Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
I t’s the day of Donna and Jon’s wedding reception. I have come to the café early to decorate. My head is crammed full of thoughts from last night, Pete’s admission that he disliked Noah for taking me away from him; Pete helping Dad to get money from Scott; and Dad’s face when I told him I didn’t love Pete. After tea Lucas and I went upstairs as I didn’t feel comfortable sat downstairs with Dad.
Ava knocks on the café door and I look up with surprise. ‘Your shift doesn’t start for another hour.’
She grins and comes in. ‘I thought you’d need a hand, so I set my alarm for early.’
‘Okay, well do you want to pump up the gold balloons?’ Ava nods and heads toward the balloon pump.
‘How are you, Ava?’
‘Good, even though we were all out last night.’ She giggles. ‘It got a bit messy, and we all ended up on the beach after drinking too much cider.’
‘I remember those days,’ I say, with a knowing smile. ‘Do you not have a hangover?’
Ava shook her head. ‘I feel fine.’
I look at her face which is glowing, her two bright eyes and her hair which is neatly styled into two plaits. She’s wearing a smart white shirt which has been ironed and a black skirt. I recall how rough I felt the day after drinks at Phoebe’s. ‘You wait till you’re older. The other night I had some wine with friends. I felt so rough the next day and the day after. It wasn’t helped by my little boy having a tummy bug at the same time.’
Ava’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. ‘I’m so glad I am seventeen and don’t have kids.’
We both laugh. ‘Listen, how are you and Will now?’
Ava grins. ‘On Tuesday we came out of our respective friendship zones.’
‘That’s great – so are you together now?’
She playfully rolls her eyes. ‘Alice, it’s so uncool to say things like, “Are you together now?” No one likes a label. Will and I have gone back to our friendship zones for now. We might wander out of them again on Saturday.’
‘That sounds stressful.’
Ava laughs. ‘It’s very chill. Becoming boyfriend and girlfriend is way more stressful.’
‘Alice,’ she says, after she’s pumped up several balloons. ‘You don’t know anyone who is looking to rent a flat?’
‘No – why?’
‘My parents have a little flat above the ice-cream parlour on the seafront and they are struggling to find someone to rent it. Mum suggested I speak to you as you might know someone.’
‘What’s it like? The flat?’
Ava beamed. ‘It’s lovely. Two bedrooms. If you look out of the living room window you can see the beach and the sea.’
‘Oh, wow, it sounds fabulous. I’ll mention it to a few people.’
Noah has arrived. He looks so handsome in a blue fitted shirt and smart beige trousers. While Ava is busy sweeping outside the café, Noah and I are having a cuddle behind the counter. I am losing myself in his beautiful aftershave which is a delicious aroma of lemon and wood pines.
‘Hello,’ he whispers making a huge smile spread across my face. I close my eyes as he presses his lips against mine. We engage in a slow and lingering kiss. His lips are soft, warm, and inviting. ‘You look gorgeous, Alice,’ he says, admiring my pink dress. ‘It’s a shame we have to work today, and we can’t go down to the beach.’
When Ava comes back inside, Noah and I break away. We all get to work on making The Little Love Café ready for its first wedding reception.
As I move tables and chairs so that I can mop the floor I think about the flat Ava mentioned. Somewhere like that would be perfect for Lucas and me, plus it would give Dad and me some much-needed space.
Pam hurries into the café carrying a huge cake box. ‘Your cupcakes are here. Do you want a peek?’
We all gather around a table, and she opens the box. ‘Alice, my baker followed your instructions.’
The two-tone pink and cream vanilla cupcakes in a rose design look fabulous. ‘Pam, they look great.’
Ava lets out a little coo. ‘They’re so pretty and they are the same pink as The Little Love Café.’
I follow Pam out to the back of the café. Her beautiful silvery hair is busy trying to escape the clip which is holding it up. ‘How are you, Pam?’
She rubs her forehead. ‘Still stressed. Doctor says my blood pressure is sky high. It’s all my ex-husband’s fault.’
‘Why is that?’
‘I went into this cake wholesale business with him when we first met. Now we’ve split up and I must rely on him for the baking. Neither of us can stand each other.’ She looks at me. ‘You’re Brian’s daughter – aren’t you?’
‘You know my dad?’
She smiles. ‘Sure do. I worked in his bakery. His cakes were always out of this world. Much better than my ex-husband’s.’ She giggles. ‘I never said that.’
‘Please take care, Pam.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
Once Pam has left, I walk over to where Ava is hanging up balloons. ‘Ava, I would be interested in your parents’ flat.’
‘Great,’ gushes Ava, taking out her phone. ‘Let me message Mum. She will be pleased. Sunny, the guy who works at the ice-cream parlour, has been renting it but he’s moving out today. He’s got a job in Cornwall.’ She taps something into her phone.
‘Sunny is moving away?’
She nods. ‘Lilly looked upset at the youth club last night.’
Her phone vibrates. ‘Mum says are you free to look around it tomorrow? I can bring the key to work and show you during a break.’
‘That sounds like a plan. I better try and see Lilly.’
The wedding reception has gone to plan. Noah, Ava, and I make a great team. I thought seeing Donna in my wedding dress would have brought back my old emotions but to my surprise I have felt nothing but pride and happiness at seeing it on her. Her children were angelic and made their parents proud. We did a round of photos in the café and then everyone trooped outside for beach pictures.
As happy guests leave, Donna throws her arms around me and squeals. ‘Thank you, Alice.’
Her beaming smile fills me with a warm glow. ‘You look amazing in the dress too and I can’t believe how well it has gone.’
She grins. ‘I loved how our wedding reception food was rose cupcakes served with coffee, tea and hot chocolate.’
Jon, Donna’s new husband, wanders over. ‘My beautiful wife and I are so grateful for what you’ve done for us, Alice. We can’t thank you enough.’
‘It was a pleasure. You’ve brought so much love and laughter to this place today.’
Donna gives me a playful nudge. ‘Every one of our guests has promised to deluge social media with Little Love Café selfies.’
‘That was my fee,’ I say, with an ear-to-smile.
@DonnaThomas: Today we got married and had a wonderful wedding reception in The Little Love Café. If you read my blog you will know about my fight against cancer and the financial hardship it has brought upon my family. We couldn’t afford a big wedding, but we wanted something special. The Little Love Café answered all our prayers by letting us use their beautiful café for free.
The Little Love Café’s social media lights up as Donna’s followers like, love and share her post. Her guests also tag the café into their wedding reception selfies.
After dinner I work late to make sure all the selfies of the café are shared, and I reply to all comments. Using the café as a wedding reception venue worked as the shots of the happy couple standing in front of the golden beach and coastline are stunning.
I climb into my camp bed feeling proud of what The Little Love Café achieved today.