Page 17 of The Wedding Cake
“Anybody for a refill?” Hannah inquired, finally tearing her eyes away.
“No, thanks. You’re all right. If you wouldn’t mind returning that list of client calls we made between us earlier, I’d be much obliged,” Freya insisted, trying belatedly to redeem herself with some professional talk.
“Actually, I’d love another coffee,” Tim had said, taking Freya by surprise. “Thanks very much.” Surely he’d want to scarper? Freya’s nerves couldn’t handle this, even if there was a contract to sign and a stonking great deposit to pay. She needed him to go – like yesterday – so she could dissect her shameful promiscuity and drink several glasses of ice cold water.
Once Hannah had left the courtyard with her drinks order, Freya had begun to twiddle her thumbs, unsure even how to begin to apologise for her recent actions. But she needn’t have worried because Tim was full of words. Quite surprising ones:
“Can I ask for your honest female opinion?” he’d begun.
Freya’s heart had hammered. She really hadn’t wanted to be grilled on her unwarranted, forward and deplorable approach. That said, Tim had hardly pushed her away, had he? In fact, now she briefly relived the moment, she distinctly recalled his thumb intimately stroking the side of her waist. She could still feel the heat of those arms curling around her protectively, as if she was wearing a belt. It didn’t make things any better, no – who knew when common sense would have stepped in, had Hannah not done so? But it did make it feel less one-sided, yes.
“Does a paragliding date on Valentine’s Day sound unromantic to you?” Tim had continued without waiting for an answer.
And so, after necking his coffee refill, signing the paperwork and sharing Piper’s email details for the invoice, Tim had briskly left Freya and the cakery after a quick and platonic (very quick and purely platonic) kiss on the cheek. He had her number. She had his. It wasn’t a date. Freya was helping him out of an awkward situation. That was all. Nobody wanted to paraglide alone when they were supposed to be drifting gracefully through the air with the love of their life on what was billed to be the most romantic day of the year. If she could help him feel a little less lonely, ultimately she was doing a good thing. She hadn’t gone into any kind of detail with him as to the scarily similar reason she had recently started taking Mondays off – for the thrill of extreme adventures exactly like this! There was no way anyone in Tim’s situation would believe her.It would sound like she was making a play for him.No. She needed to keep her love of the great outdoors and its activities firmly under wraps. She would show up at the place and the time, once Tim had sent her the details, and go home again, inspired to do more of the same on her own. And that would be that.
Freya couldn’t relate to Piper, though she was just one of many ‘normal’ human beings who couldn’t find the joy in flying through the air on an inflatable nylon wing. It was rather hypocritical, though; Freya was a fine one to talk on the phobia front. Until recently, she wouldn’t put as much as a little toe on the sand.
Her world was lighting up a little more every day. Soon it would be Technicolour. Bursting with fun. Tim’s invitation had arrived at just the right time, reconfirming her new path ahead and giving a thumbs up to the carefree version of herself that she was increasingly determined to present to the world. He was a signpost. Nothing more. A quick paraglide with a newly acquired acquaintance would be a tonic. Yes, he was a client, but sometimes business could safely be mixed with pleasure. One exhilarating ride...Poor choice of words, Freya.But really, it was going to be as clear cut as that.
“The funny thing is,I swear I’ve seen the Moss-Nutkins bride-to-be out and about this week,” said Hannah later that afternoon as she helped Freya clean the shop downstairs before locking up. “She looks familiar.”
“I’m sure you’re confusing her with someone else,” said Freya, scrubbing vigorously at the counter with her cloth. “Piper is an influencer. When she’s not been working hard looking pretty in hotels and on yachts, she has done her bit and accompanied Tim and Merv to the various supplier meetings, you know.”
Hannah stopped her mopping and stared into space as if deliberating a conundrum. “Your enthusiasm for her sounds a bit fake, if you don’t mind me saying so, boss.”
“Really?” Freya sighed. “Is it that obvious?”
“You’re giving those poor worktops quite a bashing with that rag. You must have broken at least one nail.” Hannah gestured at Freya’s aggressive cleaning technique.
Freya paused too and let out a deep breath. “Oh, great. I’m meant to be setting an example, aren’t I? Staying neutral about our couples.”
“You’re only human. We all are. It’s only natural that we’ll prefer some people to others, clients or not.”
“That makes me feel a bit better… all things considered.” Freya sucked in a deep breath now. “Argh.Please forget I said that last bit. I’m being such a loose cannon at the moment.”
“I don’t think so. You’re letting your hair down and enjoying some much-needed time off. That’s all. Your new approach to life is bound to spill into all areas. It’s been a long time since you’ve granted yourself so much freedom. On the other hand, you can confide in me if there’s… erherm… more than meets the eye, about the rather close encounter that Iencounteredearlier. I won’t tell a soul. You know me.”
“It’s pretty bad, Hannah.”
“I won’t judge. You have my word.”
“Oh gawd! I feel like such an immoral trollop.”
“A problem halved.”
Freya waited several beats and then blurted her secret out, quickly adding: “Not that it’s a date or anything. I am merely filling a gap.”
“By going paragliding with the groom?Okaaay then.”
“And that’s exactly how I didn’t want you to react. See, I told you it was dreadful.” Freya frowned and slumped into the nearest chair.
“Not necessarily,” Hannah countered. “Thinking about it, it’s probably one of the safestdates-that’s-not-a-datesince it’shighlyunlikely you’d be able to snog the guy mid-air.”
“Miss Hannah Barlow!”
“Sorry. I was just trying to reassure you.”
“That’s the sort of thing I’d expect Ricky to say. And no, I most definitely won’t be doing any of that in the air or on the ground with Tim.” Although Freya couldn’t deny that she wouldn’t have minded experiencing a Tim Nutkins kiss, prior to him meeting and falling in love with Piper. He looked more than capable in the snogging department. He looked more than capable in theeverythingdepartment. She shook the thought from her head immediately. Imagining herself with a pre-attached version of her client was still inexcusable. “At least I assume it’s not one of those tandem paragliders,” she added in panic. “Not that I would attempt such a move even then. He’s about to get married and I am baking his cake. I mean,his and Piper’scake.”
