Yesterday Ronald’s teashop closed its doors. Ronald turned up with Denise hanging off his arm. They stood in the doorway and Ronald surveyed the empty teashop. ‘Where is everyone? Are they hiding out the back?’ I sensed he was expecting me to have arranged a surprise farewell party for him. The Starfish Tea Shop finally closed its doors at 4pm. No one had come in all day. I’d even tried to give away his malnourished tea cakes for free outside, but everyone turned their nose up after a peek at them.
Once I have stood up from putting on Lucas’s shoes, Dad takes hold of my hands. ‘Don’t put yourself through that at Frankie’s café. I dread to think what it will be like for you working with that Noah Coombes.’
All thoughts about Noah Coombes have slipped from my mind. Last night a drunken Scott deluged my phone with hundreds of texts about why he’d cheated on me. I read a few of them. This was a mistake as I couldn’t get the bedroom scene out of my head. I ended up downstairs on the sofa watching Netflix, with his number blocked.
‘Dad, I’m a big girl now. I’m sure it will be fine,’ I say, taking hold of Lucas’s hand.
‘Have a good day at the supermarket.’
He surveys my outfit. ‘Alice, are you not going to wear something a bit smarter?’
I look down at my old black jeans which are struggling to contain my knees and are ripped in various places. My black T-shirt was grabbed from the ironing pile. It’s a bit crumpled but it will do. ‘I’ll be fine, Dad.’ As Lucas and I head out of the door I silently say to myself,I’m not dressing up for this hellish job nor Noah Coombes.
Frankie, Noah, and I are surrounded by bits of paper containing my handwritten notes and an array of dirty pink coffee cups. We are camped out in one of the pink leather booths. I have positioned myself opposite Frankie, with my back to the customers, so that I don’t have to directly look at Noah. Training has lasted two hours. Frankie has also been leaving the booth to serve and make drinks, which each time has left Noah and me in an awkward silence.
Frankie brings out a sheet of typed out notes. ‘Pam is the cake supplier. If you need anything extra, then contact Pam. I have left her details.’ He beams at us. ‘Right then, I have been wanting to attract more locals to The Little Love Café. We have lots of regulars who travel to Blue Cove Bay, which is great, but I feel like some of the people here are missing out. We have a few lonely souls in Blue Cove Bay, and it would make my day to hear that we have helped them find love and that they’ve come in here for a date.’
‘What?’ I stare at my best mate in bewilderment. ‘Please don’t expect me to play matchmaker while you are away.’
Frankie ignores me and reads from his sheet. ‘I think we’re missing out on the young coming here. There’s a lot of lovesick teenagers around. When we were young,certaincouples would have spent a lot of time in here.’ He grins at me and then Noah. ‘It would be good if we could somehow appeal to a younger audience. I also think there is opportunity for some of the seniors who live here. Betty tells me Harold and Pearl should be together as they’re both widowed. He keeps gazing longingly at her over a cup of tea in the community centre Senior Tea & Chat session and they were once childhood sweethearts. That’s what I call low-hanging romance fruit.’
‘Frankie, being a childhood sweetheart means nothing,’ I snap, avoiding Noah’s gaze. ‘Pearl might not want anything to do with Harold.’
Frankie ignores me. ‘Now, let’s move on to potential new local customers. Phoebe who owns the bookshop on the seafront. Keith, her assistant, tells me she’s lonely and is having no luck on the dating apps. She’s got two little kids so is looking for someone in a similar position – ideally, we need a single dad.’
‘Joy, Esme’s sister, is getting friendly with Eric who owns the guesthouse. I saw them flirting over a stand of ‘Kiss Me Quick in Blue Cove Bay’cowboy hats. Get your thinking caps on.’ Frankie pauses and swigs his coffee. ‘If you could also somehow get Sunny and Lilly together who work in the ice-cream parlour, that would be great. Their constant flirting while I am ordering my usual three scoops of blueberry muffin flavoured ice cream is doing my head in.’
Noah is scratching his head. ‘So, you want us to run the café and provide an unofficial dating service.’
Frankie looks at both of us. ‘This café is doing well but it could do better. I want you both to see whether you can generate some extra local business, put some events on and get creative with these lonely souls. I think a little project like this will get you both working together.’
I scowl and look away.
‘Oh, and I would love it if you could wear The Little Love Café uniform.’ Frankie grinned. ‘There is a pile of new T-shirts and aprons on the shelf out the back. I think you will both look great in bright pink.’ He smirks at both of us.
‘Is the uniform mandatory?’ I ask. Sensing Frankie is enjoying making Noah and me suffer.
Frankie grins. ‘No, but it would mean a lot to me to see you both on the café’s social media beaming into the camera and acting like two happy work colleagues.’
‘How pink are the T-shirts?’ Noah asks.
Frankie laughs. ‘You’ll look great, Noah. The ladies will love you in pink.’
I scowl and silently vow to make Noah wear the uniform by himself.
‘That’s enough training for today. Alice and Noah – what do you think?’
‘Depends on when you’re planning to go to Australia,’ I say, forcing myself to sound optimistic. I can’t stop thinking about how I have made a big mistake. This is going to be much harder than I first thought. Noah and I have barely spoken. He keeps staring at me, but I avert my eyes to the floor every time I meet his gaze. All I can think about is how many desperate letters I sent him and what an idiot I was clinging onto him. So embarrassing. I also have no idea whether he knows about Pete and Lucas.
‘Must be easier for you to just get a flight with your dual passport.’ Noah grins at his old friend. ‘Always been jealous of you about that.’
Frankie nods. ‘Yeah, I can go when I like.’
Every single one of my stomach muscles has gone into spasm at the thought of Frankie not coming home again for months. I’ll be left to wither away in this café prison filled with pink hearts, flowers, soppy customers, and Noah Coombes. For goodness’ sake, after a couple of months of managing this place I will be tearing my hair out. ‘You better come back, Frankie.’
Frankie yawns and stretches out his arms behind his head. ‘You might not want me to return anyway.’
Noah opens his mouth, but I beat him to it. ‘Iwillwant you to come back. I’m already counting down the days until you return.’
