Читать книгу The Little Book Café - Georgia Hill - Страница 26

Adrian sulked all afternoon so Tash clipped on Benji’s lead, called out a cursory, ‘Off to walk the dog. See you later,’ and left without waiting for an answer.

She made her way down the steep lane to Berecombe seafront and followed the crowds to the beach. Benji trotted along happily as if glad to be doing something. As she neared Millie’s café, she heard her name being called.

‘Tash, we’re over here. We’ve got a good spot.’ It was Emma.

Tash eased her way along the congested promenade, to where Emma, along with her boyfriend Ollie, was sitting at a bench on the extended terrace in front of Millie’s bookshop. ‘Wow, the town’s rammed isn’t it?’ Tash squeezed herself onto the bench next to Emma. ‘Hi both.’

‘Hi Tash,’ Ollie replied, pushing his dark fringe off his eyes. ‘Red Arrows always bring in the crowds. Car parks full by eleven this morning, apparently.’

Emma rolled her eyes. ‘He likes to know boring things like that.’

Tash smiled and picked up Benji to put on her lap. Emma wasn’t always very nice to her boyfriend. Ollie was a saint to put up with it.

‘Won’t be boring when you’re complaining about having to walk back up the hill. You’ll be glad of a lift,’ he answered placidly.

‘Got you there, Em.’

‘Nah. I’m at my physical peak. Fun runners be afraid. Be very afraid. I’m going to win.’

‘Aren’t you supposed to be raising money for the RNLI?’ Ollie asked. ‘Thought that was the point.’

‘And I can aim for first place while I’m at it.’ Emma poked him in the ribs with an elbow and gave Benji some fuss.

Tash looked at her suspiciously. The girl was flushed and her eyes were over-bright. Maybe it was just relief at finishing work for the weekend. She and Emma took turns at manning the office on Saturday mornings. ‘Why can’t I sit on the bench on the other side of the table?’ she asked. ‘It’s a bit squashed with you two and the dog.’

‘Kit and Amy have gone to get drinks and some food, I hope. I’m starving. Busy morning in the office. I didn’t have time to eat. Phone never stopped and the grockles were in trying to buy their dream home by the sea.’

‘Oh.’ Tash felt herself blush. She wasn’t sure how to react to seeing Kit again. ‘Good that it was busy.’

‘Yeah, it was manic. To top it all, that Biddy came in. I gave her the draft details of the Morrisons’ bungalow. She seemed interested. Gave me some more of her brownies. It’s the only thing I’ve managed to eat all day.’ Emma craned her neck. ‘Oh good, here they are. Hope they’ve got some of Millie’s sausage baguettes. They’re delish.’

Ollie waggled his eyebrows at Tash. ‘In the peak of physical health and eating sausage baguettes.’

Kit stepped over the bench and straddled it. ‘Great buzz in town and I love that café. I’ve got the coffees and Millie’s special cherry and almond cake and Amy’s got the sandwiches.’ He put the pink tin tray with the flowery mugs down on the table. ‘Will that do you, Emma?’ He clocked Tash. ‘Oh, didn’t see you there. Hi Tash.’ He began to stand up. ‘I’ll go back and get you something, shall I? What do you fancy?’

Tash looked up at him mutely. ‘You,’ she wanted to say. Instead she smiled. ‘I’m sure there’ll be more than enough.’

Amy perched next to him. ‘Think there’s enough to feed half of Berecombe here. Millie’s portions are huge.’ She began to dole out sandwiches. ‘Only one sausage baguette left so that’s yours Emma. I’ve got tuna mayo. Hand-carved ham and mustard, Ollie and Kit? You can share my tuna if you like, Tash. I won’t eat all of it.’

Amy would be able to eat the entire picnic, Tash was sure. But like a lot of chubby women, she was too self-conscious to eat too much in public. Tash knew the signs. She’d been like it once. ‘That’s really kind, Amy, thank you. It’s great this, isn’t it? I love the Red Arrows.’

Emma looked at her through narrowed eyes. ‘You’re in an unusually good mood. And why have you got Benji?’

Tash tightened her hold on the dog as he got a sniff of ham and sausage and wriggled. ‘Parents flew out to Portugal this morning and the kennels cocked up. He’s staying with me for the duration.’

‘And how does Adrian feel about that?’ Emma’s eyes went huge. ‘He hates dogs. Won’t it mess up his perfect shag-pile?’

‘Adrian’s fine with it all,’ Tash lied. ‘And we don’t have shag-pile, as well you know,’ she said stiffly. She felt Kit’s eyes on her and her face heated. ‘Let’s dig in, shall we? I’m hungry too.’ She accepted the half a sandwich Amy offered. ‘Bookshop not open today?’

‘Millie’s given me a couple of hours off.’ Amy blushed. ‘Patrick’s covering. He’ll do a lot better than me. Knows much more about books.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true.’

‘I’ll go back in once it’s over. The Red Arrows bring a lot of people into town and I’ve done a display of books about them and stuff,’ Amy added eagerly.

Tash warmed to her. She’d thought the girl was a bit of a milksop when she first met her but she came alive at the mention of books. ‘I’m sure that will go down well.’

The cheers from the crowds on the beach told them something was beginning to happen and a roar of planes swooping in low over the cliffs behind them, followed by trails of coloured smoke, told them the Red Arrows had arrived.