LITMIR.BIZ

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corner of her eye, as Zoe and Sean pressed themselves into the corner table and gazed adoringly into each other’s eyes. The intensity!

      ‘There’s no sugar in this bowl,’ Biddy yelled.

      Buttoning down the urge to tell Biddy where to go, Millie forced a smile and murmured she’d go and get some.

      ‘What did she say?’ Biddy said irritably to Arthur. ‘What’s going on in here today? I’ve a good mind to take my custom elsewhere.’

      Millie served Zoe and Sean their hot chocolate and was beckoned over by Arthur. ‘Come and sit yourself down for a minute, my dear,’ he said. He looked comically over his shoulder, as if spies might hear. ‘I’ve got some information about that new place opening on the high street.’

      Millie poured herself a coffee and, having glanced around to check if anyone needed anything, perched on a chair next to Arthur. ‘Do I have to give you a password before you tell me anything?’ she hissed, wide-eyed.

      Arthur looked blank.

      ‘You know, “The moon is full and the sea is calm,” sort of thing.’

      Arthur raised his eyebrows in a way that made Millie feel about five. ‘You might not be laughing when you hear this, my dear. This new café, Blue Elephant, is opening next weekend.’

      Millie sat back in dismay, all flippancy gone. ‘So soon?’

      Arthur nodded.

      ‘I’d been hoping it wouldn’t be ready for ages.’

      ‘Apparently they’ve been beavering away behind those boarded-up windows. Want to catch a bit of the trade as soon as possible. Establish themselves before the new tourist season starts.’

      Millie bit her lip. ‘I suppose that makes sense.’ She could kick herself. There had been no time to think through the refurbishment of the café and she hadn’t even tried out any new menus. She looked around. Who was she kidding? Biddy always had her coffee and scone, the kids drank hot chocolate and Arthur was loyal to his pot of tea. They weren’t exactly the customers to go for the sort of exciting flavour combinations she’d eaten last night. She couldn’t see Biddy enjoying brill and citrus couscous. With a heavy heart, she tuned back in to what Arthur was saying.

      ‘They’re opening a Blue Elephant in Berecombe,’ he was saying, ‘and Taunton and Honiton is next on the list and then Exeter. That’s if all goes well here.’

      Millie snorted. ‘And why shouldn’t it? With so many branches close together they’ll be able to buy in bulk cheaply. And completely undercut my prices.’ She put her head in her hands and groaned.

      ‘I’m so sorry, my dear, but I thought you’d like to know.’ Arthur’s voice was full of concern.

      She forced herself to look him in the eye. ‘Thank you, Arthur. I appreciate it.’ Then a thought struck. ‘How do you know all this?’

      ‘Dennis, the chairman of the trading committee, told me.’

      ‘Fuck.’ Millie caught herself. ‘Sorry, Arthur.’

      He gave a small smile. ‘A certain level of profanity is acceptable in the circumstances, my dear.’ He patted her hand. ‘But you have no need for concern. This café and the Blue Elephant place are two very different animals, as Zoe would say.’

      ‘Maybe.’

      ‘Now, don’t look so gloomy. Think about it. You’ve lived alongside Kosy Korner and The Plaice Place all these years.’

      ‘I have. But you’ve got to admit they both offer different things. People go to a chip shop for, well, chips and the KK does its roast dinner carveries. The Blue Elephant will sell the same things as me – coffee, cake, sandwiches, that type of thing. They’ll be in direct competition with me.’

      Arthur straightened. ‘I’m positive it will all be fine. When the tourist season begins there’s trade enough for everybody.’

      ‘That’s the problem, Arthur. I’ve got to get to the next season.’

      ‘Things that tight, eh?’ He looked shocked.

      Millie didn’t trust herself to speak. She nodded.

      ‘Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry.’

      ‘Arthur, I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t have this place. I can’t do anything else.’

      He patted her hand again. ‘I’m sure it won’t come to that. Look, I’ll get my thinking cap on, shall I? See what I can come up with.’

      ‘Oh, Arthur, would you? Thank you.’

      ‘Best be off. Don’t want to leave Daisy too long.’ He stood up.

      Now it was Millie’s turn to look shocked. ‘Oh, Arthur, I feel awful, I haven’t even asked after her!’

      Arthur’s face clouded. He tucked his scarf around his neck. ‘I’m still waiting for test results. Never an easy time, is it?’

      Millie rose and gave him a hug.

      He shook her off. ‘Now, dear girl, don’t be too nice to me. That’s when the waterworks start. I’ll be off.’ And, with a quick wave to Zoe, he’d gone.

      ‘What were you two whispering about so secretly?’ Biddy asked, obviously miffed at being left out of the conversation.

      Millie said the first thing that came into her head. It wasn’t a complete lie. ‘Oh nothing much. Think Arthur’s worried about vet’s bills and poor Daisy being so ill.’

      ‘Hmph, he needs to man up,’ Biddy said, sourly. ‘Eyes too near his bladder. Always said so.’

      Millie ignored her, collected Arthur’s plate and mug and went into the kitchen. All romantic thoughts of Jed had fled.

       Chapter 13

      If Millie needed a diversion from worrying over the café, she got it on her early morning dog walk across the beach two days later.

      Trevor saw him first. With a delighted bark, the dog belted across the flat wet expanse of sand.

      The sun was shining in Millie’s eyes, so she could only see his silhouette but she’d know his walk anywhere. Confident, covering a lot of ground in a short space of time. Summed the man up, really.

      Jed. He was back!

      She ran up to him, but wasn’t in time to stop Trevor from jumping up and covering his jeans in wet sand.

      ‘Hi, Millie. Thought I’d join you,’ he yelled over a volley of barks.

      ‘I’m sorry,’ she gasped, horrified. ‘He really shouldn’t jump up at people like that.’ She bent to grab the dog’s collar and missed. She straightened. ‘Oh, Trev, get down!’

      ‘It doesn’t matter. These are old.’

      Millie, eyeing the cut and the material, quietly disagreed. They looked thoroughly designer to her. Not that she had much experience to go on. ‘He really shouldn’t get into the habit of jumping up at people.’

      Jed fussed the dog, who danced around and barked some more. ‘It’s my fault. I called him over. I really don’t mind, you know. It makes a nice change to get out of a suit sometimes and be scruffy.’

      ‘Is that your idea of scruffy?’ Millie looked down at her own cropped jeans and knee- length baggy grey sweater. It was another of her dad’s. She pushed her hair, made curly by sea spray, off her face and laughed.

      Jed looked abashed. ‘Well, it’s all relative.’

      With Trevor finally calm, Millie put her arm through Jed’s and turned westwards,

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