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‘It was Matt’s idea,’ she replies. ‘We were chatting one evening, not long after he came back, and we were talking about what a fantastic job you’ve done with the café. We also agreed that you were never going to sell it now, because you’ve fallen in love with it, haven’t you?’
I blush slightly. ‘That might be true.’
‘So, we decided that it needed a formal relaunch. We invited everyone we could think of and distributed leaflets around the town. We even invited the local paper.’ She indicates a couple of guys sitting at a table by the door.
‘I hope you won’t mind, but we’ve also taken the liberty of a slight re-brand,’ Matt continues. ‘I need to take you outside. Close your eyes.’
He takes my hand and leads me through the front door. I’m aware of Katie, Bronwyn, and Penny following behind.
‘Turn around, but keep them closed.’ Matt’s voice instructs, and I do as I’m told.
‘Okay, open them.’ At first glance, I don’t notice any difference, but then I look up and see it. A bright, modern sign above the café with the words ‘Daisy’s Diner’ on it, and a logo made up of two interlocking letter Ds. It’s beautiful.
‘So this is what you’ve been up to all this time?’ I ask. ‘I was beginning to think I was going mad!’ They do at least have the grace to look a little sheepish.
‘There’s more,’ Katie says. ‘Look at our aprons.’ Sure enough, they all feature the name of the café and the logo as well.
‘We’ve done everything. The menus, the lot. Do you like it?’
‘I love it!’ I tell them. ‘Thank you so much!’
‘It’s the least you deserve,’ Matt tells me. ‘You’ve saved this café, Daisy. Nora would want you to have your name over the door.’
Tears of joy are pouring down my face as I hug them all tightly. Once I’ve calmed down, the guys from the paper ask me some questions and take my photo with the new sign behind me, before heading off to their next engagement.
When I go back inside, Matt and the others get back to work while I’m inundated with compliments. Nan and Grandad both hug me tightly, Mr Holdsworth tells me how proud he is of what I’ve achieved, and Jonathan Moorhouse booms about how he can’t believe it’s the same place. Bronwyn introduces me to Toby Roberts, who owns the studio next door, and his hugely pregnant wife, Madison. She’s very nice and promises to be a regular once she’s had the baby and can move about a little more easily. In the end, I probably spend nearly an hour talking to everyone and admiring Bronwyn’s paintings. I can’t help noticing that some of them have red stickers on them already, indicating that they’re sold.
Eventually, things quieten down to normal café levels for a Saturday. The invited guests have had their fill and headed back to their weekends, and I take up my usual spot with Matt in the kitchen. During a brief lull in the afternoon, I stick my head out into the café. Katie and Bronwyn are behind the counter, with their hands entwined out of view of the customers, and there’s a happy buzz of conversation in the room.
As I stand there, I become aware of an unfamiliar feeling coursing through me. It’s so long since I’ve felt it, I’d almost forgotten it existed. Obviously, it’s always been there, though, lying dormant and waiting for the right moment to show itself again.
It’s hope.
