Chapter 51
Chapter Fifty-One
JOEY
Above Joey and Vanessa’s heads, the lights strung up and down the carrer came on. The warm glow, the people, the music. Joey knew that this place was meant for her. At the same time, she knew that Vanessa was meant for her, too.
She’d meant what she said. She wouldn’t ask Vanessa to stay. But in her heart, she longed for her to say she would. She rose from her chair, to get closer to the woman she loved. Vanessa’s face glowed through the party atmosphere. Joey knelt by her chair, and kissed her.
It was a kiss of certainty for Joey. She was sure she was doing the right thing, despite the uncertainty that might follow.
She felt Vanessa’s hands in her hair and the kiss became more passionate.
Breathless, Vanessa pulled away, looking deep into Joey’s eyes. “There’s something I need to tell you as well.” She stroked Joey’s face. “I’ve made a decision about my future, and I need you to know that I have kept my promise to my gran.”
Joey couldn’t help but feel her heart sink a little. Deep down she’d hoped Vanessa might make a different choice.
“It was the letter my great grandmother sent Dani’s that made me realise what I had to do.” Vanessa took Joey’s hand. “They were forced apart by society, by family expectations. They were women with very little say in their lives.”
Joey nodded, not sure where this was going, as Vanessa continued.
“They found love together, but had to be parted. And I think back to how hard that must have been for them, in the days before everyone had a telephone, before the internet. I don’t know whether they ever got to see each other again, but based on what Sergio says, it doesn’t seem likely.”
“It’s so heartbreaking. And sadly, it’s something that probably happened to plenty of others, too.” Joey sighed.
“So many others,” Vanessa agreed. “But it’s not going to happen to us.”
“We have the advantage of video calls and text messages,” said Joey, nodding but aware of a cold, hollow feeling inside.
“We do,” said Vanessa. “But let me finish. I love you, Joey. I’ve never said those words to anyone before. I’ve never felt the way I do with you. You’re different to the others.” She laughed. “So very different.” She kissed Joey’s cheek.
Warmth spread through Joey’s body. Perhaps, somehow, this was going to work out.
“My gran made me promise to stick at something, to stop being so flighty. I told her about my plans to open a cafe and she told me I needed to stick with it. I promised her I would.” Vanessa paused and looked upwards.
“But if I go back to Birmingham and open my cafe there, I don’t know how this could work between us. ”
Joey’s stomach turned. This was it. This was Vanessa saying goodbye, despite all they’d said.
“You in the bakery here, and me in the cafe in Birmingham. We’d be working all the hours. It would be so hard to see each other with any regularity. I just can’t see how it would work,” Vanessa went on.
Joey’s head dropped.
Vanessa put a finger under Joey’s chin and gently brought her face back up. She spoke quietly. “Which is why I’m not going back.”
Joey wasn’t sure she’d heard what she thought she’d heard. “What?”
Vanessa grinned. “I couldn’t leave you. Gran wasn’t just talking about the cafe. She was talking about all aspects of my life. How could I possibly be true to my promise to her if I met the love of my life and then left her to chase a business idea?”
Joey swallowed. “But what about the premises? What about the cafe plans?”
“I couldn’t do it,” admitted Vanessa. “I knew that it fitted my original plans. But changing plans doesn’t mean I’m losing touch with my dream.
Since working here with you and Carmen in the bakery, I can see that this is absolutely what I should be doing.
But perhaps I can do it here, not in Birmingham? ”
Joey’s eyes went wide and her heart skipped a beat.
“That is, if you’d want me here.” Vanessa licked her lips. “I mean, I could work here, if you’d have me.”
“Yes!” exclaimed Joey. “Yes to all of that.”
“I know I have so much still to learn,” said Vanessa, smiling. “But I think with you as my teacher and my boss, I can learn it all.”
“No,” said Joey instinctively. “I have a better idea. We tell Carmen that we’ll run this business together after she retires.”
“What?” Now it was Vanessa’s turn to look surprised. “But I know so little about baking, and my Spanish is deeply flawed.”
“Of course, you’re still learning about Spanish baking, but your English bakes are unimpeachable.
And you’re picking up Spanish so quickly I can hardly believe you’re the same woman who could barely speak a word of it just a few weeks ago.
I heard you chatting with a customer almost fluently the other day.
I was impressed.” Joey gave Vanessa a smile.
“Really?” Vanessa beamed, her eyes shining.
“Really. I think we bring different things, and isn’t that what a business partnership – or any partnership, for that matter – is about?” Joey stood and pulled Vanessa up to join her.
“I think so.” Vanessa nodded. “And I think we owe it to Sophia and Teresa to be together because they couldn’t.”
“Amen to that, Vanessa.” Joey pulled her girlfriend to her and kissed her softly on the lips.
Hours later they were still dancing together in the street, drinking Carmen’s special lemonade. Giddy with happiness, Joey twirled Vanessa late into the night, finally beginning to believe in the power of happy endings.