Page 9 of Full Service

“Of course,” I smiled. If Hywel had asked then I’d have told him to shove it.

“Let’s go then, Hywel.Dere ‘mlaen.”

I watched as they got into the car and Prentis drove off in the village's direction. I was glad to be rid of Hywel. I wanted to hate him, and it was annoying to know he wasn’t some corporaterobot. Instead, some of my old feelings stirred. I’d always fancied the man. I’d even looked him up online a couple of times over the years, and he’d snuck his way into some of my wanking fantasies in my later teenage years.

But all that was quite different to actuallylikingthe man. That just wouldn’t do. Thankfully, I’d be rid of him now til he picked up his car.

Or so I thought. As became painfully obvious quickly, things didn’t often work out that way.

Chapter Three

Hywel

Hiraeth was beautiful. It seemed like every time I left the little village and headed back to London or travelled to cities around the world I forgot the place I’d come from and all the charms it held. Once we were out of the narrow country lanes, the route was downright pleasant. It followed the little stream that was the beating heart of the village.

I looked over at Prentis. He’d looked old last time I had seen him, and that hadn’t changed. In fact, he’d looked pretty much the same for the last decade or so. Did that mean he looked young for his age now? I didn’t know. But wrinkled hands, crows feet around the eyes and a shock of white hair? Same old Uncle Prentis to me.

We passed the little village pub at one end of the high street and Uncle Prentis slowed down as we came toward the run of shops in the high street. This had been a sore point in the town for a couple of decades. Other than a bakery, butchers and charity shop, the other shops had all lain dormant and boarded up. I knew Uncle Prentis had sold up his cafe too but when the high street finally came into view I was astounded. All seven shops in the row were now filled. Everyone had Christmas decorations up and lights were strung between the shops and the streetlights on the opposite side of the road. Uncle Prentis pulledup in a parking space opposite the shops and motioned for me to get out. He’d been quiet on the journey in.

“Things have changed in the last five or six years,” he said. “More so in the last year or so. Great changes have been made around this town, thanks to a couple of wonderful people. If you thought this town was an unusual Mecca for gay men when you left…well, it only gets better as they say.”

I let my gaze drift across the familiar shops. There was still a charity shop, grocer, butcher and refreshed looking cafe. But there was also a craft supply shop, florist and something calledThe Nerd Emporium.The entire row looked much more full of life and there was the movement of people in every window.

He led me to the place that used to be his cafe, now signposted asHiraeth Community Cafeand led me in. It was busy inside with the breakfast rush and there was an unfamiliar face behind the counter, busy preparing coffee. He was a thin man in a cable-knit teal jumper and shirt.

“Hi James,” said my uncle. “This is my nephew, Hywel.”

“The man who almost took this place from under me!” James grinned at me. I had a vague memory of sending someone to look at acquiring the place from my uncle but when he’d let me know he found a local buyer the whole thing had slipped my mind. James had no trace of a Welsh accent though. “What is it you’ll be having?”

“Americano please. Black, no sugar,” I said.

“A man after my own heart. Prentis, I’ve got your usual. Find a table and I’ll be right over.” James busied himself preparing coffee, and I went with my uncle to a table in the window. I looked around. The place had received a much-needed update. It still looked homely, but modern and chic. The coffee shelves seemed to be made of old timber and railway sleepers and there was driftwood stuck to the front of the counter. All the chairs were vintage and mismatched and it seemed Uncle Prentis hadpicked this table because of its big squishy armchairs. I glanced at a couple of faces as I perused the decor. Most were familiar, just a little more lined than when I’d last seen them. There were a few new ones too, though.

“Seems the town has had a bit of a revival,” I said.

“It has. Still happening, though I’m sure you’ll see that with time.” Prentis looked around rather dramatically. “There’s a lot more going on than last time I saw you. How long has it been…four, five years?”

“Five years, six months,” I said.

“Ah. Exactly that. I hadn’t realised you hadn’t been back since…”

“The funeral, yes.”

There was silence for a couple of seconds. “How are you keeping, anyway? And what brings you home after so long?” he asked.

“Good, I’m…good. Well. Not good. Not great. Bad. Terrible.” I looked up as James approached with coffee and thanked him. I fished around for my debit card but by the time I’d found it in a jacket pocket he was gone.

“We don’t pay here, son,” said Uncle Prentis. “Why don’t you start from the beginning and tell me what’s going on?”

So I did. I told him about my relationship with Brian, the big business investment, my fall from grace.

“Doesn’t explain what brings you here though does it?” said Prentis.

“If I say you have to keep it quiet,” I said.

“I was a gay man in a relationship in west Wales in the 1970s. I think I know how to keep a secret, Hywel.”

“All I have left is in this town. Brian has all my cash and our business assets were joint. I own some property in Hiraeth and I’m hoping if I can flip it I’ll be able to start again. I can start small, invest in some safer bets and the general stock market,maybe do some freelance business consulting. But right now I can’t do any of that.”

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