“Don’t mind me if you want to take a call,” said Vanessa, waving her ice-cream at Joey’s mobile.
“No, it’s fine.” Joey felt herself begin the shut-down. She looked at her phone, ringing out, and then over to Vanessa. Maybe she didn’t need to shut down. “It’s my dad.”
The phone stopped, and Joey replaced it in her pocket. She took a lick of her coffee flavoured ice-cream. “You don’t need to say any more,” said Vanessa. “I know your relationship is complicated.”
“Yeah,” said Joey. “Although talking about you and your gran, and Dani and her uncle, makes me wonder if I ought to reconsider my approach to him. I’ve not seen or spoken to him in years. Perhaps he’s changed? Or maybe there’s something important he wants to tell me?”
“Well, maybe,” said Vanessa. “Only you can decide what’s the right thing to do.”
“Hmm. Yeah.” Joey bit off the edge of her cone.
“You could text him, I guess. It’s a bit easier than a call. But only if that works for you.” Vanessa polished off the last vestiges of her ice-cream. “That was delicious. Is it me, or is everything better in Spain?”
“Well, I think so. Otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed.” Joey gave a rueful grin.
Chapter Thirty-Three
VANESSA
Vanessa scrolled through properties on the estate agent’s website. She couldn’t avoid the fact that the handful of shop fronts available in Birmingham that might work for her cafe looked somewhat grey and lifeless when set against the cafes in Barcelona.
She was sitting at a table outside Carmen’s cafe, dipping churros into molten chocolate. The rich sweetness coated her tongue. Perhaps she could create a sense of warmth and sunshine in her home city through the decor and the food she served. She opened another listing. It didn’t help that the pictures looked like they’d been taken on a rainy, overcast day. She shook her head. She needed to focus. This was her dream, her ambition. This was what she’d promised her gran. This was what she’d promised herself: that she’d stick to this plan. She wouldn’t flake on it.
Carmen delivered her an iced coffee. “Have you found somewhere?” she asked.
“Maybe,” said Vanessa, but her heart was sayingsomething else. “A few places for me to have a look at when I go back.”
“Good. I’m sure it will be a success. Your bakes have been so popular with my customers,” Carmen told her. “Between those and the local delicacies Joey’s been teaching you, I think you have something special to offer.”
Vanessa beamed. “Thanks, Carmen. And thanks for welcoming me into your bakery. I wouldn’t have learnt nearly as much without you.”
Carmen raised an eyebrow. “Or Josefina.”
“No,” said Vanessa.
“She likes you,” said Carmen, her voice just above a whisper. “That doesn’t happen very often.”
Vanessa wasn’t sure what to say, so she gave Carmen one of her warmest smiles.
“Just be careful with her,” said the older woman, before patting Vanessa on the shoulder. “Right, I’m leaving early today. I’m off to see my grandchildren.” She grinned.
“I bet they love their granny,” said Vanessa.
“And I love them,” said Carmen, clasping her hands together before going into the bakery to gather her possessions.
There was something wonderful about the love Carmen gave out, not only to her grandchildren, but also to Vanessa and Joey. It was clear Joey meant a lot to Carmen, and Vanessa was determined not to hurt her. But she also knew that there was no easy path for them, if they went from kisses and glances to something more.
“You look deep in thought.” Joey’s face appeared before Vanessa.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” said Vanessa. “I was just thinking about that torn-out recipe from my book.” While that wasn’t strictly true, it had been on her mind. There was anenduring mystery about the book that she was determined to solve.
“Well if I can drag you from the past, I wonder if I could take you out this evening?” Joey looked down at Vanessa from where she stood. She nibbled at her lower lip.
“I’d love to,” said Vanessa immediately, all thoughts of cafe premises and the future evaporating in an instant.
Joey’s cheeks reddened in a way that made Vanessa’s heart swell. There was no doubt about it, this was a date, and this was Joey making her intentions clear. She wanted Vanessa. And Vanessa was here for it.
“I’ll come and pick you up at seven,” she said, and quickly disappeared into the bakery to return to the kitchen. Vanessa watched her go, feeling excitement build in her stomach.
