The Date

Chapter 44

Kate

The café had changed since Millie went away. She had decided to stay out in Australia to be with her son. I missed her like crazy but we talked through Skype whenever her Grandkids were there to help her work it. Millie left the café to me to run and the house to stay in.

Leah wanted to help make the place a success for Millie and me. She called it her pregnancy project as Chris hadn't let her work. She invested some of her own money and it didn't take long to get the place looking a bit more modern and attractive for customers to come into.

The new tables and chairs were white, the walls were all repainted in a mint colour and the kitchen was treated to new equipment that is gravely needed. We still had our normal menu with breakfasts and lunches but mostly the café started looking like a cute little bakery. With freshly made cupcakes, scorns, pies and loads more. It was a cupcake lover's dream.

Sid was settling in well waiting on customers and had finally taken my advice to stay at the church shelter until he could afford to get a place. Amber and Peter were from the shelter too and came to the café for work. Peter is very protective of Amber as she was so young. She was abused at home and run away just like me and was only fifteen and Peter was in his early or late twenties, I didn't find the need to ask and he used to be an addicted to about everything. No one would give him the chance to show that he's changed his ways that's why he came to me.

Amber told him about the café when the met at the shelter and they've been inseparable ever since. I wanted to help as many people out as I could, that's why Leah and I were thinking of starting a free dinner night every other day. For people that need food in their stomachs. I know what it's like to be cold, hungry and lonely at times. I wanted the café to be a place known to all that needed help to come. I haven't gone back to college and I'm not sure I will. I'm quite happy knowing what I know and just experimenting with new things later. I've been trying to teach Amber everything Millie taught me and she's looking to be a very creative student.

Leah wants to start up an arts centre nearby for music and dancing that she wants me to help with. She has wanted to work on it ever this she found out her GrandDad was sick but being fully pregnant of late, she hasn't had the chance and I've been busy with the café.

I heard the bell ring as a sign of someone entering the shop.

"Hey!" I smiled over at Leah coming into the café. "What you doing here?" The place wasn't that busy so I stepped away from the counter to hug her.

"Kate..." I heard her say but I interrupted when I saw her bump.

"My God it's like you're going to pop any minute, should you be out and about so near your due date?" I hadn't seen her in so long I was amazed at how big she had got. She was due in two more weeks. We had talked on the phone but Christian kept her safe and wrapped up at home these past few weeks.

"I'm fine, Chris has got me calling him every other minute and won't let his lovely chauffeur leave me alone, I'm fine..." she rolled her eyes. She looked flustered and a little worried look came into her eyes when she looked at me. "Kate..."

"Do you want to sit down? Would you like some tea? Water?" I moved her over to the chair but she stopped to look back at me again. She didn't look that great I was a little worried about her now. Please don't say she was giving birth I wouldn't have a clue what to do.

"No Kate I'm here too..." she tried to say again when I thought she may just be hungry.

"I could get you a muffin?" her face went from worried to joyful at the word muffin.

"Really? What kind... No!" she closed her eyes, shaking her head in frustration. "No that's not why I'm here" she took a deep breath and moved back over to the chairs so we were both sitting down. She was really starting to worry me now. "Look Kate there's been an accident... with Jake"