Tea for Two

Seconds out...

As it turned out, he didn't see her tomorrow or the next day for that matter. It was actually Tuesday of the following week when the door announced his arrival again. He walked in, shaking the rain from his umbrella and looking around. She wasn't there.

Sitting at his usual table next to the window, he looked around. There was Annie, filling the cabinet with more treats and beside her? Small, dark-haired... his smile lit up, only to be extinguished a moment later. Gemma. Now, there was nothing wrong with Gemma. She was sweet, if a little over enthusiastic in the fangirl department. It always made him smile but feel exhausted having her serve him. She chatted. A lot. He quite believed she breathed through her ears.

"Hi Tom!" Gemma breathed as she placed a menu on his table. "Tea?"

"Hi Gemma, yes, please. And the usual. Your choice... no"

"Cheese? Yes, I remember. " she giggled and put her order pad in her pocket. With a huge smile, she turned away.

"Gemma love?"

"Yes, Tom?" She spun so quickly it made him dizzy. "Can I do something for you?" She asked with more than a touch of desperation. Something? Anything? Please?

"Is... is Sarah on today?" He tried to make it sound light and throwaway. He failed. Gemma's smile froze in place. She really really liked Sarah, but this was Tom. She couldn't help but be disappointed. With a smile to hide her heartbreak, she nodded.

"Yes, she starts at 2 today. She's been off sick. Think she had a cold. You know, the full monty, runny nose, sneezing, eyes like a vampire in daytime? She had to go to get a fit note to come back."

"Thanks, Gemma." He smiled, and she nodded.

"You're more than welcome." Gemma simpered away, delighted she got to say more than just 'tea or coffee?' for once.

As she walked away, Tom laughed to himself. Despite being relieved that Sarah was indeed working today, he doubted she'd appreciate the graphic description of her ailments. Just as well, it wasn't anything more, well, personal!!

He looked at his watch and sighed. It was only 12.30. Could he spin out an hour and a half and not look obvious? He pulled out his phone again. He dialled a number and waited.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up....." he drummed his fingers on the table. "Ahhh! Hi! How are you? Fancy a cuppa? Yes, now. Yes, the usual. Be good to see you. Great. Bye." He hung up. Two birds, one stone.

An hour later, the door tinkled open, and Tom paused mid sentence, his words and a morsel of scone poised in mid-air. His eyes followed the new arrival as they approached the counter. He smiled as he watched them speak to Annie. He stopped smiling when they turned, looked at him, and simply walked away.

Sarah arrived at work armed with a fitnote and an industrial pack of paracetamol. Her cold had actually turned out to be a mixture of allergies and a sinus infection. Neither conducive to being human, let alone polite to customers. Not to mention, she looked like a science experiment gone horribly wrong.

Five days of antibiotics and bed rest had put paid to the infection. It had also made her grumpy and bored. Now, despite Annie telling her she should still be resting, she was back.

"Do you really think you should be here, Lovely? " Annie had greeted her as she walked in. "Not that I don't need you, but if you're feeling crap then..." she reached out and hugged Sarah. "Still, it's good to see you. You're early, too. Timing couldn't be better, really - he's back." She nudged her, and Sarah turned to see Tom sitting watching her. She also saw he was not alone. Great.

Somehow, that stung more than the fact he saw her with a nose to rival Rudolph and red eyes that wouldn't have looked out of place on a Frost Giant. She didn't react. She just looked and turned away to hang her coat.