“You look much better,” he said, smiling. “There is a little colour in your cheeks.”
His comment touched a nerve. “You mean I’m not pale and stupidanymore?”
“To be fair, it was you and not I who called yourself stupid. Remember?” He was being reasonable, which only made her seem unreasonable. She glared at him.
Quickly, he changed the subject. “I parked your car in one of the bays opposite. It’s on a meter; I put a couple of hours on. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave now to try and catch an alternative flight, but you should be okay to stay here until five-thirty. It’s free parking after that. Will you be okay alone?”
I’ve been okay for twenty-nine years, but after ten minutes, he thinks I’ll fall apart without him?
She was torn between gratitude and indignation. Men didn’t usually speak to her as if they cared.
When in doubt, cling to pride.She reached for her bag and found her wallet. “This is my driving licence and my insurance. You can pass them to your insurers. And now please tell me how much I owe you for theparking.”
“Forget it.” He shookhis head.
“Absolutely not.” Stung, she pulled out a pen, looked for something to write on and found his newspaper. She started copying out her insurance details and her driving licence number in the margin.
She wasn’t pathetic. She’d never been helpless despite years of hardship, years of making ends meet on a shoestring. No one took care of her; she was the one who took care of everybody and everything. She drew in a long breath. Good, the pep talk seemed to work. Her hand was no longer shaking.
Behind her, the waitress giggled at something he was saying, but Millie concentrated on writing her information. Her insurance was going to skyrocket after this, but she would do the right thing by this stranger. No matter what it cost her, he would leave with an impression of a strong, proud, independent Millie. Yes. She took another breath and found herself steady enough to speak. She cleared her throat.
“I’m thankful you parked my car for me, but I must insist on reimbursing you—”
He wasn’t there.
She looked around, but his coat and legal folderswere gone.
The waitress stood at the window, looking out. “He paid for you to stay as long asyou want.”
Millie’s eyes followed where the girl was looking in time to see the man drive away in his BMW.
“What a generous man.” The waitress’ voice was dreamy. “He gave me £200 and said I was to stay open and offer you dinner and even breakfast tomorrow if you stayed that long.” She giggled again, but Millie didn’t join in with thelaughter.
Of course, he had more urgent business than waiting around for her, but he hadn’t even saidgoodbye.
She tried to shrug it off. Lately, she’d become used to being ignored, being invisible. Nevertheless, the little confidence she’d only just gathered began todissolve.
Millie put her pen down, and it rolled along the top of the newspaper where the date was printed.April 1st- April Fool's day. Very appropriate. She’d started the day with a husband, a job, and a home, and now, at three in the afternoon, she had nothing but a cup of tea and a stranger’snewspaper.
The job had been the first to go. Redundancy notice delivered by 10:30 in the morning. Alastair, her jumped-up supervisor, had squirmed with awkwardness as he lied to her face: not his decision, all came from head office, sorry and all that. He’d thanked her without even meeting her eyes and told her there was no need to work her notice. “Take the rest of the week off. In fact, take the rest of the day off.” He spoke like he was giving her a gift instead of taking away her livelihood.
She’d gone home and walked in to finda cliché.
A hundred films showed a wife coming home unexpectedly to find her husband in bed with another woman. Surely, the universe had more imagination.
The seductive thought brushed her mind.He needs you.Go home. He’s still your husband. You’ve known Henry all your adult life, you made too many sacrifices to just give up, you can patch it up with—
Her stomach heaved.
No.
Today, a complete stranger had pulled a chair for her, bought her tea and parked her car. Henry had never pulled a chair or held a door for her.
When was the last time Henry made her a hot drink? Never, that’s when. She’d been the one to help him, lavish love on him, and give up her dreams to help him achieve his.
Millie drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly to ease the pain.She’d be damned if she just sat in this café, crying into her tea and drowning in self-pity. “When your ship starts to sink,” her granny used to say, “you don’t hide in your cabin crying.You swim!”
She pushed the pain away. She had more urgent things to deal with. She needed a new life and anew home.
