‘No. Auntie Kay.’ I blew on my tea. Andy had already texted me twice to ask if we could meet to talk.
‘Are you going to meet him?’
‘Not today,’ I said. ‘I’m too confused. I need some space before Ijump into something I might regret. Do you fancy a walk around The Headland?’
‘Is there a pub at the other side?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll get my boots on.’
?? To Andy
Sorry for not replying sooner. Can’t meet today. Got plans with Clare. Can you pick me up after work tomorrow? 5.45pm
Andy knocked on the shop door bang on 5.45 p.m. the following day. ‘I’ve got something for you,’ he said when I closed the door behind him. He reached into a large paper carrier bag. My stomach churned as he pulled out a familiar-looking brown box tied up with cellophane and red ribbon. ‘I didn’t feel it was appropriate to give my business to someone else and get you flowers so I got you these.’
It can’t be. Please don’t let it be the same as Nick’s gift.I reluctantly undid the bow and opened the lid to reveal the same mix of floral cupcakes and biscuits.
‘What’s wrong?’ Andy asked. ‘Is it a bad gift? You’re not on a diet again, are you?’
I blinked the tears away and tried to look pleased. ‘No. Nothing like that. They’re great. Thank you. It’s a lovely thought. Really. I’ll just pop them in The Outback. Wait here a second. Don’t move. Back in a sec.’
With an overwhelming feeling of sadness, I placed the box on the worktop in the kitchen area, next to the half-empty box from Nick. I swallowed hard on the lump in my throat as I re-read Nick’s message, wondering what he was doing at that very moment and whether he was thinking about me.
‘Where do you fancy going?’ Andy’s shout brought me back to the present.
I shook my head and threw a tea-towel over the two boxes. Out ofsight, out of mind. Maybe.Pull yourself together, girl. Andy’s here and he could be Steven. You’ve dreamed about getting back with him for years so stop moping about someone you’ve known for five minutes. Nick’s given you the time and space to explore this so stop hiding in the kitchen and get exploring.
‘I don’t mind,’ I shouted back. I grabbed my coat and bag and headed back into the shop. ‘Food or drinks?’
‘I was thinking both. Maybe we could start with a drink then I can take you out for a nice meal?’
I smiled. ‘I think we’ll play it by ear. It’s work tomorrow so I can’t do a late one. Exactly how long I stay out may depend on how quickly I’ve had enough of you.’
‘Then we may be out for a long time. I’ll treat you so well tonight you’ll never want to go home. My aim is to make sure you’ve never had enough of me.’ Andy flashed his most dazzling smile.
I shook my head. ‘That has to be the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard you say.’
He grimaced. ‘Sorry. It’s been a while. Maybe I need to work on my lines.’
‘Maybe.’ I pushed him towards the door. ‘Let’s start in The Purple Lobster and take it from there.’
Despite my best intentions to only give Andy a couple of hours of my time and get an early night, one drink turned into four. Tucked away in a booth in a quiet corner of The Purple Lobster,we reminisced about the night we got together, the rest of our time at university, our graduation, and that last holiday in Rhodes before things went downhill. I confessed about my disastrous last year with Jason and Andy told me about his on-off relationship with Kelly. It was one of those nights where the conversation flows and the hours whizz by… just like it used to.
‘This is me,’ I said when we reached Seashell Cottage shortly before eleven. ‘I’d invite you in, but…’
‘I know. It’s too soon.’
I nodded. ‘I’ve had a great time, though. My sides actually hurt from laughing so much.’
‘Mine too. Could you bring yourself to do it again tomorrow night? Perhaps we can manage something more sophisticated than a bag of chips on the way home?’
‘The chips worked for me,’ I said. ‘But tomorrow doesn’t. It’s Christmas Eve.’
‘I know. Oh. I bet you have plans.’ Andy’s eyes looked full of hope. ‘Do you?’
‘Sorry, Andy. Ben’s coming home and we’re having a family get-together at Mum and Dad’s. It’ll be the first time in years it’s just been the four of us.’
