Page 67 of The Midnight Bakery
Frankie
The three of them sat in the coffee shop for some while after Robert left, William beside her and Beth sitting opposite. They must have made quite a spectacle, hugging and laughing the way they had, but Frankie didn’t care. Robert had told her she had made out he was a monster and she realised that’s exactly what he was. Not the scaly monster with saliva-dripping teeth of horror films, but, instead, the type which lay under the beds of children the world over – a monster who, at night, seemed so scary, casting such fear deep into their hearts, but who, in the light of a new day, turned out to be an old, discarded teddy bear that was no longer played with. Robert held no power over her now.
And if Beth had been loud and exuberant, pulling Frankie into a fierce hug and then releasing her only to do it all over again, then William had been her opposite, quiet and calm. But the way he enfolded Frankie in his arms and pulled her head into his shoulder before kissing the top of it left her in no doubt as tothe way he was feeling. He didn’t need any words at all to tell her that.
‘I am so proud of you,’ said Beth. ‘What a slimy, snivelling creep Robert turned out to be. But you were amazing. You held your ground, and said all the things we’d rehearsed, even when he tried turning to his old tricks again.’ Her expression suddenly sobered. ‘But what he did to you was awful, Frankie. I can’t imagine the life you must have had. And I’m so sorry I didn’t know you then – I like to think I’d have helped.’
Frankie squeezed her hand. ‘I’m sure you would have, but perhaps it’s better that you came into my life when you did. Without you, and William, and Tam too, I’d never have found the courage to face up to Robert.’
‘It’s funny how we all came together, in different ways and at different times,’ said Beth. ‘I was thinking that the other day. Do you ever get the feeling it was meant to be? Or does that sound silly?’
‘Not at all,’ said Frankie. ‘I’m convinced of it. I have been since the first day we met, when you slipped outside the bakery and scraped your knee.’
Beth nodded, smiling at the memory. ‘It wasn’t even that long ago, but so much seems to have happened since then. I’m certainly in a very different place to the one I was in before.’
‘I think we all are,’ said William. ‘And if Tam were here, I know he’d say the same.’
‘Speaking of whom, where has he gone?’ asked Beth. ‘He was all set to come today and then had to dash off at the last minute. He was most mysterious when I asked him about it.’
More than likely gone for a job interview, thought Frankie, shaking her head in response, but Tam had asked that she keep news of his unemployed status from Beth, and so that’s what she would do. It seemed a shame, though. Was she the only one whocould see what a huge benefit there was to having Tam at the farm? As if reading her thoughts, Beth sighed.
‘He’s been with us four days now,’ she said, smiling at the thought. ‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of inviting him to stay before. I feel rather ashamed I didn’t, but’ – Frankie looked up at the concern in Beth’s voice – ‘although it’s fantastic having him there, it worries me. He says he’s taken a few days’ holiday which was owed to him and, grateful though I am, he’s been putting in some very long hours. I don’t want him spending all his hard-earned break with us.’
‘Perhaps he wants to,’ countered Frankie.
‘It certainly seems as if he does, but I’m worried Jack will come to rely on him too much. I know my job is safe now, but we don’t have anything left at the end of the month, so there’s still no way we can pay Tam. Especially not now we might need any extra money we do have for getting the farm back up and running. I feel we’re taking advantage of him, and Tam doesn’t deserve that. He’s been let down enough in the past as it is.’
Beth’s phone rang before Frankie could reply and she pulled a face. ‘Sorry, it’s the hospital, I need to take this.’ She excused herself and hurried outside to take the call in the relative quiet of the street.
William took the opportunity to slip his hand into hers.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked.
A rush of thoughts flooded Frankie’s head. Howwasshe feeling? The word ‘elated’ took up space front and centre and she considered it for a moment. It wasn’t a word which she would ever have used to describe herself in the past, but yes, today, that would do very nicely. Elated and grateful, proud – of herself – happy and…giddy as a schoolgirl. She leaned her head into William’s shoulder. ‘Very good,’ she replied. ‘And most definitelynota Frances.’
He drew back slightly so he could look at her, an amused smile on his face. ‘Not a Frances?’ he said. ‘I noticed that’s what Robert called you, but what’s that all about?’
‘Frances is the woman I used to be,’ replied Frankie. ‘I didn’t really like the name even when I was a child. There was something too fussy about it, too prim, and the way my mother used to say it when I’d done something naughty…As I got older, I grew to hate it even more, mainly because of the way Robert said it, which made my teeth clench and my stomach churn. It’s a name for someone subservient, compliant, far too meek and with no thoughts of their own. In short, a person Robert owned…So, when I got away and came here, I decided thatFrankiecould be someone I liked. A free spirit. The kind of someone I think Icouldhave been. And so I determined thatshewould beme, but I rather had to grow into her first. I wasn’t sure if I could.’
William held her look, the corners of his mouth curving slightly as he studied her face. ‘Well, in the nicest possible way, I think Frances is well and truly dead,’ he said. ‘I don’t think you need to worry about her any more.’
They were still smiling at one another when Beth returned to their table and Frankie was horrified to see tears on her friend’s face.
‘Beth, whatever’s wrong? It’s not Jack, is it?’
Beth might have been crying, but she was angry now. She shook her head furiously. ‘No, thank goodness. But I can’t believe it, Frankie. They’ve changed my shifts for this new job. After all this, and they go and do something like that. TheyknowI can’t work days, it’s impossible.’
‘Come and sit down,’ said Frankie, hating to see Beth so distraught. ‘I’ll get us another drink.’
But Beth shook her head. ‘I have to get home…’ A look of horror crossed her face. ‘What am I going to say to Jack? He’ll bedevastated.’ Her hand flew to her face and Frankie could see her eyes welling with tears again. ‘It’s so bloody unfair! Just when everything was going so well. And I’m supposed to be ecstatic because I’ve even got a slight promotion, which is a joke in itself – it’s only enough to pay for an extra packet of chocolate biscuits a week. It’s nowhere near enough to pay?—’
‘Can’t you ask them to look at the shifts again?’
Beth shook her head. ‘I have, but it doesn’t work like that. This is a new position. It’s what the hospital does to get around various employment laws. Basically they sack us all and then rehire some of us, but on new contracts, with new hours and new rates of pay. From the beginning of next month my current job will no longer exist. I couldn’t carry on doing it however much I might want to.’
‘Oh, Beth…’ It was a particularly bitter blow after this morning’s celebration. ‘Saying I’m sure everything will work out sounds a bit pathetic,’ added Frankie, silently admonishing the universe for being so bloody awkward. ‘But I do hope you can get it sorted. If anyone deserves a break it’s you and Jack.’
Beth nodded, weary now. Life was an uphill battle at times, and it showed. ‘I’d better get home,’ she said. ‘Not that I’ll sleep now, but I probably ought to get some rest…and try to work out what the hell we’re going to do.’ She blinked hard before giving Frankie a wan smile. ‘I’ve ruined your day of victory now, too.’
