The Seafront Tea Rooms

by Vanessa Greene

  ‘It’s a lovely view, isn’t it?’ Euan said, looking out with her. ‘This dome was one of the things that made me want to take on the project. We’re going to retain it and make it more of a feature.’

  ‘Nice setting for cocktails,’ she said, looking around.

  ‘Trust you to think of that,’ he joked.

  ‘I’m only trying to assist you with the plan,’ she said.

  She turned towards Euan, and her arm brushed against his. As their skin touched, she felt the rush of attraction.

  Euan cupped her face with one hand, and ran his thumb gently over her lips, and instinctively she covered his hand with her own. She looked into his blue eyes, feeling closeness. Excitement. But as he leaned in to kiss her, the excitement blended swiftly with something less comfortable – panic.

  What was she doing? How had she thought she was ready for this?

  She froze, and he sensed it right away, before their lips touched.

  ‘I must have read that all wrong,’ he said softly, moving back. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘You didn’t.’ She shook her head. ‘I wanted you to. But…’

  She searched for the words to explain what she was feeling. That she wanted him – so much it ached. And yet something was standing in her way.

  ‘You don’t need to explain. Look, let’s forget it even happened.’ He smiled at her kindly. ‘Why don’t I finish showing you around?’

  ‘Yes, let’s do that,’ she said, her voice catching in her throat.

  She’d messed it up. She’d missed the moment. And she only had herself – and the stupid walls she’d built – to blame.

  27

  Thursday 25 September

  ‘The Copper Kettle was gorgeous, wasn’t it?’ Kat said, tucking her legs up under her on Séraphine’s bed.

  ‘Yes, I loved the little touches: the crisp white tablecloths, that beautiful silver cutlery – and the pink-and-yellow cake. What’s that called again?’

  ‘Battenberg.’ Kat smiled. ‘You can’t beat a good Battenberg.’

  Séraphine and Kat had spent the day on the coast, stopping at tea rooms from the list they’d put together with Charlie. In the early evening, tired but still buzzing from the new discoveries, they were in Séraphine’s room, typing up their notes.

  ‘The Cove was my favourite, by a long way,’ Séraphine said.

  ‘Yes – and the long walk you had to take to get there made it even more special. Worked up our appetite for the scones, didn’t it?’

  ‘I could have eaten four of them! That freshly made strawberry jam was out of this world.’

  ‘It was incredible.’

  ‘The styling was imaginative too – that reupholstered chaise longue and the antique armchairs.’

  Kat started typing again. She might remember the scones and the styling for a few weeks – maybe months – but she knew already that what she’d recall most of all were the conversations she and Séraphine had had. They’d talked easily while they were walking along the coast, the wind blowing through their hair, and savouring the hot tea at the end of their journey. They’d laughed together, and they’d shared things that mattered. Kat felt privileged that Séraphine had opened up to her about Carla, and told her that in the past couple of days they had spoken on the phone and begun to rebuild the relationship that they’d had in France. The change showed in Séraphine – it was as if a cloud had lifted, leaving her eyes bright and her face relaxed, with her natural beauty showing through.

  When they’d finished the reviews, Séraphine got to her feet and walked over to her wardrobe. ‘Kat, I was thinking – you know that dress you were looking at the other day? In Whitby?’

  ‘The crazily expensive one?’ Kat said. ‘I love that with window-shopping there’s no budget.’

  ‘Yes. I have something similar that I think would suit you. We’re pretty much the same size.’

  She rifled through the hangers in her closet and pulled out a vintage tailored dress, black with a Hawaiian flowers on it. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ Kat said, getting to her feet and touching the fabric.

  ‘Go on, try it on,’ Séraphine urged.

  ‘No, honestly, it’s fine.’ Kat shook her head.

  ‘Seriously,’ Séraphine said. ‘Just try it on, see how it looks on you.’

  ‘But it’s yours,’ Kat said, embarrassed. Perhaps she shouldn’t have mentioned to Séraphine how rarely she got to buy new things.

  ‘I never wear it. Ever.’

  ‘OK,’ she said. ‘If you’re absolutely sure.’

  Kat pulled off her T-shirt and put the dress on over her leggings. Séraphine zipped her up and they looked together in the mirror.

  ‘Wow!’ Séraphine said. ‘You look stunning.’

  ‘It fits well, doesn’t it?’ she smiled, twisting to the side to see how the dress looked at the back.

  ‘It fits perfectly. It’s meant to be yours. Have it.’

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Absolutely. It’s never suited me, I’m not even sure why I brought it over.’

  ‘That’s very kind. Thank you.’

  Someone knocked on the bedroom door, and Kat startled.

  ‘Just a second,’ Séraphine called, doing the zip on the dress up all the way. ‘OK?’ she asked Kat. She nodded.

  ‘Come in,’ Séraphine said.

  Adam opened the door, wearing jeans and a grey cashmere sweater. He paused for a moment, looking at Kat, their eyes meeting. Kat felt conscious of the way she looked, and wished she was back in her T-shirt.

  ‘Nice dress,’ Adam said.

  ‘Thanks,’ Kat said. ‘It’s Séraphine’s.’

  ‘It’s yours now, I told you,’ Séraphine said, nudging her.

  ‘Well, whoever’s it is, it suits you,’ Adam said, with a smile. ‘Dinner’s nearly ready. Will you join us, Kat?’

  Kat checked her watch – it was still early. There was no harm in staying for dinner. It would be nice to spend some more time with Séraphine, and with Adam. She could always call Leo on the way home. ‘Yes, I’d love to.’

  ‘Help yourself to more,’ Adam said, pointing to the remaining slices of pizza.

  ‘I’m full,’ Kat said, glad that she’d changed back into her own clothes, which were stretchier and more accommodating than the dress. ‘But thank you, it was delicious. I’m impressed you made this, Zoe.’

  ‘Thanks. Dad barely did anything,’ Zoe said. Her dad gave her a sideways glance. ‘OK, he did a little bit of chopping. But the toppings and smiley faces on the pizza were my idea.’

  ‘You’re a natural,’ Kat said.

  ‘A hidden talent,’ Séraphine agreed. ‘I’m going off duty more often.’

  Zoe smiled proudly.

  ‘There’s dessert too,’ Zoe said. ‘Dad helped with that.’

  ‘Apple crumble,’ Adam told them. ‘The apples are from the garden.’

  ‘A couple had worms in – we left those out,’ Zoe said, smiling mischeviously.

  ‘What? So we’re missing out on all that protein?’ Kat said.

  Adam laughed, and their eyes met for a moment.

  ‘My son Leo loves worms,’ Kat said. ‘He’d probably want those ones most of all.’

  ‘Boys are sooo disgusting,’ Zoe said, wrinkling her nose.

  ‘She’s right,’ Adam said. ‘We’re horrible. It doesn’t get better with age. Is Leo into nature?’

  ‘Oh yes. Madly. He loves animals – fish, penguins, whales… Oh, and dinosaurs, though they’re less easy to come by these days.’

  ‘It’s been a while since I’ve had any of those to treat,’ Adam smiled. ‘You should drop by the vet’s surgery with him one day. We get all sorts of animals in there.’

  ‘He’d love that.’

  They chatted happily over dessert, Kat and Adam sharing memories of the school they’d gone to, and finding out friends that they had in common. Kat felt as if she already knew him, even though all they’d exchanged at
the time was an occasional lingering look. Not even a word had passed between them when they were teenagers, and yet chatting now they were older was so easy. When they’d all finished the crumble, Kat helped Adam clear the plates while Séraphine and Zoe tidied up the kitchen.

  ‘Do you want to stay for a coffee?’ Adam asked.

  ‘I’d love to, but I should get back. All the adventures Séraphine and I had today kind of tired me out.’

  ‘Understandable. It sounds as if you covered a lot of ground.’

  ‘We found some really nice places. We’re both pleased with how it went.’

  Kat gathered up her things and looked in to say goodbye to Séraphine and Zoe.

  ‘I’ll see you out,’ Adam said, holding the kitchen door open for her and following her through it into the hallway.

  ‘I meant what I said – pop into the surgery with Leo any time. We’re over on South Street.’

  ‘Thanks. I will do. He’s in Scotland with his dad at the moment, but he’ll be home soon.’ Kat slipped into the jacket Adam was holding out for her and turned to give him a goodbye kiss on the cheek.

  ‘Listen, thanks for having me this evening, I enjoyed it.’

  Adam nodded. He hesitated, then said, ‘It was a pleasure.’

  They stood there, looking at each other, not saying anything, until Adam broke the silence.

  ‘It would be good to see you again.’

  Kat nodded, then inspiration struck: ‘The party,’ she said. ‘Has Euan mentioned it? Saturday after next, at the Seafront. You should come.’

  ‘He did mention it, yes,’ Adam said, a smile coming to his lips. ‘OK, I’ll see you there.’

  Kat got home and plugged her phone in to charge. She’d tried to call Leo on the way home, only to discover that her battery was dead. If she let it charge now for a minute or two she might still catch him in time.

  As her phone returned to life, a message buzzed through from Jake.

  You didn’t call. Where are you?

  No friendly sign off, nothing butthe bald statement and question. She rang through to his phone, feeling a little unsettled.

  ‘Didn’t you get my message?’ Jake said, coldly.

  ‘I just read it. Sorry, I tried to call but my battery ran out.’

  ‘And you clearly had more important things to do than call and speak with Leo.’

  ‘I was at a friend’s for dinner, that’s all.’

  ‘Anyone I know?’

  There was a sharpness in his tone that made her anxious, as if whatever she said next wouldn’t be the right answer. The contentment she’d felt over dinner at Adam and Zoe’s house had all but gone.

  ‘No one you know. Why?’

  ‘Just seems strange that you’d forget to call.’

  ‘I didn’t forget. My battery was out – I told you.’

  Jake said nothing. Even over the phone, she could sense the hostility from him.

  ‘Jake, what are you trying to say?’

  ‘Nothing… look, I don’t get what’s going on here. Were you out with a guy?’

  ‘No,’ she said bluntly.

  ‘OK,’ he said.

  ‘Would it be any of your business if I was?’

  ‘It is my business, because it could affect Leo.’

  ‘Well, I wasn’t – so this is irrelevant.’

  ‘You wouldn’t usually miss a call to Leo. You’re different these days.’

  ‘Jake, don’t guilt-trip me. So I’m not perfect, who is? I don’t want to play this game, but if I have to… You went weeks without seeing Leo —’

  ‘We’re back to that, are we?’

  His voice was harsh. She recalled how he had been in the days after Leo’s birth – an edge to him that left her feeling she was walking on eggshells. She’d done her best to please him, but had never seemed to be able to. She was in no hurry to let history repeat itself.

  ‘Jake, you’re snapping at me.’

  ‘So I can’t ask you anything any more?’

  ‘Look, is everything all right?’

  ‘Fine, Kat. Never been better.’

  ‘OK,’ she said. But a feeling of unease had settled in the pit of her stomach. Something wasn’t right here. ‘Is there something you want to talk to me about?’

  ‘There is, yes,’ Jake said.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘It’s Leo. I’ve been talking to him, and my parents have too. He doesn’t seem happy.’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘I mean, he’s fine here – that’s not the problem. He says he wants to spend more time with me.’

  ‘I see,’ Kat drew in her breath. She couldn’t take it personally. Perhaps there were things they could do to make the situation easier for Leo.

  ‘Well, we can arrange that. You having him regularly at weekends – we always said that was the plan in the long-term.’

  ‘Yeah… but I think he needs more stability, Kat. That kind of arrangement would only unsettle him.’

  ‘So what are you suggesting?’

  ‘That he lives with me, full-time.’

  ‘Sorry?’ Kat choked. Her mind raced. She must have heard him wrong. ‘Are you saying you want custody?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Her jaw fell open. ‘Where on earth has this come from? You can’t just do that.’

  ‘I can. And I will. I’ll do whatever is best for Leo.’

  Jake hung up, and Kat, stunned, let the phone fall from her hand. This couldn’t be happening. Leo was everything to her. A life without him – it didn’t bear thinking about.

  28

  Friday 26 September

  Charlie scraped the last bit of Weetabix off the tiled kitchen floor, and felt a hand in her hair. Gracie’s fingers, sticky with her brother’s cereal, were wedged into her freshly washed hair. She fought to keep her patience. It wasn’t even seven o’clock yet and she already felt worn thin.

  ‘Oh dear, I’m sorry,’ Pippa said, when she saw what had happened. ‘That’s a first.’ She lifted Gracie out of harm’s way.

  Charlie got to her feet and picked the bits of cereal out of her fringe. That morning, Flo had woken her at 4 a.m. after having a nightmare, and insisted she needed to talk it through in minute detail.

  ‘You look as if you need a break,’ Pippa said.

  ‘It’s fine, honestly.’

  ‘Go on, I’m serious. Go out for a bit. God knows you’ve helped me enough. I don’t want you going home exhausted. We’ll be OK.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Absolutely. Go on – get out while you can.’ Pippa grinned.

  ‘All right. Thanks.’

  As Charlie walked upstairs, she thought about the night before last. She and Euan had had such a good time, right up until the moment she pushed him away. The more she’d talked to him, the more she found herself attracted to him – if she could only get past feeling so damn scared about the whole thing, maybe she could make things right.

  She thought of her conversation with Kat. Spending time with Euan was supposed to be a bit of fun, nothing to get stressed out about. She wasn’t going to be here long enough to get hurt again. Steeling herself, Charlie got out her phone and sent him a text.

  Morning. Fancy a run?

  Then, as an afterthought.

  Provided Bagel has a new lead.

  Her phone buzzed with a message.

  Sure. Give me half an hour. Meet you by the scene of B’s crime.

  Charlie jogged up to the stretch of pavement where Euan was standing with his dog.

  ‘Morning,’ she called out brightly.

  ‘Hello, Charlie.’ He smiled.

  She jogged on the spot alongside him for a moment. ‘Race you to the lighthouse,’ she said, then set off before Euan could reply.

  ‘Hey – you didn’t give me a chance,’ he protested, running to keep up. Bagel let out a bark of excitement and raced along beside them.

  She could hear Euan’s footsteps, rapidly gaining pace. She glanced back and saw he
was only a metre or so behind her. Charlie gathered her reserves and ran harder, keeping the lighthouse in her line of vision as her trainers pressed down on the wooden boards. She continued to build up speed as she ran along the pier.

  ‘I thought you meant a friendly jog,’ he said, overtaking her. He turned around and jogged backwards, brushing his hair out of his eyes.

  As he slowed, she saw her opportunity and grabbed it, running faster and getting to the lighthouse a moment ahead of him, touching the white building and then bending to catch her breath.

  He caught up seconds later, Bagel panting by his side.

  ‘A friendly jog?’ Charlie said, with a smile. ‘That just goes to show that you don’t know me very well at all.’

  Charlie sat back on the sofa in Euan’s lounge, sipping from a glass of fresh orange juice.

  ‘Do you fancy Eggs Florentine?’ Euan asked. ‘I think we’ve earned it.’

  ‘Sounds delicious.’

  He got the ingredients out, and Charlie turned slightly in her seat so that she could still talk to him in the open-plan room.

  ‘Nice place you’ve got here.’

  ‘Thank you. I only moved in a couple of months ago, but it’s been great finally having my own space.’

  ‘After…?’

  Euan smiled. ‘I’ve been flat-sharing with friends for the last few years. What’s with the question?’

  ‘No reason.’ She shrugged.

  He worked away in the kitchen, and Charlie watched him. Being in his house felt surprisingly comfortable.

  ‘Here you go,’ Euan brought over Charlie’s plate a few minutes later, and laid it on the table in front of her.

  She took a big bite of the muffin and egg. ‘Good hollandaise.’

  ‘Thanks. I try.’

  Bagel sat down next to Charlie, resting his head in her lap. ‘He’s after my breakfast.’ She tapped him gently on the nose. ‘Not a chance, mate.’ He whined and lay down.

  ‘He’s not that discerning when it comes to food.’

  ‘This would definitely be wasted on him, then. How’s his probation period going?’