The Second Chance Tea Shop by Fay Keenan

Author:Fay Keenan [Fay Keenan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786694881
Publisher: Head of Zeus Ltd
Published: 2017-03-10T05:00:00+00:00

*

‘Shit, Charlotte, I really messed up last night.’

‘You didn’t dump him, did you?’ Charlotte was instantly alert. ‘Or fart in front of him? Belch? Scratch your arse? No? Well, it can’t be that bad, then!’

Anna laughed despite herself. ‘Worse. I might possibly have mentioned the “L” word.’

‘Darling,’ Charlotte admonished, ‘just because you go to bed with someone, doesn’t mean you have to tell them you love them. Have I taught you nothing by my example over the years?’

‘Calm down. I said I mentioned it, not that I got down on one knee and proposed.’

‘So what’s the problem, then?’

Anna heard a thump in the background and a wail. ‘Everything OK at your end?’

‘Yup – Evan’s just pulled out the contents of my saucepan cupboard and is wearing a colander as a hat. Carry on.’

‘I made some stupid joke about true love, and he totally freaked out. I feel like such an idiot.’ Anna could feel her face growing hot again as she relived the previous night for the thousandth time.

‘Wait, wait. When you say “freaked out”, what exactly do you mean?’

Another thump. A louder wail.

‘Are you sure you’re all right?’

‘Yes, don’t worry – he’s just discovered the knife block.’

‘What?’

‘I’m joking. Now get on with it, will you.’

Anna slumped back in her chair and sighed. ‘He told me to give him time. The thing with Tara is throwing him off balance.’

‘Well, there you go then. Believe me, darling, the less you have to do with lady East Coast Bitch Face the better – she’s utterly poisonous.’ There was a muffled scratching sound at Charlotte’s end of the phone and suddenly Anna heard a small, shrill voice.

‘Off the fucky phone, Auntie Anna – we going out soon!’

‘EVAN! Naughty step!’ Charlotte snatched the phone back from her foul-mouthed offspring.

‘Sorry about that – he’s obviously been listening to his father a little too much. Listen, I’ve got to go and wash this child’s mouth out with coal tar soap, but don’t panic – it sounds like Matthew’s just trying to keep you out of what could potentially be a very sticky situation. And you know what men are like – even suggest that they might be feeling something and they get all tetchy. Simon used to run a mile when I told him I loved him until he finally twigged he felt the same about me. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ Anna muttered. ‘It was all starting to go so well. And now I’ve come off as some needy cow who can’t even shag someone without going all mushy on them.’

‘On the contrary, you’ve been the epitome of patience and understanding, considering there are two children in the equation. Not to mention Matthew’s tendency to go all Mr Darcy on you when you least expect it. Keep calm and carry on, darling, that’s what I say.’

‘And don’t ever mention the dreaded “L” word again?’ Anna said.

‘Just go with the flow, babe, and don’t let it get you down. Now I really must go and sort out this child of mine.

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