Page 24 of The Time of My Afterlife

‘Keep away from the mother and daughter battlefield.’

‘But I wanted to see if I could help⁠—’

She interrupts me. ‘You need to read this book and then you will change your mind.’

Ruth and I talk about the latest thriller book she’s also reading. We discuss new releases, and she ends the call by lifting her giant ginger cat onto her lap and waving its paw at me.

Later, I go to bed but I lie awake for ages, thinking about Laura and Molly. I know Ruth was trying to deter me from getting involved, but I have this nagging doubt that Molly is unhappy about something. I’ll have a heart-to-heart with her and get to the bottom of what’s going on. Once I know what it is, I can start coming up with solutions. This must be what the afterlife wants me to change.

It’s the afternoon, and the café has been quiet. I make sure to clean the tables by the door when Molly calls in. ‘Molly,’ I say, making her whirl around. ‘I’m sorry for the other day. I got distracted by Clark. You sounded like you had something on your mind. Do you want to talk?’

Her face brightens. ‘Yes, that would be nice.’

She doesn’t want a drink, so we go and sit by the window. Laura is busy serving a crowd of school children that has just walked in.

‘What’s going on, Molly?’

She blinks and glances towards the counter. ‘Mum’s back in touch with Vince.’

‘Oh, I see.’ Vince is Laura’s ex-boyfriend who she was dating when they first moved here. They split up a year later.

‘He’s back from working in Saudi Arabia, and he wants a second chance.’ Molly casts me a pained expression. ‘I don’t want her and Vince to get back together.’

So, all the talk of a new man was Vince all along. That’s why Laura wouldn’t give me any information. I sit and reflect on what Molly’s told me. She doesn’t want the man back in her mum’s life. I know Laura can do better than Vince.

An idea pings into my mind. Could I do some matchmaking and perhaps distract Laura? Maybe she needs to date someone else. Yes, this feels like something I should do.

‘Molly,’ I say with an air of confidence, ‘leave it with me.’

‘What are you going to do?’ She takes out a tube of glittery pink lip gloss and applies a thick coat.

I smile. ‘Find your mum a new man.’

I was expecting Molly’s face to light up at my idea, but it falls, and her shoulders begin to droop. At that moment, the café door jangles, and in walks Clark. He strides up to the counter.

‘I’ll have a cappuccino and a ham toastie, please, Florence,’ he says brightly, before I have a chance to approach.

I turn back to Molly. ‘Leave your mum to me.’

‘How are you getting on with the test?’ Clark asks when I go to the counter and note down his order.

‘Fine,’ I say. ‘What about you?’

He smiles that lopsided boyish grin of his. ‘Very well. Tonight, I will be helping someone, and I reckon because of my actions, I will pass.’

His confidence makes my body crackle with irritation. ‘Take a seat, Clark, and I’ll bring you your order.’

Once he goes to sit down, I poke my head into the kitchen. Laura is not on her phone for once and is sorting out a food order. ‘Can I have a ham toastie for Clark?’

She lets out a frustrated yelp and rolls her eyes. ‘I want to chuck this toastie maker out of the window. It’s being temperamental again. Why isn’t it working?’

I sigh. ‘Have you tried switching it on and off again?’

She nods. ‘You go and serve. I’ll get it working.’

The doorbell jangles again as I make Clark’s coffee. A handsome man with short black hair and piercing blue eyes enters, pulling a black suitcase on wheels and with a laptop bag slung over his shoulder. He comes to the counter and smiles, revealing a perfect set of white teeth. After casually running a hand through his hair, he orders a pot of tea and a jacket potato with cheese. His velvety Irish accent reminds me of Laura; she’s always told me her dream man would be tall, handsome, and charmingly Irish. Vince is neither tall nor handsome, and he’s from Bristol.

This man has given me the perfect opportunity to help Molly.