Page 12 of Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane: Part 3
‘I have no idea,’ Maura said, and that was part of the problem. She couldn’t be sure who else Liam had.
Cordelia turned her attention back to her clay. ‘I’m afraid there’s only one way to resolve this, Maura. And I think you know what that is.’
Conscious that Sharon and Effie were watching her, Maura swallowed the sigh that was threatening to escape her and dredged up a rueful smile. ‘Yes,’ she admitted, picking up her brush and dipping into the glaze once more. ‘I’m going to have meet him, aren’t I?’
Despite reminding herself she had nothing to feel anxious about, Maura was still jittery and unsettled as she crossed Cockburn Street and pushed back the door of her favourite coffee shop. She’d chosen it as a comforting venue, one where she was on first name terms with most of the baristas, who served excellent coffee and the most melt-in-the-mouthpain au chocolatshe’d ever tasted. Not that she expected to be eating while Liam confided in her, but there might be one or two left over that she could take home. She arrived ten minutes early, optimistic that four o’clock on a Wednesday might be a good time to snag one of the coveted window tables facing the Warriston steps, but a quick glance around told her she was out of luck. Both windows were occupied.
‘There’s a two-seater round the back,’ Giulia the manager said when she spotted Maura peering past the counter. ‘Any good?’
‘Perfect,’ Maura said, and placed an order for her usual hazelnut latte. ‘I’m expecting a friend – tall, dark hair, rugbyish. Can you send him through if you see him before me?’
‘Leave it with me,’ Giulia said. ‘Go and take a load off. I’ll bring your coffee over.’
Smiling her thanks, Maura did as she suggested, casting a longing look at the remaining pastries as she passed the end of the counter. Right on cue, her stomach rumbled, reminding her of another missed lunch as she’d lost track of time in her studio. She’d buy one on the way out to eat as she strolled back to Dean Village.
The rear of the coffee shop did not get much natural light and felt a little cramped, although several strings of fairy lights did their best to make things cosy. Two of the three tables were empty, with the third being occupied by a young man wearing oversized headphones and staring at a laptop. He didn’t look up as Maura chose the one furthest from the door to the toilets and hung her jacket across the back of the chair nearest the wall. No sooner had she settled into the seat than Liam materialised, his bulk blocking out the bright lights from the front of the café. She waved, relieved his timekeeping was better than Jamie’s. ‘Hello.’
Eyes downcast, he nodded in greeting and slid into the chair opposite her. ‘Hello, Maura. How’ve you been?’
His gaze flicked up at the last moment and she took in the sallow tinge of his skin, the pinched unhappiness around his lips. But the thing that caught her attention most was the livid black and purple bruising that bloomed around his left eye and spread down his cheek to his jaw. The eye itself was bloodshot and still slightly swollen, although she’d seen enough of Jamie’s rugby injuries to judge this one was a few days old. ‘That’s quite the shiner you’ve got there,’ she said, shaking her head in rueful admonishment. Jamie’s face had been badly bruised on Sunday morning, although the damage was nothing like as dramatic as Liam’s. ‘I gather the match got a bit feisty on Saturday – did you give as good as you got?’
To her surprise, Liam didn’t seize the opportunity to denounce the opposing players. Instead, he picked up the menu. ‘Have you ordered?’
‘A latte,’ she said. ‘And here comes Giulia now, if you know what you want.’
The other woman placed Maura’s drink on the table with a smile, before turning an enquiring glance upon Liam. ‘Just a black coffee,’ he said, dropping the menu onto the table so it made a flat, slapping sound. ‘Thanks.’
Giulia retreated, leaving Maura to study Liam once more.
‘So,’ she said, when he didn’t speak. ‘Apart from the eye, how are you doing?’
His shoulders hunched as he looked first at the man on the neighbouring table, and then at the fairy lights shimmering overhead. ‘I’ve been better.’
Maura felt a surge of sympathy. He looked terrible. She leaned forward. ‘I’m so sorry about you and Zoe. Did you… Was it a huge shock?’
To her surprise, Liam let out a short bark of laughter. ‘You could say that.’ He glanced up, saw her expression and seemed to gather himself together. ‘I had no idea she wasn’t happy. The first I knew about it was when she told me it was over.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said again. ‘You seemed so well-suited.’
‘I thought so too,’ he said, and shrugged. ‘Clearly, we were both wrong.’
Giulia reappeared, carrying a tray with a cup and saucer on it. ‘Here you go,’ she said, sliding it onto the table.
‘Thanks,’ Liam mumbled. Evidently picking up on his tone, Giulia shot a covert look at Maura, who smiled in reassurance.
‘No problem,’ Giulia said, frowning slightly. ‘Let me know if you need anything else.’
The barista retreated, leaving Maura to watch Liam stir his coffee without enthusiasm. She took a sip of her own drink, pausing to admire the rippled heart Giulia had created on the foam. ‘I can’t imagine how much you must be hurting,’ she said quietly. ‘Especially when you thought you were both happy. But what I will say is that it gets easier.’
Liam scowled. ‘You’ll be telling me next that time is a great healer.’
She dipped her head. ‘No, although it is true. To be honest, I’m not sure there’s anything I can offer that will help, but I’m here and I’m listening.’
He was silent for a long time, stirring his coffee until a miniature whirlpool grew in the blackness. ‘That’s really kind, Maura,’ he said eventually. When he raised his eyes to meet hers, she almost flinched at the wretchedness she saw there. ‘Which makes what I have to say next so much harder.’
A shiver of unease skated along Maura’s spine. What did he mean by that? Could Effie’s suspicions be right after all? She held up a hand to forestall him. ‘Liam—’
‘I did wonder if you might have worked it out for yourself,’ he went on, as though he hadn’t heard. ‘Picked up on the signs, you know.’
