Cafe Paradise by Patricia Combs

Author:Patricia Combs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: www.2qt.co.uk
Published: 2015-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

The Kia bumped up the track to Walter’s smallholding. On either side of the lane large banks of bluebells nodded in the early morning breeze. Stan was grateful for the fine clear day. It was a sunny Sunday morning and they were expecting large crowds for their battle re-enactment day at Southmere House.

He tried to banish thoughts of Kate from his mind. He still couldn’t believe that an evening that had begun so well could have ended yet again in disaster. At least he would be too busy keeping the day at Southmere House running smoothly, to dwell much on his troubles.

As Stan drew up to the house Walter came out and locked his door. Stan mentally shook himself. Come on now, he told himself. You’ve managed to lure Walter out to something at long last, Make it a really good day for him. Slap on a smile and get on with it.

‘Morning, Walter,’ Stan said brightly as Walter got into the passenger seat.

‘Good morning, Stan.’ Walter smiled at him. ‘You’ve got a grand day for your Romans today. I’m looking forward to it, something different. Make a change from running after sheep and ducks. Lambing’s finished, so they can all get on with it for the day.’

Stan set off back down the lane. He was pleased to hear Walter sounding so positive. In the three months since Marilyn’s death Walter had been very low, but with the coming of spring he was cautiously beginning to emerge from his grief.

Walter rubbed his hands together enthusiastically. ‘Well, lad,’ he began. ‘Don’t keep me in suspense. How did you get on with the lovely Kate last night? I bet she’s eating out of your hand now, isn’t she?’

Oh, if only, Stan thought. Every other woman he’d taken out had been a pushover, but the one he really wanted, had fallen head over heels in love with… Well, he just made a fool of himself every time, probably driving her further away with each stupid incident.

‘Well?’ Walter enquired again.

‘Not well, Walter.’ Stan said, trying to keep his voice light. ‘It didn’t quite go according to plan.’

Walter looked across at him questioningly. ‘Oh?’

‘It wasn’t all a disaster,’ Stan said. He needed to put a positive spin on this, not wanting anything to cloud Walter’s day. ‘Yeah, we had a fantastic time on all the rides, went on loads of them. She’s lethal on the dodgems, never seen anything like it, carved everyone up. I wouldn’t like to be a passenger in her car I can tell you.’

‘And then?’ Walter wasn’t going to be side tracked.

‘We did the side stalls. She won a rag doll and I won a teddy, life size, the star prize, Walter, on the shooting gallery. Thanks to you and the clay pigeons I got a bulls-eye on every target. I gave the bear to Kate. She’s calling him Bertie. Great name, eh? And she kissed me. Progress, Walter.’ Stan kept the smile on his face.

Walter looked puzzled. ‘So what happened that made it not go so well?’

‘Ah well.

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