The Sunflower Cottage Breakfast Club (11 page)

‘I… I've phoned the police and they're on their way!' Fear flooded me and I stood frozen on the staircase. ‘A… and I've got a weapon!'

The shadow grew larger as it drew towards me. I braced myself for the moment where I'd have to smack whoever it was over the head with the lamp then run like hell.

Suddenly, a light was turned on and I saw Noah standing in the hall. One eyebrow was raised and he was looking at me like I was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever laid eyes on. I couldn't help noticing he was wearing his dark-blue overalls and had oil smears on his face. For some reason, my heart started hammering.

‘Jesus!' I jumped in fright and almost dropped my makeshift weapon. ‘What the hell do you think you're doing?!'

‘Oh, very scary,' he said with a small grin, looking me up and down. ‘The fluffy dressing gown and the mad hair are great burglar deterrents. You can put the lamp down, by the way. I'm not going to hurt you.'

I felt my breathing and heart rate slow back to normal and put the lamp down on the stairs. Instinctively, I tried to flatten my hair down, although I wasn't sure why. I knew I looked like I'd been plugged into the National Grid.

‘What are you doing creeping around down here anyway?' I huffed. ‘You nearly gave me a heart attack!'

‘Letting myself in; what does it look like?' The friendly demeanour from yesterday had completely vanished; Mean and Moody Noah was in the building.

‘Who rattled your cage?' I felt more than a little disappointed that we weren't going to carry on our good-natured banter. Arguing with him was a pretty exhausting task, after all.

‘Let's get to work, eh? We've got guests to feed. Let's hope today goes better than yesterday; it couldn't get any worse, could it?'

*

Throughout our lives, we're always taught to be careful what we wish for.

That morning, however, it became apparent that Noah hadn't learnt this lesson. After saying our breakfast experience couldn't possibly get any worse, that was exactly what happened.

‘Remind me again why you thought doing hard-boiled eggs in the microwave was a good idea?' Noah stared incredulously at the mess I was valiantly trying to clean up. ‘Surely you knew they had to be cooked in a pot. I know you “don't do breakfast”, but even you must know how to do hard-boiled bloody eggs!'

I glared at him as I tried to contain the mess to just the inside of the microwave. ‘I'd run out of space on the cooker and I'd read somewhere you could put eggs in the microwave to boil them! Obviously, you can't! Why don't you grab a cloth and help me instead of asking pointless questions?'

I cringed as I realised how snappy and irritable I'd sounded. It wasn't his fault I'd tried to save time by sticking eggs in the microwave, after all. Still, he wasn't helping the situation by raking over it again and again.

‘Can't – I've got to try and salvage some of the pans you set on fire by having the hob turned up way too high. Then I've got to get over to the garage and finish off your car.'

He stalked sulkily off towards the oven and picked up one of the pans to scrub it. I could practically hear his foul mood crackling and hissing away to itself, like a pan of bubbling liquid waiting to go over the boil.

‘OK,' I said, throwing my cloth down and abandoning the eggy disaster area I'd created, ‘what have I done this time? Yesterday, we were talking about starting a breakfast club and things seemed to be OK between us. Now, you're back to treating me like I'm something you've stepped in. I know you don't like me because of why I'm here and I get it, really I do. You feel like I'm taking your home away from you, right? I'm sorry you're losing such a huge part of your life but, believe it or not, it isn't my fault. I'd appreciate it if you could stop blowing hot and cold with me, being nice one minute then horrible the next.'

‘It's not that I don't like you,' he said softly. ‘I know I've been a right arse to you since you got here, but it's only because I love this place so much. It's been a home for me when I've had nowhere else to go and I can't imagine life without it being here. I'm sorry if that's come off as my not liking you. I had a bit of a nasty shock yesterday and I've been taking it out on you when I shouldn't have. I haven't been the easiest person to get on with, have I?'

‘Not really, but I can see why you don't want to lose Sunflower Cottage. Believe it or not, I actually do like this place… Want to talk about your nasty shock over some badly burnt bacon and sausage? Or better yet, how about some hard-boiled eggs done in the microwave? We could even talk about the breakfast club too.'

‘Nah it's fine,' he said, shaking his head and waving a dismissive hand. ‘I think the whole B&B's had enough of your cooking to last it a lifetime!' His face fell and his shoulders sagged. ‘I'll be fine, it's just… Never mind, it's nothing.'

He mumbled an excuse and went back to scrubbing his pans, leaving me to wonder exactly what was going on in that mind of his. And just why I cared so much about what he was thinking anyway.

*

In the absence of a Wi-Fi connection and to distract myself from trying to work out what Noah's ‘nasty shock' had been, I decided to read more of Derek's letters to my mum. Now was as good a time as any, after all, and I couldn't use work to avoid my problems at the moment. They were all right here, demanding to be dealt with. I reached into the drawer and tipped the envelopes out onto the bed. My biological dad was in these letters; everything that made him who he was, his likes and dislikes, his quirks, his hopes and dreams. I could read them and prepare myself for what he'd be like when I finally met him.

I picked up a letter and tore it open.

Dear Pam,

Never have I felt more alone or confused than I do now. Here I am with this beautiful, perfect family that I love to the moon and back, yet I can't stop thinking about something else entirely. That something, Pamela, is YOU. You've just given birth to our beautiful baby girl and all I want to do is rush up to Glasgow to see you both.

Life has continued as normal for me since you left. Yet for me, it will never be normal again. I will never forget you or the baby we have together. I know I can never see either of you – we both have lives that would be irreparably damaged if our affair became public knowledge – but I can't help wondering about you both.

Much as I don't want to, I think about you a lot. I wonder if I ever cross your mind, if you ever think about what happened between us. I have an amazing life in Luna Bay with my family, but my time with you showed me another life. One I could've had if only I'd been brave enough. I remember you telling me that it was the same for you: you had a stable, structured life in Scotland with a man who adored you, yet being with me showed you something else. Something you desperately wanted to grab hold of, but were too scared to. I know we agreed that going our separate ways was for the best, but if you ever find that you feel brave enough to grab what you want, I'll be here. I'll always be here, Pamela. Thank you for including the photo of Emily; she really is beautiful. I hope you and Simon are happy and settling into life as new parents. I also hope that one day I'll be able to come and see my little girl.

Best wishes

Derek

I heaved a sigh and wiped some tears from my cheeks. Mum had put career and stability before what she truly desired. It was obvious from this letter and the first one I'd read that Derek had loved her and wanted to make a life with her, but she'd gone back to what she'd known and been comfortable with. Mum had obviously felt the same way too; he definitely hadn't been a fleeting fling she'd been able to cast aside without a second thought.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

‘Come in,' I said.

My voice was thick and laden with unshed tears. I did a cursory swipe of my face, checking I didn't look like Gwyneth Paltrow after her Oscars speech.

Noah's head popped round the door and his face immediately took on a look of concern.

‘Are you OK?' He took cautious steps into the room, glancing at me then at the pile of envelopes surrounding me. ‘I was just coming up to ask if you wanted a cup of tea and a bite to eat.'

I shook my head and sniffed. ‘No, thanks, I'm fine.'

He raised his eyebrows and looked at me as though I'd just told him I was really Jennifer Aniston in disguise.

‘If this is you when you're fine, I dread to think what “not fine” looks like. I can go into the garage a bit later if you like; why don't we head into the village for something to eat? It's been a pretty awful morning and I think we could both do with a treat.'

I stared at him, mouth hanging open with shock. ‘Um… I… I shouldn't really. I've got a ton of work to do…'

I haphazardly gestured to my laptop and ended up looking like a gabbling idiot. Noah shook his head and rolled his eyes, a broad smile crossing his face.

‘Emily, have you ever heard of a thing called “relaxing”? It's something people do sometimes instead of working or ruining breakfasts. Come on, I've got some making up to do for being a complete dick to you. We could even discuss some ideas for the breakfast club too, if you want?'

I tapped my chin and pretended to consider his offer. ‘Well, when you put it like that,' I said, ‘how can I refuse?'

*

As the sun shone brightly over Luna Bay, bathing everything in a summery glow, Noah and I walked side by side in search of something to eat.

‘How about the Moonlight Café?' he suggested, pointing to it. ‘Diane's cakes are second to none round here.'

My chest tightened and my mouth became dry. I'd managed to avoid going in so far, and I planned to keep it that way for as long as I could.

‘Um…' I frantically scrabbled round my mind for an excuse. ‘I… I don't like cake.'

What? Who DOESN'T like cake? Good lie, Emily.

Noah frowned. ‘OK, I know you're a health freak but that's taking it way too far. Cake's a way of life round here, and if you taste Diane's you'll see why. In fact, I insist on it. Come on, we're going in; I'm not letting you miss this.'

He charged over to the café, leaving me trailing in his wake. The closer I got, the more terrified I became. This was it, I thought; this was when she was going to find out. I'd step into the café, she'd see me and she'd know. Something inside her would click and she'd realise I was Derek's secret daughter. Then, of course, all hell would break loose.

‘Noah, you don't understand,' I babbled when we reached the door. ‘I really,
really
don't like cake! It's evil, it really is. Never liked it, not even a slice of Victoria sponge; there's nothing you can do to change my mind.'

Judging by the look on his face, my last-ditch efforts to convince him hadn't worked.
Bollocks.

‘Trust me, when you taste this cake you'll be converted,' he replied with a smile. He pushed the door open and held it for me so I could step inside. Only I didn't. I stood frozen to the spot just outside.

‘After you.' He extended his arm wide, inviting me in.

I gulped as sweat began to bead on my forehead. I so badly wanted to go inside and cast my fears aside, but I couldn't. I couldn't face being in the same room as Diane, knowing what I knew about her husband. Talking to her when I hadn't known who she was had been fine, but this was completely different.

‘Emily?' Noah eyed me with concern. ‘Are you coming in?'

‘Yeah, erm, just give me a minute…'

One foot in front of the other, you can do it…

I took a deep breath, braced myself and put a foot over the threshold. To my utter amazement, all hell didn't break loose. Instead, I was enveloped by the bewitching aromas of freshly baked cakes and coffee.

‘Wow,' I breathed, ‘this place is beautiful.'

Beautiful was an understatement. It radiated vintage charm and had a warmth I'd never experienced before. Strangely, it felt like I'd come home simply by walking through the door.

‘What do you fancy?' Noah's voice interrupted my reverie. ‘I'd recommend the chocolate fudge cake myself; it's my favourite.'

‘Then that's what I'll have,' I replied with an uneasy smile. ‘I… I'll go and get a table…'

Before I could, Diane's voice boomed out across the café. ‘Hello again! I was wondering when you'd come in for your free cake and cuppa!'

I spun round and saw her smiling as she beckoned me towards the counter. Every step felt heavy as I approached. Fear and guilt began to grip me; all I wanted to do was run out the door and get as far away as I could.

‘Nice to see you again.' Her smile was warm and friendly; it was easy to see how her customers took to her so quickly.

‘Nice to see you too.' The words came out as a strangled squeak.

‘You two know each other?' said Noah.

‘Yeah, we met in the Purple Partridge the other day,' Diane explained. ‘Now, what'll it be? It's on me today, so choose anything you like.'

My stomach did a belly-flop into my shoes. Here she was, being nice to me, and I was carrying round a secret that would rock her world.

Luckily, Noah didn't have any problem placing our order. ‘Two slices of your amazing chocolate fudge cake, please, and a massive pot of tea.'

‘Coming right up!' Diane shot me another smile as she went to prepare our order.

We selected a table in the middle of the room and took our seats. My eyes darted round the room, never settling for more than a couple of seconds. Some very dangerous words were on the tip of my tongue and I was hoping against hope that they didn't come spilling out.

‘What's up?'

I jumped as Noah's hand brushed against mine, snapping me out of my thoughts. ‘Oh, um, nothing… Just a bit… you know…'