The Seafront Tea Rooms Read online

  As she laid the table with cakes, Adam’s laughter drifted over from the back room where he was shifting crates with Euan. Charlie appeared beside her.

  ‘You look miles away,’ Charlie said, over her shoulder.

  ‘Do I?’ Kat said, returning to reality. ‘I suppose I was for a moment.’

  An hour later, a crowd of Letty’s friends and the Seafront regulars had gathered, and everyone had hidden themselves out of view at various places in the tea rooms – Charlie, Séraphine and Kat were ducking behind the counter, while the men had taken the nook under the stairs.

  Kat rose her head a fraction and peered out through the window. She spotted Letty in the distance approaching the Seafront with her friend.

  ‘Everybody ready?’ she said, in a loud whisper. ‘She’s nearly here.’

  As Letty opened the front door, they all leapt out.

  ‘Surprise!’ they shouted.

  Letty stood with her hand on her heart, her face pale, and looked up at the banner that Kat had made, tears coming to her eyes.

  ‘My gosh,’ she said. ‘Is this all for me?’

  ‘Yes,’ Euan said, stepping forward. ‘These three suggested that it was about time we celebrated.’ He motioned to Kat, Charlie and Séraphine. ‘So everyone here has come together to say thank you.’

  ‘How wonderful. It looks beautiful. I’ll forgive you all for nearly giving me a heart attack.’

  A laugh went up from the crowd.

  Charlie passed her a glass of champagne. ‘Here you go, Letty. This should help ease the shock. Now come and join the party.’

  Over the course of the evening, friends milled around chatting and eating the homemade cakes, exchanging memories of the tea rooms over the years. Charlie and Letty had gone into the kitchen to fetch the next batch of muffins, and they took the opportunity to talk in the relative peace.

  ‘You three were so kind to arrange this,’ Letty said to Charlie. ‘It’s been a fantastic evening.’

  ‘It was our pleasure,’ Charlie said. ‘The Seafront is a very special place.’

  ‘You know, it’s the customers who make it that way,’ Letty told her. ‘There are days when it feels as though I’ll never get through everything that needs doing, and the cakes come out flat, and I have a mountain of paperwork…’ She shook her head. ‘But then there are days when people like you come in, and I know I have the very best job in the world.’

  ‘It’s good to be able to celebrate with you tonight,’ Charlie said.

  ‘I didn’t see this one coming at all,’ Letty laughed. ‘I felt quite overwhelmed when I came in. I’m not used to this kind of attention. But now, well, I’m having a very lovely evening.’

  ‘I’m glad. That was the plan.’ Charlie smiled.

  ‘Before I forget, Charlie,’ Letty said. ‘I know you’re back at work on Monday, and I wanted to talk to you about something before you go. You seemed interested in the scrapbook and the other things, and you mentioned you wanted to research a bit more. Do you want to borrow a few bits and pieces from our archives? By which I mean the folders of junk I’ve never got round to sorting through?’ She smiled. ‘You could post them back when you’re finished?’

  ‘Sure,’ Charlie said. ‘That would be great – if you’re certain you don’t mind? I was thinking of writing a piece based on them. Completely anonymous, and with your approval, obviously.’

  ‘Of course. I’m only pleased someone else is interested. If you find something you can use for your writing, then please go ahead.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Charlie said.

  Letty wove her way through the crowd, went into the kitchen and returned with a red folder and small cardboard box. ‘I’m not sure if you’ll be able to piece it all together, but there’s some notes from customers over the years, that kind of thing. Recipes my grandparents used to use.’

  Charlie took them from her. ‘I’ll take good care of it,’ she said.

  ‘Kat,’ Séraphine said, as they stood by the cake table, filling their plates with the sweet offerings. ‘Have you seen anyone since Jake?’

  ‘No, no one,’ she said. ‘Why do you ask?’

  Séraphine lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘Because I think my boss might have a crush on you.’

  ‘Adam?’ Kat could feel herself blushing.

  ‘Yes. I’m afraid I let it slip that you were single. Since you first came round, I’ve lost count of the times he’s said “Your friend Kat…”’

  ‘That’s sweet,’ she said, a smile coming to her lips. She hoped that it wasn’t too obvious that her cheeks were burning up. ‘I mean sweet of you to say it. Adam’s lovely but I’m sure he doesn’t see me in that way.’

  Séraphine raised an eyebrow.

  ‘And I don’t see him like that either,’ Kat added quickly.

  ‘You wouldn’t consider it?’

  ‘I don’t think so, no,’ she fibbed. ‘All I’m interested in now is a bit of stability.’ It was true – and yet Kat couldn’t deny that what Séraphine had said sent a tingle of excitement through her.

  ‘Oh well,’ Séraphine said. ‘I can understand, I suppose. With everything that has been going on in your life. It seems a shame, though. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to at least get to know him better…?’ She gave an encouraging smile.

  Charlie approached them, and Kat quickly took hold of her arm. ‘Charlie, come and change the subject,’ she said playfully.

  Charlie smiled, confused, glancing at both women, then opting to go along with Kat. ‘OK, if you really want a new topic of conversation, there is something I’ve been wanting to ask you two. What are you up to in a fortnight’s time?’

  Kat shrugged, relieved that Charlie was the centre of attention now. ‘I don’t have any plans.’

  ‘Me neither,’ Séraphine replied.

  ‘Well, how about a trip to London? My treat. I want to take you out to say thank you for all the hard work you put into the reviews.’

  ‘You don’t need to do that,’ Kat said, shaking her head. ‘We enjoyed it.’

  ‘I know… but I’d like to. Plus I’m not ready to say goodbye to the two of you yet. I’ll get your train tickets, and take us out somewhere lovely – all you need to do is come.’

  ‘I’d love to,’ Séraphine said. ‘It sounds perfect.’

  Kat hesitated. ‘I don’t know. I mean, it’s very tempting, but things have been so crazy lately…’

  ‘Which is exactly why you could do with a break. Could your dad look after Leo for the day?’ Charlie suggested. ‘You said how excited he was to be spending time with him again.’

  ‘I’ll ask him,’ Kat said, with a smile. ‘Maybe we could work something out.’

  Charlie and Euan stood outside the Seafront, the night air crisp and cool, and the sky full of bright white stars. The music and the sounds of guests chatting drifted out of the café, but where they were standing felt hidden, as if no one would find them there.

  ‘I wish you didn’t have to go,’ Euan said, taking Charlie’s hands in his.

  ‘Me too,’ Charlie said. The wind swept a lock of hair into her eyes and Euan brushed it away. ‘But I think my boss would have something to say about it if I extended my stay again. I’ve put off reality for long enough.’

  ‘It’s been great spending time with you,’ Euan said, his voice husky and quiet.

  ‘Likewise. Thank you.’

  ‘You’re thanking me?’ he said, with a slight smile on his lips.

  ‘Yes,’ she blundered. ‘You showed me around, took me out.’

  ‘You make it sound as if I’m a tour guide,’ he said, bringing his brows together, confused. ‘Charlie, I took you out because I like you. I thought that was obvious.’

  ‘It is. But… You know I’m going back to London. We’ll be miles away from each other.’

  ‘So you don’t even want to try?’ Euan asked, subdued.

  ‘I don’t see how we could make this work,’ she said. For a moment it felt better, taking control
of the situation, cutting things off before she got hurt again.

  He let go of her hands. The closeness that they had nurtured over the past few days, the togetherness they’d built out of laughter and shared stories, started to disappear.

  ‘This is the end of the line, then. If that’s what you want,’ he said.

  Her stomach tightened. This wasn’t what she wanted. Not at all. To have it be over. To never share another moment with Euan. But she didn’t know how to fix it, what solution to suggest. She nodded. ‘Yes, it is what I want. I think it’s easier if we just say goodbye, don’t you?’

  ‘Goodbye it is, then,’ Euan said, flatly. ‘I wish it wasn’t, but you’ve made yourself clear.’ Reluctantly, he walked away.

  Charlie watched him go back into the party, and then turned towards the sea, covering her face with her hands. You’re an idiot, Charlie, she muttered to herself. She wished desperately that she could take back every word she’d just said.

  At a quarter to midnight, with the room still full of people, the lights and music cut out completely.

  ‘Oh no!’ Kat heard Séraphine’s voice call out into the darkness.

  ‘Must be the fuse box,’ Charlie said, from the other side of the room. ‘Can anyone see Letty?’

  ‘I can barely see anyone,’ came a male voice.

  ‘I think she went out to the car park with a friend,’ someone else said.

  Kat vaguely recalled a previous power cut, when she’d been in the Seafront with Letty. The fuse box was on the wall near the stairs up to Letty’s flat. ‘Don’t worry, I think I know how to fix it,’ she said.

  ‘Here,’ Adam said, passing her his phone, with the torch function on. ‘This should help.’

  They walked together through the crowded room to the back of the shop. Adam fumbled for the door handle, then opened it, leading Kat to the stairway up to Letty’s flat. The hallway there was also in darkness, save for the beam of light coming from the phone she was holding.

  She turned the torch to face the wall and found the fuse box, then struggled to open it with one hand still holding the light.

  ‘Here, let me,’ Adam said. He leaned close to her and pulled the box open.

  She stood on tiptoes and peered inside.

  ‘Hurry up, will you!’ came a call from the tea rooms.

  ‘It must be one of these,’ Kat muttered. She flicked one.

  ‘That one, I think,’ Adam said. As he pointed to the switch, their faces were almost touching. Séraphine’s words rang through Kat’s mind. She was sure of it now. He felt something for her too.

  In the darkness, she could hear the sound of both of them breathing and was aware of the closeness of their bodies. She moved towards him and her mouth found his. They kissed, their hands joined, lips moving together naturally. Kat’s heart began to race. This felt so right.

  Then, in an instant, doubts cut in. She couldn’t let this happen, not now. There had been enough upheaval in her life, and she owed it to herself, and to Leo, not to introduce any more.

  She broke away from Adam, then located the switch Adam had previously pointed to and flicked it.

  The music started up again and the lights in the hallway flickered on.

  She saw his expression then, startled, confused at the way she’d distanced herself from him.

  ‘You were right,’ she said quietly. ‘That was the one.’

  Part Three

  Water is the mother of tea, a teapot its father, and fire the teacher.

  Chinese proverb

  38

  Monday 6 October

  ‘Here’s one that will fit you,’ Kat said, passing a small white apron from the back of Letty’s kitchen door over to Zoe. She, Zoe, Letty and Séraphine were gathered in the kitchen at the Seafront for an evening baking session. Kat helped Zoe tie the straps behind her.

  ‘So, I wanted to show three of my favourite women how to make madeleines,’ Séraphine said. She unpacked the ingredients on to the kitchen counter. ‘I managed to find some proper tins,’ she said. ‘You can use muffin tins, but they come out much more prettily with these shell-shaped ones.’

  ‘Perfect,’ Letty said, putting the oven on to heat. ‘Euan tells me his dog’s addicted to these. Seems an awful waste of good cake, if you ask me.’

  Séraphine and Zoe looked at each other and laughed.

  Kat was grateful that her dad had offered to babysit Leo again. Baking, and being with friends, was exactly what she needed at the moment. Her mind had been on Adam ever since the party. What had happened with Jake had obviously thrown her off course – why else would she have done something so foolish? Now she just wanted to forget about it.

  ‘OK, Zoe – do you think you could grate the rind of this lemon for us?’ Séraphine asked the question in French, and Zoe took the lemon from her and got to work.

  Letty raised her eyebrows at Séraphine and Kat discreetly, to show she was impressed, and Séraphine smiled proudly.

  They worked together in the kitchen, preparing the madeleines, and then when they were in the oven cooking, sat down on the kitchen stools.

  ‘Baking’s kind of cool, actually,’ Zoe said, watching the cakes rise in the oven. ‘I wouldn’t mind learning how to make a few more things.’

  ‘You should come to my village one day,’ Séraphine said. ‘There’s a fantastic patisserie course that runs in the summer – you could take it.’

  ‘Sounds fun,’ Zoe said, with a smile.

  Kat imagined it – the pleasure of a holiday in France with nothing to do but bake and learn and taste. It sounded like complete heaven. But it was another world, that kind of thing. For someone else, not for her.

  ‘I might join you,’ Letty said. ‘I’ve always dreamed of doing something like that.’

  Kat nodded in encouragement. ‘You should go,’ she said.

  ‘You should, Letty,’ Zoe said. ‘You’re not that old.’

  ‘Zoe!’ Séraphine exclaimed, tapping her on the arm.

  ‘What?’ Zoe retorted.

  Letty laughed. ‘Don’t worry, Zoe. And well, perhaps you’ve got a point.’

  Kat collected her things together at the end of the evening, and pulled on her coat.

  ‘Here,’ Séraphine said, passing her a silver card box filled with the cakes she’d made. ‘Don’t forget these!’

  ‘Thanks,’ Kat said, shaking her head. ‘How silly of me.’

  ‘Are you OK, Kat?’ Séraphine asked her, quietly. ‘It seems like you’ve got something on your mind.’

  ‘It’s nothing,’ Kat said.

  ‘The same nothing that got Adam stirring salt into my tea this morning?’ Séraphine asked.

  Kat smiled. ‘The very same one.’

  39

  Tuesday 7 October

  Charlie breezed past Ben’s desk and settled down on her swivel chair with a cup of hot coffee. She’d caught a glimpse of him, and looked away quickly. It was only her second day back at the office, and work was what she was going to focus on; there was no time for distractions.

  She switched on her computer. She noted, as she had the day before, how everything on her desk was exactly as she’d left it – down to the Post-its with scribbled one-word notes that framed her monitor. It was as if she’d never been away.

  On Sunday night, she’d got back to her flat late and had a bath before settling into bed. She’d expected to feel good about being home, being in her own space again, with no complications – but instead the flat had felt empty and cold – her neglected plants were the only ones who’d missed her. As she’d lain in bed in her Egyptian cotton sheets, she hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that no one aside from her boss would have cared if she hadn’t come back. The temptation to call Euan, to tell him that she hadn’t been honest with him, almost overwhelmed her. She’d switched off her phone – something she never did – and put it away in her handbag.

  ‘It really is good to have you back, Charlie,’ Jess said, coming over and perching on the edge
of her desk.

  ‘Thanks. It’s good to be back.’ She smiled but the words didn’t ring true. In the grey office with its familiar frosted glass dividing walls and her colleagues hurrying by in suits, she felt adrift.

  She missed the calmness of the seafront, Letty’s scones, talking to her friends – and the warmth of Euan’s arms.

  ‘The content’s looking great, by the way,’ Jess said. ‘You’ve pulled it off. Listen – I’m late for a meeting. Let’s catch up later.’

  The feature Charlie was planning to write – a late addition to the November issue – began to take shape in her mind. It would be an anonymous insight into what The Seafront had seen through the century, the history of a secret tea rooms. She wished she’d had time to look through the box that Letty had given her – but the deadline was too tight. She’d just have to work with what she’d already found out.

  She put her notes to one side and started to type.

  In the Second World War, Scarborough experienced tragedies, including a raid on the town. During those difficult times, the community rallied together and the traditional tea rooms were converted into an RAF training centre. The tables were pulled back and the trainees were fuelled with Julia Brown’s vanilla sponge cake…

  She sent the article over to Jess at lunchtime. Changing Letty’s name, she’d written the story of the tea rooms through the sixties and seventies, how Letty and John had overcome everything from financial hardships to vandalism and managed to keep the place going. She hoped that she’d done the complex story of the tea rooms justice.

  She opened her ready-made salad. The sugar-snap peas and cherry tomatoes tasted bland and disappointing after the cakes she’d just been revisiting in her mind.

  Her desk phone rang with an internal call, and she picked up.

  ‘Charlie, it’s Louis.’ The managing director’s voice was brisk and businesslike, as usual. ‘Have you got a minute?’