Page 97 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

‘I’m not surprised,’ said his dad. ‘She’s quite formidable.’

Alex was amazed. ‘Formidable? Hannah?’

He thought of her kindness, her goodness and her inner strength but formidable was something entirely new.

‘She gave me a right ticking off when I came to see you after the race,’ said his dad, looking a little sheepish.

Alex was goggle-eyed. ‘She did?’

His dad nodded. ‘She got very cross with me about how I’d treated you.’

Something deep inside of Alex melted at the thought of Hannah defending him.

‘She’s got spirit. I like that,’ carried on his dad.

‘Then perhaps we could have a drink with Hannah later when she’s not so busy,’ said his mum.

‘We’ll make the time,’ said Alex, standing up. ‘I’ll get you some more tea and cake.’

As he headed back across the café, he stopped and chatted to a couple of the swimmers whom he knew. He was starting to become a local and he was enjoying being part of a community. He had roots at Maple Tree Lodge and Cranley, the village beyond.

Now that the relationship with his parents was beginning to mend, he wondered whether it was a home he could live in forever. Hopefully with Hannah by his side.

52

After the triathlon, Hannah had been thrilled to be properly introduced to Alex’s parents. It felt like another piece in their relationship and she was so pleased that he was getting along with his dad, knowing how much of a family man he was.

All in all, everything was perfect. Apart from one awful thing.

Hannah had received another text from Sean using a different number again. It had arrived just as she had been falling asleep the previous night and suddenly the old feelings of inadequacy appeared and she had lain awake all night terrified. What if she mucked everything up? What if she couldn’t do this and upset Alex just like she used to upset Sean? What if it all went wrong and she lost him?

The following morning, she could feel herself beginning to hold Alex at arm’s length, the old fears rushing in from out of nowhere. It was no good. Maybe Sean would be the first and only one ever to put up with her. Nobody else would. Perhaps Alex would grow bored of her. What did he even see in her anyway? He was special and gifted and bright and she was none of those things.

She was so on edge that she couldn’t even concentrate on her baking the following morning.

Alex came rushing down the stairs at the sound of the smoke alarm. Hannah stared down at the burnt scones that she had just taken out of the oven whilst he switched off the alarm.

Having opened the doors to let out the acrid smell, Alex walked back across the floor to stand in front of her.

‘OK,’ he said. ‘What’s going on?’

She took off her oven mitts. ‘Nothing,’ she told him quickly.

‘Honey, you’re so tense you can’t even bake,’ he said.

She gulped. She hated that she couldn’t talk to him. Hated to keep secrets from him.

‘Are you stressed?’ he asked.

She nodded, unable to speak.

‘What about?’ he asked.

She shook her head as he drew her close, not daring herself to speak. How could she even begin to tell him everything?

‘Right. Well, for a start, what can we do to make things better?’ He looked down at her. ‘What do you normally do when you’re stressed?’

She couldn’t stop herself from smiling at the irony. ‘I bake.’