Ten minutes later Connie had driven Grandie back to Honeysuckle Farm and I began taking down all the old leaflets and exam timetables from the old cork pin-board in the entrance hall of the dance school. My stomach growled, hungry now after skipping breakfast.
Sam caught my eye through the front window of the dance school. He was standing on the other side of the road next to a recovery vehicle, chatting to a man with messy brown hair wearing a red checked shirt who was wiping his hands on an oily rag. Two brightly coloured leads trailed from Sam’s car to the van, and the car’s engine was revving. Sam must have sensed someone was watching him and he looked over. His smile lifted and widened, then he waved at me.
Once the man had disconnected the leads and packed up his van, he slapped Sam on his back, climbed into his vehicle and drove off. Sam hovered on the pavement for a split second before locking up his car and crossing over the road, heading straight for the dance school.
‘All fixed?’ I asked as the door swung open.
He exhaled with relief, ‘Just a flat battery, and now it’s fully recharged, thankfully.’
‘We all need our batteries recharging at some time.’ I sighed.
‘You okay?’
‘Hangover, tired and worried sick, in a nutshell. I bet you’re glad you asked now.’ I attempted a smile.
Sam pulled a baffled face. ‘Sounds to me like you need cheering up.’
‘I need food. I skipped breakfast and now the munchies have kicked in.’
‘Then let me treat you to brunch, I know just the place,’ he grinned.
After I’d locked up the dance school Sam drove the car towards the edge of town and parked it down a side street. The red neon sign above the door read ‘Harry’s Café’ and visible in the window were a couple of plastic tables covered in wipeable gingham table cloths, accompanied by the usual brown and red sauce bottles.
‘A greasy spoon – you can’t beat a full English fry-up with a hangover,’ he assured me with a twinkle in his eye. I followed Sam into the café and he pulled out a chair. ‘The best seat in the house, the window seat.’ He handed me a paper napkin which I placed on my lap.
‘Such a gentleman.’
Sam ordered at the spotless aluminium counter that ran the full length of one wall, and exchanged jovial banter with the waitress behind the counter before returning to the table with a pot of tea to share.
‘Do you come here often?’ I asked playfully.
‘Funnily enough, I do, usually on the way to the train station. It sets me up for the day. Now, what’s up with you?’
‘Nothing … everything.’
‘Typical woman, can’t make her mind up.’
I laughed.
‘That’s better, she smiles – and a wonderful smile you have, too.’
My heart stuttered as I stared at him. He had the ability to make me feel good even when I didn’t want to.
‘I’ve got a few things on my mind,’ I admitted, knowing that my life was going to come crashing down around my ears very soon. Try as I might, I couldn’t push that worried, anxious feeling from my mind. ‘Grandie is out of hospital and Mum is due to arrive.’ But I didn’t mention accidently coming across my father on Facebook.
‘And have you taken on more than you can manage with Brook Bridge Goes Strictly?’ He raised a worried eyebrow, pouring the tea.
I was thankful for the distraction. Choreographing the dance routines and bringing a smile to the WI ladies’ faces had given me something good for the community to focus on. I hadn’t known how enjoyable teaching could be until I’d been given this chance to do it.
‘There’s a lot to do with the staging and the costumes but it all seems to be coming together.’
‘Good, the lads are coming over one night next week.’
‘Excellent!’
Sam nipped to the bathroom, just before the waitress placed two full English breakfasts and a plate of granary toast on the table in front of me, which my stomach was extremely grateful for.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a shadow lurking outside the café window, then met the stare of Ben, his cool eyes studying me intently. He pushed open the shop door and was now hovering at the side of the table, his face like thunder.
I smiled.
‘For a minute there, I thought you were having breakfast with Sam Reid.’
There went my smile. That wasn’t the greeting I was quite expecting. ‘I am,’ I replied coolly, wondering where this conversation was going.
‘What are you doing with the likes of him?’
My mouth dropped open, ‘Like we’ve just established, having breakfast.’
‘You never returned my call.’
So that’s what this is about, I thought. He felt dejected that I hadn’t texted or rung him back.
‘I’ve been busy,’ I said, which wasn’t strictly a lie. ‘I’m working with Dorothy and the girls on the grand finale of Village Day. Brook Bridge Goes Strictly.’
He nodded his acknowledgement, which suggested he thought my answer was feasible.
‘How about dinner tonight or a drink?’ he pressed, his mouth doing a funny twitching thing while he waited for me to answer.
‘I really haven’t got the time, with the rehearsals and everything … but thank you,’ I added politely.
‘But you’ve time for breakfast?’
I was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable in Ben’s presence now. Why was he continuing to be like this? And where was Sam? I was willing him to hurry back.
‘I have. I’ve just finished a dance session with Elsie and I’m taking a quick break.’ Why did I feel the need to explain myself? The anger was beginning to furiously bubble inside me.
‘His sort aren’t good.’
‘Ben, I don’t want to hear it. Whatever your opinion is of Sam, it’s not mine.’
The fury in his eyes flashed before me. To me it looked like Ben was jealous of Sam, resenting the fact that I was sharing breakfast with him. Once upon a time, Ben had been my friend, but how things had changed in thirteen years. He’d changed. I didn’t recognise the kind, caring lad I once knew.
Judging by the tone of his voice and after spotting me having breakfast with Sam, it was safe to say he wasn’t happy. I had a horrible feeling about the thunderous look in his eyes.
‘You and Sam? Are you … are you?’
‘It’s none of your business,’ I replied curtly, daring a quick glance towards the door and hoping Sam would return.
‘Does your grandfather know about this?’
‘What, that I’m having breakfast in a café on the edge of town?’ I knew I was being facetious but he was being pathetic.
‘Maybe I should mention it. That’s where I’m off to now, the farm.’
I heard the tenor of his breathing change. Inside I was beginning to shake with rage. Was he actually threatening me? Before I had time to answer, he huffily walked out of the café.
I blew out a breath.
The absolute horror of his suggestion caused my heart to race. What if he did mention it to Grandie? I had no idea how Grandie was going to react, but thinking about all the possibilities, my appetite diminished fast and I began to feel sick to my stomach. Ben’s manner was quite disturbing, but surely he wouldn’t stoop that low.
‘Sorry I’ve been so long. My phone rang.’ Sam settled back at the table, picking up the sauce bottle, oblivious to Ben’s fleeting visit.
I was staring out of the window. Sam followed my gaze and then he saw him too – Ben striding away, with his hands pushed deep into his pockets.
‘Sam, I’m sorry, but I have to go,’ I said with urgency, knowing I needed to hotfoot it to Honeysuckle Farm.
‘What have I missed?’ asked Sam, giving me an incredulous stare.