Page 37 of Coming Home to Crumbleton

‘I…’ she paused and just nodded instead. ‘Thank you.’

She felt like she’d just been told off at the same time as receiving the hugest compliment. It was all quite a lot to take, considering it wasn’t even nine o’clock in the morning yet!

‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ said Mrs Prescott, patting her arm before continuing on her way up the hill.

Ruby stared after her for a long moment, feeling like something had just shifted deep inside her.

‘Don’t be an idiot!’ she muttered, before turning and pushing her way inside the café.

‘You’re not on the rota for today!’ laughed Mabel the moment she spotted her. ‘Can’t stay away, can you?’

‘Not if there’s a cup of coffee and a pastry in the offing,’ said Ruby. Oli might not be there yet, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make a start on proceedings!

‘Are you happy to serve yourself while I get Stuart’s breakfast bap ready for him?’ she said, nodding over to Stuart Bendall, who was sitting at his usual table right at the back of the café. The owner of the hardware and general goods store had been coming in for his breakfast bap like clockwork ever since Ruby’s first day on the job - and there was no way she was going to get in the way of his routine now!

‘You carry on,’ laughed Ruby. ‘Oli will be here in a minute - I’ll make ours.’

‘He’s not coming,’ said Mabel cheerfully.

‘Wait… what?’ said Ruby, feeling like she’d just swallowed a concrete block as heavy disappointment dropped into her stomach.

‘He was here really early,’ said Mabel with a shrug. ‘Asked me to tell you that he wouldn’t be here to meet you. He left you this.’

Mabel handed her a piece of folded printer paper with her name scrawled across it.

‘Erm… thanks,’ said Ruby.

‘You get yourself that coffee,’ said Mabel, smiling at her kindly. ‘I’ll be out the minute I’ve got Stuart’s bap done and you can tell me all about it.’

‘All about what?’ said Ruby.

‘All about that look on your face,’ said Mabel, raising an eyebrow.

‘What look?’ muttered Ruby.

‘The one that says someone’s just cancelled Christmas,’

CHAPTER 17

RUBY

Ruby watched as Mabel retreated to the kitchen. Then she stared aimlessly around the café for a moment before glancing down at the folded note in her hand.

‘Coffee first,’ she sighed, tucking the note into her jeans pocket along with her disappointment. She was desperate to see what it said, but she wanted to find a discreet corner to hide in before she opened it.

She felt… crushed. That was the only word for it. As much as she’d been nervous about spending the day with Oli, she now realised how much she’d been looking forward to it too.

Loading up her puck with enough coffee grounds to keep an entire town buzzing for hours, Ruby set about making herself an elaborate, triple-shot latte complete with hazelnut syrup. Her heart hurt… and only an extra-ginormous dose of caffeine and sugar could have a hope of covering it up.

As soon as she was done giving the coffee machine a careful clean, Ruby carried her drink towards the back of the café. She chose a table right in the corner and tucked herself into a chair with her back to the rest of the room. No matter what the note said, at least she’d be able to react to it without everyone else reading every word of it reflected on her face!

After savouring several slow, sweet sips of her coffee, Ruby put the cup down and yanked the note back out of her pocket.

Ruby,

Everything looks better with coffee inside you! Ask Mabel for one of those ones full of syrup that you love. Do you remember those? The ones that always threatened to blow your head off with every sip and kept you talking at nineteen to the dozen. Oh, those study sessions were fun! Me - ready to drop off to sleep, and you - quizzing me until gone midnight. Eat a pastry too - gotta keep your strength up!

For the record, I’m really sorry I’m not there to meet you - promise this’ll be way more fun though!

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