Page 65 of The Little Teashop of Lost and Found
Then I yawned. ‘I’m too tired to do any writing tonight, that’s for sure.’
My legs suddenly felt a bit wobbly and I sat down on the edge of the pristine white mattress.
‘I think you’ve been overdoing it – and what did you have for lunch?’ he asked.
‘I don’t think I had any – though I ate a bit of Nell’s lardy cake this morning and I think that might be still clinging to my ribs.’
‘A piece of cake isn’t enough. Come on, get your coat and we’ll go round to a good pub I know and have a bit of dinner.’
I was too tired to resist and the pub was quiet, dark and warm, with good, plain food. I felt better once I’d got some steak and kidney pie and chips inside me.
‘You’ve got some colour back,’ Nile said approvingly, when I’d cleared my plate and, declining dessert, asked for coffee. ‘You’re doing so muchalready that you mustn’t let Sheila rope you in to helping out at Oldstone at the weekends too,’ he added. ‘She seems to think we’re all going to spend a jolly Saturday scraping off wallpaper in the bedroom opposite yours, and I, for one, will be out most of that day at an auction.’
‘She did ask me for the weekend again and I don’t mind pitching in with whatever wants doing. It’s fun planning out the pottery café with Bel, too.’
‘I hadn’t realized, until Bel told me, just how many health, safety and food hygiene rules even a small café has to comply with,’ he said. ‘I only hope they can recoup the cost.’
‘It’s quite a large initial outlay, when you’re creating something from scratch,’ I agreed, ‘but I’m sure it will bring more visitors to the pottery.’
‘I’m not sure about the waffle house aspect – I thought it was just going to be coffee and cake.’
‘Oh, I think that’s a stroke of genius!’ I enthused. ‘When tourists spot the sign they’ll be turning off in droves – and once they see Bel’s lovely work, especially the jewellery, they’ll buy that, too.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
‘I wonder if Henry Godet will be cross when he finds out there’s a rival for his Hikers’ Café only a few miles away?’ I said.
‘I shouldn’t think it would affect his business, because the Hikers’ Café has been there a long time catering for walkers, and now tourists are heading for it, because of the Brontë connection.’
‘Any tourists heading there from the Haworth direction will have to pass the Norwegian waffle house sign first,’ I pointed out.
‘Better not mention that when we go there for dinner, then,’ he said, to my surprise.
‘Arewe going there for dinner?’ I asked, staring at him.
‘I told Henry we would and it’s already got a reputation for good food so I’d like to try it. Wouldn’t you like to go?’
‘Well … yes, I suppose it would be nice,’ I agreed, wondering exactly what kind of date this was – a friendly date, a bossy older brother date … or adatedate?
‘Is this a date?’ I blurted, then felt myself going pink.
‘I suppose it’s a getting-to-know-each-other-better date – if you’ve no objection,’ he said, raising one dark eyebrow.
This didn’t really answer my question, but when he added casually, ‘I’ll book it for next week then and let you know when they can fit us in,’ I decided there was nothing romantic about the invitation.
This was just as well, given how the pretty barmaid had flirted with him while he was ordering our food and the way he’d smiled at the two leggy blonde backpackers in the corner, who’d been eyeing him more hungrily than their scampi and chips.
I relaxed a bit. In fact, I was by now feeling so relaxed and sleepy from warmth and food that even the surprisingly good coffee couldn’t wake me up.
‘It’s another strange coincidence that Henry should be related to the farmer who found me on the moors, isn’t it? My whole life is a series of strange coincidences,’ I said.
‘It’s not so strange when you thinkwhereyou were found, because it’s all Godet sheep-farming land round there.’
‘I’ll go and talk to Joe Godet soon. He must be getting on a bit by now. His son doesn’t sound very pleasant, does he?’
‘I could always come and protect you, if you’re nervous,’ Nile offered.
‘I’m big enough to protect myself,’ I said with dignity. ‘I just need a little time to think things through first and then I’ll track him down … and Emily Rhymer.’
