Page 51 of Prudence
“Can’t complain,” Tara shrugged. “The café is doing well. I’ve actually been thinking of expanding and opening another location.”
“Really? That’s amazing. So, this means I’ll have two places to go for the best pastries in town.” I glanced at Nuala, noticing she seemed a little subdued as she fiddled with a packet of artificial sweetener.
“What about you? How’s everything at work?”
“Oh, just the same old,” she responded with a faint smile. “I’m looking forward to some time off over the summer.” Nualawas a primary school teacher, and I knew the summer holidays were precious to her. It was when she got to travel and regroup before the kids returned to school in September. Something in her tone caught my attention, though. There was a hint of worry or stress there, a faint strain in her expression.
“Are you sure?” I asked, eyeing her closely.
“Of course, I’m sure,” she said with a slightly forced chuckle before changing the subject. “By the way, I heard about what happened last night.”
“Last night?” Tara questioned.
I blew out a heavy sigh and explained. “Deirdre and Gigi decided to take off and visit some girls they met at a concert. Deirdre left me a note, but I didn’t see it, so Derek and I went into a panic searching for them all over town. In the end, it turned out that Gigi forgot her phone, and Deirdre’s battery went dead. Then their train was delayed. It was a whole thing.”
“Wow, that makes me glad I don’t have children,” Tara said with raised eyebrows.
“They certainly have a way of making life more stressful,” I agreed with a chuckle.
“It’s the teenage years,” Nuala said. “I’m telling you, all the four-year-olds I teach are just the sweetest. Well, except for when they throw tantrums or pee their pants on accident.”
“Oh, stop, that’s heartbreaking,” I said. “It’s been so long since Deirdre was that age. I’ve almost forgotten the tantrums.”
“Even when they’re being troublesome, they’re still pretty much adorable, though,” Nuala said before taking a sip of coffee.
We chatted and caught up some more while chomping on the delicious gourmet sausage rolls that were a favourite among the customers at Christine’s. When I got back to the hotel, I found myself thinking about Nuala and the tension she’d been trying to cover up. I’d just stepped off the lift and wandered down the hallway before stopping short. Derek wasoutside the door to the Talbot suite. He didn’t see me coming, and he appeared to be in the middle of mumbling a practice conversation to himself before he lifted his hand and knocked.
“Were you practicing an apology just now?” I asked, and he jumped before turning to me and glowering.
“Bloody hell, Milly. How are you so silent?”
I grinned because I’d taken him off guard, and he deserved it after how he’d behaved last night. Also, this was the first time he’d called me Milly since I’d moved home, and it felt so natural to hear him say my name again. The wave of nostalgia was almost overwhelming.
“Hey, don’t blame me. It’s your fault for adorning these floors with such thick, plush carpets.”
“I’m not in charge of interior design,” he grumped as I pulled out the key card and swiped it over the door entry system.
“Come on in. I believe you had some sort of speech prepared,” I said teasingly, catching his eye as I stepped by him and into the suite. I placed my bag on the side table before turning and folding my arms. Yes, I was very much going to enjoy watching him grovel. I deserved it after his boorish attitude towards me last night.
“I didn’t prepare a speech. I was just trying to figure out the best way to tell you that I was a brute last night. I let my worry for Gigi take over, and I was horrible to you. For that, I’m sorry, and I hope you’ll forgive me.” Genuine remorse marked his features, and something inside me softened.
“I suppose I can find it in my heart to forgive you.”
Derek narrowed his gaze at my curving lips, his own twitching with an almost smile. “That so?”
I nodded. “Besides, I probably would’ve been just as mad at you if you’d devoured a Club sandwich and a slice of baked vanilla cheesecake before placing the room service trayit came on over the note your daughter left, thus creating an unnecessary panic for everyone.”
There was another faint twitch at the corner of his mouth. “Is that what happened?”
“I felt pretty silly about it when I got back last night and realised what I’d done.”
Derek rubbed at his jaw, his gaze searching. “Well, I’m doubly sorry because it turns out Gigi was the mastermind behind the whole outing, and I accused Deirdre of being the bad influence.”
“Yes, well, maybe don’t be so quick to lay blame in future. Also, I hope you aren’t going to cancel Gigi’s birthday party. I’ve just heard that Tara’s making cupcakes and your mother’s handling the savoury treats.”
His lip twitch transformed into a tender smile. “Of course I’m not cancelling it. I’m not a monster.”
A small quiet fell as we just stood there staring at one another. Despite last night’s drama, I noticed he looked much better than he had several weeks ago. His eyes were less bloodshot, his skin brighter. “How have you been?” I asked. “I mean, in general?”
