Page 127 of New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
When Tori and Joyce arrived back home, their usual parking space outside the café had been taken, so Joyce parked further up the street and, as they walked along in silence towards the house, Tori reflected on the events of the evening. Just as she pulled her phone out of her pocket to send Leo a message, she was startled by the sound of breaking glass.
‘Mum, did you hear that?’ she whispered, stopping sharply and grabbing Joyce’s arm.
‘Yes! You don’t think someone’s trying to break into the café, do you?’ whispered Joyce.
‘Wait here, I’ll take a look.’
‘Tori, no! It could be dangerous,’ hissed Joyce, but it was too late, Tori was already jogging down the street towards the café.
‘Hey! What’s going on?’ she shouted as she neared the café. ‘I’m calling the police!’ she yelled, phone in hand. As she got closer, she could see the front window of the café had been cracked rather than broken, so hopefully the cats were still safely inside, and there was someone peering in through the window.
‘Tori!’ squeaked a familiar high-pitched voice.
‘What on earth…’ Tori knew that voice, she was sure of it. She shook her head, willing herself to remember… ‘Who’s there?’ The figure in front of her stood frozen to the spot. Tori strained her eyes in an attempt to see who it was. ‘Oh my God, Claire is that you? Are you alright?’ she asked, rushing forwards. ‘You’re not hurt are you?’ Claire shook her head, but didn’t utter a word. ‘What happened? Has someone tried to break in? Did you see who it was?’
‘I think so,’ said Claire, her hands shaking, ‘it was just kids… they went that way,’ she stuttered, pointing towards the village green.
‘I’m calling the police,’ said Tori. ‘Don’t worry, you’re okay, that’s the main thing, any damage can be repaired—’
‘Hello? Tori?’ called Maggie, making towards her across the village green. ‘Is something wrong? I heard shouting.’
‘Tori! What’s going on?’ asked Joyce, suddenly appearing out of the darkness.
‘Claire’s just seen someone trying to break in. I’m calling the police,’ Tori explained.
‘Tori, wait!’ said Claire, reaching out a hand to stop her. ‘Don’t call the police…’
‘But why? Claire, I think you’re in shock,’ said Tori gently. ‘Let me call for some help—’
‘No, don’t! What I said just now about some kids running away… it wasn’t true,’ said Claire, hanging her head.
‘Well, don’t worry, it’s dark, the police won’t expect you to identify—’
‘I didn’t see anyone running away… because it was me,’ said Claire, taking a deep breath in. ‘It was an accident, though, Tori. You have to believe me,’ she added quickly. ‘I didn’t mean to do any damage… I just swung my bag at the window and, well, you can see what happened,’ she said, pointing at the glass.
‘Claire!’ said Maggie, looking shocked.
‘But I… I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’ Tori asked, looking down at Claire’s designer bag, which was large enough to make a serious dent in pretty much anything.
‘Oh God, Tori, I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking,’ said Claire, wringing her hands. ‘I spotted you and Leo kissing and… I just got so… angry. One minute I was driving past the café and the next I was stood outside hurling my bag at the window. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have acted like this over a man… I’m not this person.’
‘But Claire, why? I don’t understand – what’s Leo got to do with any of this? With you?’ Tori asked, shaking her head.
‘Well,’ said Claire, looking up at Tori. ‘We’d been on a couple of dates, and I was ready to take things further, to be a couple, but that wasn’t what he wanted. Then you arrived back in the village…’
‘Oh, Claire,’ said Joyce, ‘this really isn’t Blossom Heath behaviour.’
‘At first, I thought if Tori took Ryan back, Leo and I might have a shot. When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I just saw red, I wanted Tori to… the café to…’
‘Fail?’ said Tori.
Claire nodded. ‘But it didn’t, not even after I got Violet involved. I thought she’d be able to stop the café before it even reopened. But when that didn’t work, I took things further… the reviews, the call to animal welfare…’
‘That was you? All of it?’ said Maggie, frowning. Claire nodded.
‘And Daisy?’ Tori said slowly, trying to process this information, ‘that day she went missing, don’t tell me you—’
‘I sneaked her out in my gym bag,’ said Claire quietly. ‘I hoped that if people thought you couldn’t keep the cats safe, it might stop them coming…’
