Page 16 of The Midnight Bakery
‘Sorry, that was thoughtless,’ said William, clearing his throat. ‘I didn’t mean to alarm you. Or make you feel vulnerable.’
‘Morevulnerable…’
He dipped his head slightly, acknowledging her reply. He felt a need to apologise for a whole lot more than just his comment. ‘You shouldn’t have to change your behaviour because of someone else.’
The woman looked up into his face, one eyelid twitching. She rubbed at it and tucked a wisp of hair firmly behind her ear. It had come loose from her plait. ‘Agreed, but some people don’t make that easy, do they? They think everything is about them.’ Her face was stony.
William nodded. ‘True enough,’ he replied mildly. ‘Somepeople…but not everyone.’ He held her look for a moment. ‘Anyway, let me get on home and leave you to your tea.’ He doffed an imaginary cap and turned to go.
‘Hang on, wait…’
He turned around to see the woman disappearing back into the bakery. The smell coming from inside was incredible, and it was warm and comforting. He couldn’t imagine anywhere he’d rather be on a cold winter’s night, and his stomach gave an appreciative lurch. As if reading his mind, she reappeared moments later, carrying a small paper bag.
‘Have these,’ she said. ‘Withyourcup of tea.’ The beginnings of a small smile tugged at the edges of her mouth. ‘And thank you.’
William took the bag and peered inside, his mouth suddenly watering as the two fat croissants which nestled there released a rich, buttery aroma. He used to dream of food like that.
‘Am I allowed?’ he asked. ‘I don’t want to get you into trouble.’
She did smile then. Almost imperceptible, but it was there. ‘You won’t. It’s no problem,’ she said.
William was about to reply when he realised that she was leaning against the door frame again, almost as if without it shewould slide to the floor. He scrunched the top of the bag closed, patting the contents gently.
‘Thank you. You wouldn’t believe how long it is since I had these.’ He dipped his head. ‘Now go and have that cuppa.’
He’d only gone a few steps when he turned back, aware that the door hadn’t yet been closed behind him.
‘Listen, don’t take this the wrong way…’ William was torn. He hadn’t really thought this through, and he absolutely should not be doing this. Whatever happened to not getting involved? ‘I’m not really sure if I should say this or not, but I only live around the corner—’ He could see the woman’s eyes open wide. ‘So, if you ever feel threatened again, or get locked out, or…I don’t know, anything, and you need some help, I’m by Turner’s estate agents, do you know it? There’s a green door to the left-hand side. Just bang on that, it doesn’t matter what time, and I’ll come down.’ He waited, but there was no reply. Had he really expected one? ‘Anyway, night then.’
This time he walked resolutely away, so that by the time her voice reached him it was nothing more than a whisper on the breeze.
‘Night, William.’
12
Beth
There was something about Frankie which, up until now, Beth hadn’t been able to put her finger on. This was the third morning they had had coffee together and in between times Beth retained an image of Frankie in her head which, on meeting again, was nothing like she’d pictured at all. But today, she realised why. It was because Frankie had one of those curious faces which looked so ordinary most of the time – not plain, just nothing in particular to distinguish it – until the moment she smiled. And when she did, her eyes, normally mid-brown, turned to gold and her whole face lifted, lit up as if she had her own personal sunbeam to stand beneath. She kept her smile hidden most of the time, like a secret gift she rarely bestowed, but when she did…
‘This is kind of weird, isn’t it?’ said Beth as she placed two cups of coffee on the table, pushing one towards Frankie.
Frankie looked around her, a blank expression on her face.
‘Sorry, I don’t mean this place,’ explained Beth. The coffee shop they were sitting in opened earlier than most to caterfor the on-their-way-to-work crowd, but other than that, was the same as coffee shops everywhere – warm, fragrant and anonymous. ‘Just that if we were normal people, working normal hours, having coffee like we are would be the equivalent of meeting up at ten o’clock at night.’
A momentary frown crossed Frankie’s face, but then it brightened again. ‘Oh yes, I see what you mean – right before bedtime…’ She scooped up some froth from her coffee with one finger and popped it in her mouth. ‘Normal people, whatever they are…Working the night shift is like living on another planet – but maybe I’m strange, I really like it.’ She looked up at Beth, a question hovering in her eyes.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it,’ replied Beth. ‘It’s just something I do. You’re on your own at the bakery though, aren’t you? Whereas I’m still surrounded by people. The hospital never really sleeps and, even though it is a little different from the day shift, I never get the sense that it’s night-time outside, not until I finish my shift and am on my way home. Then it can feel as if I’m the only person alive in the world. Can’t say I particularly enjoy that feeling though, not like you.’ She took a sip of coffee, looking at Frankie over the rim of her mug. ‘I saw you the night Jack fell out of bed,’ she supplied. ‘You were dancing as if you hadn’t a care in the world. And there was this expression on your face, kind of soft. Like you were in the arms of your lover.’ She grinned. ‘Maybe you were.’
‘Huh… in my dreams.’
‘You looked lovely. It made me wonder what it would be like to feel so peaceful.’
Frankie wrinkled her nose. ‘I love the middle of the night. I find it…calming. It probably sounds stupid, but I can be who I want to be then. In the daytime, there’s so much…I don’t know what the right word is, really…expectation? Does that make sense?’
‘From other people, you mean?’
‘Something like that.’ She fiddled with the biscuit that came with her coffee. Then she picked it up and bit it in half, chewing slowly. ‘It’s like I don’t know who I am during the day. I feel pressured to be a certain way. Too many years of doing things simply to conform, I think. So now…now that I’m awake during the night, I find it easier to be the person I think I am, rather than the one I always pretended to be.’ She shook her head. ‘Sorry, I’m talking rubbish.’
