Page 47 of New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
‘Tori!’
‘Honestly, Mum. She’s a hairdresser, not a priest.’
‘Tori!’
‘Fine, I won’t ask her,’ said Tori, offering a bowl of kibble to Ernie, who sniffed it suspiciously and sauntered away. ‘Oh,Ern, stop being such a fussy pants, will you?’ laughed Tori, shoving her used glass into the dishwasher.
When Tori arrived at the Apple Tree at one o’clock, Claire was already at the bar.
‘Tori! What can I get you?’ asked Claire, pointing at her wine.
‘We’re going straight for the wine, are we?’
‘Why not? It’s not often I get away from the salon for a proper lunch break – may as well make the most of it.’
‘Sensible girl,’ said Pete from behind the bar. ‘What’ll it be, Tori?’
‘Oh, go on then. I’ll have whatever she’s having,’ said Tori, reaching for her purse.
‘Today is onme,’ said Claire, placing a hand over Tori’s to stop her opening her bag.
‘At least let me get the drinks?’
‘Absolutely not. I said lunch was on me and I meant it. It’s my treat.’
‘Thanks, Claire, that’s really lovely of you.’
‘There you go, Tori,’ said Pete, placing a large glass of white wine in front of her. ‘Beth has got table six ready for you – make yourselves comfortable and someone will be over to take your order.’
‘Thanks, Pete,’ replied Claire.
As Tori followed Claire towards the table, she noticed again just how flawless she looked in another pair of gravity-defying heels and a tailored green jumpsuit. Tori lookeddown at her own clothes: a pale blue ditsy floral dress with her favourite, and rather battered, stonewash denim jacket and her navy Converse trainers, which had undoubtedly seen better days. She pulled her jacket around her more tightly. She suddenly felt self-conscious. It wasn’t just her outfit, though. Claire was successfully running her own business, striking out on her own and turning her dream into reality. Tori wondered if she’d ever be able to do the same. Did she really have what it took to succeed in business and make the cat café a success? Would people take her seriously? Somehow, she didn’t think Claire was ever not taken seriously.
‘So, how’s it all going with the plans for the café?’ asked Claire, the chunky gold bracelets rattling on her wrist as she swept a lock of immaculately highlighted hair behind one ear.
‘Good… I think. I’m still waiting for the final go-ahead from the council, but hopefully I should hear any day now.’
‘That’s par for the course, I’m afraid. Nothing happens quickly when it comes to the council.’ Claire paused and tapped a red manicured nail against the side of her glass. ‘You know, I do have a contact there… I’d be happy to give them a ring, see if they could chase things for you?’
‘Wow, Claire, that would be amazing,’ said Tori, leaning forwards. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind, though – I don’t want to put you out?’
‘It’s no bother.’
‘Thanks, I really appreciate it. By the way, did you hear about the meeting Violet called at the village hall about thecafé? I still can’t fathom out how she knew anything about it, to be honest. It just doesn’t make sense.’
‘Oh, what does it matter now? Anyway, what’s good here?’ said Claire, changing the subject and turning her attention to the menu on the table in front of her.
‘Pretty much everything,’ replied Tori, laughing, ‘but the hunter’s chicken has to be one of my favourites.’
‘Oh no, far too many calories for me, all that cheese and bacon. Let’s see… what about…’ Claire ran her finger down the menu and stopped when she landed on thesalade niçoise. ‘Ah, there we are,salade niçoise. Don’t you find that’s the problem with pub food? Hardly any healthy options on the menu. Everything’s smothered in cheese or served with chips…’
‘I guess,’ replied Tori, although she didn’t have a problem with smothering everything in cheese and serving it with chips. Wasn’t that half the fun of eating out? Although you probably didn’t get a figure like Claire’s by eating anything that wasn’t salad.
Beth was quick to come and take their orders and the food arrived swiftly. Tori and Claire chatted about Tori’s plans for the café and the story behind Claire’s arrival in Blossom Heath. It turned out that she was from London and had worked her way up the ladder at a rather famous chain of salons. An affair with her married boss had gone badly wrong, so when the chance came up to strike out on her own, she’d taken it.
‘He always promised he’d leave her, of course, but then I found out his wife was pregnant again. I knew I had to getout. He was never going to leave – it just took me a while to realize that.’
‘God, Claire, that must have been awful. I’m so sorry.’
