Page 47 of The Custard Tart Cafe by the Sea
No sooner are the words out of my mouth than I know that Kelly and Radhika have set us up.
“I’m sorry for not telling you before. I felt awkward… and more than a little dumb. I don’t think either of us needs to talk about the person who links us in that respect; in fact, I’d appreciate it if we could pretend those conversations and messages between us never happened.”
I nod my head and close my eyes because I cannot bear Lauren in humble mode. It doesn’t suit her.
“I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure of his motives when he put himself forward to handle your account, but well, he’s certainly getting The Custard Tart Café noticed for all the right reasons– not that Jamie or I completely condone the way he’s mixed business with pleasure… but I suppose we can overlook that just this once.” Lauren quirks a brow. “It’s clear the pair of you are smitten and you deserve to be happy.”
She stops for a quick sip of her drink and clears her throat. “What I’m trying to say is, things have changed. Everything’s changed, Willow.” She puts a protective hand on her tummy. Oh, my goodness. Get the flags out, Lauren is calling me by my actual name… without even faltering over a letter B before doing so… and wait,what? That hand gesture. Surely…
‘Yes, I’m pregnant, Willow.’
Oh, so that’s what the pot belly is all about! My goodness, talk about me missing a trick. “It’s time for me to start taking my marriage seriously,” Lauren says. “Jamie too. No more eye candy for either of us. You’re going to be an auntie!”
“Wow! That’s amazing! Congratulations!”
It also explains all the recent secrecy and strange behaviour. That definitely wasn’t a conversation we could have had on the phone.
“Look: water, not bubbles.” Lauren nods at the tumbler in her hand, raising her glass, at which point I realise mine is still empty. A waiter comes over to take my order and soon we are tucking into a bowl of parmesan truffle chips (mine washed down with Bolly) while we wait for our grilled fish with lemon and samphire.
***
I could dowhat I am about to do next from the comfort of my humble home, but I have decided to make the most of the beauty surrounding the spa. So I take myself and my (third) glass of champagne outside to a quiet corner in the grounds. There’s a quintessentially English country vista of meadows and cows. Hopefully none of my companions will start mooing or pooping while I make this momentous call to the man I am very much hoping might be the love of my life.
I take a bolstering sip and exhale deeply as I wait for Tiago to pick up the call. I feel like I’m not really here. It’s such a surreal thing to have punched his phone number into my mobile, waiting for him to answer. I am not waiting for long.
“Where did you get all those pebbles and shells?” I ask breathily, without even introducing myself. “Because Weston-super-Mare’s beach is predominantly known for its mud. And how many trips to Ikea did that tangle of lights entail?”
Tiago laughs. Nervously and huskily. I can practically smell his cologne and I knock back another glug of champagne, relishing the fizz as it slides down my throat.
It’s not the most original opening, but I’m genuinely curious about these things.
“It’s a long story… and the fact that you’ve called hopefully means you’ll let me tell you in full, over dinner.”
“Lunch,” I cut in. “If we’re going to explore the possibility of us, I want to do that over a stone-cold sober meal with no temptation of beds.”
“That’s a shame. I was hoping to re-enact some of our last moves in that department, but I can be patient. I’ll just have to undress you with my eyes as we quaintly sip our orange juice and nibble our French fries.”
“Tiago! You are incorrigible.”
Tiago, you are also making me cross and uncross my legs. I am grateful for the sudden breeze to cool me down.
“Seriously Willow, thank you for giving me another chance.” His tone matches his sentiments and I just want to melt. “I guess I got ahead of myself during that bumpy landing. Once you’d scarpered, I genuinely thought all was lost, other than a potential marketing meeting. I’d be lying if I claimed not to have an ulterior motive when I asked to take over TCTC’s account. Mainly though, I just wanted to do everything in my power to help right my wrongs and turbo-boost business for you.”
My heart swells. This is the point of no return, I realise, and I surrender to it with a small and floaty sigh.
“Your marketing techniques have certainly made an impression… to the point I’m not sure how we can cope with the demand.” Both of us laugh at that. The dust settles between us, the bubbles floating to my lightweight head; I have always been the same with gassy drinks. “It’s a nice problem to have, though.”
“I can help you with that particular hurdle too. My background is in business and marketing so I have more than a few ideas.”
“I’d be interested to hear them.” I swirl my glass flirtatiously, regardless of the fact the cows are my only real audience.
“I…”
“You…”
We both go to speak at the same time and are reduced to fits of giggles again. Tiago must be at work at the moment, so I hope he can take this call outside. Not that Lauren will be listening in, of course.
“I just wanted to say what amazing friends you have.” Tiago goes first and to be honest I have completely forgotten what I was going to say anyway. “Reggie kind of made himself known to me after our last football match.” Ha, I’ll bet he did. “He admitted that although he wasn’t my biggest fan, something that would take a miracle to change, he could read between the lines and sense there might still be a chance you would forgive me… but that it would probably take more action, and fewer words.”
