Chapter 4
Half an hour later, after Theo had been out for some fresh air, the three of them were gathered around one of the tables inside with a pastry and another coffee. Milly had opted for an iced latte again, but decaf this time, knowing she didn’t want to get too wired, or she’d never be able to sleep.
She stared around the café. While noise and chatter travelled on the air from the places further down the road, their café was calm and quiet.
Too quiet. She could hear the gentle lapping of the canal water against the side of the boat, though it barely swayed, and through the window she could see the calm blue body of water stretching to the houses and businesses on the other side.
It was a beautiful spot and as far as she could see there really was no reason it shouldn’t be doing a roaring trade like the others.
Yes, it was right down the end, which might play some part, but it wasn’t tatty or ugly, and the food looked nice.
Was it simply down to a lack of advertising or was their location against them?
‘So here’s what I’m thinking,’ Ada said, making her turn around. She was sat next to Milly, meaning Milly and Theo were opposite each other. ‘For the next week until I go, I’ll sleep on the sofa, and you can get settled in my room.’
‘Ada—’
‘It’s fine. It’s a sofa bed and more than big enough for me.
And I’m about to be sleeping in a tent for a while so not having an actual bed doesn’t bother me in the least. And while you get settled, you two—’ she pointed at Theo and Milly ‘—can get to know each other, so I’m sure that when I leave you won’t try killing each other. ’
Milly and Theo glared at each other across the table.
She still hadn’t forgiven him for mentioning her flirty hair flick, which she now felt insanely embarrassed about, or for assuming she was stupid because she loved being online.
It was an old-fashioned attitude that she’d have to put him right on.
He’d clearly not watched any of her stuff, which was probably a good thing given the video she’d made just after discovering Tom.
Luckily, since then, she’d posted a lot more so if he was going to find that one, he’d have to look way down her feed.
But frustratingly Ada was right. This was never going to work all the time they were acting like children. After taking a sip of her drink, which was annoyingly still delicious, and reminding herself she was a grown-up, Milly met Theo’s eyes.
‘Look, I’m sorry for what I said about the café being empty.’
‘Fine,’ Theo replied with a slow blink and a shrug.
‘You’re not wrong,’ Ada said to Milly. ‘It is. That’s why we need some help, and Theo knows it.’ She glanced at Theo whose face was stony. ‘We know it looks nice, and Theo makes the best pastries and sm?rrebr?d—’
‘Smoooor—’ Milly began but Theo finished for her.
‘Open sandwiches.’
‘Right.’ She caught his eye again and didn’t miss the slight softening of his expression, though he was nowhere near smiling.
‘But the fact remains,’ Ada continued, ‘we’re just not getting the customers.
We know we’re right down the end of the canal, so most people stop at the earlier places, but we charge the same as other cafés, so it isn’t a price thing.
We’re just never as busy. We don’t exactly know why or what to do about it.
We need you to use your business brain and take a look.
See if you can figure out ways we can make the place more appealing and well—’ she glanced at Theo before speaking ‘—profitable.’
He let out a sigh that verged on a growl and Milly ignored how annoying but also incredibly sexy it was.
She picked up the pastry in front of her.
She didn’t know what it was and to be honest, had been too afraid to ask as they’d settled at the table.
As she held it, delicate flakes of pastry broke under her fingertips, floating back to her plate. She took a bite.
‘Oh my God,’ she mumbled through a mouthful of food.
Ada laughed and even Theo smiled in the way he had before, when they’d first met, when only half his mouth had lifted.
Her senses were torn between him and the delicious flavours dancing all over her taste buds.
The bun tasted of citrusy and almost floral cardamom and the sweetness of sugar.
The butteriness of the pastry combined with both to make it fluffy and delicious and unlike any other sweet she’d ever eaten in her life.
How could she go back to shop-bought pastries now?
‘Delicious, isn’t it?’ Ada said, sipping her coffee and looking ever so slightly smug.
‘It is.’
‘Theo’s one of the best bakers in Copenhagen and makes everything himself from scratch, every day.’
‘Everything?’ she asked, raising her eyebrows.
‘Everything,’ he replied. ‘Even the puff pastry.’
‘Wow.’ She tucked in to another mouthful, unable to stop herself. The second was even more delicious due to the anticipation.
‘So listen,’ Ada began, getting their conversation back on track. ‘You two need to figure out a way to live and work together, okay? Because I’m not letting you go home, Milly, which is what I know you’re thinking.’
She had to confess she was, even though that made her a complete wimp. She couldn’t even imagine telling her employer everything was cancelled but what other choice did she have if Theo was going to act like a total idiot?
‘You can’t go back now,’ Ada said again, more firmly this time and Milly nodded her agreement. ‘I’m not letting you waste all that bravery.’
Theo watched the exchange between them, a tiny line forming between his eyebrows. He must wonder what she meant by bravery and if he stopped acting like a misery and actually got to know her, he might find out.
‘And you—’ Ada pointed at Theo, who snapped to attention like a headmistress had just said his name ‘—need to stop being so judgemental and defensive. I wouldn’t have asked Milly to come and help us if I didn’t think she actually could.
She’s incredible and you should see her Instagram and how she changes lives.
She isn’t stupid and you have to admit that the café needs more oomph. ’
‘Oomph?’ he asked and Milly’s brow creased as she recalled their own conversation.
‘Wait,’ Milly said, aiming her gaze squarely at Ada. ‘You’re only just having the oomph conversation now?’
‘Yeah,’ she replied sheepishly, lowering in her chair. ‘Sorry.’
Milly tutted and rolled her eyes. No wonder Theo hadn’t responded how she’d hoped. It seemed like Ada had either skirted around the issue or just not actually come out and asked him at all. She had a little more understanding for his position now, but it didn’t excuse his ‘ditzy’ comment.
Theo seemed to catch on to the same thing too, and turned to her. ‘I’m sorry I was rude. I was out of line.’
‘Oh—’
‘Great!’ Ada declared, before Milly could reply, clapping her hands together and standing up from the table.
Milly popped the last piece of cardamom bun in her mouth, sad that it had finally run out. Would they mind if she had another one?
Ada took hold of Milly’s case for her. ‘Let me show you the canal house and you can start getting settled, then we’re going shopping. I want to show you all my favourite places in Copenhagen before I have to go.’
Under orders, Milly stood too, happy to be away from Theo for a while and give him time to get used to the idea of her being around.
They had an uneasy peace, but it felt incredibly fragile, and she knew today was not the day to get started on improving the café.
Any suggestions she made were unlikely to go down well.
‘Come on!’ Ada grabbed her hand, pulling her back towards the door.
‘I’m coming!’ Milly shouted before Ada could wrench her arm off.
As they walked through the streets, Milly marvelled at the beautiful architecture.
Away from the canals and canal houses, there were grand Renaissance and classical buildings and modern designs that somehow complemented and fit into this trendy, but also cosy-feeling city.
The summer sun beat down onto the back of her neck, but there was a gentle breeze, and it felt the perfect summer day.
They hopped on and off the metro and after another short walk, Ada declared: ‘Here we are,’ stopping in front of a tall, thin canal house.
It was narrow with four floors, judging by the number of windows, and made of red brick rather than the bright painted houses seen in Nyhavn.
Ada opened the door and led her inside. Milly immediately loved the compact hall with a staircase leading up to the first floor.
‘Come and look at this,’ she said, pulling Milly’s hand and leading her through to the other side of the house, passing what looked like a small utility room and a room full of bicycles, on the way to a back door that slid open straight onto a canal.
Right below her feet was a small, square wooden dock with two seats covered in towels and a ladder down into the water.
‘Can you swim in the canals?’ Milly asked, her mouth gaping.
‘Not all of them, so don’t just go randomly leaping in.’
‘Why would I go randomly leaping into canals?’
Ada giggled. ‘There are designated areas, mostly the harbours but we’re lucky to have access here. The water’s beautifully clean. I swim most mornings. Lots of people do. Come on, I’ll show you my room.’
They raced back through the canal house and up two flights of steep stairs.
The first floor contained a sitting room and kitchen, the second, a bedroom and bathroom.
The bedroom obviously belonging to Theo from the smell of aftershave still lingering there from where he’d gotten up and dressed that morning.
She had to stop herself picturing him half-naked as his back muscles moved while he pulled a T-shirt over his head.