Starting Over

Chapter 14

Claire: Your Ruth right? (She nods at Claire) Well, I suppose you should come in for coffee. Don't worry, Tom's not here. (Ruth nodded and followed Claire into the cafe. Claire went behind the counter and got two cup of coffee and invitees Ruth to sit down) Why are you here?

Ruth: I'm sorry. I don't wanna cause an issue. I just didn't realize Tom had already moved on...

Claire: Like you did?

Ruth: I guess so. I thought maybe we could talk and maybe work things out. But he didn't want to. I just wanted to see for myself why he didn't want to.

Claire: So you came to spy on us?

Ruth (nodding): I didn't want him to know I was watching. He was so angry when he left. I was afraid he might do something to himself you know?

Claire: It's hard to lose someone you love like that. Especially in that type of situation.

Ruth: I just needed to see if he was happy. I guess I need closure if that makes sense.

Claire (sighs): I know how that is. You know, I didn't grow up around here, I'm sure you can tell by my accent. I'm was born here but my parents took my to America and I grew up there. This cafe was my grandfathers. He and my grandmother ran it for years and my father didn't want to, so we would come back every summer to visit.  My grandparents hired a maintenance man, Mr. Abramovich. He lived in the basement with his son, Peter, who was about 3 years older than me. The summer when I was about 13, things were different with Peter. He was older and he wasn't interested in hanging out with me when I came for the summer. I was a young lady and he was a young man. He was wonderful. He was brilliant and talked to me about the. Like he was reading in school. He treated me like a contemporary instead of a baby like my parent and grandparents did. The next summer, my grandmother got really sick and she passed away. My grandfather was totally devastated. We actually ended up convincing him to let Mr. Abramovich And Peter hire a baker to run the cafe so that Pop could come home with us. Peter and I got really close that summer. He was my first kiss, my first, well, everything. (Claire blushed) At the end of summer we made a promise that we would be together forever once we were old enough. We went back to Illinois and Pop got sick. When he passed, we decided to cremate him and bring him back home to be with Grannie. I was 16 and Peter was 19. We spent the summer making plans for the next summer since I was about to be out of school. I'd come to London, and we'd run the cafe. The next summer, I hopped on the first plane to London with all my clothes and came straight to the cafe. My parents were LIVID. I was too you g to be doing something crazy like that and running off with a boy I hardly knew. Peter wasn't here and the cafe was closed. So I waited for three days. I slept at a hotel with the last of my money and sat on the little stoop outside waiting. Finally, Peter showed up with a girl. He had met her at the university and they were getting married. I was absolutely crushed. And so angry. He had broken a promise to me, you know? So I screamed, and slapped him. He left me there with nothing. All I had was the cafe and my dream of running it. I found out Mr. Abramovich had moved a few blocks down from Mrs. Beckwith. She's the lady who helps with the baking and lives above the store next door. So I went to him and found out the cage was mine. My grandparents left it for him to take care of until I was ready to run it. They knew all I wanted to do was cook and run the cafe.

Anyway. About two months after I got the cafe back up and running, I happened to be at the university registering for classes and saw Peter. He didn't see me though. I followed him to his apartment and saw him with his fiancée. They looked so happy and in love. And I knew this was how it was supposed to be. We were both better off now that we would have been together. So I left him behind and moved on with my life.

Ruth: Did you still love him?

Claire: I think a part of me will always have an affection for him. He was my first love. First loves are hard to get over. It just takes time. (Claire and Ruth looked at the back door as they heard it open and Tom come in)

Tom: Claire? I tried to call but... What the fuck? What the fuck are you doing here, Ruth?

Claire (stood up and walked over to Tom): It's alright. We've been talking. Please don't be mad.

Ruth (stood up and looked down at the floor): Claire, is it alright if I speak to Tom alone?

Tom (puts his arm around Claire protectively): No. she can stay. Nothing you say will change anything, Ruth. I don't love you anymore.

Ruth: I understand Tom. I just came to tell you I am going back to Cornwall. And I just want you to be happy. I'll always care about you and want you to be happy.

Tom (looks down at Claire and smiles): I am happy. And I'm in love.

Ruth (nods and sighs): I can see that. I should go. Claire? Be good to him. And take care of him, hmm? (She puts her hand out to shake Claire's)

Claire (shakes her hand and looks at Tom): we're going to take care of each other.

As Ruth goes to leave, Tom walks over to her and gives her a hug before she leaves.