Four Weeks In Cedar Bay

CHAPTER EIGHT

'He really needs to stop doing that. I'm so damn confused. He hates me, he likes me, he hates me, he likes me. You need a lift to the Inn, no I don't, yes you do, you're not riding in the dark'. Amy was driving herself crazy with her thoughts as she walked to the café. She wanted to figure Roy out, but then considering it closer, she would think it was too much effort. It was like he was two people. 'Maybe that's why the two names. Perhaps Roy is the confused one, running hot and cold, not forgetting rude and contemptuous, and perhaps Jeffery is the kind-hearted one with a caring nature and the one who has kissed me?'. Again, she thought, it was too much effort to try and figure out.

Roy worked harder than he'd ever worked so he could get back to Amy faster. He thought it was bad enough copping flak from old Teddy, but now he had Andy teasing him about Amy as well. He was looking forward to the end of the day, the part where he took both Andy and Teddy back to their respective homes. As Roy and Andy cleaned up their mess from assembling parts of the stage, Teddy announced he had an appointment the following day in the city, a medical checkup for his broken ankle. Roy felt a rush of relief. With this new information, he didn't hesitate in his decision, he was taking the day off from everything. No Teddy and no badgering from Andy. 'Yes!', he thought, 'Tomorrow I'm a free man!'.

As Amy's shift was coming to an end, Ruth declared the café would be closed for business for the next day. There were so many things that needed to be done for the festival and being shorthanded, most shops on main street would be closed for business, giving the volunteers and other members of the community a day dedicated to finalizing major details to ensure the festival ran as smoothly as possible. This did worry Amy somewhat. She was hoping to approach a few businesses for prize donations. This could potentially throw a spanner in the works for her plans she'd mapped out. Trying not to panic, Amy had to have a private word with Ruth.

"I was hoping to approach some of the local businesses for prize donations. What am I going to do if they are all closed for the day? I'm going to fail! I can't let everyone down!", Amy let her panic out to Ruth in the back office. Ruth put a gentle hand on Amy's arm and tried her best to reassure her, "It's going to be alright Amy. You're not going to fail. I won't be in town, I'm driving Teddy to the city to see a doctor about his ankle, but I'll give you my cell number, if any of the businesses you approach are closed, call me and I'll give you the number of who best to talk to. Don't panic, you've got this". Amy felt like she was beginning to hyperventilate. Ruth clearly meant well, but that didn't stave off the panic attack she felt building. She was already starting to think she'd have to change a few of her plans for the major prizes and look in other directions. She needed a backup plan, but she didn't have one, and didn't anticipate this potential brick wall. The more she thought about it, the more she saw her plans going up in smoke!

Roy entered the café but there was no one around. Ruth was nowhere to be seen, he'd passed Lorna out on the street getting into her car and Amy, he couldn't see her anywhere either. He walked behind the counter towards the kitchen, and he could hear voices coming from Ruth's office. The door was open, and he could hear every word. Amy sounded stressed and in some kind of panic. She was talking about prize donations and letting everyone down. Roy could imagine Amy might find it challenging to get locals to donate prizes to an out-of-towner. He felt bad for her. Roy thought it wasn't possible for Amy to fall apart, she always put out that she was strong-willed, determined and resilient, but hearing her now, he wanted to go to her and reassure her all would work out just fine. He wanted to hold her and rid her of the panic she was experiencing. He could hear Ruth's words of encouragement, but it didn't seem to be making a difference.

Ruth and Amy walked out of the office and were both surprised to see Roy in the kitchen. "Roy!", Ruth said startled. "We're closed, I'm sorry, but if you're needing something, you've come too late". Roy had a sudden feeling of a young boy who'd been caught out doing something wrong. Before he had a chance to find the right words to say in response to Ruth, Amy spoke on his behalf. "It's okay Ruth, he's here to take me back to the Inn. Apparently, I shouldn't be riding a pushbike in the dark". Amy's words sounded a little spiteful, she didn't mean it, but she was still in the midst of trying not to panic, even more so now with Roy standing in front of her.