Location, Location, Location
Max and Robbie had an appointment to see the potential shop premises at ten o’clock in the morning, and Robbie had been buzzing with excitement since he had woken up.
He couldn't wait to see it with Max, and if everything went to plan, they might sign the rental agreement, which would herald the official start of Rab’s Sandwich Shop.
Over breakfast, Robbie couldn’t stop talking about it, and on the walk there, he was still chewing Max’s ear off.
‘I cannae believe this is happening, pal. I rang my mam last night, and we spoke about it for over an hour. She told me how I had always loved cooking as a wee boy, and especially sandwiches. It’s crazy, eh?’
‘It is,’ replied Max, as they strolled along Clapham High Street. ‘I’m excited for you, mate.’
‘Aye, but remember this is only happening because of youse. If this becomes a huge success—
‘When this becomes a huge success.’
‘When this becomes a huge success, it will be because youse had faith in me, and I’ll never forget that, pal.’
‘Let’s just focus on today, and make sure this is the perfect spot.
You know the first rule of property, according to Kirsty and Phil anyway, is location, location, location!
’ said Max, and they continued on towards the shop, with Robbie babbling on about everything he been doing to get ready for the opening of Rab’s Sandwich Shop, including staying awake for most of the night and working on new sandwich ideas, while Max thought about what had happened with Bethan.
He still couldn’t believe that she had lost her fiancé in a car crash, barely six months after the same thing had happened to his parents.
While he had been grieving, going on the rollercoaster of bereavement, she had been doing the same with her fiancé, Jake.
Max knew it was ridiculous to compare grief, to somehow rate death as if some were worse than others, more tragic to those left behind, but he couldn’t help but compare his to hers.
Was hers worse? She was going to spend her life with Jake, the wedding was being planned, a whole life had already been written, and then it was cruelly taken away.
Yes, losing his parents had been heartbreaking, but at least he had twenty-five years of his parents.
He had shared more than a quarter of his life with them, and the pain of all the years he wouldn’t share with them was still so visceral, but he had been given time with them.
Bethan had lost Jake at the beginning of their journey, and surely losing someone you were in love with was different than someone you just loved, right?
Max couldn’t imagine the horrors of what she had gone through, and yet, she seemed to be dealing with it.
Her life hadn’t fallen off a cliff like his, which surely said something about their characters.
Was she sturdier than him? Better equipped to deal with the harsh rigours of life and death?
‘Right, here we are!’ said Robbie, as they stood outside the building that might become their sandwich shop.
They were standing outside of a small shop at the end of a parade of shops on a street just off Clapham High Road.
It was nothing much to look at in its current condition.
A white door with peeling paint, a dirty window and when they peered inside, it looked tatty and definitely smaller than Max had thought.
They waited for a minute and then a woman appeared.
She was mid-thirties, dark hair, pale skin, dressed in a smart suit, and she seemed eager to get them inside and show them around.
She introduced herself as Katie, with a quick, soft handshake, handing them both a business card.
‘Please, follow me inside,’ she said, as she opened the door with an old key, and they walked in behind her. Max and Robbie stood inside, and obviously in its current condition, it wasn’t much to look at, but Robbie already had a vision for it.
‘Imagine new flooring up front, maybe mosaic tiles, cool, modern. I wanna do three or four stools by the window. Then a brand-new worktop, a counter with a place to show-off the sandwiches. Maybe a few sweet treats. I want a handwritten menu on the wall behind, and then a coffee machine. Everything will be simple, modern, but oozing class and quality.’
‘Sounds perfect!’ said Katie brightly. ‘And through the back, there’s ample space for food preparation, fridges, and anything else you need. It used to be a coffee shop, but it could easily be a sandwich shop, or even a small cafe.’
‘What d’youse think?’ asked Robbie, turning to Max. Max could see how excited he was, and it was contagious.
‘I think it’s perfect, mate. If we can get in here, give it a lick of paint, it could be just what we need. What about the rent?’ he said, turning to Katie.
‘This one is eighteen thousand a year, or one thousand five hundred per month. It’s the going rate for something this size. Clapham is a sought-after area, and it’s booming for places like this.’
‘Of course,’ replied Max. ‘Any chance of a discount if I pay a year up front?’
‘I can ask,’ replied Katie with a smile. ‘So, what do you think?’
‘We’ll need to do a proper building inspection, make sure everything is OK, and there aren’t any major issues,’ said Max. ‘But if that’s all good then, yeah, I think we’ll take it.’
‘Aye, we’ll have her,’ said Robbie, as they stood in the middle of the shop, and Robbie looked around, a huge smile on his face.
‘I’ll give you both some time to have a look around on your own. I’ll be outside when you’re ready,’ said Katie, before she walked out, leaving Max and Robbie together.
They wandered into the back room, which was small, but it already had an oven, and plenty of work space for Robbie to make bread.
There wasn’t a fridge, so they would need to get that, and additional things, but as Robbie had said countless times before, the bones were good.
As Max walked around, he couldn’t help but think of his parents.
After they had died, he had been left a considerable amount of money, and it had just been sitting in a bank account, practically untouched.
He just hadn’t known what he wanted to do with it, but the sandwich shop felt like something good.
Something worthwhile. His dad had loved sandwiches, and the thought they could put smiles on the faces of their customers because of the money left to him by his parents, made him happy. He knew they would have approved.
As they walked outside, with Katie closing up behind them, Max was for the first time in a long time, content.
For so long after the accident, his life felt like it was stuck in this dark, negative space, where nothing good happened.
He couldn’t see a future where he was happy, but finally he felt it.
His life had meaning again and some sort of forward momentum.
Yes, that was it, momentum. Before the accident, his life had always felt like it was moving forwards.
The accelerator was always pushed, thrusting Max towards whatever the future held, but when his parents died, it was like the brake had been applied and it had remained that way for so long.
Finally with the run club, Bethan, and now with the sandwich shop, he felt like he was moving forwards again.
There was light at the end of the tunnel.
‘Max, I’m going to say something now, and youse don’t have to reply or say anything back, but I need to say this, OK?’ said Robbie as they walked back to their flat.
‘Okaay.’
‘When I was growing up in Scotland, I had dreams about a life I wanted. They were always like far away dreams I never thought possible. I was just a wee boy from a shitty council estate on the edge of Edinburgh. Even when I came to London, I still thought I wouldnae amount to much, you know? A life as a barman was the best I could do. But then I met youse, Max, and youse changed everything for me. Youse made my dreams come true, and I’m gonna work day and night to make sure that Rab’s Sandwich Shop is a success.
It’s gonna be the best, and I’ve youse to thank for it.
So, thanks, pal, from the bottom of my Scottish heart.
’ Robbie stopped walking, and so did Max, and Robbie looked at Max and for a moment, he thought he might cry, but instead he smiled, they hugged, slapping each other on the back, and then they kept on walking in the sunshine back to their flat.
At the next run club, as they were sitting in their circle, talking about their lives, Max thought he should mention the sandwich shop.
He didn’t always contribute during the circle, and he still hadn’t told them about his parents, but the sandwich shop felt worth mentioning.
As soon as he explained what had happened, and the potential work that needed to get done, everyone was quick to offer their help.
‘I don’t mind chipping in,’ replied Joe. ‘My brother-in-law's a painter decorator, and my cousins a plumber, so yeah, happy to help. Especially if you’re chucking in free sarnies!’
‘Thanks, Joe,’ said Max. ‘And yes, I’m sure we can supply food.’
‘Neil and I will be happy to help,’ said Hope.
‘As you know, I’m a graphic designer, so anything you need in terms of that.
I’ve worked on menus before, and signage.
Neil runs a website start-up business, so if you need any help with website stuff, he’s ace at all that. All mates’ rates, of course.’
Charlie offered to help with anything that needed doing, along with Anita, Eve, and Bethan, who all said that they’d love to get involved.
‘I have many family members with small businesses,’ said Anita. ‘And so, I have quite a lot of knowledge about it. Most of it is probably useless, but you never know!’
‘Thank you all so much,’ said Max, overwhelmed with all the offers of help. He felt fit to burst with positivity. He had a real community of people he could trust and rely on.
After the run, which Max actually ran without stopping for the first time, with a new personal best, he was warming down with Bethan afterwards.
‘Do you fancy doing the cold plunge and sauna at the weekend?’ asked Bethan suddenly.
‘Just you and me?’
Max looked at Bethan, and she looked back at him with a smile.
‘Yes, just me and you. Is that a problem?’
‘No, no, definitely not a problem,’ Max replied, while squatting down on the ground.
‘Good, I’ll book it up then. Say, ten o’clock?’
‘It’s a date,’ said Max, and he looked across at Bethan, who was in a similar squat position, and she was blushing, and so was he.
Although they both knew that it definitely wasn’t a date, but just the mention of it, and they both felt the spark between them.
The scintillating tension of two people who found each other attractive, but were in no fit emotional state to take it any further.
Max was excited to spend some time alone with Bethan, and maybe he could learn more about Jake, and what had happened.
Perhaps he might share more stories of his parents with her too.
It was a chance for them to get to know each other better, while being freezing cold and then far too hot, one after the other for a full hour.
Perhaps in the physical and emotional discomfort of the cold plunge and sauna, it would give them the chance to be less uncomfortable and guarded with each other.
It wasn’t a real date, but Max couldn’t wait for it.