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Apart from storing Penny’s boxes, Matt hasn’t spent any time in his flat since he got back. We seem to have fallen back into the same routine that we had when he was staying with me before, except it feels more permanent this time. I talked to Katie about it, to make sure she wasn’t uncomfortable, but she just said we should stop faffing about and admit that we’d moved in together. She did suggest that we ought to do something about getting a lock on the bathroom door, because four of us sharing a bathroom was bound to lead to an incident sooner or later, and Matt has agreed to go to Homebase on Sunday and sort something out.
‘I have,’ he says. ‘Are you sure this is what you want, though?’
‘Matt, I don’t mean to be funny, but what on earth are you going to use it for? You’ve barely spent five minutes in it since you got back. It’s just an expensive storage unit for Penny’s stuff at the moment. If we’re going to live together then I’d like to let it out. It’s a waste having it sitting empty.’
‘I had a thought about that,’ says Katie, who’s just wandered into the kitchen with some dirty plates.
‘Oh, yes? Go on.’
‘Well, there are two flats, aren’t there? One for you, which is the one you’re living in, and one for me, which would be Matt’s flat. So, if we’re letting Matt’s flat out, shouldn’t the rent come to me? It would certainly help with the uni bills when I go.’
‘You’re a piece of work, you know that?’ I laugh. ‘Fine. If we let Matt’s flat out, the income can come to you. But you have to repay the money I spent doing it up.’
She considers for a moment. ‘I tell you what,’ she says. ‘I spend quite a lot of time in your flat, don’t I?’
‘You do. Nan and Grandad have started muttering about letting out your room at home, because you’re there so infrequently.’
‘Very funny. I’ll be back there when term starts again. My point is, why don’t we split the rent on Matt’s flat? You can consider your half of the money from it as rent and a contribution towards the renovations, and I’ll put mine towards uni.’
I consider this for a moment. ‘Okay, deal.’
My suspicions rise again when I’m unceremoniously ejected from my own café at lunchtime on Friday, ostensibly because Katie has decided we need a girly shopping trip to Bluewater. I’m certain that there’s a hidden agenda, though. I’ve caught Matt, Katie, and Bronwyn poring over a piece of paper that appears to have a list on it a couple of times this week but, when I asked, they said it was nothing, just something they were working on for Penny. I’m a bit on edge as I ease the van onto the main road, but Katie is full of bubbles and we end up having a lot of fun. It’s well after dark when we get back, and we open the door to the flat to find Matt and Bronwyn in the middle of preparing dinner. It’s a typically convivial evening and, even though it’s Saturday tomorrow and we have to be up, Matt opens a bottle of wine and we all have a glass. Whatever has been bothering him seems to be resolved, as he’s completely back to his usual self, and I can’t help feeling relieved.
* * *
In the morning, Matt and I traipse down and let ourselves in through the back door as normal. Bronwyn skips in just before half past seven as usual, but this time she has Katie in tow.
‘What’s up? Couldn’t you sleep?’ I ask her.
‘Ha ha. Bronwyn’s just asked for my help with something,’ she tells me.
If I was surprised to see Katie, I’m completely baffled when Penny turns up. ‘You’re not supposed to be working today!’ I tell her. ‘I’ve already got Katie and Bronwyn out there.’
‘Don’t worry. I’m not expecting you to pay me. I just wanted to catch up on something.’ She disappears out into the café, and I start to follow her.
‘Don’t,’ Matt says, surprisingly firmly.
‘What’s going on?’ I ask him.
‘Just give it a bit longer, okay? Do you trust me?’
‘More than I ought to, I think.’
‘Trust me now. Let them do what they have to do.’
I growl with frustration, but return to my cakes. The café is obviously busy this morning, as I can hear the buzz of conversation and the orders are coming in thick and fast. Matt’s quickly overwhelmed, so I abandon my cakes to help him get the breakfasts out. I’ve never known a surge like this. We’re always busy on a Saturday, but the orders usually arrive in a steady stream. This feels like a coachload of people has arrived all at once.
We work flat out and eventually send out the final order: a cheese and ham omelette.
‘Bloody hell, that was mental!’ I observe.
Penny sticks her head around the kitchen door. ‘Daisy, can I borrow you for a minute? There are a couple of people who want to speak to you.’
‘Okay, give me a second.’ I wash my hands and carefully remove the hairnet. I’ve been working so hard that I’m a bit sweaty underneath it, and my hair is sticking to my head a bit. Ah, well, I didn’t come into this job for the glamour, I think. I step out of the kitchen and gasp.
The first thing I notice are the walls, which are now adorned with a selection of Bronwyn’s paintings. I have to confess I’d completely forgotten that she was doing them. I don’t get time to take them in, though, as I also realise that every seat in the café is occupied. As well as the regulars, including Ron and Agnes, I spot Mr Holdsworth with a woman whom I assume is his wife. Jonathan Moorhouse is also there, along with Nan and Grandad and a whole load of people I’ve never seen before. Katie, Bronwyn, and Penny are standing by the counter, grinning like Cheshire cats. I notice that Matt has followed me out of the kitchen and is also grinning like a lunatic.
‘What have you done?’ I say to Katie.
