s barbecue.
‘You and he… you’re friends, aren’t you?’ she asked.
‘We know each other, yes. We both grew up here.’
‘Is that all or…?’ Kate raised one eyebrow.
Erica blushed. ‘We have started seeing each other recently,’ she admitted.
‘I knew it! I saw the way he looked at you that night at Joe’s. He’s quite a hunk. I’m not in the market for a man, but if I was…’ She grinned.
Erica blushed again. She hated this sort of conversation. Perhaps she and Kate weren’t so alike after all.
Kate dispelled that thought by adding, ‘I’m sorry if I sound crass, but I had a bad experience before I came here, one I don’t want to repeat, and sometimes I say things that…’
‘You’re forgiven. Now, I should go. It’s been lovely meeting you again.’
‘I meant it about dinner… if I haven’t put you off. Call you?’
‘Please do.’ Despite her comments about Jamie, Kate had been good company, and Erica was willing to give their friendship a chance.
As she made her way home, however, it was Kate’s comments about Jamie which she remembered… and agreed with. Jamie Whittaker might be in his fifties, but he was quite a hunk, and he seemed interested in her. If only she could trust her own judgement.