‘Ah no, I warned you not to touch that! I said we’d do it at the end,’ hollered Pete, appearing at the top of the stairs and looking more freaked than she’d ever seen him. Meanwhile, it was clear that Fergus’s ankle had borne the brunt of the runaway piano. Ally and Rosemarie were clinging to each other, shaking with relief.
‘Come on, Fergus,’ said Pete, ‘get in the van, for God’s sake. I’m taking you straight into A&E.’
With Rosemarie one side of him and Pete the other, they managed to manoeuvre the groaning Fergus into the passenger seat. Rosemarie hopped into the back of the van, without needing to be asked, and Pete pulled away, leaving everyone staring after them in shock.
‘Oh, lads,’ breathed William, ‘that could’ve been so much worse .?.?. It could’ve been a tragedy.’
Dave was looking ashen-faced.
‘I’m not sure we’re even insured for this!’ he exclaimed. ‘One claim could sink us.’
Ally felt sorry for him. ‘Leave it, Dave, one thing at a time.’
* * *
Ally and Dave held the café together for the rest of the afternoon, despite both of them feeling shaky and slightly traumatised. At the end of her shift her phone buzzed.
‘Hey, it’s me.’ Pete’s voice sounded as though he was confiding in her. ‘I’m leaving Fergus here with Rosemarie and coming back to pay the other lads.’
‘Grand, Pete, I’ll hang on here. See you soon.’
It was funny how, on the phone, the distance between them seemed to melt. Her heart gave a little surge of hope.
By five, Pete turned up and let William and Ronan go, while Ally guiltily crept into the loo to avoid any chance of a demonstrative goodbye from William. Dave went home to Fia and the baby, leaving Ally and Pete alone in the café, which should have been great – so why did she feel inexplicably shy? Ridiculous, she scolded herself, snap out of it.
‘I’m putting on the kettle, Pete .?.?.’ she said, trying hard to sound casual.
Without replying, he slumped down at a table, threw one foot up on the chair opposite and covered his face with his hands.
‘Oh. My. Holy. God. People get killed like that,’ he exhaled. ‘Are you OK?’
‘She’s my best friend, what else could I do?’
‘You never find out who you are until the moment comes. You’re the person who jumps in front of the speeding truck .?.?.’
‘Speeding piano. I never thought I’d hear myself say that,’ she muttered. Pete gave a quick smile with the relief of it all.
‘You’re a nutter, you know that?’ he said. ‘So,anyway, who is this William chap? He a best friend of yours too?’ He contemplated her slowly.
Damn, this was what she’d been dreading, but all things considered, did she really owe him an explanation?
‘Not really .?.?.’
‘He seems to think so. Nice fellow .?.?. very .?.?. suitable.’ His tone was teasing.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
He was resting an elbow on the table, a hand still half-covering his face. ‘Nice straightforward fellow, good career, no baggage .?.?.’ He was clearly fishing – would she take the bait?
‘He’s just a guy I used to work with.’ She shrugged. ‘Why, do you mind?’
He shifted his feet; she sensed his awkwardness.
Old Ally would have rushed in to reassure him, let him know he’d nothing to worry about .?.?. but where had that got her?
He inhaled. ‘’Course not .?.?.’
He clearly had feelings on the matter, and so did she, but she wasn’t going to be the one to blink, not when he could still go back to Tanya. If he wanted her then he had to reach out.
