This Changes Everything by Helen Mcginn

Author:Helen Mcginn [McGinn, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

At first they didn’t notice the woman sitting with her back to the wall. But she noticed them. As Julia and Patrick walked into the caffè, Jess’s instinct was to head for the door. But she was yet to pay for her coffee. And if she bolted without paying she knew she’d feel even worse, especially since the staff had been so kind.

With her mother at the other end of the long bar, Jess reached slowly for her bag, hoping she had a note in there allowing her to place it on the saucer under her now empty coffee cup and leave. But as she reached for her bag, her glasses fell from her head onto the floor, clattering loudly onto the tiles. Patrick turned to pick them up, catching Jess’s eye as he did so.

Jess motioned to him to keep quiet but it was too late.

‘Jess, darling, what are you doing here?’ Her mother was heading towards her, the two men at the end watching with sudden interest. Elena ducked her head and disappeared behind the till.

‘Oh, hi, Mum. I just decided to, you know, come out for an early walk.’ Jess took her glasses from Patrick, putting them back on her head. She felt about twelve years old, caught with her hand in the biscuit tin.

‘In last night’s dress?’ Julia raised an eyebrow.

‘OK, but it’s not what it looks like. I lost Annie…’

‘You left the restaurant…’

‘You started having a go at me…’

‘How about you order an extra coffee, Julia, and we’ll join you for another, Jess?’

Jess looked at Patrick, surprised by the intervention but grateful nonetheless. She just didn’t have the energy to argue any more.

‘Good idea, you two go and sit back down, I’ll be over in a minute.’ Julia turned back to the man behind the bar and ordered one more coffee.

‘Thank you, Patrick. And I’m so sorry, I don’t think you were counting on this when you asked Mum to come here with you.’

‘Honestly, it’s fine. It’s funny because I can see so much of her in you. When she was younger, I mean. You are very similar.’

‘Is that a good thing?’ It was Jess’s turn to raise an eyebrow.

‘It’s a very good thing. You are both wonderful people.’ Patrick laughed softly. ‘But it’s why you two can’t argue properly. It’s like arguing against yourself.’

‘Really?’ Jess had never really thought about it like that before. ‘But she’s just so judgemental with me. You know, “typical Jess…”’ She rolled her eyes for effect. ‘I know I’ll never be perfect enough.’

‘You are absolutely enough. And none of us is perfect.’

Julia arrived back at the table, easing herself into the seat next to Patrick, carrying two coffees. Patrick got up to pick up the third steaming cup from the bar.

‘What’s your plan today, Mum?’

‘Well, I think we’re going to…’ Julia turned to see Patrick drain his coffee cup in one quick gulp before placing it back on the saucer.

‘I’ll see you back at the guesthouse, the coffees are paid for,’ he said, putting his hand on Julia’s shoulder.

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