‘Frankie,’ I gasp, ‘stop this.’
Dad is glaring at me. ‘What’s this about a secret wedding atsixteento Noah Coombes?’
I try to force some words out, but they all seem to be glued to my tongue.
Dabbing his glazed forehead with his hanky, Dad leans back in his chair. ‘Alice, you are making a big mistake by working in Frankie’s café. As you say, you’re an adult, but I want you to know I’m not happy with the thought of you working alongside Noah Coombes.’
‘Well, it’s too late to back out now.’ Sighing, I push my plate away. My hunger has disappeared. ‘I have accepted Frankie’s job offer. Tomorrow Noah and I start training.’
Dad’s chair angrily scrapes over the stone floor tiles as he shoots up out of his chair. ‘This is the worst idea I have ever heard. I’m going to take Lucas and Bean for a walk over the beach.’
After the front door slams shut, Frankie places his face in his hands. ‘What have I done?’
I’m stood leaning against the work surface feeling light-headed. ‘You told him about the secret wedding. I can’t believe you did that.’
Frankie groans. ‘It came out all wrong. I think I better go to Australia.’
Opening the dishwasher, I load the plates. ‘When did Noah get in contact with you?’
‘He turned up ten minutes before you stormed into my café demanding I give you the job,’ explains Frankie. ‘I couldn’t believe it when I looked up and saw him. He said he’d heard about the job from one of my friends on WhatsApp.’
I turn to Frankie with narrowing eyes. Is there something my best mate isn’t telling me? ‘One ofyourcontacts knew Noah?’
Frankie shakes his head. ‘It’s not what you think, Alice. I honestly didn’t know anyone from my network knew Noah.’
‘Why is he back?’
Frankie shrugs. ‘He didn’t say. I’m sure once you get to know him again, he’ll tell you.’
Grabbing Dad’s tea towel, I playfully whip Frankie. ‘That’s for annoying me earlier and for telling Dad about my secret wedding.’
Hauling himself to his feet Frankie pulls me into a bear hug. ‘You know I love you, Alice Hiddleston. I think it’s time you made friends with Noah and while you are at it, maybe you can get Brian to make peace with him too?’
‘I wish I knew why Dad and Dave fell out.’ I stare out of the little kitchen window. In the distance a strip of shimmering marine blue sea calls out to me.
Frankie says, ‘Mum refused to tell me, which is unusual for her.’
Opening the kitchen window, I inhale a lungful of salty sea air. A memory of my grief-stricken father from the time he had his disagreement with Dave Coombes rushes into my mind. Dad was sat with his head in his hands at the kitchen table when I’d got home from school.
‘Think it was a case of drunken male pride.’ Frankie comes to stand by me. ‘Dave was a good bloke.’
My mind wanders back to Noah. So much had happened since he’d left twenty years ago. Pete’s face appeared in my mind. An uncomfortable feeling takes hold of me. ‘I am not sure about working with Noah again.’
Frankie is grinning at me. ‘Too late now, Alice.’
CHAPTERSEVEN
‘Mummy,’ Lucas shouts as he charges into the living room clutching his trainers. He casts me a lovely smile. I ruffle his mop of black hair. His large blue eyes are bright and full of life. Every day he looks more like a mini version of Pete. ‘Are we going to Frankie’s café?’
Nodding I give his hand a squeeze. ‘Yes, but you’re going to play football on the beach with Jake. I must do my training.’ Jake has offered to look after Lucas for me, which I am grateful for as Dad is working and I’m not sure Lucas could sit still beside me for two minutes of Frankie’s training, let alone an hour or so. An ear-to-ear grin spreads across Lucas’s face. ‘Will Jake buy me an ice cream?’
Crouching down to his level I smile at my happy son. ‘Jake will only get you an ice cream if you are a good boy.’ Buttoning up his yellow jacket I also help him tie up his trainers. Lucas looks up at Dad. ‘Grandpa – are you coming?’
Dad shakes his head. Something which looks like sadness flickers across his eyes. ‘I have got a shift at the supermarket today.’
Turning around I make a point of holding my father’s gaze. ‘Dad, I am going to make this work. I am going to make a success of Frankie’s business and pay you back so that you can get rid of that loan.’
Dad squeezes my shoulder. ‘Please think again about this new job. Did Ronald pay you yesterday?’
