Page 99 of The Reno
The makers market was hosted every last Saturday of the month. Everly Heath High Street was cordoned off and pedestrianised for the privilege, and I could see why.
It wasrammed.
I had no idea this many people lived here. The whole street was a sea of bodies shuffling through slowly, pushing through lines of people queuing for coffee and pastries. A hugebrass band was performing at the front of the social club, their gold instruments shining in the spring sun. Children were running and playing with their friends, flitting between the legs of passersby. Thirty stalls sold everything from homemade sausage rolls to handmade children’s clothes. And despite how busy it was, everyone was so… cheery. Chatty. There were no impatient huffs as people pushed through. No one was trying to speed walk through the crowds on their phone.
People said “sorry” and “excuse me” politely as they moved through the crowds languidly.
It was jarring.
Why wasn’t this stressful?
I glanced at Liam. He seemed relaxed, his frown lines gone as he rubbed his thumb across my forefinger, leading me through the market. As soon as we arrived, Abigail ran off to see her friends, and Liam slipped his hand into mine, his eyes asking if it was okay. I squeezed back. It should have felt weird. I didn’t hold hands with anyone. I’d never got close enough to a relationship to let handholding happen. But I didn’t feel that usual suffocating panic. It felt normal, natural to feel Liam’s hand in mine.
I stopped to admire a jewellery stand, my hands drifting to a necklace featuring a dainty gold bee on a thin chain. I thought it might be a nice memento to take with me once the house was done. Did I want a necklace to remember this time? I wasn’t sure if I’d look back with fondness or grief.
I imagined I would reflect on my time with Liam as a lovely, distant memory, and the thought made me feel sick.
“That’s pretty,” Liam said, and I glanced up at him.
“It is,” I admitted. I looked at the price. It was almost two hundred pounds. I put the necklace down.
“Come on, let’s go.”
I pulled Liam’s hand, dragging him into the crowds, away from my morose thoughts. I wanted to stay in the moment and enjoy myself.
Liam squeezed my hand. “I’ve got something I want to show you.”
“Okay.”
We made our way through the crowds. Liam pulled me down a side alley off the main high street. It was quiet.
“This is it. This is where you’re going to kill me.”
He laughed. “You think I would have waited until now?”
He led us to the door of what looked like an abandoned cafe. Liam rooted around in his pockets, producing a key, and opened it.
“Why do I feel like we’re breaking the law?” I whispered.
“It’s fine. I know the owner.”
“Of course you do. Everyone knows everyone here.”
Liam flipped the lights on. There were abandoned tables and chairs. The lights were flickering slightly. We could still hear children playing and the band playing.
“Where are we?” I frowned. Liam was walking around slowly, like a bomb could detonate at any point.
This place was important. His shoulders were tense, his brow slightly furrowed.
“Oh.” The penny dropped. “Was this the place? The restaurant? The one you were supposed to open with Ren.”
Liam nodded quietly.
“Well, it needs some work,” I joked, “but I’m sure you would have made it amazing. It’s got great bones.”
“What would you do?”
“Oh—” I hesitated. “I’ve never thought about restaurant design before.” A lie. I totally had. In fact, when he mentioned it at Heath Antiques, I’d already started planning it in my head.
