I sit there for a moment, studying the woodgrain in the table-top. Then, I draw a wobbly breath and tell her. Everything. The plane, the fling with Luke, his divorce, the wedding, how I let Alex down. How I convinced myself Luke was falling for me, then realized how deluded I was.
When I’m finally done, she puts an arm around my shoulder and squeezes. “Oh, chick. I’m sorry. That sounds…” She shakes her head. She doesn’t give me advice, or make me feel bad, and I love her for it.
I dry my eyes and glance at the clock above the counter. Shit, I’ve been sitting here blubbering for twenty minutes. It’s nearly time to open up.
“Thanks for listening and not judging. I haven’t shared it all with anyone and it was good to get it out.” And strangely, I do feel a little better. Not much, but a bit.
I stand and grab my apron from the counter, tying it around my waist, but Paula doesn’t move from the table.
“I suppose we should get on with things,” I say, trying to keep my tone bright. “It’s good to be back here. I missed this place.” I wait for Paula to stand, but she doesn’t.
Instead, she sends me a worried look. “You should probably sit down again, love. I have some news.”
Her tone makes a weight settle in my gut, and I lower myself back into the chair.
“I’m so sorry to drop this on you after everything you’ve just been through, but I need to tell you.” She pauses, fiddling with the salt and pepper shakers on the table between us. “I’m selling—well, actually, I’vesold—the cafe.”
Oh shit. Of course, Mum and Dad said something about that. With everything going on with Luke, I completely forgot.
“Right. What, er, what brought this on?” As far as I’ve always known, she loves running this place.
“Actually, it was you.”
“Me?”
She nods. “When you left for New York, it got me thinking. I’ve always wanted to travel, to get out and see the world a bit more. I’m getting older and it sort of feels like now or never.”
“Wow.”
“It happened very quickly. I put the cafe on the market to see if there might be some interest, to see what response I’d get. But I got an offer after only three days and I couldn’t turn it down.”
“Right,” I murmur. I’m so shocked I don’t know what to think. “So… where will you go? What will you do?”
An excited smile plays on her lips. “I don’t know! I thought I might go to New York, see what all the fuss is about. But you know, eventually, I’ll want to do something like this again.” She gestures around us. “I do love this place and I’m sad to leave, but I’m excited to explore somewhere new, build something new.”
I give her a faint smile. She’s brave, giving up something that she loves to see what else is out there.
“Anyway.” Her smile fades. “Unfortunately—God, I hate to have to do this, chick—but the new owner doesn’t want things to stay the same. He has ideas to redo the place and he’ll be hiring new staff.” She grimaces, reaching across the table for my hand. “So, that means—”
“Yeah. I get it.” I push my mouth into a smile, but I can’t stop my shoulders from sagging. The one good thing I had left in my life is now also being taken away.
Way to kick me when I’m down, universe.
“I’m sorry.” Paula’s face lines with remorse but I wave her apology away.
“Don’t be silly. I’m really happy for you.”
“What will you do?”
I chew my cheek, gazing around at the cafe. I’ve gotten so used to coming here all the time, to spending my days here, that I can’t really imagine going anywhere else. Well, there was that one place in New York, that board game cafe that felt like my dream come to life…
“I could start my own cafe,” I say, but it sounds like a joke to my ears.
Paula’s face lights up. “Yes! You should! I’ve seen you scribbling ideas on that napkin.”
“Oh…” I’m taken aback by her enthusiasm, and I didnotknow she’d seen my napkin. “Well, I don’t know.”
“Why not? You’ve worked for me for so long, wouldn’t you love to be your own boss?”
