34. Rabbie
34
Rabbie
The day went by fast and before I knew it, Crystal was back from Thistle Down Farm to help Nellie pack down in the front while my mum helped me in the kitchen. I’m really enjoying the flow and dynamic of our little team. David is still out finishing off the last of the deliveries. Christmas is less than a week away, which means Crystal only has about four full days left in Crossmackie. We haven’t had the conversation yet, I’m finding the right time to ask her to come back for New Year’s. We haven’t really had a chance to talk, any free moment we have we spend it touching each other. I can’t get enough of this woman. This morning plays over and over in my mind, I’m still riding the high of the spontaneity of her. I feel so comfortable around her now, before I was an anxious mess always thinking the worst. I thought that Crystal leaving to go back to the states would fill me with dread and doubt, but the way she continues to show up for me has put my mind at ease.
I can hear the girls out the front singing along to Christmas songs, the spirit is definitely high. My mum hums along as she’s drying the large mixing bowls. I haven’t told her about my dad turning up at my nan’s house. I don’t want to stress her out, but she needs to know that he’s looking for her.
“Mum? Can I talk to you for a moment?”
Her head snaps up to me, and the look of shock on her face makes my heart race. She places the bowl on the metal drying rack and wrings the tea towel in her hands.
“If you want to let me go because of the missing tips, I understand your reasons, but you have to believe me when I say I didn’t take them.”
I step closer to her and put my hand on her shoulders and look her in the eyes. The fear is there, and I feel stupid for not starting this conversation in a better way.
“Mum, I believe you. I’m not firing you. It’s–um,” I rub my chin and sigh.
She blinks, waiting for me to speak.
“It’s dad. He was here, he turned up at nan’s house. He’s looking for you, he told nan that you owe him money.”
The word dad feels bitter and strange on my tongue, he shouldn’t get the privilege of the title. My mum’s mouth falls into a flat line and the terrified look on her face isn’t comforting me.
“What? Is nan okay? God, I don’t owe him anything, he’s just mad that I left him.”
The first question about my nan solidifies to me that my mum is really trying to turn her life around and make amends with the broken relationships. She still hasn’t had the courage to see my nan, she knows she’s a stubborn old woman and isn’t as forgiving.
“She’s okay. Crystal was there when he was shouting at her, and settled her inside after he stormed off.”
Her eyes widen, and I notice a tremor on her lip.
“Shouting at her? That prick.”
“Aye, I know. I’m here if you need anything but I just wanted to let you know he’s trying to find you. Nan sent him on his way, and if he turns up here I’ll do the same. Do you think he’ll do something stupid? Are you okay?” I squeeze her shoulder.
Her gaze snaps up to me, and she softly smiles at me.
“Thank you. Yeah, I’m okay. No, I don’t think so. That bastard is going to haunt me forever isn’t he?”
I pull her in for a hug, and she lets out a sigh of relief.
“I won’t let him.”
She sniffles into my chest and I know she’s crying. I give her a second to compose herself before breaking the hug. She gently wipes away a tear, and smiles at me.
“This is all I’ve ever dreamed of, is making things right with you. Next is nan, but I’m terrified. I’ve hurt her in so many ways, I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me.”
“She’s a stubborn old thing that’s for sure, but you’re still her daughter she’ll always love you. Maybe we can have a drink together at the launch party tomorrow night, it could be a good ice breaker.”
“Aye, that would be lovely,” she picks up the sponge to resume the washing up.
I pick up my inventory list to double check over the ingredients I need to order, when I hear screams coming from out the front of the cafe. My heart drops, and I rush towards the door leading to the front of the cafe when the girls come barging in, shouting and yelling. Crystal collides with my chest and Nellie collides into Crystal. They are both talking over each other, and I can understand what is going on.
I look back over at my mum and she looks just as confused as me. I try to get a hold on the situation.
“Woah, what’s going on? You scared the shit out of me screaming like that. I thought we were getting robbed.”
Crystal brushed her red hair out of her face and pats me on the chest. Her warm hands steady my beating heart.
“Rab, we found them!” Crystal smiles.
“Found what?”
“The tips!” Nellie holds up the jar and shakes it.
I look between the girls, and the relief on both of their faces makes me feel light and happy.
“They were at the back of the shelf behind the extra teapots. I must’ve put them there and forgotten about them,” Nellie smiles.
“I told you they would turn up. I’ll put them upstairs where they won’t get lost again, and I’ll add the tip money to your wages and Christmas bonus.”
Nellie hands me the tip jar with a large smile on her face, and I’m glad that stress is off her shoulders.
“We’re all going to the pub to have a drink after that ordeal.”
Everyone laughs as I head upstairs to put the money in a safe spot.