Page 114 of This Woman Forever

“Deliver my wife some breakfast, please.”

“You mean the woman you’ve been stalking?”

“I’m allowed to stalk her because she’s my wife.” I roll my eyes, pulling out of the gates. “And she’s pregnant.”

“Oh, wow, congratulations.”

I smile, chuffed. “Thanks.”

“I’m afraid we don’t deliver.”

“It’s across the road.”

“Yes, but?—”

“Two hundred.”

“What?”

“I’ll pay you two hundred pounds to make my wife some breakfast, no eggs, and deliver it all twenty yards across the road.” I raise my brows at the lingering silence.

“I am more than happy to help, Mr. Ward.”

“Thought you would be.”

“Because, of course you are one of our best customers.”

“Indeed.”

“And we value our customers.”

“Bianca?”

“Yes?”

“Shut up.”

She laughs. “What’s on the menu?”

I reel off my order. “And a Starbucks. Cappuccino, no chocolate.”

“We’re not a Starbucks, Mr. Ward.”

“I know, but you can pop to the one down the street.”

“What’s wrong with my coffee?”

“Nothing.”

“I haven’t got?—”

“Two fifty.”

“Happy to help.”

I shake my head. “Thanks. I’ll drop the cash by soon.” I hang up, checking the time. The surgery I noted down will be open. I take a breath and call, pressing one for reception when prompted. I’m then told I’m number ten in the queue. I wait, because what else will I do on my way to pay for my wife’s breakfast?

I’m number one in the queue when I pull into Bruton Street. I snag a parking space at the top end of the street and take my phone off Bluetooth, walking down to the café with it at my ear. Bianca appears from the back, just as someone answers my call. I hold a hand up to her and take a seat at a nearby table. “Hi, yes, I was hoping to speak to Dr. Alan Pierce.”

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