Jake comes over, grinning at Lucas. Noah leans over and extends his hand. ‘I’m Noah. You must be Jake?’
‘Jake, Lucas tells me you were rubbish at football,’ announces Frankie, lifting a squealing Lucas to sit on his shoulders.
Jake gestures for me to shift up and sits next to me. ‘I was dreadful; Lucas is right.’
Lucas and Frankie do a celebratory dance. Frankie puts Lucas down and my son climbs onto Jake’s lap and stares at Noah, who studies his face right back.
My cheeks are heating up. This is getting awkward. ‘Time to go, Lucas.’ Once I stand up, I grab Lucas’s hand and turn to Frankie. ‘When do you want Noah and me to start?’
‘Monday,’ Frankie announces.
I take a deep breath. ‘Okay, Monday it is. Noah, are you all right with that?’ I turn to Noah. He’s been staring at me the whole time.
‘Yes. See you Monday, Alice.’
I guide Lucas out of The Little Love Café, stopping briefly so we don’t interrupt a glamorous couple having their picture taken by the flower wall. The woman is holding up a baby scan photo and her partner has lovingly wrapped himself around her. Tears prick my eyes. Seeing all this romantic joy is going to be tough.
As Lucas and I hurry out of the café I accidentally bump into a couple who are having a passionate kiss outside the doors. They pull apart with flushed smiling faces and wet lips. The woman apologises. With a head awash with painful memories of Scott kissing me before he went on his stag do, I run with Lucas down the steps and onto the beach.
Once back at Dad’s house I create a makeshift sofa bed for Lucas and me. We spend much of the afternoon hiding away from the world. He watches a succession of cartoons while I nibble at my fingernails and think about what a huge mistake I have made.
Dad is quiet over tea. He turns to me and lets his sea-grey eyes study my face. ‘I was grouchy at work and had to apologise to Penny on the tills. How was today?’
I want to bury my face in Dad’s white shirt and weep. I want to phone Frankie and tell him it has been a big mistake. I want to return to living on Dad’s sofa bed eating his brownies and watching daytime TV. The trouble is, I can’t do any of these things. Whether I like it or not, I am the new joint manager of The Little Love Café.
My neck is tingling and itchy. I scratch it and try to sort out my head which has becomes deluged with worries about managing Frankie’s café.
It is time to put on my big girl pants. Dad’s staring at me. I must show him that I can do this. ‘Great,’ I say, ‘I think it is going to be good for me working there.’
‘Really?’ Dad sounds surprised. He stares at my neck. ‘Your rash has come back. Do you want some cream for it?’
I shake my head. ‘It’s because I’m…’
‘Anxious?’ Dad interrupts me. ‘Enlighten me – why will it be good working at the Little Love Café?’
Swallowing back a tidal wave of emotion I ignore the urge to scratch my neck. I dig my fingers into the side of Dad’s old sofa and try to think of something good to say to support my argument. ‘Yes, I think it will be good… exposure therapy.’
‘You can’t lie to me, Alice.’ Dad gives me one of his serious stares. ‘I know you are too stubborn to admit you’ve made a mistake. Just know that I am here for you.’
Nausea climbs up my throat as I force out the words. ‘I start managing the café on Monday.’
Dad’s grey eyebrows rocket up his pink forehead. ‘Monday?’
Kneading my knuckles into my chair I stare down at my lap.
‘He’s leaving you in charge on Monday… as in this Monday?’
‘Yes,’ I squeak. ‘From Monday I will be managing the café with… Noah.’ Every time I say or hear his name I get this weird sensation in my tummy.
‘I’m not working Monday and Tuesday at the supermarket, which means I can collect Lucas from school for you. I will see what I can do on Wednesday.’
I place my hand on his arm. ‘Dad, you don’t have to look after Lucas. They are your days off. I will sort something out with Noah.’
Dad’s eyes widen. ‘Does Pete know Noah’s back?’
Shaking my head, I stare down at my plate of half-finished chicken casserole and mash. ‘This is a small town, so I suspect he’ll find out soon.’
Dad rises from the dinner table and goes to stand by the window. ‘I know I shouldn’t say this, but I wish you and Pete were still together.’
