Page 28 of The Midnight Bakery
‘Awful…’ Beth picked up her bap and stared at it. ‘I’ve eaten so much chocolate since then, and now I’ve got a humongous spot on the end of my chin…’ She swallowed. ‘Jack’s barely speaking to me.’
Frankiereallywasn’t the best person to give relationship advice, but her heart went out to Beth. ‘That must feel awful when the two of you are so close. I’m really sorry, Beth. But you know, not long after we first met, you said you felt as if you were pretending to be perfect the whole time. Perhaps this was a conversation you really needed to have, even if it was an acrimonious one. It’s given you both an opportunity to get things off your chest, and it’s important to say how you feel. The longer you don’t, the more danger you’re in of believing the things you tell yourself. We delude ourselves all the time, about little things mostly, but sometimes it’s the big things, and it becomes a habit before we even realise.’
‘I keep telling myself that.’ Beth wiped her chin. ‘And I know it’s good to be honest with one another, but I said some awful things, Frankie. I didn’t mean them, not really, it was just the heat of the moment, but?—’
‘Not really?’ Frankie gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘Don’t dismiss what you said, even if the words you used were ones which, with hindsight, you wouldn’t have chosen. From what you’ve told me I think the essence of what you said probablywastrue.’
Beth nodded, closing her eyes silently for a moment. ‘It was…’ she admitted. ‘But now I’m not sure Jack will ever forgive me.’
‘Have you asked him to?’
Beth looked surprised. ‘Not as such, but I did say I was sorry.’
‘I asked, because I’m pretty sure Jack will have said plenty too. And like you, they were probably things which didn’t sound great when said out loud, but which,exactlylike you, werethings he’s had on his mind as well. Things he didn’t want to admit to. I don’t think it was wrong to say them and now you have a choice, surely? You can say sorry, and gloss over it, and in time get back to how things were, or you can ask each other’s forgiveness for the way you’ve both dealt with things, and set to work putting it right.’
‘So, this is a good thing?’ asked Beth with a weak smile. ‘Even though it feels as if the world is ending?’
‘Even though…’ Frankie agreed.
Beth shook her head. ‘I’m such an idiot,’ she said. ‘But I’m very glad I met you.’ She squeezed Frankie’s hand back. ‘Thank you…’ She sniffed. ‘You will let me know if I can helpyouany time, won’t you?’
‘You already have.’ Frankie grinned. ‘Apart from anything else, you have introduced me to what are arguably the best bacon and egg baps this town has to offer.’
Beth stared at her breakfast, raising it as if to salute Frankie, and took a huge bite. ‘And amen to that,’ she mumbled through a mouthful. At least that’s what Frankie thought she said.
By the time the two of them parted, Beth seemed happier, or at least had begun to see light at the end of the dark tunnel she was in. Frankie, on the other hand, already anxious, was now a tight bundle of nerves, and desperate to get home. But there was one thing she needed to check first. Forewarned was forearmed.
Scanning the street both ahead and behind, she hurried to the bakery. Fortunately, there was only one other person there aside from Melanie: a woman in a dark red coat. Frankie waited a moment for the customer to be served, her anxiety soon turning to impatience.
She stepped forward. ‘Mel, sorry to interrupt, but has anyone been in asking for me this morning?’
Melanie smiled at the customer and handed over her change. ‘No, should they have?’
‘Not really, just…’ She didn’t want to explain anything to Melanie, but she had to be sure. ‘Would you do me a favour? And if anyonedoescome in, could you tell them you’ve never heard of me?’
Melanie’s eyes widened. ‘Well, I can, but…’
‘It’s a long story, but it’ll be my brother,’ Frankie lied. She didn’t even have a brother. ‘He’s got himself in trouble again, and I kept quiet about my job here otherwise he’d only start hassling me for money. Anyway, I heard he’s back in town, so if he does appear…’
Melanie nodded. ‘Families, who’d have them, eh?’ She turned to rearrange the bread on the shelves behind her. ‘I wanted to ask you something, actually. Have you heard anything from Vivienne? I wondered if you knew when she was coming back.’
‘I had a message at the beginning of the week to say she was still feeling poorly, but that was all. Whatever it is seems to have really knocked her out.’
‘Hmm…’
Something about Mel’s tone caught Frankie’s attention. ‘Haveyouspoken to her?’
‘No, but I’ve left umpteen messages on her answerphone, and she hasn’t replied to any of them. I can’t keep doing these hours forever, I’ve got other stuff to take care of, and it’s been a while now. What if she’s really ill?’
‘She’s probably just got the flu or something, I’m sure she’ll be in touch.’ Frankie was ashamed to say she hadn’t given her boss much thought, but Mel was right – what if Vivienne was really poorly? The longer she was away from work, the longer Frankie would need to open up the bakery of a morning and serve in the shop, in full view of anyone passing by. There wasa reason she liked the quiet and privacy of the night shift. ‘Tell you what, I’ll make her a cake and pop it round,’ she said. ‘See if everything’s okay.’ She glanced back towards the street as another customer came in. He might not have been asking for her at the bakery yet, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know she was there. And, if he’d tracked down where she worked, he would sure as hell have found out where she lived…‘Anyway, I’ve got to run, but let’s keep each other posted, okay?’
She was in such a rush to get to the safety of her flat that she pushed open the bakery door just as someone pulled it from the other side, practically catapulting herself through the doorway. She had the impression of height and dark woollen clothing before she could gather herself sufficiently to apologise.
‘Someone’s in a rush. I’ve just come to see you and now here you are.’
Frankie looked up, startled. She hadn’t been expecting that at all.
‘Vivienne?’
