Page 43 of Autumn at the Oak Leaf Café
Ruby grinned. ‘Neither can I.’
As five o’clock approached, the customers began to leave. By five to five, only Madeline and Ruby were left. Ruby still had her apron on, but Madeline had taken hers off, ready for Darren’s arrival. As the door opened, however, Hazel’s hiss told her something was wrong.
‘Oh, hi,’ Rory said, smiling at Ruby. ‘You must be the part time girl. Becky, wasn’t it?’
‘Ruby,’ Ruby said. ‘We’re closed.’
Rory looked at his watch. ‘It’s a bit early for that, isn’t it? Sorry, I won’t keep you. I just wanted a word with Madeline here.’
Madeline was sweating, heart palpitating, throat seizing up. Unable to speak properly, she pulled Ruby aside.
‘Go … outside,’ she croaked into Ruby’s ear. ‘Keep Darren away. I’ll get rid of him as quick as I can.’
‘There’s just something I’d like to talk about,’ Rory said, putting his briefcase down on a tabletop. ‘It’ll only take ten minutes.’
Through the window, to her horror Madeline saw Darren walking up the path from the playground. He paused briefly in the mosaic plaza to admire Big Gerry, the park’s largest sycamore, then turned heading for the café.
‘Go!’ Madeline hissed at Ruby.
Ruby hurried to the door, scooping up Hazel and tucking her under her arm. Madeline, not wanting to see Darren through the window, pulled up a chair facing away. Rory, perhaps sensing that was the last thing she wanted him to do, reached out and gave her shoulder a touch that once might have been affectionate.
‘We’re about to close,’ Madeline said. ‘What is it you’re after?’
Rory sat down. Madeline realised her mistake, because he was facing the window. Every few seconds he would glance up at the window and smile. Madeline, dying inside, didn’t dare turn around.
‘This is a little hard for me to say,’ Rory said, pulling a clear plastic file out of his bag and laying it on the table. ‘I mean, I know we have history and everything, and I really hoped to find somewhere else, but this place is just perfect.’ He looked around the inside of the café as though he’d never seen it before. ‘Quaint, rustic …romantic. It’s the perfect place to get married.’
She glanced down at his finger and saw the ring shining there. It had never been there before, because she had checked, but now it sparkled at her. She could almost hear the horrid little circle of metal laughing.
I hope it turns you into a troll.
‘I didn’t know how to tell you at first,’ Rory said. ‘Because I knew it would hurt you. I could tell you still had a flame for me, and to be honest, I’ve never really extinguished mine for you.’
Please shut up. Please shut up right now.
‘And, well, my fiancée, you’ll know her, which might make it worse, like rubbing sand into the wound. Janine Woodfield? You remember her from school?’
I wish Hazel would suddenly transform into a lion and eat you.
‘Well, she’s changed a lot—I mean, she was a bit of a dog before, wasn’t she? Amazing how money and a little time on the surgeon’s table can sort you out, isn’t it? And I’ve changed, too. And I guess life just pushed us together.’
Your stupid company fined my dad for going one inch over the white line.
‘So anyway, I hope I didn’t lead you on or anything. I mean, when I’m near you, I find it hard not to just slip into the old routine, but I have to remember times have changed. You’re older now, you’re not the same girl I knew eight years ago. Even if you do look more or less the same.’
More or less. Destroy him.
‘So, what I’m asking is for Janine and me to have our wedding here. We’ll provide everything, all you need to do is provide the space and the food. We can talk about the menu at a later date. Honestly, it’ll be great. As you’ve probably noticed, both Janine and I are pretty well off these days, so we’re offering a fee far higher than a café like this usually makes at this time of year. Plus, I’ve invited a whole bunch of people from school, so there should be several people you know. Won’t that be great? I managed to track down several of your old cross-country team. It won’t just be a wedding, it’ll be a school reunion at the same time.’
And an exercise in total humiliation.
‘So, what do you say?’
She had to say something. She opened her mouth, trying to find sound.
‘Uh.’
Rory grinned, then reached across the table and patted Madeline’s hand. ‘Brilliant. I knew you’d be cool with this. Honestly, it’s been so great seeing you again, Madeline. I’m so glad you’re back in town.’
