Chapter 33
33
DEE
Monday
Dee arrived bright and early at Moira’s Café on Monday morning, ready for work. Andi’s face broke into a bright smile when she saw her. ‘I’m so glad that you’ve agreed to do this, it’s so much more comfortable to work with someone you know and get on with, isn’t it?’
Dee felt flattered at Andi’s remarks, she was pleased to be working with her too. ‘I’m pleased that you asked me, it’s good to feel useful, plus I could do with the extra income now I’m divorcing Nigel,’ she said.
‘Well, I’m very glad to have the help,’ Andi told her.
It didn’t take Andi long to show Dee the ropes and by the time the first customers came through the door Dee was serving them confidently.
Halfway through the morning, Snowy turned up. Almost as if he’d been looking for Dee. ‘I don’t believe it, the cheeky rascal,’ Dee said as Snowy curled up on one of the cosy chairs in the window. ‘Sorry, I’ll shoo him out.’
‘No, let him be, he isn’t doing any harm. He must be missing poor Edna and now you’re living in her cottage he’s latched himself to you. He’ll probably go away as we get busier.’
Dee went over and stroked the cat. ‘Did you hear that? You can stay until we get busy.’ Snowy purred contentedly.
Dee washed her hands and set to helping Andi put out the cakes. ‘Did you make these?’ she asked.
‘No, we have a woman in the village who makes them for us, thank goodness. Baking isn’t my forte.’ She glanced at Dee as she took some delicious-looking fruit slices out of a plastic container. ‘How are you settling at Edna’s?’
‘It’s very comfortable. I sent Sylvia from the local letting agents an email early this morning, to ask if they had anything on their books free within the next couple of weeks. I’ll take a flat even, until the divorce is sorted.’
‘You’re definitely going ahead with it then?’
‘I am.’ In between buttering some baguettes whilst Andi put cheese and ham on them, ready for the midday rush, she told Andi about Nigel turning up yesterday. ‘I’m going to book an appointment with a local solicitor during my lunch break. With the divorce settlement I reckon I should be able to get a small cottage or apartment.’
‘Prices are high around here, but I’ll keep an eye out too,’ Andi told her.
‘Thank you. I appreciate that.’ Dee glanced over to see if Snowy was still asleep in the chair and was astonished to see him now curled up on an elderly lady’s lap, enjoying being caressed. ‘Look at that cheeky cat!’
Andi looked over thoughtfully. ‘That’s Mrs Samson. Her husband passed away a few months ago, she’s only just started to venture out of the house. They were childhood sweethearts and she’s lost without him.’
Babs and Geoff went to school together, which sort of made them childhood sweethearts, even if they didn’t meet up with each other again and start dating until a few years later, Dee thought. Babs had sent her a lengthy text last night detailing all the unsuitable houses they’d seen so far. Dee had chuckled as she read it:
One of them was so far up a bloody mountain I swear I could touch the clouds if I stood on tiptoe! And another one had cracks so wide in the walls they were like train tracks.
Babs seemed in good spirits though, thank goodness. Dee was so pleased that she and Geoff had worked things out because she was sure they would both be lost without each other, although it had been nice to have Babs’ company for a while. I can manage, she told herself, I have friends already, a job, even if it is only temporary, and hopefully a home until I sort myself out too.
It was a busy morning, lots of the customers were regulars and Andi greeted them cheerfully, introducing Dee. Snowy was a big favourite with the customers, with many of them allowing the little cat to sit on their laps, and stroking him.
‘I think we should make Snowy the café cat,’ Andi said. ‘There’s a lot of people who come here alone, and stroking a pet is very therapeutic.’
‘What a lovely idea,’ Dee agreed. ‘Do you think Moira would approve? We probably shouldn’t start off something that she won’t agree with and will stop when she returns as the customers will be disappointed.’
Andi grabbed two clean cups to serve the next customer. ‘Moira’s naturally concerned about hygiene, but she does allow customers to come in with their dogs. Plus, I think Snowy is an asset. Mind you, a cat with dogs might cause a riot!’ She poured tea into one of the cups. ‘Besides, when Moira returns Edna will be back home and you won’t be looking after Snowy, so he probably won’t come in.’ She left the words ‘and you won’t be working in the café either’ unspoken.
Dee realised she already felt a bit sad at the thought of not working at Moira’s Café. She’d only been here a few hours and already she was loving it.
Snowy was finding his feet now and went from table to table, allowing himself to be stroked and cuddled by the customers, occasionally standing by the door waiting to be let out – probably for a toilet call – then coming back in again a few minutes later. He seemed to be very settled here, Dee thought. She would miss Snowy when Edna got better and returned home. She’d already decided that when she got her own place she would get a pet – a cat probably although she would love a dog to take for walks. It was a good feeling to know that she could make whatever decisions she wanted over her future. She could have as many pets as she liked, live wherever she wanted, have a job. She hadn’t realised just how much Nigel had suppressed and controlled her. That was the trouble when you’d been with someone a long time, you tried to please them, moulded yourself into how they wanted you to be and then that was it, you didn’t know who you were any more.
* * *
Kenny popped his head around the door after lunch. ‘How’s it going?’ he asked.
‘I haven’t broken anything or scalded a customer so far,’ Dee said with a smile. ‘Are you here for a cuppa or did you pop in to check on me?’
‘Both,’ Kenny admitted. ‘I’ll have my drink outside, please, I’ve got my dog, Toffee, with me.’ He glanced over at Snowy, a smile on his lips. ‘And it would be chaos if he saw a cat in here.’
‘Yes, Snowy seems to have made himself comfortable.’ Dee took a teapot off the shelf. ‘I didn’t know you had a dog.’
‘He’s been a bit under the weather so I’ve kept him cosy indoors but he’s picked up now so I thought a walk would cheer him up.’
That’s why she hadn’t seen Kenny walking the dog. ‘I’ll bring your drink out to you,’ she offered.
‘Thanks. Do you have time to join me for a quick catch-up?’
Dee hesitated, it was almost three o’clock.
‘Take a break and chat for a while,’ Andi told her. ‘It’s not too busy. I’ll take my break when you come back.’
So a few minutes later Dee took out a tray laden with the teapot, two mugs, a small milk jug and packets of sugar.
Toffee, a beautiful tan and black leggy mongrel, barked and raised his head but didn’t move. Dee patted him fondly. ‘I’ve always wanted a dog but they do tie you down a bit, and I’m going to need to get another job once Moira comes back, so it wouldn’t be fair to leave it in the house all day.’
‘Why don’t you “borrow” one then?’ Kenny asked.
Dee pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘What do you mean?’
‘People who love dogs but don’t have the time or space for one get together with local dog owners so they can take their dogs for walks, dog sit, even look after them while their owners go on holiday. So you have the fun without the responsibility. We’ve got a local app for the people who live in Port Telwyn and the surrounding area. Some of the owners are elderly or working and appreciate a helping hand.’
‘That sounds perfect. I love walking and it would be good to have a dog to accompany me. How do I sign up?’
‘How about meeting me in The Pirate’s Head tonight for a bite to eat and I can show you?’
‘Perfect. I finish here about six and need to go home to freshen up, so I can be there for seven?’
‘I’ll be there.’
They exchanged a smile and Dee felt a little flutter in the pit of her stomach. She liked Kenny, he was easy to talk to and pleasant company. It had been a long time since she’d spent time like this in another man’s company. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Kenny is just being pleasant and friendly because you’re old friends and he knows you’re having a tough time , she told herself.
Feeling her cheeks go hot she bent down to stroke Toffee, to allow herself time to compose herself. Then she stood up. ‘I must get back to work, it’s starting to get busy again. See you later then.’
He held up his mug. ‘You will.’
‘You two seem to get on well,’ Andi said with a waggle of her eyebrows as Dee went back inside.
Dee blushed. ‘Yes, it’s nice to catch up with an old friend, and everyone has been so welcoming.’ She washed her hands and put her apron on again. ‘Kenny was telling me that you had a “share a dog” app where you can match up with a dog owner and share taking the dog for walks and stuff. He’s going to tell me about it later.’
Andi grinned. ‘Oh yes, I’ve heard of that. It’s a great idea, and there are several working and elderly people in the village that use the service. And of course, it’s a very complicated app. You definitely need Kenny to talk you through that over a drink.’ Dee got the idea that Andi was teasing her but she didn’t mind. She was rather excited about the ‘sharing a dog’ idea. She’d miss Snowy when Edna returned home. It would be good to have a pet around and she couldn’t commit herself to one of her own yet, not until she’d sorted out her living and work situation.