The Little Book Café

‘Yeah, work was manic today. That’s three take-ons this week and it’s only Wednesday. Good, innit?’

‘Excellent.’ Tash shoved her bag onto her shoulder as a group of men ambled past.

‘Evening girls,’ one cackled. Another wolf-whistled.

She put an arm through Emma’s and hurried her on. ‘Honestly, why men feel they can just, just—’

‘Just what?’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’

‘Lighten up, Tash. They were only being friendly. If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were the one who was nervous about this book club, not me.’

‘Well, that’s just rubbish, isn’t it? I’m never nervous about anything.’ Tash slowed down as they approached Millie Vanilla’s Cafe. It was brightly lit and still had a few customers sitting outside, enjoying a pot of tea in the golden evening sunshine.

Emma pointedly took Tash’s arm from out of hers. ‘You never used to be. You used to be fun, Natasha. Until you moved in with Adrian Williams.’

Tash’s eyes glittered. ‘You’ve gone too far, Emma. Remember I’m your boss.’

‘Not at this precise second, you’re not.’ Emma reached out and took hold of her friend’s hand. ‘I’m worried about you, Tash. You seem tense all the time, jumpy.’

‘I’m just tired, that’s all. As you pointed out, it’s been a hell of a week. And now, to top it all, instead of drinking a good white, curled up on the sofa in front of the telly, you’ve got me coming along to this.’

‘It’ll be fun, you’ll see.’ Emma tugged on Tash’s hand gently. ‘Come on, we hardly ever go out on girly nights any more. And, besides, aren’t you dying to find out what Millie has done with the old chapel?’

‘Yeah. Suppose.’ Tash had gone to school with Millie. Although not close friends, they often bumped into each other at events to promote businesses in Berecombe. Tash admired Millie’s work ethic and was a regular at her café. Scuffing her foot on the sandy prom, she noted that the hem of her trousers was already getting frayed. She should have worn her heels but Adrian didn’t like her in them. She was already a good four inches taller than him in bare feet. Something he hated. ‘Lead me on then, girlfriend.’ She shook her finger at Emma. ‘But I warn you, if it’s boring or the wine is undrinkable, I’m out of there.’

Chapter 2 (#ud1174c1d-d6b1-520c-bf08-c9ab9da68ae7)

The book group was being held in the new extension to Millie Vanilla’s Café. When Millie had bought up the old seaman’s chapel next to the café, the town had been agog to see what she had planned for it. There were some who voiced disappointment when it had been announced it was going to be an extension to the café and a bookshop. They’d hoped for a Rick-Stein-style fish restaurant. After all, it hadn’t done Padstow’s tourist industry any harm, had it? The builders working on the continuing refurbishment of the newly launched Henville Manor Hotel had moonlighted and, after a few short months, the refit was complete.

Even the most ardent Rick fan had been won over. A wide glass walkway had been built to connect the original café building to the chapel’s side door. The whole of the west side of the building had been removed and replaced with two-storey-high windows which looked over the harbour and the sunsets. Even the terrace had been extended right around both buildings to create a huge open space. In the pinkening light of the sunset, with the bunting fluttering and people milling about in front, it looked wonderful.

Despite her preoccupation with Adrian, Tash gasped as she walked in. She’d only ever walked past the building before and had ignored it in its boarded-up state. When she’d heard it was on the market her interest as an estate agent had been pricked, but as soon as it had gone up for sale it had been snapped up. Not long after she’d heard Millie and Jed had bought it and she’d joined in with the rest of Berecombe in wondering just what they had planned. They’d done an amazing job in a very short space of time, she thought, as she looked around in awe. Running around the inside, giving access to the upper floor, was a wide walkway, wider where it butted up against the double-height window. There, low leather chairs and sofas had been arranged to make a cosy reading space – that’s if you could tear your gaze away from the stunning sunset. There were bookshelves everywhere, with old-fashioned sliding ladders dotted about. The part nearest the glass corridor was set up as an extension to the café, with scrubbed pine tables and benches. A few people had gathered there, clutching wine glasses and chatting.

Amy Chilcombe, the bookshop’s manager, greeted them. ‘Natasha, Emma, how great to see you. Come on over and grab some wine. I’ll introduce everyone once we’re all sitting down in the reading area.’ She caught Tash’s glance and her huge blue eyes blinked nervously. ‘Not all the stocks of books have arrived yet. The grand opening isn’t for a while.’ She nodded to the far end of the building, where some makeshift screens had been put up. ‘And the children’s area is still under construction too.’

‘Just as well you’re not open yet then, isn’t it?’ Tash said and received a sharp elbow from Emma.

‘Be nice,’ her friend hissed.

Tash apologised. ‘Sorry Amy. Came out sharper than intended. I’m in a foul mood.’ Things between them could be awkward and she never really understood why Amy was so nervous around her. True, Tash’s first boyfriend had dumped her to go out with Amy but that hadn’t ended well either. If anything, she and Amy should have bonded in female solidarity against unreliable men but it had never happened. She attempted a friendly smile. ‘We’ll get a glass and then where do we go?’

Amy blushed and cast a worried look at Tash. ‘The reading area is up there, on the mezzanine level.’ She pointed to the comfortable-looking area that Tash had spotted earlier. ‘I hope we’ve got room for everyone. More have turned up than I anticipated.’

‘Probably just want to have a nosey around,’ Tash said, without thinking. ‘You know what people are like in Berecombe when there’s something new.’

‘But they might stay on for the book group,’ Emma added, more helpfully. As Amy went to greet two men who had just walked in, she rounded on Tash. ‘What has got into you tonight? Would it hurt to even try to be nice? You know how shy and unconfident Amy can be.’

‘I thought I was being nice? I can’t help it if Amy jumps like a cat whenever I’m around,’ Tash retorted, immediately regretting it when she saw the hurt look on Emma’s face. She should have stayed at home. She couldn’t seem to snap out of her mood.

‘Sometimes I feel I just don’t know you any more, Tash.’ Emma paused, on the verge of saying something else, before she decided not to. ‘I’ll get us some wine, you go on up. I’m not sure you’re fit company for anyone tonight. I don’t know why you bothered to come.’

She turned away before Tash could apologise. Tash stared after her friend for a second and then made her way to the spiral staircase before she could change her mind and go home. The image of Adrian lying on their bed grinning had her running up the stairs and tripping on her long trousers.

‘Careful.’

Tash would have fallen had the owner of the voice not grabbed her arm. A man was coming up the stairs behind her.

‘They shouldn’t put such dangerous stairs in a place like this,’ Tash said. ‘I could sue.’

The man smiled. ‘More haste, less speed.’ He pointed to the hem of her trousers. ‘And I think any case for damages might have failed on the grounds of personal negligence,’ he added, mildly.

She followed his look and saw the hem of one leg of her palazzo pants had completely unravelled. ‘Well, this evening started off badly and is just getting worse.’ Turning away, she took the rest of the stairs more carefully. She flopped onto the nearest chair, annoyed to see him take the one next to it. Just what she needed. Another arrogant man, telling her what to do. She had it at work, she suffered it at home and now had to endure it in her free time too.

‘Why, because of a hem coming down?’

She ignored the remark.

He held out a hand. ‘Kit Oakley.’

Tash gritted her teeth and then remembered Emma’s comment about not being fit company. ‘Natasha Taylor,’ she offered, grudgingly.

‘Oh,’ he said, raising his eyebrows. ‘The estate agent.’

‘Yes. And before you say anything, some of us are quite human.’

‘I believe some of you are.’

Tash resisted the barb. She was tired of the jokes, the criticism her profession received. If only people realised how hard they all worked. Then a thought stopped her. ‘Hang on, Oakley? I sold a bungalow belonging to a Mrs Oakley last month. Over Southleigh way.’

Kit grinned. ‘My mother. She said you worked tirelessly.’

‘Yes, it all got a bit tricky just before exchange. Problems over a questionable access, I remember.’ Tash relaxed a little. She loved talking about work. ‘Glad it went through though. She’s lovely.’

‘I’ll tell her. She’ll be delighted.’

‘Where’s she gone to?’ Tash was curious. Mrs Oakley had always been welcoming and they’d shared a pot of tea once, but she’d not mentioned where she was moving to. ‘All I knew was that it was a no chain sale.’

‘Moved in with me, for my sins.’ He raised his eyebrows again. ‘I’ve bought up a ramshackle of a place with land. It’s on the outskirts of Colyton. Mum’s got the lodge.’

‘Oh, the old Fairbairn farm?’

‘You know it?’

‘Only farm big enough around here to have a lodge house.’

‘You’re good!’