10. Rabbie
10
Rabbie
By the time Crystal comes downstairs, I’m rushed off my feet with the busy morning service, and I don’t have time to chat to her. When I’m working in the kitchen, I like to listen to music, it keeps me focused on the task at hand. She smiles at me whilst she heads through the kitchen, but she must see the stress on my face and leaves me to the orders I have to make.
I’m really enjoying being the new owner of Sweet Treats, but I never expected to be this busy. I think soon enough I will have to hire an extra baker to help me in the kitchen. That’ll be a hard obstacle for me to overcome because one; I find it hard asking for help, and two; I love being in here on my own, baking is my therapy. It’s what I do when I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m stressed. If I didn’t find baking at a younger age, I don’t know what I’d be doing now. Probably in some miserable dead end job. I can truly get lost in baking, and I love how Sweet Treats keeps me busy. I don’t have time to stop and think, and before I know it, it’s nearly time to finish.
It’s Sunday today, and I close at midday on a Sunday. Sundays are important to me, because that’s the day I go over to my Nan’s house and have dinner with her. I know we live in the same small town, but I rarely get to see her these days. I finish off cleaning and shutting down the kitchen and head out the front to see if Nellie and David need any help.
“You don’t do it like that, you eejit!” Nellie tells David.
I witness Nellie trying to show David how to fold napkins as if he’s a little child. I laugh to myself because they are the same age, but Nellie acts as if she’s the much older and wiser sister.
“Shut up, Nellie. I know how to fold a bloody napkin.” David huffs.
I rush over to deescalate the situation before it turns out into a heated twin debate that I know is about to ensue.
“Guys, why don’t you knock off early. You’ve both been putting in the extra hours recently.”
Nellie looks at me as if I’ve just fired her, and David looks at me like he’s won the lottery.
“What about the napkins?” Nellie frowns at me.
“They will be here tomorrow, besides you’ve already got over a thousand pre folded so we will be okay for a while. Go on, you both deserve an early mark. Don’t worry, I’ll still pay you till the end of the day. Think of it as a bonus.”
“Thanks, Boss. Come on Nell.” David grabs his sister’s hand and leads her out the back.
Nellie looks back at me in shock, but I wave at her, and she relaxes a little and gives me a half-hearted wave back. I watch them disappear out the back door of the cafe. I turn around to find Crystal still working away in the corner, she has headphones in today and looks like she’s in the zone. I pour her a glass of water, and head over to the table. She must sense me coming because her moss green eyes dart up to me as I approach the table. A zing of energy zaps through me as her playful cat-shaped eyes smile at me.
“I thought you might be thirsty”
“WHAT?” She yells, as she takes her headphones out.
“Here, I brought you a glass of water.”
I hand her the glass of water, and she looks from me to the glass as if I’ve done something wrong, I start to retreat away in my mind.
“Is there something wrong?” I ask, nervously.
She blinks at me, and shakes her head as if she was in a trance.
“No, sorry. It’s just I’ve never been treated like this from a man before.”
“Like what? I’m just bringing you a glass of water.”
“I know, it’s just the thoughtfulness, I’m not used to it,” she shrugs.
This makes me sad, because what kind of fucking guys has she been surrounding herself with, bringing someone a drink is just common fucking manners.
“It’s time to close up for the day, we only do half days on Sundays. Sorry, I should’ve told you.” I sit down across from her.
“Oh that’s nice, what’s the plan? Are we meeting the guys at the pub?”
“I don’t go to the pub on Sundays, I go to my Nan’s for dinner. I would love for you to join me. She’s been dying to meet you properly, but if you think it’s lame and don’t want to go, I can tell her you were busy.”
She looks at me with a frown on her face, and I wish I could read her mind.
“Why would I think it’s lame? I would love to join you,” she beams a smile at me.
Her smile makes my stomach drop, and I try to focus on our conversation before I’m lost in a daydream of what it would be like to kiss her.
“Great, I just need to go upstairs and freshen up, then I’ll be ready.”
“Okay, I might do the same.” We both stand up at the same time.
We hover there at the table for a while, until she steps around me, breaking my daze of her. Shit, get it together, Rabbie!
* * *
After quickly freshening up, we’re walking up the main street towards my nan’s house. Ever since I moved out, it’s been a weekly tradition to have dinner together every Sunday. I shouldn’t be, but I feel anxious going to my nan’s tonight. I usually go by myself, this is the first time I’ve taken a guest with me that isn’t any of my friends . I know my nan will love Crystal, but I know I will get a million questions when Crystal isn’t around. Everyone in town knows my nan is a wee busy body, the town gossip. I can guarantee when something happens in this town, my nan is the first person to know about it.
It’s a beautiful crisp afternoon and the wind gently rustles the trees, the leaves are starting to turn a deep red and golden colour. Autumn is my favourite time of year. I love the smell of the air when it’s damp outside, and you can smell the rain rolling in over the highlands. It’s time to start slowing down, and get ready to cosy up as the days get shorter. I should be slowing down, but autumn and winter is the busiest time of year for me. Soon everyone will be placing their orders for mince pies and Christmas puddings. I’m deep in thought about trying to prepare myself for a busy season ahead when Crystal’s sweet as honey voice cuts in.
“I love this time of year,” she says as if she just read my mind.
I look over at her and her crimson red hair is gently whipping around her delicate face, her freckled cheeks are rosy pink from the crisp Scottish air.
“Aye, me too,” I smile at her.
“So, is there something I should know before properly meeting your Nan?” She asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, my nan can be a wee nosy old thing sometimes. She’ll probably pry and ask you a million questions. You know, as all old women do,” I shrug at her with empathy.
“I’m sure I can handle a few questions from an old woman,” she winks at me.
“Good, cause we’re here.”
We’ve stopped outside my nan’s house, she’s lived here for over fifty years. It’s a tiny seaside house, it’s nothing flash, but it’s home. Right on cue, as I go to turn the door handle, my nan swings the door open, it’s as if she’s been standing on the other side waiting this whole time.
“Hello, my braw laddie. I was starting to think you weren’t coming,” she stands on her toes and squishes my cheeks.
“Hi, Nan. You know I would never miss a Sunday dinner with you, just got caught up at the cafe,” I try wriggling free from her iron grip on my cheeks.
She peers around me, and then looks back up at me with a curious grin on her face.
“And you’ve brought Dylan’s wee friend with you, sorry I’ve forgotten your name,” she says to Crystal.
The tone from my nan is a little guarded than usual, and she often uses the endearment “Hen” when addressing younger females, she says it when speaking to Dylan and Fiona. I’m a little taken back when she doesn’t offer Crystal a warm welcome that I’m used to. I hide the disappointment on my face because I don’t want to freak Crystal out, she’s already skittish about small towns, and people who reside in them.
“Good Afternoon, Mrs. MacNee. I hope you don’t mind me crashing your Sunday dinner.” Crystal steps forward with a smile.
“I invited Crystal along, she’s staying with me in the spare room until she finishes the website for the cafe. Thistle Down Farm was getting a little crowded,” I beam a wide-eyed look down at my nan.
“Oh how lovely.” My nan plasters a fake smile on her face, but I know she isn’t thrilled about just finding out this news.
I shift uncomfortably on my feet, and cough, so my nan would get the hint that we’ve been standing out here for what feels like an eternity.
“Excuse me, where are my manners? Come on in, it’s getting chilly out here,” she waves us in the door.
I turn back to smile at Crystal, and she nervously smiles back at me. God, I hope this dinner doesn’t turn into a disaster. The last thing I want is Crystal feeling unwelcome.
We follow my nan into her small living room, it’s nice and toasty in here. Crystal must feel the heat because she takes off her large leather jacket, and reveals her silky smooth legs in her denim shorts and cowboy boots. I try not to linger too long on her, so I look towards my nan, who has a small look of disapproval written all over her face that only I notice. Great, I know how this dinner is going to go.
My nan is old school, she’s the typical wartime housewife who wears an apron and old style clothing that doesn’t go higher than the mid-calf. She’s a virtuous woman and can be very judgemental at times. She would never say it out loud, but I know her better than anyone and I know all of her facial expressions, and the one she’s giving Crystal right now isn’t good.
“Is Josephine at Thistle Down Farm?” I ask, trying to break the tension.
“Aye, she goes and has dinner with Dylan and Cam on Sunday’s. Such a bonnie wee lass.” She makes a sly dig.
“Here, I brought some leftover fruit cake that you like from the bakery.” I hand it to her to change the subject.
“Och, you are too good to me, my braw laddie,” she nips my stomach.
I flinch back, and rub the tender spot she just nipped, she wanders off into her tiny kitchen to put the cake away. And I catch Crystal looking around the room looking rather uncomfortable.
“See, she’s not so bad,” I try to make a light joke.
Crystal gives me a not so believable look, and her plump lips turn up a little.
“Please, she looked like she was going to have a heart attack when she saw me in these clothes, sorry I didn’t think. I should’ve put something a little more appropriate on,” she looks down at her feet.
“Hey, you should never apologise for wearing what makes you feel comfortable.”
Crystal green eyes shoot up at me, and she gawks at me as if she’s lost for words.
“Come sit down at the table and get ready for a peppering of questions,” I wink at her.
She lets out a soft laugh, and it’s music to my ears. I like it when I hear that soft chuckle, it comes from deep within.
We take a seat at my nan’s small table, in the back corner of her living room. It’s as you’d expect an older woman’s table to be; lace tablecloth, with matching lace doilies, and floral china. Crystal shifts uncomfortably, and I give her a reassuring smile. My nan comes rushing in with plates piled with roast beef, and every vegetable you could think of. What is it with old lady’s and serving mountain sized portions? She places a plate down in front of us both, and quickly runs back to the kitchen to bring back a smaller plate for herself.
Crystal, being the polite guest, sits and waits for my nan to start eating. She gingerly starts picking away at her food.
“This is delicious, Mrs. MacNee,” she smiles at my nan.
My nan looks up at her and gives her a pleasant smile, and goes back to eating her food. She can be a hard arse sometimes, and she’s starting to annoy me with the way she’s giving Crystal the cold shoulder. I nod softly at Crystal to give her silent reassurance, she brushes her leg against mine and I near choke on my roast potato. Surely that was an accident, she didn’t purposely brush up against my leg. We are sitting at a tiny table and my long legs are crammed under here.
“What’s the matter, laddie? Are you choking?” She starts slapping me on the back.
I finally get my coughing fit under control and catch Crystal hiding a smirk as she takes a sip of water.
“So, Crystal. Where are you from in the states?” My nan asks.
The question breaks Crystal’s smirk and she places her water down on the table. Maybe it was on purpose.
Here we go.
Crystal sits up straight and squares her shoulders, like she’s getting ready for a quiz.
“Tennessee ma’am.”
“And do you still live there?” My nan fires another question.
“No, Ma’am. I live in Boston.”
“And what about your family?”
“They still live in Tennessee, I have three older brothers. They help my Mama and Dad run the ranch I grew up on.”
“And do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend?”
“Nan. Jesus, you can’t ask questions about people’s sexuality. Sorry, Crystal,” I shake my head.
“It’s okay, nope neither. I like men, to clarify,” Crystal fires back.
I thought I caught Crystal’s eyes darting to me as she said that, but it was so quick I could’ve imagined it. My nan’s eyes widened at Crystal’s forthrightness. Crystal seems to be holding her own, and my head whips back and forth between them like I’m watching a tennis match.
“And how long do you plan on staying here?” She finally asks.
I find myself leaning into this question. I want to know the answer because surely the website won’t take much longer to complete, but the thought of her returning to Boston so soon makes my stomach dip. I was starting to unfurl those layers and really find out who she is.
“Until I get the website done, I’m not sure how long it will take to complete. There’s still quite a lot to do,” Crystal looks at me as she answers this.
A swirl of excitement swooshes through me, and I have to contain the sheer joy I’m feeling right now. I’m starting to enjoy getting to know her, even though I told myself I was going to keep this a platonic relationship.
For the rest of the meal, we make light conversation of things going on in Crossmackie, and my nan’s favourite topic, gossiping about the locals.