Page 24 of New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
‘You’re still journalling, right?’
‘Of course, I never miss a day.’
‘The pink one’s a proper gratitude journal, it’s got inspirational quotes and space to write down your thoughts…’
‘I love it!’ said Rose, taking a deep breath. ‘Ah! That new notebook smell!’
‘I just wanted to let you know how much I’ve appreciated your help in the café; I don’t think I could have got through this week without you, Rose.’
‘Oh, it’s no bother, honestly. You didn’t have to get me anything, but I love them. Ooh, new pens too,’ said Rose, opening a pack of pastel ballpoints.
‘I’m grateful, and I wanted you to know.’
‘Hey, maybe you should start a gratitude journal too?’ laughed Rose.
‘Well, you’d definitely be in it,’ replied Tori, linking her arm back through Rose’s.
The Golden Pippin trees in the front of the pub were already starting to show their pink and white flowers, and Tori smiled as she walked through the main entrance. Just how many evenings had she spent in this place as a teenager? Too many to count. Nightlife in Blossom Heath was limited to say the least, so the pub had been the focus of her social life in her younger years. She’d had her first pint of beer here on her eighteenth birthday and shared her first kiss with Tom Pollard under one of the huge apple trees in the pub garden. God, she’d had such a crush on him. Her face burned hotat the memory. What was Tom Pollard up to now? He’d probably left the village and was making a life for himself somewhere like London or Manchester. Hardly any of Tori’s school friends still lived in Blossom Heath; it was one of the hazards of growing up in such a rural location.
‘Rose! Tori!’ called Grace from the other end of the bar. ‘What are you having?’
‘I’ll get them,’ said Tori, pushing her way through the crowd.
‘Thanks,’ said Grace, ‘mine’s a pint of Sussex Best.’
‘I’ll join Kate,’ said Rose, gesturing towards the booth in the corner of the pub where Kate was sitting.
‘G and T?’ asked Tori, nodding in Rose’s direction. Rose gave her a thumbs-up.
‘What can I get you, Tori, sweetheart?’ asked Beth. Tori placed her drinks order. ‘How’s Ernie after his adventure the other day?’
‘I was going to ask exactly the same thing,’ said Grace.
‘Oh, he’s good, thanks. Completely oblivious to the chaos he caused,’ said Tori, taking a sip of her Sauvignon Blanc.
‘That’s cats for you,’ said Grace.
‘Isn’t it just,’ agreed Beth. ‘That Leo’s a bit of a dish, isn’t he?’
Tori blushed; she hoped no one had noticed.
‘Is he? I can’t say I really took much notice…’ said Tori, fishing around in her handbag for her debit card.
‘Not really my type,’ said Grace, ‘but I can see the attraction. He’s very handsome, isn’t he?’
‘Er,’ said Tori, struggling to respond. ‘I guess so. Like I said, I wasn’t really taking much notice.’ She found she couldn’t quite look Grace in the eye.
‘Well, you had bigger fish to fry, I expect,’ said Beth, passing Grace her drink. ‘Ernie was stuck up a tree at the time.’
‘Exactly,’ agreed Tori, almost too quickly. She stuffed her purse back into her bag. ‘Thanks for these, Beth, lovely to see you,’ she said, nodding as she made her way over to Rose.
‘How are you all?’ said Grace, shuffling along the bench to get comfy in the corner.
‘I’ve been helping out at the café this week, actually, just while Joyce is resting up,’ replied Rose.
‘She’s okay, though?’ asked Grace, concerned.
‘Hopefully. She’s having some thyroid issues,’ Tori explained, ‘so she’s taking it easy until her pills kick in.’
