by Rebecca Pugh
‘What are you waiting for?’ asked Ellen, joining Maria to admire the window display. ‘Go on inside and ask. It looks like a very nice place to work if you ask me. They must be superbly talented to create cakes like this.’
Maria agreed and, knowing that she had nothing to lose but also feeling rather intimidated by the obvious skill the people who created the cakes must have had, she hurried up the stairs and pushed open the door.
The scent of cherry, vanilla and almond teased and tantalised her nostrils as Maria looked around herself and stepped further inside. Two assistants were busy behind a cream marble-topped counter, preparing coffee using a shiny machine and serving up thick, perfectly-cut slices of cake. Maria stood and watched them for a moment or two. Both were superbly turned out, and looked rather swan-like in how they moved, as if in a performance. Noticing the few customers nattering amongst themselves as they waited for their orders to be delivered, Maria swallowed nervously and stepped towards the counter.
As one of the waitresses bustled off to deliver a tray of sweet goodies, a new woman entered the scene, exiting a door behind the counter. She spotted Maria waiting and smiled as she approached, but there was something tight about it, almost as if it was forced. This woman, like her waitresses, was incredibly well put together in a blouse with lace-trim sleeves and black high-waisted skirt. She had a creamy complexion and plump red lips. ‘Can I help you at all?’ she asked.
‘Erm, yes, actually,’ Maria said, noticing the slight wobble in her own voice. She quickly cleared her throat to sort it out before carrying on. ‘I noticed the job vacancy in the window?’
‘Ah yes.’ The woman nodded. ‘Are you interested?’
‘I am. I’d love to apply.’
‘Excellent.’ Smiling, the woman revealed a set of shockingly white, straight teeth. Disappearing for a moment, she returned with an application form. ‘If you could get this back to us as soon as possible, that would be perfect. Thank you so much.’
Taking that as her cue to leave, Maria smiled and hurried back outside where her mother and Geraldine were waiting, both grinning eagerly.
‘Well?’ chirped Ellen, clapping her hands together. ‘Any joy?’
‘Application form.’ Maria waved it about. ‘I’ll fill it out once we’re home and bring it back tomorrow. I doubt they’ll want me though. I mean, they’re so… pristine.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, darling. You’re fantastic. They’d be lucky to have you. Right, now that’s done, let’s go and grab lunch, shall we?’
Chapter Seventeen
As it turned out, Prudence’s Cakes did want her. At first, Maria had been thrilled when she’d picked up the phone and realised who it was on the other end. A job meant money, and money meant independence which was something she’d been beginning to crave. She’d been invited back to the shop for an interview with the same woman who’d handed her the application form on her first visit. This time round, Alice had been tight-lipped and certainly not as smiley, and Maria had wondered, as she’d attended her induction and then arrived for her following shifts, what she’d let herself in for. Still, if it was going to pay the bills and allow her a bit of freedom then it was worth it.
Finally beginning to settle in and getting to grips with how things were done in the cake shop, she’d hurried the shifts along by daydreaming about Harriet’s café and what she’d be doing if she were still there. It helped, and also worked much better than clock-watching, which only made the days seem even longer. She served coffee and cake, cleaned and wiped, dealt with stock and spent longer than usual on looking her best each morning in order to please Alice – who was a stickler for presentation and good manners. So much so, Maria felt like she was back in school and under the watchful eye of a particularly strict headmistress. Suffice to say, it really wasn’t what she’d imagined she’d be doing, but she knew she had to take what she was given and make the best of it, even if doing so seemed close to being completely impossible.
During Ellen’s final check-up with the doctor for her ankle, Maria joined Ellen at the hospital to keep her company. She was enjoying a rare day off from the cake shop and had nothing else to do that day, so she’d agreed readily. According to the doctor, Ellen’s ankle was recovering from the break as well as it possibly could and today she was having the cast removed. Ellen was joyous and had even turned up twenty minutes early in her eagerness for the appointment. Despite Maria trying to tell her mother that there was the chance it might still be a bit painful to walk on and she couldn’t just return to normal straight away, Ellen was insistent that her days of taking it easy were coming to an end and she couldn’t wait to have the ‘bloody thing’ taken off.
While waiting to be called through, Maria sat beside her mother on the uncomfortable plastic chairs and flicked through a random magazine she’d picked up from the pile beside them on a small wooden table.
‘How’s work?’ asked Ellen. ‘Boss any easier to deal with?’
‘She’s driving me crackers, Mum. The woman never smiles or laughs, and really gets a kick out of telling me when I’m doing something wrong. I mean, I understand that’s normal and how I’m going to learn to do my job, but she takes it just that little bit too far, you know? I’m beginning to think that she might actually be quite evil beneath the surface. Thrives off power. That sort of person.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, darling,’ chuckled Ellen. ‘She’s quite young, and has a business to run. You’d probably be the same if you had that much responsibility on your shoulders.’
Maria looked away, stung.
‘Oh, Maria, darling. I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean, well, she has a lot to worry and think about, doesn’t she? What with accounts and wages and all that sort of stuff. It can’t be easy.’ She gave Maria’s hand a quick squeeze. ‘It wasn’t a dig at you, darling.’
‘I know you didn’t mean it like that, don’t worry. I suppose I’m just feeling a bit sensitive at the moment, that’s all. Ignore me.’
Ellen was called through to see the doctor then, and Maria watched her mother disappear into the room with the door clicking shut behind her. She turned her attention back to the magazine in her lap and continued flicking through, until she needed the bathroom. She rose from the chair and wandered down the corridor, eyes up to the signs above that were leading the way. After she’d been, she began to head back the way she’d come but almost fell to the floor in shock when she saw a familiar face heading her way.
Her world seemed to shift as she froze in place, unable to move even another inch. It was him. Here. In front of her. Mike. Getting closer as every second ticked by. She didn’t know where to put herself and considered turning round and racing off in the opposite direction to hide in a cleaning cupboard somewhere. In reality, she found herself still stuck to the same spot, as if she’d suddenly lost all control of her limbs and they were hanging there uselessly.
‘Maria?’ he asked, closer now. His face seemed to light up when he saw her. ‘Is that really you?’
Of course it’s bloody me, Maria thought to herself, still wavering on the spot. What a ridiculous question. ‘Yep,’ she replied breezily. ‘It’s me.’
‘Wow. It is you.’ He had stopped and stood directly in front of her now, studying her face – a little too close for comfort. Maria took a tiny step back and smiled.
‘How are you?’ She didn’t actually care, but thought it was polite to ask anyway. It was odd to be standing in front of him. He hadn’t changed at all apart from a slight bit of stubble peppering his jaw. She couldn’t decide whether it suited him or not, but then decided that it didn’t matter what she thought. Not really. ‘How’s life?’
‘Great, actually. And you? How’re things going for you?’ He smiled. That carefree, easy smile – as if everything that had happened between them hadn’t happened at all. It angered her. His complete disregard for what he’d done to them and their marriage. She’d spent such a massive part of her life lovin
g Mike. Had he ever truly loved her back? It was a question she’d often found herself ruminating over when she hadn’t been able to take control of her wandering mind. She realised now that she’d known the answer all along. Perhaps she just hadn’t wanted to accept it, or hadn’t been strong enough to do so. Either way, the realisation hit her as she stood there in the dull corridor, wanting desperately to get back to the waiting room where she’d been safe.
‘I’m brilliant. Really great.’ She looked down at her shoes with her hands shoved in the pockets of her jacket. Did he really have no idea of what she’d been through these past months, since everything had fallen apart? Was he that oblivious to it all?
Mike nodded, seemingly happy with her answer, and Maria spotted that old twinkle in his eye that she’d once loved so much. It had done funny things to her insides once upon a time. Neither of them sure of what to say next, having found themselves in such a bizarre situation, it began to grow awkward and again Maria had the urge to turn and run away from him. She could feel herself beginning to grow hot and flustered. She hadn’t been prepared for this at all. Not even slightly. It had knocked her for six.
‘How’s your mum doing?’ asked Mike, glancing quickly over his shoulder as if he were looking for someone. Maria wondered who.
‘She’s fine. She broke her ankle a while back so we’re here for a check-up. If everything’s gone well, then she’ll have her cast taken off. She’s happy about that.’
‘I bet she is. Not nice those things. Remember when I sprained mine back in school?’
She did remember. He’d been play-fighting with a couple of mates on the school field. Somehow, he’d managed to stumble and landed on it funny. He’d moaned relentlessly about having the cast on and Maria remembered feeling so sorry for him as he’d hobbled about school with a sour expression permanently etched onto his face. She didn’t feel sorry for him now though. In fact, she was annoyed that he was trying to take a trip down memory lane. What was wrong with him? ‘Yeah, I remember,’ she replied quietly, wishing things could hurry along so she could leave.
‘Mike?’ a voice called from behind him. ‘Mike? What on earth are you doing? I stopped to chat to someone for five minutes, then I turn around and you’re gone! Honestly, what are you like? Oh!’ The woman paused as she arrived and found Mike facing Maria. She looked between them both quickly, probably trying to assess the situation, weigh it up in her mind. ‘Hello.’ She smiled at Maria carefully, eyes narrowed slightly. ‘I’m Rachel.’ A hand reached towards Maria.
Maria took it and gave it a quick shake, unable to believe the situation she’d found herself in. ‘Maria,’ she provided. And that’s when she saw it. She had to force her mouth shut so as not to stand there gaping. Realisation dawned and Maria felt as if she’d been kicked in the gut. Rachel was pregnant. And by the holding of Mike’s hand and the adoring look on her face as she turned to him, Mike was the unborn baby’s father.
So this was it, Maria thought to herself, close to tears. Mike had moved on. Mike had found someone new and was now beginning his own little family without her. He was going to be a father finally, but not to their child. She didn’t want to look at Rachel’s protruding stomach too much but at the same time, couldn’t seem to help herself.
‘Come on, Mister. I’m starving. Let’s go for a carvery on the way back home. What do you think?’ Rachel said goodbye to Maria and began to tug on Mike’s hand.
He looked back at Maria, and she was sure that she found something that looked rather like an apology in his eyes. They watched each other for a few more seconds until Rachel began to pester and tugged his hand harder. ‘It was nice to see you, Maria. Take care of yourself, okay?’
‘I will,’ she nodded. ‘Of course I will. See you, Mike.’
And just like that, he was gone. She watched the couple walk further down the corridor, hands clasped together swinging between their bodies happily. When they finally disappeared, Maria felt able to breathe again. She thanked God that she hadn’t started crying and mentally pulled herself together as quickly as she could manage, before heading back to the waiting room to take up the seat she’d been sat on previously. Perhaps, she thought to herself as she sat back down and glanced at the clock, seeing Mike had been just what she needed.
As she sat there and replayed the scene again and again in her mind, she realised that seeing evidence that Mike had moved on was maybe the closure she’d needed. After all, there really was no going back now, was there? Not that she wanted to of course, but knowing he had started afresh with someone new meant that she could forget about him now. It was over. Done with. Had been for a long, long time. She could finally close that door in her life and leave the murky past firmly behind her as she carried on.
Just as Ellen was coming back out into the waiting room with her cast gone and wearing a cheerful and bright grin, Maria’s phone beeped from within her bag. As they left the hospital, Ellen bringing her up to date on what the doctor had said, Maria opened up a text message from… Brad. She felt her heart skip a beat.
I miss you like crazy, it said simply. No kisses. No ridiculous smiley faces. Just those words. Realising she hadn’t heard a word that Ellen had said, Maria shoved the phone back into her bag and linked her arm through her mother’s. Suddenly, things seemed so much clearer. She knew what she had to do. She could feel it in her very bones. A frisson of excitement rippled through her body and she smiled to herself as they stepped through the automatic doors and outside into the light, misty drizzle.
Chapter Eighteen
She’d done it. Maria Charm had made the move that she’d been ruminating over since she’d returned home after spending the summer in Daffodil Lane. The whole thing had happened surprisingly quickly but she’d known in her heart that it was absolutely the right decision to make. She’d felt a certain discord in her life that only one thing had been able to fix, and that had been heading back to the place she’d fallen so in love with. She hadn’t thought it possible at first, but after managing to have a chat with Geraldine, Ellen joining them at the kitchen table too, the details had been discussed and when Geraldine had agreed, Maria had been so happy she could have flown off the chair and bumped her head on the ceiling.
She was now the proud and very contented owner of the cottage on Daffodil Lane. The money from her divorce settlement had been put to good use. She couldn’t believe it. It was hers. The place she’d lovingly brought back to life was now the place she would call home. Permanently. It was still taking some getting used to. She was moved in, her clothes were hanging neatly in the wardrobe upstairs, and she was now using the coffee machine like a pro. She supposed, in a strange sort of way, she’d always felt as if was hers somehow, even when she’d only been staying there temporarily. As she’d once said to Millie, the cottage had reminded Maria of herself. It was still very much alive and there was a glimmer of something just beneath the surface. All it needed was a bit of tender loving care, just like Maria, and she’d received that in real life from Brad.
She hadn’t seen him once since she’d made the move, but she hadn’t wanted to accost him either. She wasn’t sure whether he knew she was there, but if he did he hadn’t made the move to come and see her. She’d re-read his text repeatedly yet hadn’t replied. Maria supposed that she was worried in a strange way. It had been almost two months since he’d sent it, when she and Ellen had been leaving the hospital together. She knew that she’d left it too long and perhaps now it was too late. She didn’t know where he was or what he was doing, but she hoped he was okay regardless. He’d been on her mind a lot. She’d thought about heading up to Meadow Farm a few times, to see if she could find him there. She wanted to tell him about her moving permanently to Daffodil Lane, but had quickly decided against it. Perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be and, as Maria had learnt recently, that was okay. Some people were only in your life for a fleeting matter of time, perhaps to teach you a lesson or to show you that you are stronger than you believed. Brad had cer
tainly shown her that.
It was now mid-December, and she had Millie and Harvey’s wedding to look forward to at the weekend. She’d been giddy with joy when she’d received the invitation and she’d called Millie up immediately with high-pitched congratulations. The time had seemed to fly by since then. On Monday, Maria would begin working in the café in her official capacity with Harriet, and she absolutely couldn’t wait to be back there. Alice, back at the cake shop, hadn’t seemed too upset to be losing Maria when she finally handed in her notice. She’d merely glanced at the sheet of paper and muttered the word ‘fine’ beneath her breath. It was no great loss to either of them, Maria was just happy to be leaving and moving onto better things. She was nervous and excited all at once and it was doing strange things to her stomach which refused to settle.
She was currently in the conservatory flicking through a magazine, thinking about how dramatically her life had changed and how much happier she felt too. She was looking forward to her new life, and couldn’t help the tiny niggle of hope that Brad would be at the wedding. She thought he might be, due to being Harvey’s cousin, but who knew. Perhaps he’d stay away simply because he knew that Maria was going to be there. Either way, she couldn’t wait for the bride and groom’s celebrations. It was going to be a wonderfully happy and joyous day and she was thrilled to be a part of it. Millie had been round to visit repeatedly since Maria had moved in, arms full of wedding magazines and colour theme ideas for the hired room for the evening do. Maria had also joined Millie for wedding dress fittings and knew that on the big day, Harvey would be knocked for six. The dress she’d chosen was a fishtail number that glittered magically beneath the lights. The bodice was encrusted with diamonds and Millie looked like she’d stepped off the set of a romantic movie. It was beautiful, and suited Millie down to the ground.
*
