The Second Chance Tea Shop (Little Somerby)

by Fay Keenan

  ‘It’s not quite ready to be condemned yet,’ Matthew said. ‘And I’m not the leather interiors and air-conditioning type.’

  ‘You might not be, but from the sounds of it it’s not just yourself you need to think about,’ Jack replied. ‘Aren’t you taking a young lady out tonight?’

  ‘Meredith’s been sneaking, has she?’ Matthew said. ‘I asked her to be discreet about it. I don’t want the whole village jabbering.’

  Jack looked offended. ‘I am hardly the whole village.’

  Matthew put the cloth down and leaned against the wing of the Land Rover. ‘I’m sorry, Dad. I just don’t want myself, or Anna for that matter, to be the subject of a load of salacious speculation.’

  ‘You’re flattering yourself a bit,’ Jack said. ‘Do you really think anyone’s that concerned about what you get up to, or with whom?’

  Looking sheepish, Matthew ran a grubby hand through his hair. ‘Probably not, but you know how people talk.’

  ‘They will if you end up broken down half a mile from the village boundary!’ Jack dug into his pocket. ‘You’d better take these.’ Chucking a key fob towards Matthew, he smiled to himself as his son caught it one-handed.

  ‘If anything, aren’t I more likely to need to call the RAC if I take this?’

  ‘She’s been serviced recently and garaged all winter. She’s all yours if you want her.’

  Somehow, Matthew knew he wasn’t going to be able to say no. Smiling in resignation, he turned and put the bonnet of the Land Rover down again. ’Thanks. I don’t think this is going anywhere for a while.’

  ‘Just be careful with her,’ Jack said. ‘Your mother, God rest her, would never forgive either of us if you wrote that one off.’

  ‘I’ll treat her like my own,’ Matthew said. ‘Does she need a fill-up?’

  ‘Did it on the way over,’ Jack replied. ‘Should get you to Bath and back.’

  ‘Can I give you a lift home?’

  Jack shook his head. ‘Walk’ll do me good. It’s fairly mild today. Now call Patrick Flanagan and get him to pick up that heap, if you insist on getting it fixed. And go and sort yourself out for tonight.’

  ‘Anything else?’ Matthew said tartly.

  ‘You have bought her some flowers, I presume?’

  ‘Goodbye, Dad!’

  As his father turned, waving a jovial hand, Matthew cast an eye over the other vehicle in the drive. Grinning slightly, he realised his father had left him something else on a hanger on the passenger seat grab rail. He shook his head. Something told him Jack and Meredith had done more than converse politely about his dinner date and he had the feeling if he wasn’t careful he was going to be outmanoeuvred.

  10

  ‘You should have seen Dad before I left!’ Meredith said as Anna buzzed around the cottage, grabbing her keys, money and a slightly toothless comb to put in her bag. ‘It’s been so long since he’s been on a date, he’s in a right tizzy.’

  Anna’s smile came out as more of a grimace, lock-jawed as she was through nerves. ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’ As soon as the words were out, she looked apologetically in Meredith’s direction. ‘I mean, not that your dad’s not a lovely man, he is – I mean—’

  Meredith rolled her eyes. ‘Pur-leeze. I’ve got this far without a sick bag, don’t make me vom now.’ Giving a grin, she added, ‘Besides, as far as wicked stepmothers go, I could do worse!’

  Anna felt another wave of nausea rush over her. ‘We’re having dinner, Merry, not eloping, remember?’

  Meredith tossed her a knowing glance. ‘We’ll see.’ Then, suddenly serious. ‘I’m glad it’s you he’s going out with tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him so excited. About anything.’

  Anna went very still. The expectation, yearning even, in Meredith’s voice was almost enough to make her call a halt to the evening. In her nervousness about meeting Matthew she’d almost completely forgotten there were children in the picture too. Putting down her bag on the scrubbed kitchen table, she walked over to where Meredith was sitting.

  ‘Whatever happens with your dad and me, I’ll still be here for you,’ she said gently. ‘After all, I’m not exactly going anywhere, and you’ve been a good friend to me.’

  ‘Thanks, Anna. I just can’t help hoping…’

  ‘Let’s just concentrate on getting through tonight, shall we?’

  ‘It’s a deal.’ Meredith put out her hand. ‘Shake on it?’

  ‘Only if you promise not to tell your dad how much my hands are actually shaking!’

  As the doorbell clanked, Anna nearly went through the roof.

  ‘You really ought to get that fixed!’ Meredith laughed.

  Anna smiled back, more confidently this time. ‘It gives the place character.’

  ‘Uncle Jonno said the same when he lived here.’ Meredith started towards the door. ‘Do you want me to answer it?’

  ‘Could you?’ I just want to check on Ellie one more time. And then you’d really better head home yourself.’ Despite Meredith’s offer to babysit, Anna had decided that since it was her first date with Matthew she should ask her parents to look after Ellie instead. After all, while returning home to face her parents if things went pear-shaped would be awkward; coming face to face with your date’s daughter in that same situation would be even worse. Meredith, while disappointed, had understood, but couldn’t resist dropping in to help Anna get ready.

  As Anna climbed the stairs, she heard Meredith greet her Mum and Dad and show them through to the living room. Their polite chatter drifted upwards and Anna smiled. Breathing a sigh of relief that they’d made it in plenty of time, she crossed the landing to Ellie’s room. Slipping quietly inside, she saw Ellie’s shock of blonde hair, so like her father’s, and resisted the temptation to stroke it. Planting a gentle kiss on the girl’s forehead and breathing in her sweet, childish scent, Anna felt some semblance of calm returning. She closed Ellie’s bedroom door, then turned and looked briefly at her reflection in the landing mirror. She’d clipped her dark hair away from her face in a loose chignon, and although she looked a little pale and her large green eyes just that little bit too serious, the lipstick, borrowed from Charlotte, was a flattering shade. Not too bad, she conceded. James had always said she scrubbed up well. The stab of grief was nearly enough to make her back out of dinner, but she steeled herself.

  From the lounge below she could hear muffled voices, and then the doorbell clanked again. She took a deep breath. Breathe, Anna thought. It’s dinner. It’s not like he’ll expect to rip your clothes off on the first date.

  Meredith, hanging around to spectate, opened the front door once more.

  As Anna descended the stairs, she was momentarily at an advantage. She saw the top of Matthew’s head, hair still pleasingly tousled despite his obvious best efforts with a hairbrush. He was wearing a smart tweed jacket that looked suspiciously like the one Jack Carter had worn to the wassail. The thought of Matthew borrowing Jack’s clothes for a dinner date made her smile and relax a little more.

  ‘Tell her she looks gorgeous,’ hissed Merry as Anna came into view.

  Matthew looked up, the kitchen light casting a glow on his face. ‘No need to remind me, Meredith,’ he said mildly. ‘I do sort of remember how it goes.’ In two long strides he crossed the kitchen and met Anna at the bottom of the stairs. ‘And though my daughter has obviously pre-empted me, I will say she’s right. You do look lovely. That’s a great dress.’

  ‘Thanks. You look great, too.’ Anna looked up into Matthew’s open, smiling face and caught her breath as a familiar, but long dormant flutter began in her stomach. She had realised when she first saw him that Matthew was an attractive man, but here, in the warm light of her kitchen, his dark hair already starting to spring back and curl, a waft of an old-fashioned but nonetheless desirable cologne and the faintest trace of five o’clock shadow, he seemed all the more so. The pause between them seemed to go on for an eternity, until Meredith took matters i
nto her own hands.

  ‘So don’t forget to have her back before midnight or she’ll turn into a pumpkin. And don’t forget I’ve got to ride out tomorrow, so no sudden bunks to France or anything. And don’t forget—’

  ‘If you tell me to hold doors and pay the bill, I’ll dock your pocket money for the next three years!’ Matthew growled.

  ‘I don’t expect I’ll be getting any pocket money for that long, anyway, given you’re blowing so much cash on dinner tonight!’ Meredith replied tartly. ‘But you need to get going – I booked… I mean you booked the table for eight o’clock and it’s gone seven already.’

  ‘And you ought to get off home, too,’ Matthew said. ‘Sefton’ll be wondering where you are.’

  Meredith gave Anna a quick hug, then dutifully kissed her father’s cheek. ‘Have a great time. And don’t do anything I—’

  ‘We won’t!’ Matthew and Anna responded immediately. Their laughter seemed to break the tension.

  ‘Did you want me to run you home, Meredith?’ Anna’s father Richard walked through from the lounge to greet Matthew, and Anna suddenly felt as self-conscious as a teenager on her first date. ‘It’s getting pretty chilly out there.’

  Meredith smiled. ‘Thank you, Mr Clarke, that would be lovely.’ Her grin widened as she regarded Anna and Matthew once more. ‘I’ll see you later, Dad?’ Mischievous as a kitten, the implication was in the question.

  Matthew nodded firmly. ‘You will.’ He turned to Anna’s father and held out his hand. ‘It’s nice to see you again, Mr Clarke.’

  From the tone of Matthew’s voice, Anna could tell he was also feeling somewhat teenagerish, but as her father shook Matthew’s hand, Richard Clarke grinned. ‘You too, Matthew. And call me Richard. At least I don’t have to ask the usual questions about what you do for a living!’ He paused, before adding, ‘But I will ask you to take care of my daughter tonight.’

  Anna flushed with mortification. ‘Dad…’

  Matthew laughed. ‘That does it, now I really do feel nervous! But I promise I’ll get her home at a reasonable time.’

  ‘Shall we go?’ Anna asked, suddenly desperate to get out of her own kitchen.

  Matthew nodded. Anna kissed her father goodbye, and hugged her mother, who’d entered the kitchen after sneaking upstairs to check on her granddaughter. As Anna put her arms around her, she was sure she didn’t imagine her mother’s eyes brimming slightly. Not trusting herself to speak, they held one another’s gaze as they broke apart. There were too many emotions running too close to the surface, and tonight Anna needed to focus on the here and now.

  ‘Thanks for running Meredith back, Richard,’ Matthew said as they left the cottage. ‘If it was up to her, she’d probably stay and keep you company, but she really ought to get home.’

  ‘No problem. See you later. Come on, Meredith.’

  Following them, Anna was surprised to see a smart, clean, dove grey vintage Jaguar XJS parked outside. In answer to her unspoken question, Matthew grinned.

  ‘Dad’s pride and joy. I’ve had a bit of trouble with the Land Rover, so he insisted I take the Jag. He reliably informs me it’ll manage the run to Bath in better time.’

  ‘Does he lend it to you for all of your dates?’ Anna teased.

  Matthew grinned. ‘Only the ones with the girls he approves of!’

  Anna was charmed when Matthew hurried to the passenger door to open it for her. She slid into the car, which was so low she momentarily feared for her modesty, even though her skirt was an inch above her knees. Settling back against the tan leather, she took a breath to steady her nerves. As Matthew climbed in beside her, she couldn’t help noticing the length of his thighs across the seat, and the way the tweed jacket rode up and exposed his wrists as he started the car. The throaty purr of the engine opened out into a controlled roar as he pulled out of the lane, and Anna sat back to enjoy the ride, silently thanking Jack Carter.

  *

  The Jaguar seemed to eat up the distance between Little Somerby and Bath, and in less than forty minutes they arrived at their venue for the evening, The Priory. Anna was both nervous and flattered that Matthew should take her to such a place for their first evening alone.

  ‘I hope I can remember which set of cutlery to use when!’ Anna said as they pulled up, then cursed herself for sounding so gauche.

  But Matthew grinned. ‘You’re telling me! Meredith was the driving force behind this choice – although I’ve heard the food is very good.’

  ‘Not a regular, then?’ Anna asked.

  ‘As Meredith has no doubt informed you, I’m more of a regular down the local fish and chip shop, but it will be nice to try something different – and with some grown-up company!’

  ‘I hear you!’ Anna replied. ‘Ellie makes for a cute dinner companion, but conversation can be limited.’

  ‘Seriously, though, Anna,’ Matthew said, turning to her suddenly. ‘In case I forget to say this later, thank you for agreeing to come out with me tonight. I know it can’t have been easy, with Meredith haranguing you.’ His dark eyes met hers intently. ‘I’m looking forward to getting to know you a bit better.’

  Anna’s stomach turned over. ‘I’d like that, too,’ she stammered. ‘But I’m a bit out of practice… at going out with someone, I mean.’ She blushed.

  ‘I don’t exactly make a habit of it, either,’ Matthew replied wryly. ‘Believe it or not, my daughter doesn’t proposition every woman under forty on my behalf!’ He unclipped his seatbelt. ‘But enough nattering in the car, people will start to talk. Shall we?’

  It was Anna’s turn to grin, now. Matthew had put her at ease and she was pleased to find she was actually looking forward to getting to know him over a decent dinner. She had the feeling there was much to know.

  The maître d’ settled them quickly at a table that looked out over the terrace.

  ‘This is lovely,’ Anna said.

  ‘Isn’t it? In fact…’ Matthew looked deep into her eyes for a moment, as if he was going to say something serious. Then, a grin split his features. ‘I can’t quite believe they’ve let me in!’

  Anna laughed. ‘So it’s not just me, then?’

  ‘These kinds of places must make their money from hopeful first daters,’ Matthew replied. ‘I wonder how many married couples come back once the first flush of optimism has faded.’

  ‘Well, let’s make the most of it, then,’ Anna said. ‘Before we both wonder what the heck it is we’re doing!’

  ‘Merry will chuck me back out if I get home before she deems fit,’ Matthew said.

  ‘That’s all right, we can pop down the chippy if you like!’ Anna gave a little smile.

  ‘I like your style, Mrs Hemingway,’ Matthew said.

  Anna flinched.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Matthew said immediately. ‘That was tactless of me. ‘Sometimes I speak before I think.’

  ‘It’s all right – after all, it is my name.’ Anna smiled again. ‘I should be used to it by now!’

  ‘Doesn’t make it any easier, I’m sure,’ he smiled gently. ‘This must be very difficult for you.’

  ‘It’s been pretty scary getting this far,’ Anna replied. ‘But then everyone has things to face that they’d rather not. Not that this date is something I’d rather not do,’ she added quickly.

  ‘I know,’ Matthew said. ‘And although I couldn’t possibly understand what it’s like to lose someone you love in the way you did, I think you’re incredibly brave for making a fresh start in a new place.’

  ‘Not exactly new,’ Anna said. ‘I did grow up in Little Somerby.’ She paused and took a sip of the water Matthew had poured into a tumbler for her. ‘And having the tea shop to focus on helps. It’s only been a few weeks, but I really feel as though I’m settling into the place. I always fantasised about running something like that, although I hadn’t quite anticipated going it alone.’ She paused, mentally stepping off the path she was nearly going down. ‘But what about you? Meredith says her mum lives
in the States now.’

  ‘That’s right.’ Matthew said. ‘She left.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Anna replied. ‘That must have been hard for you both.’ She took the menu the maître d’ offered and started to scan down it. The food sounded exquisite, and expensive.

  ‘Let’s just say we had different ideas about what married life should be,’ Matthew said.

  Anna smiled sympathetically. ‘Sounds… intriguing.’

  ‘Not really.’ Abruptly Matthew shut the menu he was holding and without waiting to double-check with her, he motioned to the waiter.

  Anna felt momentarily stung. Former partners were a touchy subject, to be sure, but she couldn’t quite fathom Matthew’s sudden reaction. Things must have been very bitter at the end of his marriage for him to allow it to infringe on first date territory.

  ‘Are you ready to order?’ the waiter asked.

  ‘Um… yes, I’d like the scallops to start and then the beef.’ Anna chose hastily, aware of the sudden shift in mood.

  After the waiter had left the table, Matthew turned back to Anna. His gaze was apologetic. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Meredith spent months after her mother left crying herself to sleep, and I was too hurt and angry to be of much use to her, I’m afraid. I suppose I never really forgave myself for it.’

  Anna felt a stab of pity. ‘I understand.’

  Matthew smiled sadly. ‘It’s not something I talk about, even now. But if you want to know, I’m sure the local gossips will be only too happy to fill you in on all the lurid details at some point.’

  ‘I get the feeling it’s impossible to keep anything quiet around the village,’ Anna replied. ‘The day I moved in, Mrs Ashton walked past the cottage at least fifteen times, making sure she got a look at every last box and bit of furniture she could. She probably assumed I was one of “those blooming single mothers” she reads so much about in the local rag.’ Despite her cheerful start, she heard the bitterness in her own voice as she finished.