‘They were able to help, to look out for you,’ James says.
‘Did everybody know?’ I ask. I can hear my aunt talking to whoever it was that rang. Who rings a landline anymore?
‘They knew your parents were struggling but I don’t think they knew the details.’
I blow a breath out of my mouth. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘This is a lot for you to take in,’ my uncle says softly. ‘Especially after what you found out about Ben, but I wanted you to know.’
‘Why suddenly now?’ I ask. ‘Why today?’
‘Because I can’t bear for you to keep thinking that these things are somehow your fault. That first your mother, then Marcus and now Ben have all abandoned you. I need you to know how special you are, Eloise, how brave you are. There aren’t many women your age who would walk away from their whole life to set up a tea shop in the middle of nowhere and make such a success of it.’
‘Oh it wasn’t—’ I begin to protest.
‘It was,’ James interrupts. ‘It is a huge success and you know it.’
‘Thank you,’ I concede.
‘But I also want you to know that there are always two sides to every story – I hope you realise that now you know the truth about your mother?’
‘I do, and I am so grateful that you told me.’
‘So perhaps,’ my uncle goes on. ‘There are two sides to this story with Ben as well.’
Before I get a chance to reply Miranda comes back into the dining room.
‘Sascha’s on the phone for you,’ she says.
23
By the time I leave my aunt and uncle’s house it’s pouring with rain – that fine, cold rain that soaks you to the bone. It is quickly melting the snow and leaving grey slushy patches at the side of the street. The weather looks exactly how I feel.
I sigh and pull up the hood of my coat.
‘Let me get you an umbrella,’ James says.
‘It’s fine,’ I reply. ‘It won’t help.’
Miranda puts a hand on my shoulder and turns me towards her. ‘Are you going to be OK, love?’ she asks. ‘You can stay here tonight if you want.’
‘I’ll be OK,’ I say, stepping away from her. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow for Knitting Club.’
‘Think about what Sascha said,’ Miranda goes on. ‘Think about hearing Ben’s side of the story.’
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ I repeat as I walk down the front path towards the road giving a backhanded wave, the rain already soaking me.
I hear the front door shut behind me and I dig my hands into my pockets as I walk back to the café.
Sascha had heard everything by the time she had phoned me at my aunt and uncle’s. I suspect she’d heard everything by the time she phoned for the first time this morning. Ben had gone straight back to the hotel after I asked him to leave the café and it seems that Marcus followed him.
‘They were bickering so loudly in reception that a guest complained and Geoff had to split them up,’ Sascha had said. ‘So obviously I made them tell me exactly what was going on.’
‘And?’ I’d replied, unable to work up much enthusiasm.
‘Well I think you should talk to Ben, let him tell you what he told me.’
‘What did he tell you?’
She’d hesitated for a moment, knowing it wasn’t really her business, before ploughing on anyway. ‘He was trying to stop it, trying to stop Moby’s buying the café. He said that as soon as he saw you in the café on that first night he knew he couldn’t ask you to sell.’
‘Is he still there?’ I’d asked.
‘He’s been in the lounge all afternoon staring into space. He hasn’t filled in a single crossword clue.’
I hadn’t replied, hadn’t known what to say. All I’d been able to think about was Ben standing in the café that morning begging me to let him explain and Marcus… Why had Marcus opened that envelope? Why was he so angry?
‘Come and talk to him, Ellie,’ Sascha had said gently.
‘I can’t. Not right now.’
I’d told Sascha I’d see her at Knitting Club and hung up. Now as I walk home I wonder if I’ve missed my chance. This rain means Ben isn’t snowed in anymore. I know that he must be keen to get back to York, especially after all this, and there is every chance he’ll leave tonight.
I hesitate outside the side door to my flat wondering if I should go to the hotel and let him explain everything to me. I feel the tears burn the backs of my eyes as I remember the last two days that we’ve spent together, as I remember his kiss and the contours of his body. I remember everything we’ve talked about and everything we’ve shared and I remember that I can’t trust him with any of that now, because he lied to me.
I can’t do it. It’s too late.
I’m about to open the door to the flat when I notice lights and movement in the café. I walk over to the café door and let myself in that way.
‘What are you doing?’ I ask. Marcus is in the middle of rearranging the whole café and he’s moved the Christmas tree into the window at the front.
‘It’s better this way,’ he says.
‘Haven’t you interfered enough for one day, Marcus?’
‘I’m not going to apologise,’ he replies. ‘I knew Ben was up to something and I was right.’
‘Do you have to be so sanctimonious about it?’
‘Surely it’s better to know in the long run.’
I slump against the door and press my forefinger and thumb into my eyes.
‘I suppose,’ I say quietly. ‘It was better I found out now.’
I open my eyes and look around the café at the mess he’s made.
‘Why?’ I ask gesturing at the Christmas tree.
‘It was Abi’s idea,’ he says. ‘We felt it needed to be more central to really show it off.’
I think about putting the tree up with Ben, about almost falling off the stepladder, about… I push the thought away.
‘But there’s no plug socket for the lights over here,’ I say.
‘I’ve used an extension.’
‘But…’
‘Stop worrying,’ Marcus says. ‘It’s fine, I promise.’
I’m too tired to argue with him.
‘I’m going to bed,’ I say. ‘It’s been a long day.’
‘Do you want to talk about it, El?’
‘No,’ I reply as I walk away. ‘No I really don’t.’
24
‘He’s not here,’ Sascha says. ‘He must have left really early because his key was on the reception desk when I came downstairs. I’m so sorry, Ellie.’
I look at the car park and see the space where his Audi used to be.
‘I should have come last night,’ I say.
‘Come here,’ Sascha says drawing me into a hug. ‘Come inside and have some breakfast.’
It’s freezing cold and looks as though it might start raining again any moment.