‘You never told me?’ I take a step back in shock.
Noah runs his hand through his hair. ‘I asked my father about them, and he said nothing happened between him and your mum.’ He tries to stroke my cheek, but I bat his hand away. ‘Noah, you never told me what people were saying about my mum.’
‘Alice, it was harmful gossip.’
I take off my apron. ‘I need some fresh air.’
I walk up to the promenade and sit on a bench. My head is a swirling mass of thoughts. Were these rumours why Dad took a dislike to Noah? Why had Noah not told me? I find a gang of white-tipped waves to focus on. They race towards the shore as cackling seagulls cheer them on.
Someone comes to sit beside me. I look up and see Esme. Without warning, hot, salty tears spill over my cheeks and she puts her arms around me. Once I have let all my frustration and anger spill out of me, I tell Esme everything. She listens and strokes my hand.
‘You need to speak to your dad, Alice.’ She sighs. ‘I never heard any of these rumours if that makes any difference.’
‘I’m angry at Noah for not telling me.’
‘He made a mistake in not telling you, but he probably didn’t want to believe the rumours either. I mean they were about his father. He also probably knew how much you loved your mum.’
I nod and wipe my wet cheeks.
‘Your mum was an angel, Alice,’ says Esme. ‘She once shouted at Joy for being nasty to me.’
I look at her and she grins. ‘Yes, that’s true. Joy was forcing me to jump off the old pier into the sea and I didn’t want to. Your mother came to my rescue.’
‘I’m glad Mum helped you. Thanks, Esme.’
She places her hand over mine. ‘Don’t be mad at Noah.’
He’s serving a couple on table three when I enter the café. When he’s finished, he comes over with a sheepish look to his face. ‘Alice, I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘I should have told you. The thing is, those rumours were about my own father too, and I chose to ignore them once he assured me nothing had happened between him and your mum. He did say that she had become a good friend to him, and they always shared a joke or two when they were on a long hike. I also used to sit by you on our rock and I could tell you felt close to your mum by the cliffs. You would talk so much about her and your father that I didn’t want to hurt you with cruel small-town gossip.’
Leaning my head against his shoulder I allow his arm to circle my waist. ‘It’s okay, I understand.’
‘You mean a lot to me, Alice. You always have.’
I look up at him and he leans over and kisses me.
We have a half an hour left until closing time. I’m in a booth on my own struggling to process the events of today. My head feels like a tornado has passed through it, leaving an array of havoc and chaos.
Reaching for my phone, I log on to The Little Love Café’s Facebook account and groan. A few customers from today have already left comments with the words,romantic drama in the #LittleLoveCafé.One person has commented to say:
Shouldn’t we be using the new Heartbreak Café name?
It has already got several likes.
A Rocco Reid fan, has posted:
Why are we shocked to hear this? You can only order a cup of misery and sadness at the #LittleLoveCafé. They are probably still busy sweeping up Lil Tia’s broken heart.
This has garnered an eye-watering number of likes.
A new notification appears and my heart stops. A customer has added a link to a Matilda’s Life YouTube video and today’s post –Heartbreak at The Little Love Café – check out my new post #LittleLoveCafé.Matilda’s video opens and I am stood screaming at Pete. All my hard work at turning public opinion around has been a waste of time. My chest aches as I imagine Frankie seeing this. I delete the comment and the link and pray Frankie has not seen it.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Frankie has his face in his hands and talks through the gaps between his fingers when the video call connects. ‘Just tell me everything, Alice.’
I’ve stayed late in the café to speak to Frankie in private. Noah left half an hour ago.
‘Oh God, I am so sorry. Please don’t fire me.’ My heart is hammering against my ribcage. This is the conversation I have been dreading. ‘Pete made me so angry. Please, Frankie, I promise to–’
