Prologue
Shelley Roper
Tugging the scarf tighter around her neck, Shelley stumbled along the street.The wind was colder than she remembered, shriller, as though each icy blast was destined to hold her back.Sniffing back her tears, her lips twisted at the irony.
Everything in life seemed fated to bring that same bitter conclusion.
Every time she thought she was inching closer to something akin to contentment, each time happiness peeked out from behind its veil, it was grasped from her reach again.
“Like Joel…” She whispered his name into the breeze, turning her collar up against the gale.“I really thought he was the one.Really thought we had something good, but…”
Her words trailed away, lost to the choking emotion caught in her throat.If Joel wasn’t happy, then why hadn’t he sat her down and talked to her about his needs?She’d have been eager to hear them, eager to please.Instead, he’d been flirting with Leanne from Accounts for the last few months, and it had taken until that morning for him to find the balls to actually tell Shelley.
And only then because she’d noticed a text message from the new lucky lady on his phone.
Blinking away her tears, Shelley drew the strap of the rucksack higher on her shoulders.She didn’t blame Leanne.Not really.No doubt she was only the latest woman to flatter his ego and catch his eye, just as Shelley had once been.The responsibility lay with Joel, a man whose birth certificate claimed he was almost forty, but whose emotional maturity rivalled most teenage boys.He was the one who’d made promises to her about monogamy.If he’d changed his mind about their relationship, thenheshould have been the one to tell her before she’d found the errant message on his device.
Glancing up, the twinkling lights of a nearby café drew her attention, and seeking shelter from the freezing gusts, she opted to go inside.She checked her watch as she yanked open the door, acknowledging there were still forty-five minutes before she needed to catch her bus.
Plenty of time for one drink.
The tinkling bell over the door welcomed her, as did the rush of warm air and noise of other patrons that hit her in the face when she walked inside.
“Good afternoon.”The man behind the counter was unusually tall and well-built with a kind face, his lips curling as the door slammed shut.“Come out of the cold.”
“Thank you.”Shelley wiped her eyes hastily with the heel of her hand.
Hours of crying meant her face must have been red and swollen.She hadn’t intended to stop for a drink, but something about the cozy place had drawn her in.
“Are you okay?”The man’s tone was sympathetic.“Do you need a tissue?”
He produced a box from behind the counter, thrusting it in Shelley’s direction.
“Oh, thank you.”Shuffling closer, Shelley took one, dabbing the paper at her eyes.
Fleetingly, it occurred to her how strange it was that a café kept tissues by the till, but she swallowed back the thought.The stranger was only being thoughtful.She should have been grateful.
“What else can I get you?”Withdrawing the box, the café-owner gestured to the blackboard behind her head.
“Just a hot tea, please.”Shelley cast an eye over the board, scanning the list of tempting homemade cakes.“It’s so cold out there.”
“One pot of tea.”His smile grew.“Take a seat.I’ll bring it over to you.”
“Thanks.”
Turning to choose a seat, Shelley was struck by how empty the café was.She was sure the place had been teeming with customers when she’d walked in, but scanning the rows of tables, she saw they were all vacant.
That’s odd.
Her brows knitted briefly, but she instantly pushed the oddity away.Either she’d misjudged the volume when she’d walked in, or perhaps some people had left since she’d been chatting to the man at the checkout.
But I would have heard the bell if anyone had left.
Her focus flitted to the tiny silver chime waiting over the doorway.She’d distinctly heard it on her way in, but it hadn’t rung again since.
“Here you go.”The man appeared behind Shelley, clasping a tray including one small teapot, a china cup and saucer, and a small jug of milk.“Will you need sugar?”
“Er, no.”Flustered at being unable to deduce a logical reason for the abrupt emptying of the café, Shelley forced a smile.“This is perfect.”
