Chapter 23
Fiona had been up since the crack of dawn and had started work in the cafe not long afterwards. It was only a quarter past eight and she was already shattered, but she still had loads left to do.
As she surveyed the array of savoury snacks, cakes and cookies, she belatedly wondered whether she had been too ambitious – this cafe was hardly The Ritz, was it? But pride and the desire to do her best had made her push the boat out. That, and the knowledge that she only had one chance to make a good impression. If she pulled out all the stops today, hopefully people would be impressed and would want to come back.
Molly burst in through the door, making her jump, crying, ‘Good grief! Have you done all this today?’
‘Not all of it, no. I did some of it yesterday. I hope you’re here to give me a hand?’
‘I most certainly am. I would have been here earlier, but Jack and I popped in to check on Bill to see if he needed anything, and to walk Patch. For someone who’s broken his collarbone, he’s very chirpy.’
Fiona smiled softly to herself. He had been rather chirpy yesterday evening, too. And just as chirpy when she’d spoken to him on the phone before bedtime (Jack, bless him, had helped Bill get ready for bed and had made sure he’d had a cup of cocoa and some painkillers before he’d left). Bill had still been chirpy when he’d phoned her this morning.
Fiona felt the same. Heck, she was positively bubbling with happiness – when she wasn’t fretting about the cafe, that is.
Molly was staring at her. ‘You look different.’
‘Different how?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Molly’s stare turned into a squint. ‘I can’t put my finger on it. Has something happened?’
You could say that , Fiona thought, hugging the knowledge that Bill loved her and she loved him, tight to her chest. However, today was not the day for that kind of declaration. Today she needed to focus. But how could she, when she was so darned happy!
Bill loved her!
She still couldn’t believe it! When he’d told her how he felt, it had taken a second or two for it to sink in, and then she had experienced such a surge of joy it had taken her breath away. She’d never thought she could feel this way again. It was both terrifying and wonderful.
‘Fiona, are you all right?’
She abruptly realised that Molly was still staring, but her expression was now one of concern.
‘I’m fine. Just busy.’
Molly’s expression cleared. ‘Of course you are. What can I do to help?’
‘Could you put the outside tables and chairs on the terrace?’ They were stacked inside the door.
Molly nodded and patted the bag she was holding. ‘And I’ve got bunting to put up, and a ribbon for cutting.’
‘I still say it should be you cutting that ribbon. You’re the one who has made this happen.’
‘I thought the event would have more gravitas if someone important did it.’
Fiona slapped the spatula she was holding down onto the counter. ‘Don’t you dare infer that you’re not important! What has the mayor ever done for this park? Or the council, for that matter – Jack excepted.’
Molly was laughing. ‘Not a lot.’
‘Exactly!’
‘To be fair, you’ve done more than me – look at this lot.’ Molly gestured to the display cabinet with its selection of tasty goodies. ‘You deserve a medal. I’m so pleased you decided to come on board.’
‘Ah, about that…’ Fiona had spent a restless night thinking about the unexpected turn her life had taken over the past few weeks, and especially yesterday. And she had come to a decision. ‘I’m very flattered that you asked me to run the cafe,’ she began, feeling awful as she watched Molly’s face fall as she guessed what was coming. But Molly needn’t worry – Fiona had a solution. ‘And I’ll happily help out when I can, but I don’t think I can take it on.’ She paused, telling herself to stop beating around the bush and just come out with it. ‘I know I can’t take it on. I’m frazzled already, and let’s be honest, the reason I sold the cafe in Clover Square was because I couldn’t cope any longer. And I can’t cope with this cafe, either.’
Molly looked stricken. ‘But it’s due to open in a couple of hours. We can’t let everyone down!’
‘We’re not going to. The cafe will open today, it’ll open the next day, and every day after that, if that’s what you want – just not with me at the helm.’ The boat analogy made her smile, and she thought Bill would approve.
‘But, if you’re not—?’
‘Hi Fiona, hi Molly,’ a voice said from the doorway, and Fiona grinned.
‘Molly, I think you know Madeleine. Madeleine, you and Molly need to have a chat. But you’d better make it quick – we’ve got a cafe to open!’
***
Fiona was feeling considerably less flustered now than she had felt earlier this morning, despite the official opening being only thirty minutes away. People were already beginning to congregate, and all the tables outside were taken.
Molly was mingling, and it was great to see her so chatty and upbeat. For a moment, Fiona had feared Molly was going to cry when she’d told her that managing the cafe wasn’t for her, but Madeleine appeared to have done a good job of convincing Molly that the cafe would be safe in her hands, and Fiona had taken Molly to one side afterwards and had assured her of the woman’s capabilities. Running the cafe was a perfect job for Madeleine, and Madeleine was in sore need of a job. It was a win for both of them. And not only was Madeleine a good baker, she was thirty years younger than Fiona, which meant she had bags more energy and stamina.
Fiona would help out during busy periods and when Madeleine had a day off, but the cafe wouldn’t be her responsibility. She felt revitalised, as though a weight had been lifted, and she found that instead of being worried about the ceremony, she was looking forward to it. If only Bill could be here; but when she’d spoken to him on the phone earlier this morning, she could tell that he was still in a great deal of discomfort.
‘Where do you want these?’ Madeleine asked. She was holding a plate of custard slices.
Fiona smiled at her. ‘It’s your cafe, dear, you decide.’
‘Yes, but you’ve—’
‘Just think of what I’ve done as laying the groundwork. It’s up to you how you build on it.’
Madeleine’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Thank you.’
‘ I should be thanking you . I was kidding myself thinking I could take it on. You’ve done me a favour; I would have felt awful letting Molly down.’
Madeleine found a place for the custard slices, then stood next to Fiona as she gazed out of the window. Glenys hadn’t put in an appearance so far, and for that Fiona was thankful. She was praying the woman wouldn’t turn up. And she was also hoping that Pamela would be too busy with her own cafe to be able to pay this one a visit.
It did irk her that both Glenys and Pamela’s predictions that the cafe in Sweet Meadow Park would prove too much for her were true, but she’d get over it, especially now that she would have something else to keep her occupied – Bill.
A flurry of activity outside alerted her to the mayor’s arrival and she shooed Madeleine with her hand. ‘The mayor is here. Get ready because as soon as she cuts the ribbon, everyone will be in here like a shot and—’ She stopped talking, a broad smile spreading across her face as she spied her son.
He’d come! What a lovely surprise! She’d mentioned it the last time they spoke on the phone, but she hadn’t expected him to turn up. And he had brought Laura and the children! And there was Liam and Connor, plus a couple of their friends, and Teresa and Duncan. Reuben was here, of course, and… ooh, look, Gavin the builder, and Harper the electrician had come along, and—
‘ Bill ,’ she whispered, her heart soaring and her tummy fluttering at the sight of him.
He was standing off to the side, his arm in a sling and a jacket draped around his shoulders. Jack was with him, the two dogs safely leashed beside him.
Fiona’s eyes filled with tears and she blinked them away furiously. She had cried enough last night when she’d got home from Bill’s house. She had cried for Bradley and for herself, and for all the years they should have had together, but hadn’t. Then she’d dried her eyes and tucked him away in her heart where he belonged. She would never forget him (how could she when he was part of her?), but Bradley was gone and Bill was very much here. He was her focus from now on and he was the main reason she had wanted to give up the management of the cafe in Sweet Meadow Park. She had been given a second chance at happiness, and she didn’t intend to waste a single minute of it. There were so many more places to explore and beaches to walk along, and always with Bill by her side.
Oh lord, whilst she had been daydreaming the mayor had given her speech and was now about to cut the ribbon, which she did, to enthusiastic applause and cheering. Then Molly opened the door to the cafe and escorted the mayor inside to sample the treats on offer.
As Fiona predicted, a stampede followed, and for the next half an hour she didn’t have time to draw breath.
When the rush finally died down and Fiona was able to leave Madeleine alone for a few minutes, she popped a pot of tea on a tray, together with a selection of sweet and savoury bites, dropped the money for them in the till, then went in search of her family.
She found Bill first. He was sitting at one of the tables, an empty cup in front of him, looking pensive. Fiona put the tray down. ‘Penny for them?’
‘Eh? Oh, hello, my lovely. I was miles away, remembering what the park looked like before Molly bought the cottage. Who’d have thought it would undergo such a transformation! And as for the cafe, you should be proud of yourself.’
Fiona poured him a fresh cuppa and put the plate of food within easy reach of his good arm. ‘I am,’ she said. ‘I’m proud of both of us. We’re a team, remember? We did this together.’ She captured his gaze. ‘And I hope we’ll continue to do things together for many more years to come.’
Bill nodded. ‘Just as soon as my collarbone is healed. But I fear I’m not going to be much use in the cafe until it does.’
‘The cafe will manage just fine without you,’ she said, then added, ‘It’ll manage without the both of us. I’m not going to run it – Madeleine is. I’m too old for this. I want to spend my remaining years with you, having fun and going places.’ She was suddenly hesitant, fearful that she’d jumped the gun and presumed too much. ‘If that’s what you want.’ Her voice was small.
Bill reached across the table and took her hand. ‘I want that more than anything. I love you, Fi, with all my heart.’
Fiona didn’t think she would ever get used to him saying that. ‘And I love you , Bill.’
A shadow fell across the table and Fiona glanced up.
‘Hi, Mum. Great turn-out. Everyone’s saying how good the food is, and the interior of the cafe is a designer’s dream.’
‘Hello, David.’ She lifted her cheek for a kiss. ‘I’m so pleased you’re here.’
‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. You’ve outdone yourself. This cafe is going to be a brilliant success.’
‘It will,’ she agreed. ‘But it’ll be a success without me. David, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. Remember me telling you about Bill?’
‘I certainly do.’ David held out his hand, then the sling on Bill’s shoulder registered and he shook his head wryly. ‘Sorry, wasn’t thinking. Nice to meet you at last. I’ve heard a lot about you.’ He glanced at Fiona. ‘All good, I hasten to add.’
Bill chuckled. ‘That’s a relief.’
He was still holding her hand across the table, and Fiona was conscious of David’s curious look. Oh, dear, she’d wanted to tell him in her own time, but it was too late now; from the look on her son’s face he had already guessed that something was going on.
She said, ‘David, I… we… I mean, Bill and I—’
‘It’s OK, Mum. In fact, it’s more than OK, it’s about time.’ He leant to kiss her cheek again, then turned to Bill. ‘Take care of her, won’t you?’
‘I will, you have my word on it.’
Fiona leapt in. ‘Hang on, you pair! One, I can take care of myself, and two, I think you’ll find that it’s Bill who needs to be taken care of right now, not me.’
Bill beamed at her. ‘How about we agree to take care of each other? Will that do?’
It certainly would, but secretly she was looking forward to having someone to fuss over. After all, without the cafe, she had to have something to keep her occupied.
Sighing contentedly, Fiona gazed at the cafe, which was alive once more with chatter, and laughter, and the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee. She had a lot to thank it for, and she knew that the cafe in Sweet Meadow Park would always hold a special place in her heart.
After all, it had brought her back to life, too…