An A to Z of Love Page 4

  Becky looked hurt. “Ditsy! You know that’s not it at all.”

  “Okay, you want to turn the Coliseum into a casino,” Ditsy amended.

  Mia felt a chill start at her fingertips and begin working its way through her veins and into her heart. “But the Coliseum is part of the town. Part of what makes us...Aberarian.” It was her home, she wanted to say. When everything was so awful after her dad left, Walt would let her sneak into the cinema and stay there all day if she wanted to. The Coliseum was part of her.

  “The owner seems quite keen to sell,” Tony said. “Apparently there’s not much money in antique cinemas these days. And the council’s desperate to get rid of the other empty buildings along that street. Should give us a nice slice of real estate.”

  She’d shown him round, Mia realized, her anger rising. She’d actually shown Tony the bloody cinema and let him mock it.

  “Sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier,” he said with a smile. “Only I promised Becky I’d let her do the talking on this one, to start with.”

  “Obviously we need to discuss it some more,” Becky went on, “and there’s a meeting planned to fill the town in on what’s going on. But I’m sure you can see, Mia, how we could all benefit from attracting more tourists to Aberarian.”

  The most damnable part of it was she was right, to a point. Aberarian needed more tourists to provide more business. But a casino... That would change Aberarian quite fundamentally. It wouldn’t be the town Mia loved anymore.

  “I really do believe it will be good for the town,” Becky said with irritating earnestness.

  Personally, Mia believed the best thing for the town would be for Becky to leave it. Why hadn’t Walt told her things were so bad?

  “You have to admit, Mia,” Tony said, leaning across to touch her hand. This time, the rising of her heartbeat was because she was resisting the urge to punch him in his smiling face. “From what you showed me this morning, Aberarian does need help.”

  “I didn’t know you wanted me to give you a tour of things you could tear down,” she said, pulling her hand away. She could see Becky giving Ditsy a knowing look across the table, and she wondered what part she’d played in their discussion even before she arrived at StarFish. “Why are we getting a sneak preview of the plans, anyway?”

  Tony sat back. “Well, it’s always nice to have people on our side, going into town meetings.”

  I will never be on your side. Any side with Becky on it was a bad thing to start with. And a side that wanted to tear down her cinema and turn her town into a mini Las Vegas? That was one she was going to have to fight. One way or another.

  “But I invited you to lunch,” Tony said, his voice brighter and louder. “Charlie, do you have some sort of tasting platter? I’d hate to make myself a liar so early in our friendship.”

  Charlie nodded and got to his feet, but when Mia looked up, his eyes were on her. She gave him a small smile, and he said, “I’m sure I can come up with something,” and disappeared into the kitchen.

  “So, Ditsy.” Tony’s charming smile was in full evidence again. “You’ve lived here all your life, Becky tells me. Why don’t you tell me about how it used to be?” Which was a sure fire way to set Ditsy talking for days.

  Mia tuned out until the kitchen doors opened and Charlie came out, laden with several platters of food, which he proceeded to place in the center of their table. Mia tried to catch his eye again, hoping now the others were distracted by food they might be able to slope off and discuss the situation in private–not just the Coliseum, but how he was coping with having his ex in town, and whether he’d put anything dangerous in her food.

  But Becky had him cornered, making him describe each of the antipasti dishes he’d provided. Mia wondered if this was the food she was supposed to have been taste-testing later. Wondered if Charlie might now have better things to do with his Saturday night.

  With the others gushing about the food, Ditsy leaned over to Mia and asked in a whisper, “Have you opened your damn letter yet? Only I had Heather Jenkins in the shop the moment you left, asking, and with Reverend Davies right behind her. And don’t think for a moment they’ll be the last.”

  “The letter from Mia’s father?” Becky broke in, apparently paying more attention than they’d thought. Her voice oozed false sympathy. “I heard you talking about that. Poor you, Mia.” She reached out and put a hand across Mia’s, and Mia almost expected the skin to sizzle. “It must be so hard. I assume he’s never been back to Aberarian since he left? I mean, how could he?”

  Mia reached out to help herself to a chili-stuffed olive. “No,” she said keeping a tight rein on her anger. “He’s not been home.”

  Becky shook her head and turned to whisper to Tony in a perfectly audible manner. “It was such a scandal. The whole town spoke of nothing else for months, did they, Ditsy?”

  Ditsy winced and stuffed her mouth with bread. Even Tony was looking slightly awkward.

  “Well, I’m sure Mia doesn’t want to rehash old history,” he said in a cheerful tone. “These herrings are really rather good,” he added, but Mia could tell Charlie wasn’t listening. He was focused entirely on Becky.

  “Oh, Mia doesn’t mind, do you Mia?” Becky laughed. “After all, it’s been fourteen years now. And it’s certainly not anything she hasn’t heard before!”

  “Becky.” Charlie’s voice was sharp as he broke in. “Stop it.”

  Mia felt a warmth in her bones, watching Becky’s face turn hard just for a moment. Then she smiled again, the same, sweet, false smile Mia still sometimes had nightmares about. “Of course. Now, Charlie, why don’t we let these people get on with their day while you show me around the kitchen? I have missed this place so.” She was already on her feet by the time she finished talking.

  Charlie looked faintly horrified at the prospect, but he followed her all the same. Mia gave him a sympathetic look as he passed. It didn’t seem to help much.

  * * * *

  Becky pushed her way through the kitchen doors, auburn hair floating behind her, and Charlie followed in a trail of her familiar perfume, wondering why, every time he thought his life was settled, Becky Thrower showed up and mixed him up again. He was up to three times now, and starting to have the most horrible feeling this might be the time to break him.

  The first time, he’d been young and stupid, and she’d been young and beautiful. They’d moved in together within three months, even though Charlie still didn’t know what she’d seen in him.

  The second time, he’d thought it was over for good when she ran out of the restaurant after he proposed. She’d been staying with her mother for a fortnight when she’d shown up and declared they should get married, move to Aberarian and start a seafood restaurant together. And her enthusiasm, her energy, had bowled him over again.

  And now, eighteen months after she’d walked out on their dream life, leaving nothing but a note saying she just wasn’t ready, she was back again, wearing a classic grey suit and bright red high heels, looking every inch the professional woman come to talk business. Or stomp on his heart. It was hard to tell with Becky.

  “So,” he said, letting the door swing shut behind him. “You remember the kitchen.”

  Becky stood next the preparation space, much closer to the kitchen knives than he was really comfortable with, and leaned against his beautiful stainless steel counters. “Okay, let’s get straight to it. Where are the customers, Charlie?”

  “It’s halfway between lunch and dinner, Bex.” Charlie was instantly annoyed with himself for using the nickname, but more irritated by her questions. “Not the most popular time for dining.” Of course, it hadn’t been so late when she’d come in, but if Charlie was very lucky she wouldn’t remember that.

  “Perhaps. But your reservations book looks pretty empty too.”

  “You shouldn’t be looking at that.” And why would you care? he wanted to ask. But mostly, he wanted her to leave him alone to figure out if he was angrier she’
d left or that she’d returned. And what it was she wanted from him now.

  “Look.” Becky leaned toward him, one hand open and reaching for him. “I’m honestly trying to help here. A casino would bring in a lot of business to this town. A lot of people looking for somewhere to take their wives out for a celebratory dinner after they beat the house. More tourists, more holiday-makers...”

  “Yeah. Give us more cottages turned into holiday homes left empty nine months of the year? How’s that going to help those of us who want to live here, and maybe take in a movie now and then?”

  Becky slammed a hand against the worktop. “Well what do you suggest then? More locals who can’t afford to eat here? Who’ll go to the Tesco in Coed-y-Capel instead?”

  Charlie yanked the fridge door open. He needed to cook something. “I’m not saying we don’t need tourists. I just think we need something for locals too. You can’t run roughshod over the community and expect any grand plans to work. You need to work with them.”

  “Of course we do,” Becky said, placing a soothing hand on his arm. “Which is why I need your help. After all, you’ve rather become part of the community while I’ve been gone, haven’t you.”

  Charlie shrugged. “Not really.” He went to the pub every now and again with Joe, and hung out with Mia, but beyond that? He wasn’t even sure anyone else in town knew his full name. Aberarian was Becky’s hometown. She was supposed to be the restaurant’s link to the community. He was just the chef.

  “So you’ll help, won’t you?” Becky said, ignoring him completely. “That’s wonderful. I know we need to talk about us too, and I want to, really. But let’s save us for later.” She looked pointedly at the kitchen doors. Magda was hovering in the doorway, eavesdropping again. He wondered how long she’d been there. “When we’ve a little more privacy.”

  Magda, he noticed, was still looking far too amused for her own good.

  “But Charlie,” Becky said, reaching the doorway, a note of warning in her voice. “Don’t forget. I’m still a stakeholder here. And we still need to talk about your plans to increase profits.”

  Suddenly it was too cold to be standing by the open fridge. Charlie slammed the door shut with a satisfying crash and turned to Magda. “They finished eating?” She nodded. “Good. Let’s get rid of them, then shut up shop until this evening. I really need a drink.”

  * * * *

  Mia dropped her pen to the table and let it clatter and roll from there to the floor. “How did I not know things were this bad?”

  Ditsy shrugged. “Because I didn’t tell you. It is still my shop, after all, for all that you do most of the actual work.”

  “Yeah, well, from now on I’m being more involved in the financial side too.”

  Ditsy slammed the accounting book shut and rubbed a hand across her forehead. “I need a drink.”

  “We’re not surrendering to alcoholism just yet.” Mia turned the book round to face her and flipped it open again. The numbers didn’t look any better the right way up. “There must be something else we can do. Surely we don’t have to go to Becky and Tony, cap in hand, just yet?”

  Ditsy looked uncertain. “I’m not saying I like the idea, but...”

  “Ditsy!” Mia tilted her chair on two legs in disgust. “You can’t possibly...”

  “I said I don’t like the idea.” Ditsy spoke over Mia until she shut up. “I don’t. I don’t like the idea of flashing lights and late-night brawls and stag parties coming in to gamble nonstop for the weekend. I don’t like relying on the rich tourists who can afford to buy homes they hardly visit. I don’t like the fact this town has more houses standing empty in the winter than occupied. And yes, I much preferred it when we could provide batteries and flour and buckets and spades for young families staying at the B&Bs or the caravan park or the cottages that rent all year round. But things are changing in Aberarian.”

  “Well perhaps they shouldn’t.” Mia knew she sounded sulky. She just didn’t really care.

  Ditsy sighed. “We need to do what we can to keep the A to Z shop going. Otherwise there’s just going to be another empty shop front on High Street, and how is that going to help anyone?”

  “I suppose.” Mia turned back to the book, figuring if she stared at it long enough, it might change the numbers round just to keep things interesting.

  Ditsy slammed the cover shut on Mia’s fingers, though, which put paid to that idea. “Look. Becky said they’ve already got Mayor Fielding to hold a town meeting the day after tomorrow. I guess they want to be able to tell their investors the town’s on side before they shell out for the cinema.”

  “So we’ve just got to come up with a way to convince the town it’s a bad idea.” Mia thought for a moment, then sighed. “Except then Becky will tell them it’s going to make them rich, and they’ll flock to her again.”

  “What about Walt Henderson?” Ditsy asked. “Could we convince him not to sell?”

  Mia shrugged. “We could try. But Walt loves his cinema. If he’s considering selling, it’s because he has to.”

  “And I bet bloody Susan is just thrilled,” Ditsy grumbled. “She always hated Walt spending all his time there.” Then she brightened. “But the rest of the town, they won’t want to lose it. Maybe we could all club together, or something...”

  Mia raised an eyebrow. “You really think anyone in this town would give money to help someone else?” For starters, nobody had any, anymore.

  The look Ditsy gave her was almost disappointed. “At some point, dear, you’re going to have to start having a little faith. Some trust in other people.”

  “I have faith,” Mia said, surprised. “I trust people.”

  Ditsy looked disbelieving. “Really? Who?”

  “Well, you.” Mia thought. “And Charlie, I suppose.”

  “Exactly!” Shaking her head, Ditsy said, “You always complain the people in this town don’t trust you, that they think you’re just like your father. But the truth is, you don’t trust them. You don’t want to have to rely on anyone, don’t want to let them let you down. Not even Charlie. And I understand why, Mia, really I do. But at some point…”

  She trailed off and was silent for a long moment. Then she said, “Be honest. Which bothers you more–the fact that Becky’s here to try to change Aberarian or the possibility that she’s come back for Charlie?”

  Mia shuddered. “They’re both pretty horrendous.”

  “Seriously, Mia.” Ditsy gave her a stern look. “Which upsets you more?”

  “The first, of course.” Mia ignored the small, squirming feeling in her stomach suggesting otherwise. “I mean, I think it would be a disaster if Charlie got together with her again, but it’s his life. His mistake to make.”

  Ditsy looked at her so long Mia was almost afraid she was going to reach in and pluck the truth from her head. Then, finally glancing away, she said, “Did I ever tell you why Henry and I called this place the A to Z shop? Why we set it up the way we did?”

  Now Mia was intrigued and more than a little relieved at the change of subject. “No. Never.” The A to Z shop had always been a fact of Aberarian life. Like jellyfish on the beach at low tide, and Ditsy’s floral dresses. “I just assumed it was after A to Z Jones.”

  Before Mia could stop her, Ditsy had clambered up to stand on top of her stool and was reaching above her head to the shelf running along the length of the wall, just below the ceiling. “Ditsy! What are you… Let me do that…”

  But by then Ditsy had climbed down again, clutching a dusty hardback book to her bony chest. “When we got married,” she explained settling onto her stool, “Henry’s great aunt gave us this book.” She pushed it across the counter, enabling Mia to read the title–An A to Z of Love.

  “It was a bit of a joke, really,” Ditsy went on, “or at least, we treated it as such. We used to read out entries to each other in bed at night, before we went to sleep. Even if we’d had the most awful day or if we were fighting, one of us would pick up the boo
k, choose a letter and we’d soon be laughing again.” Mia flicked through the pages, smiling at the decorated letters at the start of every chapter. “It’s not overstating things to say this book saved our marriage, more than once.

  “When Henry left his job in the city, and we decided to open the shop here instead, Henry insisted it should be called the A to Z shop. He said the entire of human existence and need could be fitted into an alphabet. He said people liked knowing where they stood and where things would have to be. The order of the alphabet was comforting.”

  “And he was right,” Mia murmured. After all, the shop was still going, just, thirty years later. They had to be doing something right.

  Ditsy nodded. “He was.” Then, as Mia pushed the book back toward her, she shook her head, giving Mia another glimpse of her wicked smile. “You take it. An apology for setting you up with that horrible man. Besides, I think your need is greater.”

  Chapter 4

  Charlie stared at the collection of ingredients in front of him and tried to remember what he’d planned to do with them before Becky had shown up in town and turned his week upside down.

  He wasn’t even sure if Mia would come back for the tasting after the lunch from hell. But on the off chance she did, he was going to have her favorite food ready for her. She deserved it after the afternoon she’d had.

  Besides, tastings with Mia, late in the evening when the rest of StarFish was empty, then a midnight movie at the Coliseum, those were the best parts of his week. He wasn’t going to let Becky ruin it for him.

  “I have a question,” Magda said, leaning on the counter beside him, and Charlie wondered when she’d come in and how he hadn’t heard the doors.

  “Go on,” he said, pretending to be preternaturally aware of his surroundings and not just startled.

  “Can you manage without me for the evening on Tuesday? I can get Jenny in to cover for me. She says she could use the work, to be honest.” Magda’s friend Jenny had regularly saved Charlie from disaster when he needed an extra pair of serving hands at the last moment. If he had the money, he’d put her on salary.