A Thousand Roads Home by Carmel Harrington

Author:Carmel Harrington [Carmel Harrington]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2018-08-26T16:00:00+00:00

29

TOM

The aroma of good coffee hit his nostrils. Tom peered in the window of the coffee shop, trying to decide if he should go in or not.

‘Hello,’ Ruth said, walking towards him.

‘You’ve been shopping,’ he said, nodding at the bags in her hand. He felt his face move into a grin, something it didn’t do that often. It felt strange and wonderful all at once. This woman and her boy made his days brighter when their paths crossed.

‘Joggers for DJ. He is like a weed at the moment. Growing constantly,’ Ruth answered.

‘I was about to go in for a coffee. Would you join me?’ Tom asked. He had to stop himself crossing his fingers that she would say yes.

When Ruth did not answer immediately, he said, ‘I would like to buy you a glass of milk. I’ll ask them to serve it extra cold.’

She smiled at this and walked into the coffee shop.

‘Come on, gal.’ Tom gently tugged on Bette’s leash and she wagged her tail in delight. If things went Bette’s way she might find some crumbs fallen onto the floor.

As he made his way through the small coffee shop, towards the counter, Tom felt the eyes of the diners follow him. A small child reached out as they passed her table, her short pudgy arms grabbing Bette Davis by her collar. She squealed in delight, ‘Doggie, doggie, Mammy, look a doggie!’

Bette Davis, ever the Oscar-winning actress, wagged her tail and nuzzled the little girl’s hands. Bette yelped in annoyance when the child’s mother pulled the girl back, whispering something into her daughter’s ear.

And while Tom got it, accepted it, understood it even, he felt irritation creep its way around him. And embarrassment that Ruth was witness to this. He tugged on Bette’s lead and moved on to place his order, closing his ears to the child’s cries of dismay.

‘Cappuccino, please. Large. And a glass of cold milk. With ice, if it’s not from the fridge.’ Tom placed his order to the young girl behind the counter.

She remained silent, then frowned as her eyes looked him up and down.

It’s going to be like that so.

He pulled out a crumpled euro from his pocket and laid it on the counter top. She snatched the money, still cheerless, still silent, but at least rang his order up.

‘You go find a seat,’ Tom said to Ruth.

The girl behind the counter began the task of making his coffee. He watched her pull the lever sideways on the coffee machine and smiled when Bette’s ears pricked up as the familiar click of the grinder alerted her that something nice might be coming her way soon. Tom stuffed his change back in his pocket and felt his earlier irritation disappear as the rich aroma of the beans filled the air. He was about to have coffee with a friend. It was a good day.

Ruth had found a small table at the back of the coffee shop and he sat down, grateful for the seat. He

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