A yellow cab crawled up alongside the kerb and stopped. The back door opened and out Angel came. Winter boots on her feet, jeggings and a red, woollen coat covering the rest of her. Her brown hair was tied up in two ponytails, reindeers on the elastic bands. She looked to him, wrinkling her nose slightly. He smiled, waved a hand. Angel just carried on looking.
Hayley got out of the taxi and closed the door behind her, waving a thank you to the cabbie. His insides clenched at the sight of her, like they always did. He smiled and she didn’t respond either.
‘Hey,’ he greeted as they approached the entrance of Marvin’s Ice Cream Emporium.
‘Hey,’ Hayley responded, a frosty note to her tone.
He clapped his hands together. ‘All ready to fill ourselves with the good stuff?’
‘We ate a lot at Romario’s at lunchtime,’ Angel informed.
He frowned, pushing open the door for them. ‘You went to Romario’s?’
‘It was a business meeting with your mum about the fundraiser I’m not allowed to mention,’ Hayley stated, sweeping past him.
‘I didn’t say you couldn’t mention it.’ He took her arm. ‘What’s going on?’
‘I don’t know, Oliver, you tell me.’
Her expression was hard and he really had no idea what he’d done to warrant it.
‘Ooh, Mum, they’ve got hundreds of different toppings!’ Angel exclaimed, excitedly, stepping onto the black and white tiled floor of the shop and looking to the counter.
‘Well, if you’ve got room around that loaf of garlic bread in your stomach then you go for it.’
‘Hey, Angel, let me show you what I always had here when I was your age.’ He stepped away from Hayley and led the way into the shop.
‘You came here when you were nine?’ Angel asked, looking up at him.
‘I started coming here before I could walk. My brother liked it,’ he stated, staring through the glass at the different containers of ice cream and toppings.
‘More than shrimp?’ Angel asked, fixing her gaze on him.
The question took him by surprise. ‘How did you know he liked shrimp?’
‘Cynthia told us. We’re having shrimp for the starter at theMcArthur Foundation fundraiser.’ Angel smiled proudly. ‘It was my idea. The main course is Mrs Futcher’s daughter’s favourite food and the pudding is a special cheesecake Mr Wright’s wife used to make before she got ill.’
Oliver swallowed. It was wonderful and heart-breaking all rolled into one. Just like the foundation itself. He put a hand on Angel’s shoulder. ‘And you came up with that idea all by yourself? Your mom’s always telling me how smart you are. Now I really know.’
The smell of toffee, caramel, chocolate and cream was so powerful, it was almost sending Hayley into a sugar coma on its own. But despite the sweet ambience, it was difficult to be here, sharing this first proper meeting between Oliver and Angel, when she was so mad with him.
‘Can I have another bowl?’ Angel asked, looking up at them both, a chocolate button stuck to her chin.
‘Angel, you’ve had three already,’ Hayley reminded her.
‘I know but I really wanted to try the mince pie flavour and that’s limited edition. It mightn’t be here after Christmas Day.’ She batted her eyelashes at Hayley then turned the eyes on Oliver.
‘One more?’ Oliver asked, the question directed at Hayley.
‘She’s playing you,’ Hayley told him.
‘I know. I don’t care. It’s almost Christmas,’ he responded, grinning at Angel. ‘Go get yourself some more.’
Angel leapt up and rushed to the counter while Hayley finally let out the sigh she’d been holding in for an hour.
‘Are you going to tell me what’s going on?’ Oliver asked, picking up his coffee cup and cradling it in his hands.
Hayley folded her arms across her chest, her eyes going to Angel, ensuring she was far enough away not to hear.
