Page 50 of The Runaway Wives

Dee washed her hands and set to helping Andi put out the cakes. ‘Did you make these?’ she asked.

‘No, we have a woman in the village who makes them for us, thank goodness. Baking isn’t my forte.’ She glanced at Dee as she took some delicious-looking fruit slices out of a plastic container. ‘How are you settling at Edna’s?’

‘It’s very comfortable. I sent Sylvia from the local letting agents an email early this morning, to ask if they had anything on their books free within the next couple of weeks. I’ll take a flat even, until the divorce is sorted.’

‘You’re definitely going ahead with it then?’

‘I am.’ In between buttering some baguettes whilst Andi put cheese and ham on them, ready for the midday rush, she told Andi about Nigel turning up yesterday. ‘I’m going to book an appointment with a local solicitor during my lunch break. With the divorce settlement I reckon I should be able to get a small cottage or apartment.’

‘Prices are high around here, but I’ll keep an eye out too,’ Andi told her.

‘Thank you. I appreciate that.’ Dee glanced over to see if Snowy was still asleep in the chair and was astonished to see him now curled up on an elderly lady’s lap, enjoying being caressed. ‘Look at that cheeky cat!’

Andi looked over thoughtfully. ‘That’s Mrs Samson. Her husband passed away a few months ago, she’s only just started to venture out of the house. They were childhood sweethearts and she’s lost without him.’

Babs and Geoff went to school together, which sort of made them childhood sweethearts, even if they didn’t meet up with each other again and start dating until a few years later, Dee thought. Babs had sent her a lengthy text last night detailing all the unsuitable houses they’d seen so far. Dee had chuckled as she read it:

One of them was so far up a bloody mountain I swear I could touch the clouds if I stood on tiptoe! And another one had cracks so wide in the walls they were like train tracks.

Babs seemed in good spirits though, thank goodness. Dee was so pleased that she and Geoff had worked things out because she was sure they would both be lost without each other, although it had been nice to have Babs’ company for a while.I can manage,she told herself,I have friends already, a job, even if it is only temporary, and hopefully a home until I sort myself out too.

It was a busy morning, lots of the customers were regulars and Andi greeted them cheerfully, introducing Dee. Snowy was a big favourite with the customers, with many of them allowing the little cat to sit on their laps, and stroking him.

‘I think we should make Snowy the café cat,’ Andi said. ‘There’s a lot of people who come here alone, and stroking a pet is very therapeutic.’

‘What a lovely idea,’ Dee agreed. ‘Do you think Moira would approve? We probably shouldn’t start off something that she won’t agree with and will stop when she returns as the customers will be disappointed.’

Andi grabbed two clean cups to serve the next customer. ‘Moira’s naturally concerned about hygiene, but she does allow customers to come in with their dogs. Plus, I think Snowy is an asset. Mind you, a cat with dogs might cause a riot!’ She poured tea into one of the cups. ‘Besides, when Moira returns Edna will be back home and you won’t be looking after Snowy, so he probably won’t come in.’ She left the words ‘and you won’t be working in the café either’ unspoken.

Dee realised she already felt a bit sad at the thought of not working at Moira’s Café. She’d only been here a few hours and already she was loving it.

Snowy was finding his feet now and went from table to table, allowing himself to be stroked and cuddled by the customers, occasionally standing by the door waiting to be let out – probably for a toilet call – then coming back in again a few minutes later. He seemed to be very settled here, Dee thought. She would miss Snowy when Edna got better and returned home. She’d already decided that when she got her own place she would get a pet – a cat probably although she would love a dog to take for walks. It was a good feeling to know that she could make whatever decisions she wanted over her future. She could have as many pets as she liked, live wherever she wanted, have a job. She hadn’t realised just how much Nigel had suppressed and controlled her. That was the trouble when you’d been with someone a long time, you tried to please them, moulded yourself into how they wanted you to be and then that was it, you didn’t know who you were any more.

* * *

Kenny popped his head around the door after lunch. ‘How’s it going?’ he asked.

‘I haven’t broken anything or scalded a customer so far,’ Dee said with a smile. ‘Are you here for a cuppa or did you pop in to check on me?’

‘Both,’ Kenny admitted. ‘I’ll have my drink outside, please, I’ve got my dog, Toffee, with me.’ He glanced over at Snowy, a smile on his lips. ‘And it would be chaos if he saw a cat in here.’

‘Yes, Snowy seems to have made himself comfortable.’ Dee took a teapot off the shelf. ‘I didn’t know you had a dog.’

‘He’s been a bit under the weather so I’ve kept him cosy indoors but he’s picked up now so I thought a walk would cheer him up.’

That’s why she hadn’t seen Kenny walking the dog. ‘I’ll bring your drink out to you,’ she offered.

‘Thanks. Do you have time to join me for a quick catch-up?’

Dee hesitated, it was almost three o’clock.

‘Take a break and chat for a while,’ Andi told her. ‘It’s not too busy. I’ll take my break when you come back.’

So a few minutes later Dee took out a tray laden with the teapot, two mugs, a small milk jug and packets of sugar.

Toffee, a beautiful tan and black leggy mongrel, barked and raised his head but didn’t move. Dee patted him fondly. ‘I’ve always wanted a dog but they do tie you down a bit, and I’m going to need to get another job once Moira comes back, so it wouldn’t be fair to leave it in the house all day.’

‘Why don’t you “borrow” one then?’ Kenny asked.

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