The Seafront Tea Rooms (9 page)

‘Good for you,’ Séraphine said.

‘There was no way I was going back to him,’ Charlie said. ‘Anyway, what’s so galling is that I think he was relieved. I guess he’d been looking for a get-out, and that was as good a way as any. I’m glad I’m not with him, I truly am. But I still feel as though it took away part of me. It hasn’t been easy, even though I know it was for the best.’

‘There’s a lot to be said for being single,’ Kat said.

‘There certainly is,’ Charlie agreed, smiling.

Séraphine nodded, but didn’t say anything. Kat wondered if it was because she was shy, or if she was holding something back. She seemed comfortable having the conversation, but it was as if she preferred to let Kat and Charlie do most of the talking.

‘Spending all evening in the bath with a glass of wine and a good book – you can’t beat that,’ Charlie said.

‘Starfishing in bed,’ Kat said. ‘That’s my favourite thing. ‘Oh, and eating ice cream at midnight.’

‘Yes. Although for me it’s got to be Dairylea and crisps, in a sandwich.’ Charlie added.

‘Eewww!’ Kat screwed up her face.

‘Absolutely – try it,’ Charlie insisted.

‘I guess even a foodie’s allowed time off. What else?’

‘Watching what I want, when I want,’ Charlie batted back. ‘No complaining during
The Great British Bake Off
.’

‘Time to sew quilts, and cushions.’

‘I don’t seem to get round to any of that,’ Charlie said, laughing. ‘But reading the paper and not having to hand over the best sections – that’s another thing I love.’

‘Knowing how to fix all the small things in your house. Because no one else is going to mend them for you.’ Kat added.

‘Oh, yes,’ Charlie laughed. ‘I’m even a spider-removal expert these days.’

‘There’s more time for friends,’ Séraphine said.

‘Yes,’ Charlie agreed, smiling warmly. ‘Definitely that.’

Charlie paid the bill, and put on her jacket. ‘OK – our next stop is over by the river.’

‘Let’s go,’ Kat said, getting to her feet.

The sun was out as the three women walked through town, down cobblestone streets and past Tudor buildings that now housed boutiques and restaurants. A group of tourists stopped to take photos by the city walls.

‘This place is so pretty,’ Séraphine said.

‘Yes, it is. It’s quiet though, isn’t it?’ Charlie said.

‘Do you think?’ Kat said, surprised. She glanced around at the shoppers and sightseers, conscious only of the bustle of activity surrounding them.

‘Compared to London, I suppose,’ Charlie said. ‘When I’m away, I always feel as if I’m missing out on something.’

‘You’re not,’ Kat said assertively. ‘Maybe now’s a good time to talk through the Cardinal Rule of Afternoon Tea.’

‘Oh?’ Charlie said, raising an eyebrow.

‘What’s that?’ Séraphine asked.

‘Let’s sit down,’ Kat said, motioning to a bench.

Charlie checked the time on her phone. ‘Now?’

‘Yes,’ Kat insisted.

‘But…’

Kat took Charlie’s hand, and the three women sat next to each other on the bench. Leaves fell gently on to the grass in front of them, a freshly laid carpet of greens and golds.

‘See that cat?’ Kat pointed at a tabby that had found a patch of sunlight on a nearby low wall, and was lying in it, content.

‘Yes,’ Charlie said.

‘What is it doing?’

Charlie watched the cat, bathing in its patch of warmth.

‘Nothing.’

‘Nothing? Are you sure?’

‘Yes. That cat is fundamentally failing to achieve.’ Charlie said.

Séraphine laughed. ‘I disagree. It’s living slowly. Contemplating. Enjoying.’

‘Exactly,’ Kat said, triumphantly. ‘Séraphine’s got it.’

‘That cat’s wasting time,’ Charlie said, firmly.

‘No, it isn’t.’ Kat shook her head. ‘And when we take our time over afternoon tea, neither are we. That’s the cardinal rule – never rush. Take time to savour it.’

Charlie and Séraphine pored over the menu in the Riverside Tea Room and Kat looked around at the mismatched wooden chairs repainted in teal and primrose yellow, admiring the vintage styling. Tiny origami birds were strung from the ceiling, and standard lamps with handmade shades with seventies florals brought a warm light to the room. The window seat, where the three of them were sitting, was strewn with pretty cushions made up of quilted squares.

‘You know what, in the name of research – and seeing as we are now officially not in a hurry – I think we go for the champagne option,’ Charlie said.

‘Are you sure?’ Séraphine asked.

‘Of course,’ Charlie said, with a smile. ‘It’s research. Besides, when you’ve worked as many late nights as I have, you don’t feel bad about a few expenses.’

‘Well, if you insist,’ Kat said, excited at the prospect.

When the drinks arrived, Kat took a tentative sip, the bubbles dancing on her tongue. She smiled. ‘I could get used to this.’

‘So, what do you think of this place?’ Charlie said, leaning back in her seat.

‘It’s cool,’ Séraphine said. ‘It’s trendier, I suppose. I love what they’ve done with the antique cake stands.’ She pointed at the display on the counter.

‘I like that too.’

‘I’m not sure about some of the cake flavours, though,’ Kat said. ‘Lemon and lavender?’

‘It could go either way, I suppose,’ said Charlie.

The waitress came over to their table with a tray of cakes and dainty sandwiches.

‘Here’s to afternoon tea,’ Charlie said, raising her glass.

‘And champagne,’ Séraphine added.

‘And to learning how it should be done,’ Kat added.

After tea, they took a scenic route back to Charlie’s car, chatting and laughing together. Kat’s mind buzzed with the new tastes and experiences, and in her new friends’ company she felt relaxed and free. On the way home, Charlie turned up the stereo and they sang along to the tunes they knew, explaining some of the lyrics to Séraphine. It was early evening, the sky dark, when they pulled up outside Kat’s flat by the pier.

‘Same time tomorrow?’ Charlie said.

‘I can’t, I’m afraid,’ Séraphine said. ‘I’ll be working.’

‘I’m in,’ Kat said, smiling widely. ‘This time, the coast.’

11

Friday 12 September

‘Séraphine, I’ve just nipped out in my lunch break, so I haven’t got long. Could I ask a favour?’

‘Sure,’ Séraphine said. Adam was standing in his hallway, the front door still open. There was an anxious expression on his face.

‘Could you make a delivery for me?’

‘Depends what it is. I’ve been warned about people like you,’ she joked.

‘It’s nothing dodgy, I promise. Come and see.’

He led her into the living room, where in the middle of the floor there was a white metal birdcage.

She approached it and bent down to get a closer look. ‘Lovebirds. How pretty.’

‘Yes, they’re beautiful, aren’t they? Very much in love but sadly no longer so loved by their owner.’

‘You’re not keeping them?’

‘No. No way. And luckily we have a taker for them already. You’re seeing Letty tonight, aren’t you? Do you think you could give them to her for me? She said she could do with some company. She’s got that flat over the tea rooms. I’d take them myself but I’ve got an after-hours call-out at Flamingo Land. Zoe’s going to be at her violin lesson, so I’ll collect her on the way home.’

‘OK. No problem. I’ll take them with me this evening.’

‘Thanks. I’ll pay for a taxi.’

Séraphine shook her head. ‘The bus will be fine.’

‘If you’re sure. And there’s one other little thing…’

‘What is it now?’ she asked, laughing. ‘A tarantula? A boa constrictor?’

‘Not that bad,’ Adam said. A bark from the garden gave it away. Séraphine went over to the window.

‘A dog,’ she smiled. ‘Where did he come from?’

‘I just brought him back. He came in this morning. Part beagle. Part something else. And totally mad, from the looks of things. The previous owners couldn’t give him the exercise he needed.’

‘And he’s going to…?’

‘My friend Euan – obsessed with marathon-training, and totally foolhardy.’

‘An ideal match.’

‘I hope so. He’s said he’ll do a two-month trial period, and I’m hoping it works out, because the alternative isn’t that rosy. No delivery needed – Euan will pick him up later. Would you be able to keep an eye on Bagel in the meantime?’

‘Bagel?’

‘Bagel. The beagle.’

‘Nice. Yes, sure.’

‘Maybe you and Zoe could take him out for a walk after school? Euan said he’d pop by at four to collect him.’

‘OK,’ Séraphine said, with a little trepidation.

‘It’ll be fine, honestly.’

‘You didn’t put this in the job description,’ Séraphine joked.

‘Haven’t you noticed that I barely put anything in the job description? Because if I had, you never would have come.’

Séraphine laughed. ‘That’s probably true. Anyway, don’t worry, your animal hotel is in safe hands with me. Have a good day.’

‘You too. And sorry about all this.’

‘No problem. But try not to bring anyone else home tonight.’

‘So here are the different shops in the town,’ Séraphine said, pointing to a picture of her village, in the hope she could engage Zoe’s attention. ‘
Patisserie, boul
—’ The doorbell interrupted her.

‘Saved by the bell,’ Zoe said, springing to her feet. ‘I bet that’s Euan.’ She looked out of the window. ‘Yes it is. You get the door, I’ll get Bagel.’

Séraphine went to answer the door. The man on the doorstep was around Adam’s age, with dark-blond hair.

‘Hi,’ she said. ‘You must be Euan. I’m Séraphine.’

‘Pleasure to meet you,’ he said. ‘Adam’s told me all about you.’

‘Good, I hope.’

‘Yes. All of it good.’

‘You’re here for the dog, aren’t you? Zoe’s just getting him.’

‘Euan,’ Zoe bellowed through from the garden. ‘He won’t move!’

‘Oh dear,’ Euan said. ‘That doesn’t sound a very promising start.’

The beagle was pressing himself up against the garden wall and whining. Zoe had hold of his collar, and was tugging at it, but the more she did so, the more determined Bagel seemed to stay put. He was letting out a high-pitched whine.

‘Look, Euan, he won’t shift,’ Zoe said. She threw the lead to the floor, exasperated. ‘You try.’

Euan stepped forward and crouched down next to the dog. He spoke to Bagel in soft tones. ‘Hey there,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to hurt you.’

He turned around and looked at Séraphine. ‘Have you got anything we could lure him with? Any food?’

‘Cheerios?’ Zoe said.

‘Not ideal,’ Euan said. ‘Doesn’t Adam have any Pedigree Chum? Or dog biscuits?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Zoe said. ‘We used up the biscuits last time.’

‘Last time?’ Séraphine said.

‘There’ve been a few,’ Zoe said. ‘Staffordshire bull terriers mainly. But we had a husky, and a Chihuahua.’

‘This is the first one that Adam’s succeeded in getting me to say yes to, Séraphine,’ Euan said, with a smile. ‘He knows I’ve got a weakness for beagles. I’ve always admired the way they can learn to get into fridges on their own.’

‘What about a madeleine?’ Séraphine said. ‘No one can resist a madeleine.’

Bagel was letting Euan stroke him, but wasn’t moving an inch.

‘OK, a madeleine it is. Whatever that might be,’ Euan said.

‘You try one first,’ Séraphine said. She ducked into the kitchen and came back with the biscuit tin, handing a madeleine to Euan. He took a bite and nodded appreciatively. ‘Not bad.’

Bagel started to sniff at the food and bark loudly. Euan got to his feet. ‘OK, I’m going to lay a trail of crumbs. Zoe, you stay here, so that he can’t get any further away, and Séraphine, could you stand by the front door to stop him dashing out?’

The three of them worked together for the next quarter of an hour, tempting Bagel with crumbs until he was safely in Adam’s hatchback.

‘Thank you,’ Euan said.

‘That’s OK,’ Zoe shrugged.

Séraphine was starting to see a different side of her in Euan’s company. Softer, quick-witted and kind.

‘I wish you two a very happy life together,’ Séraphine said to Euan. ‘And if either of you ever want any more cakes, you know where to find me.’

Séraphine got off the bus, and walked towards The Seafront. The town looked different at night, the reflections of lights twinkling on the water. She glanced down at the cage she was carrying and smiled. The lovebirds had attracted quite a lot of attention on the journey. It felt good to be out on her own in town, talking to local people, and now, with friends, and somewhere to go. Kat had texted her earlier to say that she and Charlie would be at the tea rooms that evening too.

Letty opened the tea-room door to her, and Séraphine greeted her, waving over to Kat and Charlie, who joined them at the door.

‘Hi everyone. Letty, I brought you something – from Adam,’ Séraphine said, setting the birdcage down gently.

‘Wow,’ Charlie exclaimed, smiling. ‘I really wasn’t expecting that.’

‘Oh, aren’t they gorgeous?’ Letty said, crouching to admire the birds.

‘So pretty.’ Kat peered into the cage. ‘Are these yours now, Letty?’

‘Yes. I expect they’ll be no end of trouble, flying around upstairs, but I can’t bear to think of them in this cage all the time.’ She lifted the cage. ‘Thanks for bringing them over.’

‘I’ll take them upstairs and get them settled. See you in a moment,’ Letty said, walking off with the birdcage towards the staircase at the rear of the tea rooms.

‘How’s it all been going?’ Séraphine asked Kat and Charlie. ‘Did you have a good trip today?’

‘It’s been great,’ Kat said. ‘We wanted to give Letty an update. I think she’s slightly envious that she hasn’t been able to join us. Today we went to see some tea rooms along the coast and found a beautiful place cut into the rock of a cliff – it took us about an hour to get to it, but the tea and cake were totally worth the long walk.’

‘Sounds wonderful.’ Séraphine said. ‘Have you finished, or are there more places to visit?’

‘We’ve got a few more to see,’ Charlie said.