Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
There was a gigantic crash in the kitchen. Matilda smiled apologetically at her customers and excused herself to rush in there. Milly, the new teenaged dishwasher, stood in the centre of the tiled floor with a pile of broken plates around her. Her face was stricken, and she clearly didn’t know what to do next.
Matilda hurried to help her, reaching for the dustpan and brush as she went. “Never mind. I’ll sweep, you pick up the big pieces and put them in the bin.”
“Oh no, I’m sorry,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears. “That was a lot of plates.”
“There’s no point getting upset about it now,” Matilda said sternly. “What’s done is done.” When did she start to sound like her mother? She’d slipped into the role without even realising it.
“Will Rita be angry?”
“I doubt it. I’m sure she’s dropped a thousand plates in her time.”
Milly bent to retrieve the larger pieces of plates that had survived the fall while Matilda got to work sweeping up the rest and dumping it into the rubbish bin.
Suddenly she heard raised voices in the dining area. With a frown, she scurried out to see what was going on. Rita was still under the weather and had gone home to rest after her time in the hospital, so Matilda was running the cafe today and was completely overwhelmed. It hadn’t been too busy, but everything kept going wrong. And she’d given up attempting to seat people, instead leaving it to the waitresses.
She found Rita’s cousin Cathy standing in the dining room, waving her arms about. Two men were with her, dressed in long pants and buttoned-down shirts. They were looking around the room and taking notes. Cathy’s voice was raised as she explained the history of the building and the materials used in its construction.
The seated guests were watching the whole event with interest and confusion.
Matilda didn’t want to be rude, but she interrupted Cathy as soon as she could get the woman’s attention. “Hi, Cathy. Do you remember me, Matilda?”
Cathy glared at her. “Oh yes, the Aussie girl.”
“That’s right. I’m managing the cafe today. Just wondering what’s going on here?” She did her best to look humble and helpful. Cathy seemed like the type to eat her whole given half the chance.
Cathy turned to face her, hands on hips. “I’m getting the cafe valued.”
“Ah, okay …why?”
Cathy’s cheeks grew pink, her eyes flashed. “Because I want to. That’s why. And if we’re going to sell the place, I’d like to know how much I could get for it.”
“Can we … come over to the side?” Matilda asked, ushering the three of them towards the office. They squeezed into the small space, and she shut the door.
They stood like fish fingers in a line staring at her.
“That’s better. Thanks—I don’t think the customers need to hear all of this. And I have questions … like what on earth are you talking about? Who is selling?”
Cathy sighed. “This cafe belongs to me and to Rita. I’m considering my options for it—one of which is to sell. The other involves a renovation and possibly a bar. But I’m still undecided. Does that satisfy your unhelpful curiosity?”
“Here’s the thing, Cathy. Rita has left me in charge today, so if you want to poke around, you’re going to have to get me onside. And right now, you’re failing in that quest.”
Cathy eyed her as if she was a cat watching a mouse. “Don’t sass me.”
“No, ma’am.” Matilda had learned a few things during her time in Covington. And she knew when to use the honorific.
“This cafe belonged to my father alongside Rita’s father. They were brothers. They passed it on to me and her. I’ve never staked my claim before now, but I think it’s time I did. None of which has anything at all to do with you.”
Matilda smiled. “That’s absolutely fine. Just make sure you come back when Rita is here so she can give you permission. But thanks for stopping by.”
She watched them leave, anger forming a knot in her stomach. How dare Cathy take advantage of Rita’s absence to stake an ownership claim on the cafe. This was the last thing Rita needed right now. Matilda was not going to stand idly by and let it happen. She wouldn’t let Cathy steal away something so precious from a woman who’d already lost so much and who had the biggest heart of anyone she’d ever met.