Page 51 of Unbreak My Heart

Eva nodded as Cat spun to grab a takeaway cup and attached the portafilter to the coffee machine.

“Vanilla today?” she asked over her shoulder.

Eva nodded, then realised she couldn’t see her. “Yes. Double shot, thanks.”

The rich scent of hot coffee reached her nose. Eva closed her eyes at that first hit of exquisite caffeine-laden heaven.

The ring of the cash register to her right intruded on her daily bean worship.

“You know, Maeve, it’s so sad when people you’ve known their entire lives lose their way. I can understand some, not being from here, can be misguided. You couldn’t expect much else. But I just don’t understand local lads behaving so shamelessly. One would think he’d know better, particularlysince it’s only been a year since poor Amy passed. It casts a terrible light on the integrity of the whole community. Why, you’d think he would wait until the woman was cold, wouldn’t you?

Eva’s eyes flew open. Cat spun to look at the woman standing beside Eva, shock flooding her face.

Eva knew without looking exactly who was dissecting her life in public. She didn’t know Mildred Appleton personally, but even she had heard of the domineering woman, and she knew enough about her to realise what was happening.

Did she take the high ground and not bite? Mildred would only use any response from Eva as further proof of how far Simon had fallen in her estimation. It took all her effort, but Eva kept her mouth clamped firmly shut.

Cat glanced at her and handed over the latte. Eva tapped her phone to the tablet sitting on the stand on the counter, a low-pitcheddingtelling them the payment had gone through. Maeve’s face was flushed bright red, and she couldn’t hold Eva’s gaze.

“I do believe I heard he stayed the night. I heard nobody saw hide nor hair of them for two days.”

Anger flushed Cat’s cheeks, her eyes narrowing as she opened her mouth to speak. Eva touched her forearm and shook her head and faced a haughty, steel-haired woman, disapproval dripping from her like a vat of fly-struck wine.

“Good morning, Ms. Appleton, is it?” Eva plastered a bogus smile on her mouth and leaned in conspiratorially. “I do believe it was twonights. AndIheard that the reason no one saw them for so long was that she was exhausted from the astonishing amount of spine-tingling sex he dished out. Why, they didn’t get out of bed for twelve hours straight. I really recommend finding yourself a hot young man to play with—they’re insatiable.”

Mildred’s mouth dropped open. Indignation widened her eyes. Eva had had enough of taking stings from nasty, opinionated people like her.

“You really need to make sure you have your facts straight before gossiping. Otherwise, you could end up looking quite foolish.” Eva sipped her drink and winked. “So, now you do.”

*

Eva sat downon the wooden bench outside Cat’s shop and swirled her coffee around in her takeaway cup. The door to her right squeaked open, the bell jangling as tourists filed out, nattering about which winery they wanted to visit first.

Eva leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, and cradled the cardboard cup between both hands.

Everyone thought this was such a great little town, bustling and busy. In many ways it was. She’d lived in Bialga all her life and, quite honestly, she would be happy staying in the area. But along with the community spirit and friendly people, came people who knew you and everything about you, and some certainly weren’t afraid to let you know what they thought.

Especially Mildred Appleton. Eva had heard that Mildred made it her mission in life to be everyone’s personal devil on the shoulder, looking down her nose at everything they did. Now Eva knew what that felt like.

She felt a presence and looked up to see Cat standing at the end of the bench. Cat gestured to the seat.

“Mind if I sit?”

Eva shook her head.

Cat leaned back against the wall of her shop and crossed one elegant, fifties-style pedal-pusher-clad leg over her knee.

“One thing the Crossing isn’t short on is opinions.”

Eva tried to smile. Cat, more than anyone, had felt the sting of public opinion herself not that long ago when Zac had returned after twelve long years away, and she’d bucked convention and sided with the pariah. Everyone in both towns knew the story—or thought they did.

“Yeah. It’s positively dripping with them,” Eva drawled.

Cat chuckled and sipped her own coffee. “I should probably thank you for taking the heat off some other poor hapless couple.” Cat glanced at her. “But I know how unkind particular people can be. I know it’s none of my business, and tell me to butt out if I overstep, but… you and Simon?”

Eva sighed. She rubbed at her eyes. “How does anyone even know this yet? We literally only moved forward this last weekend. Sordid, inappropriate, pearl-clutching fling and all.”

She felt the weight of Cat’s stare. She looked over at her.

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