Page 91 of New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
‘Don’t listen to a word of those Google reviews – they’re absolute nonsense if you ask me.’
‘You’ve seen them?’ said Tori, her jaw clenching.
‘I overheard someone in Harrison’s talking about them, but like I said, absolute nonsense. Oh, and can you put my change straight in the collection tin.’
‘Thanks Cora, I know the cat rescue centre will really appreciate that.’
Absolute nonsense. Cora’s words rang in Tori’s ears for the rest of the day. The fact that Cora had chosen to share her story with Tori had meant a lot to her. She’d been through so much in such a short space of time and Tori was glad thatspending time at the café was helping to restore her spirits. Wasn’t that what the Cosy Cat was partly about? Trying to lift people’s spirits and put a smile on their faces? She checked her phone and saw a message from Kate.Don’t worry about those silly reviews, you’re doing a brilliant job and anyone with an ounce of sense knows it! x.Tori smiled; she was grateful to have friends that she could count on when the chips were down. Although she still hadn’t heard anything from Leo – perhaps he was still at work?
After the lunchtime rush had passed, an anxious Tori realized there’d been no news from Grace about Mr Wiggles, so it was with a shaky hand that she dialled the surgery’s number.
‘Hi, Tara. It’s Tori. I just wanted to check in to see if there was any update on Mr Wiggles?’
‘Grace is with a client right now, but I don’t think we’ve had his blood results back yet. Hang on, let me double-check… Nope, nothing yet but he’s awake and alert and he’s had some food.’
‘That sounds positive.’
‘As soon as the bloods come back, I’ll ask Grace to give you a call.’
‘Thanks, Tara, I really appreciate that. Sorry to chase you, but you know what it’s like when you’re waiting for your phone to ring.’
‘Oh, absolutely. Don’t worry about it.’
‘Thanks again and thank you for looking after me this morning,’ said Tori, ending the call.
As she flipped the café’s sign to ‘Closed’ later that evening, Tori decided that she had a stop to make before she could go home. Violet Davenport’s house.
Chapter 29
As Tori walked towards the bottle-green door of Violet’s tiny, thatched cottage, her stomach felt as though it was being squeezed in a vice. Was she doing the right thing? She didn’t have any evidence that Violet was the one behind the Google reviews, but that was certainly what Rose and Jake thought. And her mum. It seemed unlikely they’d all got it wrong. Sometimes you just had to go with your gut. She took a deep breath and tapped the brass door knocker hard. She heard footsteps shuffling towards the door before it creaked open slowly.
‘Yes,’ said Violet sharply, when she spotted Tori on her doorstep.
‘Mrs Davenport,’ said Tori, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing her shoulders back. ‘As I’m sure you’re aware, someone has left some rather unflattering reviews for the café on Google…’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m sure they’re perfectly justified, if the way I was treated on my last visit is anything to go by,’ replied Violet, folding her arms across her chest.
‘It seems likely that these reviews were left by justoneperson, someone who has a grievance against the café perhaps; someone who didn’t want us to open in the first place…’ Tori nodded curtly and stood waiting for a response.
‘I hope you’re not implying thatI’mthe one responsible?’ asked Violet, her face reddening.
‘That’s exactly what I’m implying,’ replied Tori, doing her best to keep her voice calm and steady.
‘Well, I’ve never… never been so…insulted. How dare you come to my door throwing around unfounded accusations, Tori Baxter! Who do you think you are?’
‘I just want you to think about all the trouble you’re causing, Violet. We’re trying to make the café a successful business and I don’t want to see that ruined by some stupid vendetta you seem to have against it.’
‘I can assure you thatifI had a vendetta against your ridiculous business, you’d be the first to know about it. I wouldn’t go skulking around leaving anonymous reviews. I’d proudly put my name to them.’ Violet’s face looked almost purple now. The last thing Tori wanted was for her to burst a blood vessel and keel over on the doorstep.
‘You can deny it all you like, Violet; I just wanted to let you know that this stops right now. The cat café is very much here to stay, so you may as well get used to it.’ With those words, Tori turned abruptly and strode off down the lane, leaving Violet Davenport very much lost for words.
‘I can’t believe you had it out with her,’ said Rose as she let Tori into Jasmine Cottage. Tori wanted to calm down before heading home. She didn’t want her mum to know she’d ignored her advice and confronted Violet on her own doorstep.
‘Neither can I,’ said Tori, slumping down on the sofa as Rose returned from the kitchen with a pot of tea.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you did, it’s just so out of character.’
‘Let’s just say thenewme stands up for herself a little bit more than the old me used to,’ said Tori, tucking her legs underneath her.
