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Connie wondered off and Paige looked around. It really was clever, especially for a new business. The food and drink would no doubt keep people here and keep them coming back. But with such a heavy emphasis on brunch they really needed to sort out their prosecco supply.
‘Here are your mimosas. Enjoy.’ Melanie dropped off the drinks, and then hesitated.
‘Erm, thank you,’ Paige said, assuming that’s what Melanie was waiting for, but then boosted from the earlier megawatt smile, Paige carried on. ‘I really do want to help with this art project thing. If we don’t get chance to catch up about it today, can you let me know when you’re free? Maybe give me a call or text?’
‘You don’t have to, you know,’ Melanie said, and Paige couldn’t for the life of her determine what Melanie’s expression was trying to convey at that moment.
Paige shrugged slightly. ‘I know.’
‘OK then . . . Thanks, I’ll let you know.’ Melanie nodded once before dashing off.
A little while later, Connie sat down and began to show Paige all her selfies, while Paige tried to feign interest. She was only a little disappointed when a waiter brought over their food instead of Melanie. As she predicted, the food and drink were divine. But just as they finished eating, Paige heard a bit of a kerfuffle from the front of the restaurant near the bar, and before she could do anything, Connie was on her feet and headed over, a small smile on her face as if she knew what was going on.
Paige stayed where she was but turned in her chair to watch the proceedings, trying to figure out whether she would need to try and drag Connie out of whatever was happening. Melanie looked stressed, but not nearly as much as the woman next to her. Then Paige noticed the little boy happily stood between them both, a little rucksack on his back, no taller than hip height, who — as Paige watched — immediately took off for the flower wall, and several waiters and customers had to quickly swerve out of his way to avoid him. Melanie and the other woman were still having a heated debate while Melanie looked at her phone, tapping at it furiously again and again as they spoke.
‘Come this way, let’s get you both out of the doorway and figure this out,’ Connie said as she began shepherding them towards their table. They carried on their discussion oblivious to Connie’s machinations.
‘I can’t, Louisa isn’t due in until later,’ Melanie said, her voice hushed but urgent.
‘I thought you were getting a new manager?’ the other woman said, as Paige tried to suss who she was.
‘Yes, but Cleo is still learning the ropes.’
‘I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate.’
‘But why are they calling you in? You’re not even on call.’ Melanie almost had a whine to her voice.
‘Paige, be a lamb and get the little one, would you?’ Connie asked. It took a moment for Paige to realise she’d been addressed. She pointed to herself, and whispered ‘me?’ Paige knew next to nothing about little kids, it having been a while since she was one or hung out with one. She looked over at him as he began touching the flowers on the wall. Paige wasn’t sure how they were put on that wall, but even she could tell he was probably going to pull down a big chunk of the display if she didn’t get to him soon.
Walking over to the little man she stopped, completely unsure of what to do next.
‘I like these flowers. They smell nice,’ he said.
‘They’re not real, they just smell like plastic,’ Paige retorted.
‘Nope they smell nice. You should smell them.’
‘I’m not smelling plastic flowers,’ Paige said as she stood next to him.
He looked up at her then and really stared. ‘I like bad smells, do you?’
‘No.’
‘My name is Alfie, do you know how old I am?’
‘Should you be talking to strangers?’ Paige asked, eyebrow raised.
‘I’m four.’
‘That sounds like a great age,’ Paige said in all seriousness.
‘How old are you?’
‘Thirty-one.’
‘Wow, that is old. What’s your name? What’s that on your face?’
‘I’m Paige, and what?’
