‘No, but it does mean thinking about my week differently. I’m likely to spend most Sundays with Jed or my parents so I might need another day off during the week to catch up on everything I’d normally do on a Sunday.’
‘You more than deserve it. I’ve never known how you manage to squeeze everything in as it is.’
‘An insatiable need to keep busy,’ I admitted. I wasn’t great at doing nothing, although not all my activities required brain power. I did plenty of things which helped me relax such as swimming, Pilates and crafting.
‘If you want to start taking a weekday off, I’m happy to step up.’
Maria had done that on several occasions last year after I launched a programme called Project Hercules,working with students at Whitsborough Bay TEC and the sixth form college. I’d enlisted other entrepreneurs from Bay Trade, a business club I was in, to provide mentoring to students who might be interested in running their own business, even if that was just in a small capacity like selling some artwork or crafts. We’d extended it into providing life-skills coaching so I often needed time away from the café to run sessions.
‘Appreciate that. Let me see how January pans out and I’ll come back to you.’
I didn’t need to add that I’d pay her more for any days she stepped up as manager because I’d done that all along. I expected a lot from my team but I gave a lot in return.
The door opened and we both looked up expectantly, but it wasn’t customers – it was my foster parents.
‘I wasn’t expecting to see you two today,’ I said, coming out from behind the counter to hug them both.
‘We were missing you,’ Mum said. ‘We had a good relax yesterday and this morning but we were going stir crazy in the cottage so we thought we’d catch you before you close.’
Maria told me she had everything under control and I should sit down and have a drink with them so we settled at one of the tables near the back of the café. After Maria brought drinks over, I told them about Boxing Day on the seafront, finishing up with the encounter with Aaron.
‘Is Jed all right?’ Mum asked.
‘Putting on a brave face. He knows there’s not much he can do but seeing Aaron again has stirred up all sorts of emotions and I completely get it. I know first-hand how hard it is having to walk away from people you love.’
I’d fled from London to Whitsborough Bay – cutting myself off from my former life – after discovering the truth about what my husband, Garth, and my foster sister, Leanne, had done to meand why. That had included severing contact with my foster parents – devastating but essential for moving on with my life – and changing my name so I couldn’t be found.
Mum placed her hand over mine. ‘But we’re back in your life now and hopefully Jed’s ex will see a way to let Aaron back into his.’
‘Speaking of estranged family members,’ Dad said, his shoulders slumping, ‘I picked up a message from Leanne yesterday.’
My stomach lurched and goose bumps broke out across my arms.
‘What did she want?’ I asked, trying to keep my voice light even though I felt suddenly cloaked by darkness.
‘To wish us a happy Christmas,’ Mum said, ‘and to tell us that she’d found it strange not seeing us.’
‘She wants to meet us to talk,’ Dad added.
‘Oh!’ My stomach lurched once more. ‘Are you going to?’
They both shook their heads vigorously.
‘I’m not strong enough to deal with the drama and the manipulation at the moment,’ Mum said.
‘And I can’t forgive her for her don’t-care attitude when she learned about your mum’s cancer.’ Dad sighed heavily. ‘I’m not going to return her call.’
Dodging her calls was one thing but would they have the same conviction if she turned up in person?
‘Do you think she knows where you are?’ I asked, praying they’d give a categoric no.
‘Hopefully not,’ Dad said, ‘but she has contacts so she could find out if she really wants to.’
He glanced at Mum who shrugged and added, ‘Which she probably does if she’s determined to try and get some money out of us again.’
I counted to three in my head to helpgather my emotions together. ‘I know how hurt you are about what she did to me as well as what she did to you, but I do understand that she’s your daughter and severing ties with family is hard. If you do decide you want to speak to her or even see her, don’t let reconnecting with me stop you.’
‘That’s very understanding of you,’ Mum said, ‘but, like your dad says, we won’t be calling her back.’
