Page 32 of A Recipe for Romance in Brambleton

‘Oh no you don’t,’ Cathy countered, grabbing her purse. ‘I told you the drinks were on me tonight.’ She gestured to Lauren’s glass. ‘Cider?’

Lauren grinned. ‘Can you make it a Zero this time around? I don’t want to be legless!’

Cathy headed off to the bar and Lauren got her phone out to check if Myriam had sent her any more pictures from the ship. Nothing had come through yet, though, and so she slipped it back into her bag. She’d been so absorbed, she hadn’t noticed someone approaching where she was sitting until his reflection was caught in the mirror to her right.

‘Er, hello.’ A nervous voice broke into her thoughts.

Lauren glanced up, and to her surprise, saw Marc standing by her table.

‘Marc, hi,’ she said, her heart speeding up a little. ‘How lovely to see you.’

‘I managed to get someone to watch the boys for a couple of hours, so I thought I’d come in and see if you still fancied that drink.’ Marc rubbed the back of his neck in an adorably nervous gesture. ‘And I owe you another thank you for the chat on the bench the other night.’

‘You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.’ Lauren’s heart went out to him. It was never easy when someone found you feeling low. She tended to try to hide away from everyone when she felt that way, but, running the café, that wasn’t always possible. Although Marc had clearly gone to the bench for some solitude, she was glad that she had been able to help him feel better.

‘Can I buy you a drink?’ he asked, still hovering by her table.

Lauren shook her head. ‘My friend, Cathy’s just getting me one – but you’re welcome to join us.’

‘Oh, I don’t want to interrupt.’ Marc smiled down at her. ‘Hopefully we can catch up a bit later? Maybe I can buy you your next drink?’

‘I’d like that.’ Lauren gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile back.

‘See you in a bit.’ Marc turned back in the direction of Noah, Thea and Nick. As he did so, Cathy came back to the table with the drinks.

‘Hi,’ she said, placing the pints down. ‘It’s Marc, right? Your boys are in the same class as my Emily. I’ve seen you at the gate a couple of times.’

‘That’s right.’

As Marc and Cathy chatted, Lauren was happy to observe. Cathy was a natural with people, automatically knowing how to put them at ease. Lauren had noticed this immediately she’d come to work at the café, and she felt a mixture of pleasure and envy as she watched Cathy chatting to Marc for the minute or two he lingered at their table. As he left, giving Lauren another smile, Cathy sat back down.

‘Bloody hell, Lauren, if I wasn’t very happily married, I’d be in there like a shot. He’s gorgeous!’ Cathy turned shining eyes towards Lauren.

Lauren glanced down into her pint, avoiding her friend’s inquisitive gaze. ‘He is pretty nice, yeah.’

‘Pretty nice?’ Cathy’s raised eyebrow spoke volumes. ‘He’s kept himself to himself at the school gate – I haven’t seen him chatting to anyone, and it’s not been for want of some of the other mums trying, I can tell you!’

‘He wanted to buy me a drink to thank me for the cake,’ Lauren replied patiently. ‘But I told him you’d already got me one.’

‘Wow, smooth, Lauren!’ Cathy laughed. ‘I know it’s been a while, but surely even you can remember the right answer when a guy you fancy offers you a drink?’

‘I don’t fancy him,’ Lauren said mutinously, but she knew she sounded unconvincing. The truth was quite the opposite, and Cathy’s pull the other one expression spoke volumes.

‘Well, even if that was true, I’d have taken one for the team and drunk it.’ Cathy clinked her glass against Lauren’s. ‘So, in the interests of being a good friend, and an even better matchmaker, I’m off after this one, and you can go and join the sexy Mr Hathaway for a jar or two.’

‘What?’ Lauren nearly choked on her pint. ‘You’re abandoning me?’

‘Don’t think of it as being abandoned…’ Cathy’s eyes twinkled ‘…it’s more me giving you a gentle shove in the direction of someone a lot more exciting.’

‘You’re not shoving me anywhere!’ Lauren couldn’t help giggling. ‘I don’t need you to set me up on a date.’

‘Sure you don’t.’ Cathy, who could down a pint faster than most of the Lower Brambleton rugby team, took several large gulps of cider. ‘Besides, I’ve just had a text from Rob, telling me the kids have gone down to sleep and he’s on the sofa wearing nothing but a smile and his Superman pants!’

‘Really?’

‘No, of course not!’ Cathy finished her pint. ‘But a girl can dream, can’t she?’ She glanced over to where Marc was sitting. ‘He’s got one eye on you, anyway – that’s about the fifth time he’s looked over here since I came back with the drinks. The minute I stand up, he’ll be back over here, I guarantee it.’

‘So you’re just leaving me?’ Lauren tried, and failed, to look cross. It was even more difficult when she realised Cathy was right; Marc’s gaze did seem to be drawn to their table.