Cosy Nights & Snowball Fights (Little Duck Pond Cafe #36)

CHAPTER FIVE

It was Wednesday morning the following week. My day off. And when two envelopes – one pink and one yellow – dropped onto the mat first thing, and I wandered through, yawning, to see what was there, I laughed in disbelief.

How could it have slipped my mind that it was my birthday?

Taking them into the kitchen I placed them carefully, one above the other, on the little bistro-style table in the window. I made coffee first, then I sat down with it and took a sip, admiring the colourful envelopes for a moment longer before tearing them open. There was a card from Mum and Dad, and one from my gran.

I thought ruefully of how I used to go all out, celebrating my birthday in the past. I’d get loads of cards and presents, and Jo would always make a point of organising something special for us to do, whether it was going bowling with a group of our friends, or going to a film we were both eager to see. Even after I met Gavin, and he’d take me out for dinner on my actual birthday, Jo and I would still find the time to do something special.

A bittersweet kaleidoscope of memories was playing in my head, but I was determined not to feel down.

Things had changed. I was slowly getting to know my colleagues at the café, but in the meantime none of them knew it was my birthday today, so it would be a bit silly expecting a big fuss this year. I was just really glad Mum and Dad were coming to stay at the weekend. I’d bought a blow-up mattress specially, so I could sleep in the living room and they could have the bedroom. Last time they visited, back in June, they’d booked into a local hotel, but it would be so much nicer having them stay in the cottage.

I glanced around me at the cosy country kitchen I’d grown so fond of in the months since I’d moved in. The little one-bedroom cottage was compact but perfect for my needs. It was the centre property in a row of three cottages and I liked both of my neighbours, which was handy. I had a cute little garden at the back, comprised of a square of grass, a small shed to house the lawnmower, and an apple tree. The landlady told me they were Discovery apples which ripened in the summer, and sure enough, the tree had produced lots of delicious-tasting fruit during August, although I hadn’t been able to reach the upper branches so many had gone to waste.

My mobile rang and it was Mum.

‘Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...’ She launched into the song as I groaned and laughed. Then I heard Dad in the background, joining in loudly and tunelessly. ‘Happy birthday, sweetheart. See you at the weekend,’ he shouted.

‘See you, Dad,’ I called back, my heart lifting. ‘Hi, Mum. He still hasn’t had those singing lessons, then.’

She chuckled. ‘It’s going to be worse when he retires. Now, he just sings in the shower before he goes to work, but once he’s at home all day it’ll be torture.’

I laughed, feeling a pang of homesickness. A physical pull on my heart. ‘Thanks for the lovely birthday card. I got Gran’s today as well. Will you thank her from me? I’d phone her but she never picks up.’

‘Terrified she gets scammed, bless her. Did our birthday money arrive?’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’

‘I sent it yesterday, love. I always hate transferring money electronically in case it goes astray. But hopefully it’s got to you.’

I checked my bank account, my eyebrows rising at the generous amount she’d sent. ‘Yup. It arrived. Thank you so much.’

‘Now listen, Laurel, you must treat yourself today, okay? I wish we could be with you but Dad’s got this conference he needs to attend.’

‘I know. I’ll see you at the weekend, though.’

‘You will. Now, don’t go putting your birthday money towards paying bills or anything boring like that. Today is about you . You’ve got the day off so you need to go into Guildford and buy yourself something nice, okay?’

I laughed at her insistence. ‘Okay, I will.’

‘Promise?’

‘I promise, Mum.’

‘Okay, love. Well, enjoy your day.’

Afterwards, I headed straight for the shower, Mum’s words still echoing in my head. I hadn’t had any plans, but she was right – sitting at home alone on my birthday was definitely not a good idea. After my night out with the girls, I was feeling more upbeat. I’d been into Guildford on just a handful of occasions since I’d arrived here, and always for a practical reason, never to treat myself.

Today would be a new experience.

I’d fill up with petrol and drive into town, treat myself to lunch and maybe buy myself a new outfit. And for once, I wouldn’t think about the cost...

*****

It was a perfect autumn day, clear blue sky with a frosty nip in the air, as I walked down Guildford’s cobbled high street later that morning, admiring the colourful and tempting shop fronts on either side of me.

Stopping for a coffee, I sat in the café window, watching shoppers walk by and thinking I should do things like this more often. My spirits had lifted as I mingled with all the other people going about their business and it felt good to be away from the four walls of the little cottage, which had sometimes felt like they were closing in on me.

I was just emerging from the café, stepping back out onto the high street, when I happened to look back along the high street in the direction from which I’d walked.

My heart gave an uneasy thump and the world seemed to spin around me. I stepped back, feeling dizzy, and almost collided with a couple behind me.

‘Sorry,’ I apologised, letting them through. ‘I... I think I left something behind.’

In a daze, I returned to my table and pretended to search underneath it, but all the time my focus was on the pedestrians walking past the window.

Was it her?

I stood there, pretending to check my phone, my heart beating uncomfortably fast. I’d only seen the person from a distance.

Maybe it had been someone who just looked like her?

But then . . . there she was.

Jo.

I froze.

Once my best friend in all the world, she was striding along the pavement on the other side of the glass. If she were to glance to her right, she might notice me. And then what would she do? She’d be shocked to see me. But what after that? Would she think I deserved an apology, however belated? Did she have any remorse at all about what she’d done? Or would I be greeted with that same cold, heartless look she’d given me that last time, before she walked away?

She passed right by the café and carried on down the high street, and my whole body seemed to sag with relief. I pulled out a chair and sank down on it. My legs were shaking.

What would she have done if she’d known I was right there in the café? Would she have wanted to talk? Or would she have walked straight past anyway? I had no idea. I’d thought I knew Jo as well as I knew myself. But it turned out I knew nothing...

As for my own reaction, I was shocked at how bitter I felt. I’d thought time might have softened my feelings over the way she’d wrecked our friendship. But it seemed the old anger and resentment had been simmering away inside me ever since, ready to boil over as soon as I caught sight of her.

Putting my head down, I dashed out of the café and started walking quickly back along the high street to where I’d parked the car.

Don’t look back!