Chapter 42
‘The business that’s won the Heart of Bramleigh Green Award this year,’ announced Paloma, ‘. . . goes to Sasha Lee and Matcha Moments Café!’
‘Ta-da!’ Nathan brought in a huge chocolatey heart-shaped cake, covered in matcha and white chocolate dipped strawberries and topped by sparkling candles.
Mr Davis, Gloria, Mollie, Paloma and the Book Clubbers, Reverend Gillian, Lucas, Virginia and the other high-street business owners gathered round and hugged Sasha and handed her cards and presents.
Nathan sliced up the cake and they all tucked in, with moans of appreciation. Sasha couldn’t stop her tears flowing. She was going to miss her friends so much. For the last year, they had welcomed her into their hearts with such joy. She wished she didn’t have to leave.
The bell rang as the door opened; she glanced over to see who’d joined them. She was shocked to see Ben. What the hell?
He stood for a moment, taking in the gathering. Sasha’s gaze flickered to him and then away as rage rolled through her blood. Even now, with her heart full of disappointment she had to admit that he looked good, his hair ruffled and his shirt untucked. A hush fell over the group.
‘Ah – Ben – come – we were just giving Sasha her award,’ said Mr Davis, smiling as though nothing was wrong.
‘Congratulations, Sasha.’ Ben’s voice was hoarse and low. He tried to catch Sasha’s gaze with his amber eyes, but she refused to look at him. It was far too painful to think of his betrayal. ‘I – I have something for you.’
‘Bloody cheek. Can’t you wait until she actually moves out?’ Klara snapped, glaring at him.
‘Ssh.’ Mollie put an arm around Sasha. ‘I think Ben deserves a chance to explain.’
‘Go ahead, explain yourself, Mr Wisdom Kitchens partner,’ retorted Klara.
‘Klara – please, I can handle it.’ Sasha stepped towards Ben.
She found she couldn’t look away from him, despite the ache in her heart.
His face was so pale the freckles on his cheeks stood out.
He had dark shadows under his eyes from lack of sleep, and the frown lines between his eyebrows were back.
His clothes were rumpled as if he hadn’t done any laundry lately.
His scent was just the same: soap, sandalwood aftershave and a trace of woodsmoke.
How unfair that he smelled so delicious.
She couldn’t help her heart leaping with joy despite the tangle of pain.
Her body didn’t seem to have got the message that he was the enemy.
‘I wanted to give you this.’ Ben put down a brown envelope and a plain grey box, the size of a shoebox.
Sasha stared at the envelope and box on the table in front of her.
Had he really brought her a present? When he’d broken her heart?
‘Sasha – why don’t you open it?’ said Mr Davis gently.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. Then picked up the envelope and ripped it open. She took out a printed A4 form.
Mollie spoke then. ‘It’s the lease renewal for the café – if you still want it. You just need to sign it in front of a witness – and the building’s lease is yours for five years.’ She smiled and handed Sasha a black biro.
‘What?’ Sasha was shocked. The room was spinning. She blinked a few times. Ben was frowning, eyes shiny with tears. ‘When did you? How . . .?’ Her throat was too choked up to let her words out.
Ben finally spoke again. ‘I’m so sorry, Sasha.
I wish I’d told you what was happening. I should have told you I was Rafe’s business partner.
But I thought I’d convinced him to lease a different premises for the showroom.
It took quite a bit of persuading and searching for somewhere suitable that he would accept.
I admit we were interested in this space initially; Eleanor had told him it was coming up for rent.
But that first day, the minute I came here, I could see what a special place it was.
How happy you were here. How happy you make everyone who comes here.
I’ve been helping Rafe find somewhere else.
But, unknown to me, Eleanor was negotiating with him.
She got him to increase his bid, and then used it as pressure on you to give it up. ’
‘Bloody property managers!’ snapped Klara, while Sasha tried to understand what Ben was saying.
‘I’ve been searching to find alternative premises for Wisdom Kitchens.
Rafe had his heart set on a shop facing Bramleigh Green but I’ve managed to find somewhere a little further up, just off the high street.
With the Heart of Bramleigh Green Award, the fact you have the whole community behind you – he’s finally understood that we can’t fight that.
It wouldn’t be fair to the community or to you. ’
‘I – don’t know what to say,’ murmured Sasha. Her heart felt as if it had grown so big it had reached her throat and she could hardly get the words out. ‘I’m just glad I can stay – so who’s paid the lease?’
‘We managed to negotiate a compromise,’ said Mollie.
‘Remember you asked me to look into it? I took that as permission to work under your instruction. Ben told me what Eleanor proposed and I have been talking to her. She wouldn’t budge at first, so I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to get your hopes up.’
‘I’m very grateful, Mollie – thank you.’
‘No – we should be grateful to you, Sasha,’ said Paloma. ‘And thank Ben too – it was his idea to get the local paper involved. Rafe finally made the sensible decision that he didn’t need that sort of negative publicity.’
‘You’ve created somewhere truly special, my dear,’ said Mr Davis. ‘A space where townsfolk and visitors alike can gather with friends, enjoy the best tea and desserts with a gorgeous view and the friendliest atmosphere.’
Mollie nodded. ‘Matcha Moments is the heart of Bramleigh Green. Even Eleanor finally agreed it would be unfair to add more than a small rise for inflation. And the prize money from the award should easily cover that for your first year, with some change to spare to contribute to your running costs.’
Sasha smiled, choked up. She felt surrounded by love. ‘Oh Mollie, Ben – everyone – I’m totally overwhelmed – and . . . allergies!’ Tears were streaming down her face.
Ben handed her a tissue and pushed the gift box towards her. ‘And this – this is from me. Please open it. You’ll know how much you mean to me, and everything I feel for you.’
Sasha lifted the lid of the box. Inside nestled a gorgeous tea set – the kintsugi tea set from Ben’s workshop, completed now, the gold in the resin gleaming against the blue-green glaze.
‘This tea set is yours,’ Ben said. ‘It expresses how I feel. I was broken when I met you. I came here to heal. And meeting you, Sasha, getting to know you, falling in love with you – even getting drenched by you – has been the best medicine. You’ve made me whole again.’
‘Oh, Ben!’ Sasha sank into Ben’s arms, not caring it was in full sight of her friends. Her lips sought his for a long kiss. And then she burrowed into his chest, breathing in his sandalwood scent, while all her fabulous friends clapped and cheered, and Klara gave her a huge smile and thumbs up.