Page 104 of New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
‘If you don’t want him here, Tori, just say the word and I’ll kick him out, to hell with what Beth says,’ he said, his fists clenched at his sides.
‘No, it’s fine, Pete, really it is. If Ryan wants to hang around, that’s up to him – I don’t have a problem with it.’
‘Right you are, but if that changes, if he puts a foot wrong…’
‘You’ll be the first to know. And I’ll happily watch you throw him out. Deal?’
‘Deal,’ said Pete, nodding. ‘I still don’t like him, though,Tori. You can do so much better for yourself than someone who treats you like that.’
‘Thanks, Pete.’
‘You know Beth and I will always support you.’
‘I know,’ she said, leaning in to give the pub landlord a kiss on the cheek.
‘We’re all set to run the bar at the barn dance too. Beth’s organized some extra staff for the night, so we can head up to the farm and take care of everything on site ourselves.’
‘Thanks, Pete, you’re a star.’
‘Now before you go, Beth’s got some apples for you,’ he said, ducking behind the bar and returning with two full carrier bags.
‘Thanks for these – Mum’s pies will go down a storm in the café. I’ll drop a couple back at the pub for you and Beth.’
‘I’ll look forward to it. It’s hard to beat a proper homemade pie, particularly when it’s packed full of good old Sussex apples.’
Chapter 31
Tori woke later than usual the following morning, having stayed up late into the night going over the events of the evening, first with Joyce and then with Rose, until she was too exhausted to think. She’d fallen into bed as though she hadn’t slept in years, and if it hadn’t been for Joyce banging on her bedroom door that the cats needed feeding, who knows what time she’d have woken up. She checked her phone… nothing from Leo. There was a message from Claire though.Just heard about Ryan turning up, what a grand gesture! He must be serious about wanting you back, maybe you should hear him out? Claire xxTori tossed her phone aside, she didn’t want to think about Ryan right now, she’d reply to Claire later.
Pulling on a pair of jeans and a faded band T-shirt, Tori ran down to the kitchen, shoving an apple from the fruit bowl into her mouth.
‘Slow down. You’ll give yourself indigestion,’ Joyce warned.
‘I need to get to the café. It’s Valentine’s adoption day and I’m meeting Izzy before we open.’
‘Oh yes, I’d forgotten. Our first official adoption, how exciting!’ said Joyce, her face lighting up. ‘You go, love.’
‘See you,’ said Tori.
When Tori arrived next door, Izzy was waiting outside.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Tori apologized, ‘have you been here long?’
‘Nah, I literally just got here, there’s plenty of time to finish off your breakfast,’ she laughed, pointing at the half-eaten apple in Tori’s hand.
‘God, you must think I’m so disorganized. It’s not usually like this first thing, I promise.’
‘Don’t worry about it, you should see me at the centre, we’re rushed off our feet most of the time. Anyway, how’s Daisy? No more disappearing acts?’
‘Ah, you heard about that. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you, Izzy, life just got so busy, and—’
‘Tori, it’s fine,’ said Izzy, resting a hand on her shoulder. ‘These things happen – we have near misses up at the centre. Working with animals is always going to be a tricky business.’
‘Thanks, I am sorry I didn’t mention it, though. I should have. Right, let’s get inside and you can say hello to the gang,’ said Tori, beaming as she turned the key, ushering Izzy inside the foyer and closing the door behind her.
‘I keep meaning to try and pay you a visit, but things are crazy busy up at the centre. The calls never seem to stop,’ Izzy explained, a shadow passing across her face.
‘Adoptions?’
