Notre Petit Lieu

Espresso [6]

Kate didn't know what to do. She wanted to go after Jamie and apologise for lashing out on him. But at the same time she didn't want him to think that he could pull the same stunt again. She was inbetween a rock and a hard place.

Instead, her stubborn side decided to let him suffer, which ultimately meant for her to suffer also, she wasn't going to cave in and be the one to apologise first. She quickly tried to forget about Jamie, and got back to work. For the first time since she opened the cafe for business, she was happy that there weren't a lot of customers.

Jamie also felt a mixture of emotions. He didn't want to be on bad terms with Kate, he was still trying to figure out the feelings that he harboured towards her. They were so strong. He didn't want to be without her company.

A week passed and everything still was solemn. Both their hearts ached and both wished that they didn't test each other.

Kate, behind the counter, was greeted by a regular customer. An old latina woman who was in her mid-sixties who often brought her granddaughter.

"The usual?"

"Yes please, darling."

As she started writing down the order, the woman began, "Where's the lovely young man that's sometimes behind the counter with you? Did you guys break up?"

Her words were like a sharp knife that pierced Kate's heart, "N..no, we weren't together."

"But you guys were so cute together, are you sure you weren't together? You guys were always hugging and messing around behind the counter; maybe it's just my eyes. I'm getting old." The old lady laughed it off and began talking about her granddaughter.

Most of the time it was relaxing for Kate to talk with her customers because it made her feel calm, but this time it was different, the words said weighed down on her mind.

She didn't realised that she had blanked out until scolding liquid hit her hand. She let out a pained grunt and rinsed her hand under cold tap water. Quickly, she ignored the pain and gave the old lady her brewed tea with milk on the side and a hot chocolate for the little one.

"Are you alright dear? You seem a little out of it, you made a me a hot chocolate when Maria isn't even here." She laughed, "Seems like someone's a little occupied with thoughts. Is it that handsome chap? Do tell him to come again, you look much happier when he's around."

The old lady took her tray to a wooden table, leaving the hot chocolate on the counter, and then went over to the bookcase and began to pick out a book.

Kate looked down at her hand; it was red, nothing too serious had happened to it, but it hurt. Not just her hand but her heart.

Jamie had spent the last week replaying the scene in his head over and over again. He wished that it didn't happen the way that it did, and there were so many different outcomes that could've happened. It just had to be that one.

The hours ticked by, and the hours turned to days. Soon it was a week, and then two.

Before long Jamie was packing for the trip that was intended for Kate and him.

It was nice to finally hang with Bethany again, they hadn't done that in a while, the last time was before she decided that Tom and her were 'official' official. And that was drawing close to two and a half years.

At the last minute Tom had cancelled due to a business trip so it was just Bethany and Jamie. Like the good old days. He was glad that Tom had to cancel, it would've been really awkward to third wheel them and he felt that he didn't need a relationship pushed in front of his face at the moment.

Just as he was packing the last of the things that he and Beth needed for the trip he heard a beep signalling that he had received a message. He quickly shut the boot and fished his phone out of his pocket as he entered the car. The message was from Beth;

Hey Fartface, Just texting you to remind you that I'll meet you at the airport instead of at my apartment. Beth (^o^)

Jamie smiled at the nickname and quickly texted back saying that he was on his way and will meet her there shortly. He buckled himself up and drove towards the airport.

Kate was too tired of having a herd of nosey people keep on asking where her boyfriend was. She needed a breather, and with a stroke of luck her phone rang, she looked down at the screen and saw that the caller ID was her sister, Elise.

She couldn't help but feel a pinch of disappointment.

"Hey, Katie-Bug, is there anyone at the store?"

Kate scanned around the room, it was empty, just her alone. "No, it's been quite lonely recently."

"Can you drive me to the airport then? I have a work trip and I don't want to have to pay for a weeks worth of parking."

"Uh, yeah sure, but what work trip does a teacher have?"

"I'm representing the school and discussing terms for a French exchange."

"Oh... okay. Be there soon."

And with that Kate flipped the 'Open' sign that was at the door and began wiping everything down. Recently the only places that she had been going to were her shop and home, she didn't even bother to go out shopping and got it delivered, she was a mess and she needed to get a breather.

Her older sister always knew how to save her.

After she was done she hopped into her car and picked up her Elise, things seemed to be going well as there was no traffic and there seemed to be plenty of parking spots for her.

"Are you sure you want to come in and see me off? You can go if you want, I can do this myself."

"It's fine, we need to hurry or you won't be able to check in your baggage."

Things went smoothly, like with parking spaces, there were no queues and there was still plenty of time. With time to spare the two decided that it was best to have a nice and relaxing drink and a catch up.

"It's weird to be the one not making the drinks" Kate giggled to her sister as she thanked the barrister, she turned around and, before she could even take a sip of her drink, it fell hitting the wooden floorboards of the airport café.

Everyone in the store turned around to look at the cause of the noise and there in front of her was Jamie, whilst holding the hands of another woman, staring right at her.

Jamie heard the room go silent and immediately turned to see what the fuss was. To his surprise he saw Kate looking right at him and Beth- more specifically at their hands. He quickly let go of Beth's hand like it was a scorching hot needle and walked up towards Kate.

"Where are you going, we have to board the plane soon!" Beth asked, with annoyance and urgency in her voice.

Jamie just dismissed her comment as he had more important matters to deal with, Kate.