Page 3 of All Mine
Holding the phone in her palm, she stared at the screen for a moment, feeling a tug of sentimentality. The lure of her old life. Unable to resist, she clicked on her former profile picture, a happy circle of her beaming face, blue sky behind, sun reflecting on her sunglasses. She scrolled through some of her posts. Photographs of beach holidays and rainbows and reflections in puddles on muddy walks. Two pairs of wellies at the back door. A Christmas tree lit up in front of a window. Drinks next to each other on a pub garden table– one pint, one Pinot Grigio. Everything screamed happy. Pain stabbed through her. To think she’d believed that Daniel was going to be her ‘happy ever after’. She supposed she should be grateful now to know there was no such thing.
The beep of a horn outside announced the arrival of the removals truck and brought her back to the present. She jumped off the counter and put her phone face down.
Men. No wonder she wanted nothing to do with them.
Chapter Two
Etienne
Etienne leaned against the door frame of The Bistro, watching the square, as he did every morning. He’d been for his usual morning run, a quick five kilometres around the town. He always hated it at the beginning but loved it by the time he’d been through the park and hit the river path. Especially at this time of year now the oppressive summer heat had passed. He’d showered and dressed, although he could still feel his heart rate was heightened under his blue shirt, and his hair was slightly damp. It was a good moment to take a breath, before the workday started. It was also a good vantage point to see the comings and goings of the town. He spotted Millie, blonde and tiny and who ran the local PR firm, on her way to the office, and gave her a quick hello. She blushed slightly as she waved back and he recalled the same flush of pleasure had spread across her cheeks when she’d unbuttoned her blouse in front of him a few weeks before. That had been fun. Now, watching the swing of her hips in her suit as she walked away, he considered a repeat performance. Fleetingly. But then pushed it aside. Nope. None of that. Better to keep things light, casual. A one-night-only performance. Always better that way.
A clutch of market stalls were setting up along the south side of the square. The greengrocer, a fish stall, a family selling local gins, another with cheese and olives by the bucket load.
A couple stood with their backs to him on the opposite side of the square. They were facing the old Keeper’s Café, which had been shut for the past couple of years. He had heard a rumour that someone was taking it on. Maybe this was them, the new owners.
But something told him they weren’t a couple. They seemed mismatched. She had long hair tumbling down her back and black jeans that curved nicely around her hips. He had on a rumpled suit jacket and his scalp showed beneath his thin hair. He looked squat. She looked lithe. He watched them talking and then noticed the man’s clipboard, and the pass of the keys. Aha. Estate agent.
So, it was her that was taking over the Keeper’s. His eyes flicked around the square, trying to spot if she had a partner, business or otherwise. But the only other people he saw were locals. He knew most of them by name, and some of the women by touch as well. So, she was alone.
At that moment, the woman turned to face him. Etienne hummed in appreciation. Even from this distance he could see she was stunning. Her gaze was direct as she took him in. She tilted her head slightly, and her hair fell over her shoulder.
He was considering going over to introduce himself when he heard his name called from inside the restaurant. He let his eyes linger for another moment and then raised a hand, saluting her.Welcome to the neighbourhood, babe.She lifted her hand to return his wave and his interest pricked.
Time to get on with the day. And a frisson of anticipation was sometimes a good thing. Although, let’s face it, he didn’t normally have to wait that long before he got what he wanted.
He opened his phone and scrolled to the top group chat, Brothers from Another Mother. Etienne was so close with Fox, the silver-haired games designer, and Walker, the local firefighter, they were quite often known as the ‘three amigos’ in town.
Etienne: New girl in town, boys. Taking on the old Keeper’s Café.
The ticks turned blue within a second.
Walker: You introduced yourself yet and offered her one night of heaven?
Etienne: Nope– just saw her getting the keys.
Walker: Maybe I’ll swing by to check out her fire escape?
Etienne: Could be a good idea. She’s hot stuff.
Etienne cringed at his own bad joke.
Fox: This information might be of interest if I had the time or the energy. But I have a deadline on the new game. . .
Fox took a moment and Etienne could see he was still typing.
Fox: Reggie has a school project to hand in on Monday where we have to make a bloody dinosaur. . .
A pause. Typing again.
Fox: And George has been projectile sick twice this morning already.
Etienne grimaced. Fox’s boys were the best. Wild, funny, freckled dynamos that didn’t seem to stop moving until they were asleep. But they were a lot for Fox to manage on his own since his wife died.
Etienne: Need anything, Fox?
He knew Walker would be watching for the reply too. Because despite the banter, they’d do anything for each other. Had done before. Would do again.
Fox: I’m good, man. Unless you fancy helping Reggie make a T-Rex this weekend?
