Page 20 of The Village Cafe in the Loire

‘OK.’

‘Or, you can stay and jump through these hoops your aunt has set for you. You have the time – and that’s not likely to happen again. And what are you going to do if not? At least you won’t be bouncing around the flat, stressing out, thinking about work… worrying. It just seems obvious to me. Get on with it and get it done. You’ll feel better.’

‘You know me too well,’ Becky said, imagining how she might spend her days if she did return to London – the free time stretching away in all directions. She shivered. Too much time to think about what she’d got wrong.

‘And, if you need more incentive to stay, I was thinking last night that maybe you could, well… work your magic while you’re there.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, you’re in advertising, right? So you know a bit about selling. You’ve already told me that the café isn’t being run to its full potential. Maybe the month won’t be a complete waste. Maybe if you modernise it a bit, build the business, make it look… snazzy.’

‘Snazzy? Have you been talking to my mum?’

Amber laughed. ‘OK, modern – is that better? Make it look great. Increase the value, increase the chance of it selling. Stay, but on your own terms.’

Becky was silent for a moment. ‘You make it sound so… logical.’

‘Well, I am an accountant.’

‘True.’

‘So?’

‘I guess I could try,’ she said. ‘I like the idea of… adding value.’

‘I thought you would.’

‘It was just being forced to…’

‘I know. Classic Becky!’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You hate being told what to do. Always have.’

‘No! I… OK, well, maybe.’

‘It’s not a criticism. You like to do things your way. I get that. And with your mum being so…’

‘Pushy?’

‘I was going to say forceful. Well, I get that you have enough… let’s saydirectionin your life.’

‘Exactly. I don’t need to be pushed around by great-aunts from beyond the grave.’ Becky felt a frisson of guilt in describing her aunt that way. Poor Maud.

‘But nobody is pushing you, in reality. You have choices. And you know what, they’re not too bad. You could be stuck in a job you don’t like very much because you can’t afford your rent without it.’ Something cracked a little in Amber’s final words.

‘Oh. You don’t mean you, do you?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘I thought you liked your job?’

‘It’s changed a bit, is all. I still like numbers.’

‘Well! Who doesn’t! They’re just so… so…numerical!’

‘I just prefer it when my boss doesn’t stalk around the office like he owns us outright, rather than just forty hours of our weekdays. And when I don’t have to hide in the loo to avoid another dressing down.’

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