‘But I’ve just had my heart broken…’
Taking his hand, I give it a reassuring rub. ‘Start that new project today, Richard. Don’t go home and stew in negative thoughts.’
He rolls his amber coloured eyes. ‘I get the feeling I don’t have much choice.’
A smile takes over my face. Jumping off my stool, I pull him into a giant hug. ‘Richard, Belinda did you a favour by hooking up–’ I stop myself. ‘In time you will look back and thank her.’
He breaks free. ‘Do you think so?’
To my relief Jake still has his van and assists Richard with bringing his golden harp into The Little Love Café. We move some chairs and tables and slot his harp into the corner of the café. Richard is now playing and is filling The Little Love Café with beautiful harp music. Judging by the dreamy smiles from our customers his music is creating a romantic atmosphere.
We are half an hour away from closing. Jake is pointing to someone behind me. I spin around to see Pete. ‘Alice, can we talk?’
Every part of me tenses.
‘We need to talk,’ he says.
I can hear Frankie’s voice in my head:Control your emotions.If Pete and I stay in the café and talk, it will end in a screaming match and that won’t be good for business. I need to go outside and talk to Pete.
Jake gives me the nod to say he will cover for me. Pete and I step out of the café. A silvery mist has crept in from the horizon. It looks like someone has laid a giant blanket over the inky blue sea.
We stand by the railings at the edge of the promenade. Hot, bubbling anger is shooting up inside me by the time we get there. ‘Do you know how much pain and embarrassment you caused me?’
He flinches and raise his hands. ‘Okay, I’m sorry. I get it. I’m not proud of what I did.’ He looks out towards the misty horizon.
‘A YouTuber filmed us arguing. They put the link on social media and Frankie saw it. I am trying my hardest to make a success of Frankie’s business. I didn’t need that.’
Pete closes his eyes and pinches the skin above his nose. ‘Everything got to me the other day. I couldn’t breathe and I exploded, said some things which were not very nice.’ He chuckles. ‘Communication between us was never great – was it?’
‘You can say that again,’ I snap. ‘Why did you throw away my letters and send that email to Noah pretending to be me?’
Pete leans on his elbows and folds his hands together. ‘I loved you, Alice. Noah had gone and everyone kept telling me it was unlikely he’d be back. I took my chances. Do you know how hard it is to keep on loving someone when you know they don’t love you back? I slipped up. It was a terrible mistake.’
‘You have been lying to me for years.’
‘All right, I do know all this, Alice.’
‘What about all that you said about Mum too? I had to call Frankie’s mum. I wanted her version of what happened with Mum and Dave Coombes.’
Pete hangs his head. ‘I wanted to hurt you and Noah. It’s been on my mind ever since. If you must know I’ve not slept properly.’ He looks back at the café over his shoulder. ‘Where is Noah?’
‘He’s gone back to Ireland.’
Pete stares at me. ‘What?’
‘Noah came back for answers about us. If Noah and I are going to have a future together we need to address this issue between our fathers.’
Pete scratches his hair. ‘Look, your dad knew about your letters and how I was throwing them away. In fact, he encouraged me.’
Blood is rushing past my ears and my heart is pounding against my chest. ‘What?’
‘Your dad wanted Noah out of your life. After I’d thrown away the first few, I got guilty. I finished school early and went to talk to your dad.’
‘Why did you talk tohim?’ I exclaim, running my hands through my hair. ‘For goodness’ sake, Pete. Why didn’t you talk to me?’
He shakes his head. ‘I wanted you all to myself and to do that I needed your dad on side. Yes, before you say anything – I was a manipulating little so-and-so.’
‘What did Dad say?’
