Page 46 of The Cloud Catcher

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Having arrived a little early, Zara perched delicately on the edge of a wrought-iron chair, her fingers tracing the patterns etched into its surface. Sitting in her usual café, tucked away in a corner of the small town that had become a haven in their hectic lives, she smelled the aroma of freshly ground coffee mingled with the earthy scent of rain that was wafting in through the partly open window. While waiting for her best friend to arrive, her thoughts drifted like the clouds outside, bursting at the seams.

‘Hey, stranger.’ Suzanne’s voice cut through the quiet like a much-needed ray of sunshine.

Zara looked up, her face lighting up at the sight of her dearest friend. ‘Oh, hey, yourself, you’re a sight for sore eyes,’ she replied warmly, a smile spreading. ‘New dress?’

‘It sure is.’ Setting down her umbrella that dripped droplets onto the rustic stone floor like crystal beads, Suzanne slid into the seat across from her. ‘I bought it the other day to cheer myself up.’

‘You needed cheering up?’ Zara tipped her head to the side. ‘I hope everything is okay?’

‘Yes, it was nothing. Just one of those days.’

‘Are you sure, Suz? Because your face isn’t agreeing with your words.’

‘Yup,’ Suzanne said, too enthusiastically.

Zara decided that now wasn’t the time to push the subject. Soon. But not this second. Before tucking into a well overdue conversation about life in general, they ordered their usual drinks — a cappuccino crowned with foam for Zara and a robust espresso for Suzanne.

‘So, Za, tell me everything,’ Suzanne urged, her green eyes sparkling with genuine interest.

With a sigh, Zara began recounting her recent struggles — red-eye flights, adjusting to Lily and Amy’s new school schedule now that Amy was in grade seven, and generally feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. ‘I feel like I’m treading water,’ she admitted. ‘And sinking bit by bit.’

‘Sounds like you could use more than caffeine to keep you afloat.’ Suzanne smiled sympathetically as she reached across the table to give Zara’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

‘You got that right, Suz, sometimes it seriously feels like I’m flying against the wind,’ Zara confided softly, almost breaking when Suzanne regarded her like only a best friend could — tenderly, kindly, caringly. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. But when I’m up there, soaring over cities and oceans, it feels like too much precious time is slipping through my fingers.’

‘I can only imagine how hard it is, hon,’ Suzanne said compassionately. ‘But you got this, Za, you really, truly do.’

‘When I’m away, I miss reading the girls bedtime stories and their squishy morning cuddles so much.’ She bit back a sob. ‘I’m scared Amy and Lily will only remember a mother who was always up in the clouds, instead of with them, both literally and figuratively.’

‘Zara, those kids adore you.’ Suzanne’s reply was strident, strong. ‘They see a mum who’s conquering her dreams, and chasing the rainbows that are hugging the clouds,’ she reassured her, every word wrapped in the comfort of unwavering support. ‘And when you are home, I’ve seen firsthand that you’re all in. That ocean of love you have for them — it’s endless, boundless. They feel it, even when you are miles away.’

Zara blinked faster, but a few stray tears tumbled and streamed down her cheeks. ‘Thank you, Suz.’ Sniffling, she wiped them away. ‘I love you, so much. I couldn’t imagine my life without you.’

‘Ditto, my beautiful soul sister. Someone has to keep your feet on the ground while you’re out there touching the stars,’ Suzanne teased playfully, her laughter lifting the heaviness that had settled between them.

Their order arrived and as they sipped their drinks, the steam rose from the cups and into the air like Zara’s fears while she pondered Suzanne’s wise words. She truly did find solace in the thought that love, much like the sky, remained constant despite the distance. She just needed to try and really believe it, from the depths of her soul.

They stayed at the café for hours, two souls safeguarded by their friendship. Outside, the rain eventually stopped, and a burst of sunlight broke through the clouds. The warm, golden light filtering through the café’s windows painted the room in a soft, amber glow as the gentle hum of conversation and clinking of dishes created a comforting ambiance. It was then that Zara noticed how Suzanne’s gaze once again became a little distant, and her fingers began tracing the rim of her cup absently.

‘Hey, I can see you’re worried about something.’ Zara leant forward, closing a little of the distance between them. ‘Please tell me what it is, so I can help you.’

Suzanne looked away from the window, her emerald eyes glistening like shards of sea glass. Then she took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as if trying to release the weight of her worries. ‘It’s Mark,’ she finally said, his name falling heavily between them. ‘His drinking, it’s gotten worse, and I don’t know how to help him.’

Zara’s heart ached at the vulnerability in Suzanne’s voice, so different from her usual upbeat demeanour. ‘Oh, Suz, I knew something was up.’ She reached across the table and placed her hand over her best friend’s. ‘I’m here for you, in any way I can be.’

‘Thanks, Za. I wasn’t going to say anything, but you know me too well to hide it — and you know well what Mark’s been through, with all these years of Kelly keeping Jasmine from him.’

Zara took a moment to gather the right words. ‘You’re one of the strongest people I know,’ she said earnestly. ‘But you can’t carry this burden for him. You need to maybe try and talk to him openly about this, let him see how his actions are affecting not just himself, but those around him, especially you.’

The buzz of other patrons in the café faded into the background as their conversation became the sole focus, and in that pivotal moment, they became two best friends navigating the rough winds of life together.

‘Talking to him about this is tough,’ Suzanne replied slowly. ‘But I know you’re right. And I have tried broaching the subject, in one way or another, but every time I bring it up, he shuts down, and we just end up arguing.’

‘Then maybe it’s time to change tactics,’ Zara suggested gently. ‘Find a moment when things are calm, when he hasn’t been drinking, and simply let him know that you’re there for him, no matter what. And I think it might help him to open up to you.’

Suzanne’s smile was fragile but determined. ‘I suppose I could try that,’ she whispered, as if the words were a mantra she could call on for courage.