“So that’s one latte, one pot of Earl Grey and two scones with cream and jam?” Allie hovered the pencil over her small notebook.

“Yes please.” The blonde woman nodded at Allie then resumed her conversation with the older woman, who Allie guessed was probably her mother. The resemblance between them was too strong for there to be no connection.

In the kitchen, she got two china plates from the cupboard then took two freshly baked lemonade scones from the wire rack. Next to each scone she put a small white ramekin full of thick clotted cream and an identical one full of homemade strawberry jam. Last year she’d had fabulous crops of strawberries and raspberries in her back garden and had enjoyed turning them into delicious preserves to use in the café.

She carried the plates to the counter then set about making the latte and the Earl Grey. Everything was automatic now; she’d developed her routines and enjoyed the comfort that came from them. From baking to serving to making conversation with the customers, running the café was everything Allie had hoped it would be and more. It kept her busy, busier than she could have imagined, and that had filled the gap in her life.

Until now.

Seeing Chris again had made her realise that she used to have something that she no longer had. In fact, she hadn’t had it in quite some time, and that thought gave her a sudden surge of disquiet. She had so much to be grateful for.

But…

She was lonely.

And not for just any company, but for the man she’d grown up with, a friend who knew her well and whom she shared so many memories with. She missed Roger in some ways, yes – it was inevitable, even with things being as they had at the end – but she couldn’t get him back. However, Chris was here, alive and well, and he’d told her he left because of his feelings for her. Was it possible that he still had some of those feelings? Or was that too much to hope for? After all, she didn’t even know if he was involved with someone. It was a question she’d been too afraid to ask last night, even when he’d walked her back to the cottage and insisted on seeing her inside. He hadn’t come past the threshold, though, just watched as she’d shut the door then told her through the letterbox to make sure she locked it properly. That had made her laugh, especially when he’d stuck his finger through and wiggled it as he said goodnight.

She’d gone to bed with a smile on her face and a sense of lightness in her heart. Feeling like a teenager all over again.

“Mum?”

She blinked, coming back to reality with a jolt.

“I asked if those scones are going to blondie younger and blondie older.”

“Yes they are. And Jordan please don’t refer to our customers by their hair colour. They might be offended if they overhear you.”

“Well what else should I call them?”

“The two ladies? Or just use the table number.”

He grinned at her.

“But hair colour’s much more fun.”

Allie shook her head.

“Yes, take the scones over then come back for the drinks.”

Jordan delivered the scones and drinks then joined her behind the counter.

“Did you have a good time last night, Mum?”

She met his blue eyes.

“Yes, I did.”

“I saw Camilla driving away.”

Allie froze. What should she do? Confess?

“She did go home early. She thought she had a migraine coming on.”

“Oh.” He shrugged. “Shame. As long as you had fun.”

“I did.”

“Mum?”

“Yes, darling.”

“I need to tell you something and I never seem to be able to find the right time.”

“Right…” A thousand worries shot through Allie’s mind. Was he ill? Was he leaving Heatherlea? Had he found out about his father – the thing she’d never wanted him to know? Was he in trouble or had he got someone else in trouble? She looked at his sun-kissed hair and the spattering of freckles over his nose and cheeks. He was a man now but in so many ways, he was still her baby boy and always would be.

“Don’t look so worried, Mum. I haven’t done anything wrong. It’s about me… and Max. See—”

“Allie!” Camilla bounded across the café.

“Hi Camilla, I didn’t see you arrive.”

“I got my heel stuck in the welcome mat outside, so it took me a while to free myself. Anyway, Allie, I—”

“One moment.” Allie held up a hand to her friend. “What was it you wanted to tell me, Jordan?”

He opened his mouth then closed it again and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, Mum. We can talk about it tonight.”

“Okay, sweetheart. As long as you’re sure it can wait.”

“I’ll just see if blondie… I mean the ladies at table number five want anything else.” As he went over to the table and turned on his youthful charm, Allie hoped he was all right; that whatever it was that he wanted to tell her could wait. She’d spent twenty-three years trying to protect and nurture him; keeping him safe as he crossed the road, as he used the internet, as he negotiated his way through life. She would do anything for him and Mandy, anything at all.

“Allie, I know you’ve been ignoring my calls and text messages but I want all the gossip from last night. Was it a passionate reunion? Did he have to purchase more… protection from the pub toilets? Did you rediscover your sex drive after—”

“Stop!”

“What?”

“That’s enough. You are incorrigible, Camilla. Nothing happened.”

“What? Nothing?” Camilla’s mouth sagged open.

“Well not nothing, because we had a really nice time.”

“Really nice time?” Camilla snorted. “Nice?”

“Yes, nice. We chatted and enjoyed a delicious meal then he walked me home.”

“I’m disappointed.”

“Well don’t be.”

“But I am. I had high hopes for you, darling.”

“I’m happy as I am.”

“Whatever!” Camilla waved a hand in the air, her red shellac nails flawless as always.

“Now what can I get you?”

“Some hope.”

“Hope?”

“Yes. The hope that you’re going to see him again.”

“Ah.” Allie released a sigh. “Well I am actually. Tomorrow, I’m going round to his mother’s house to help him start clearing it out.”

“He’s selling?”

“I would think so.”

“Shame.”

“Well that’s up to him, isn’t it?”

Allie turned away then, to make her friend a cappuccino and to hide her expression from prying eyes. If Chris did sell the house, she would be disappointed too. Because now that he’d returned to Heatherlea, she was starting to realise that she didn’t want him to leave.