Page 11 of Suddenly Beck

‘Coffee I can do,’ she says patiently with a sigh. ‘Take a seat, you may as well wait out the rain.’ She glances out the window. ‘It doesn’t look as if it’ll last long, it’s just a shower, and then it’ll blow out to sea.’

‘Oh, well, if you’re sure,’ I reply. ‘I don’t want to be a bother.’

‘Trust me, it’s the least of my worries today.’ She shakes her head indicating for me to take a seat at the bar.

‘Rough one?’ I ask.

‘You have no idea.’ She heads behind the bar to a huge and complicated looking machine. ‘What would you like? Cappuccino? Latte?’

‘Straight up black would be good.’ I slide onto one of the bar stools.

She nods and lifts a plain white mug down from the stack lined up neatly on top of the machine and begins to fill it. A dark and heavenly smell fills my nostrils as she sets it down in front of me.

‘Thank you.’ I wrap my hands around the steaming mug, the warmth making my fingers tingle. ‘What do I owe you?’

‘Forget it.’ She shakes her head. ‘Like I said, least of my worries this morning.’

‘That’s very kind of you.’ I smile softly as I sip slowly, it’s strong, just the way I like it.

‘So, what brings you to the bay?’ she asks politely.

‘Would you believe I got on the wrong bus.’ I smile sheepishly.

‘Sounds like there’s a story to go along with that statement.’ She pours herself a coffee and leans against the bar.

‘I ran away from home,’ I joke as I smile over the rim of my mug, taking a sip before setting it down carefully, although it’s not really a joke, it’s actually pretty close to the truth. ‘It sounds pretty silly when I say it like that.’ I look up to find her watching me curiously. ‘You ever get the feeling your life just isn’t the way it’s supposed to be?’

‘I’ve felt that way a time or two,’ she admits nodding slowly as she studies me.

‘I needed a change,’ I admit honestly, not really sure why I’m boring this perfectly nice stranger with my problems. ‘But I didn’t know where I wanted to go, I just knew where I didn’t want to be.’

‘Sometimes that’s enough.’ She smiles holding out her hand. ‘I’m Melanie.’

‘Nat.’ I shake her hand gently, feeling the warmth in my belly when the name slides from my tongue so effortlessly and just feels right. ‘Anyway,’ I continue, it feels good to have someone to talk to even if it is a stranger. ‘I literally tossed a coin and got on a train, but the storm yesterday brought down a tree on the line. They put on a rail replacement bus service, but…’

‘You got on the wrong bus?’ She smiles warmly.

‘Yes,’ I laugh self-deprecatingly. ‘And I ended up here.’

‘There are worse places.’ Melanie sips her own coffee. ‘My mum, god rest her soul, always used to say everything happens for a reason.’

‘And do you believe that?’

‘Sometimes.’ She lets out a little frustrated laugh. ‘But there are days…’

‘I’m guessing this is one of them?’

‘The manager quit this morning with no notice, just up and left for some job in Devon.’ She frowns, looking up as the door to the restaurant opens, and a young woman with red hair and a nose piercing wanders in. ‘Can I help you?’ Melanie asks.

‘I work here.’ The young woman frowns in confusion. ‘Where’s Scott?’

Melanie sighs loudly as the girl approaches the bar and studies the pair of us. ‘He left, and he’s not coming back,’ Melanie says matter of factly. ‘Now, who are you?’

‘Rachel,’ the girl replies a little uncertainly.

‘Okay.’ Melanie nods holding out her hand. ‘I’m Melanie Ainsley.’

‘I know who you are.’ Rachel nods. ‘You own the restaurant.’ It was more a statement than a question.