I see Faith’s eyes light up, while mine narrow.
‘Oh God, you've got someone in mind already, haven’t you?’ I ask.
‘Maybe… how do you feel about chiropodists?’
CHAPTER38
THREE MONTHS LATER
I yell for Charlie to grab her bag so I can drop her at school before heading to work. After the official reopening three months ago, I’m busier than ever. Saying goodbye to Café 12 was the best thing we’ve ever done as Charlie Brown’s is already making a name for itself.
‘Remember I have drama club after school?’ Charlie reminds me as we hurry outside. ‘And Joanne is coming back afterwards so we can work on lines for the play. She’ll probably just sleep over since it’s the weekend.’
‘But I’m stocktaking tonight. I won’t be back until midnight.’
‘It’s fine. We’ll double lock the door.’
‘Just don’t use the cooker or—’
‘Mum, I’m fifteen. I haven’t burned the house down yet.’
‘I know, but Joanne might be a secret pyromaniac. A firebug. She looks the type. All those fake nose rings and My Chemical Romance T-shirts – classic house-burner.’
Charlie sniggers and buckles her seatbelt. She knows I’m almost as fond of Joanne and she is. When your child finds her tribe it’s the most glorious thing to behold.
‘Just be careful,’ I say. ‘And phone me if you need me.’
She grunts in agreement, putting in her headphones as I drive off.
I pull up outside the school fifteen minutes later and arrive at work just after nine. We don’t open until midday now, except on weekends when we open at ten to reel in the hangover casualties with our American style brunch and my fabulous coffee. That machine is still the best investment I ever made.
‘Delivery has just been,’ Victoria yells when she hears the door. ‘Give me a hand peeling these potatoes will you, Tracey’s not in until eleven.’
‘No problem, let me just chuck my coat in the back.’
Two hours later, food is prepped and I’m making sure tables are clean and napkin dispensers are full. We’ve hired one new guy, Aaron, to work evenings but at the rate we’re going, we’ll need more hands by the end of the year.
‘Faith is trying to set me up again,’ I tell Victoria who’s now abandoned the potatoes and scrolling through her phone. ‘You heard anything about this one? The foot guy?’
Victoria nods, transfixed by something on her screen. ‘Uh-huh… Michael something.’
‘Bolton?’
‘Hmm.’
‘Jackson?’
‘Yeah, could be.’
‘Great, thanks for your help.’
Tracey arrives and gets set up while I grab a quick coffee before we open. I’ve barely blown the froth off before Faith texts.
Martin Crawford. Owns a foot clinic in Morningside. He’ll be in tonight at 6pm for coffee and marriage. Really think you’ll like this one.
I told Faith weeks ago that I’d only do coffee on first dates. I’ve wasted far too many evenings with men who didn’t deserve longer than an espresso shot. It’s easier to approach coffee dates with absolutely no expectations, than spending two hours getting ready for dinner with someone who’s already splitting the bill before you’ve even ordered. However, I didn’t intend for the coffee to be served in my own bloody café.
‘Nora, these point-of-sale pads are offline again,’ I hear Vic yell from the back of the restaurant. ‘Can you reset the router?’
