Connie's Cafe/Book Shop

Chapter 14 Sunday

It took Connie a few minutes to realise the music she was hearing was her alarm. She lifted her head and with half opened eyes she reached out with one hand to hit the alarm off. She turned over and cuddled into Dean, suddenly she shot up. Today was Sunday and she was going to be late. She held onto her head, which felt like there was a marching band racing through it.

"Whoa, what's wrong" mumbled Dean half asleep, "Where's the fire!"

"Sorry Dean, stay in bed, I have to go and visit my family, Remember, I go every Sunday morning"

Dean sighed and look up at her, she rubbed her forehead and slowly got out of bed. "Why don't you just call them and tell them you'll be late, better still why don't I come with you then I get a chance to meet them"

Connie looked down at him, how she wanted to explain everything and to have his support, but not just yet, she would, and soon, but not just yet. She sat back down on the bed, absentmindedly she rubbed the scar on her arm, "Look Dean, not just yet, ok, soon, I promise, but look, today why don't you just rest here in bed and I'll be back in a couple of hours, ok."

Dean felt rejected, he couldn't understand why she kept her precious family such a secret, surely they couldn't be so bad, or was she just ashamed of him. Maybe that was it, she was ashamed of him.

"Look, get ready and go, I'll go and get my car, then I've got a couple of things to do, we can catch up later" he replied.

"No please Dean, don't get upset, please. I have to do this, please believe me this is the best way."

"Fine, no worries, go on get ready, go, I'm fine" He looked angrily at Connie, she squirmed under his gaze, gave up and headed for the bathroom. Nothing more was said between them as she left the apartment half an hour later.

..............

Dean waited until he heard the door close, then he got up, got ready and left. He walked a little way down the road before he saw a taxi, he held out his arm and thankfully the cab was empty and stopped for him, he got in and headed for his friend's house to collect his car.

He arrived within half an hour and knocked on the door, he had to wait almost five minutes before a rather sleepy Andy opened the door, "What are you doing here so early!" he asked sleepily.

"Sorry mate," answered Dean, "Connie had to go out so I thought I'd come over and get my car, hadn't planned to come so early, but there you go"

His friend looked at his face, "Come on in and tell me all about it"

As they headed through to the kitchen Andy's girlfriend came in wrapping a silk kimono around her, she took one look at Dean's face, "ok, guess this is boy's talk, I'm going back to bed" she kissed Andy's forehead and headed back upstairs.

"Come on then" Andy said, putting down a large mug of coffee in front of Dean, "What happened?"

............

Connie arrived back around 2 pm and found the apartment empty, there was no note. She knew Dean had had more than enough time to get his car and run whatever errand he had supposedly had to do. She checked her phone again. No messages. She sat down on the sofa and started to cry.

.............