Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack - Helen J. Rolfe Page 0,41

he’d admitted he’d been hiding from his dad until he realised he had to go home eventually and face the consequences of a bad school report. Patricia had taken pity on him at his admission the other day and promptly made him a bacon butty to eat as he walked back to the waffle shack.

Daniel had a list of tame misdemeanours but he also had a more shameful list of worse crimes. He’d broken into a couple of houses; he couldn’t claim it was others who’d made him do it, and he knew he’d got off lightly with community service when those he’d picked on hadn’t wanted to throw the book at him – maybe out of respect for his mum and the rest of his family. He’d tried to go to those houses and apologise too but neither owner lived there anymore. Part of him had been relieved because he was ashamed of the things he’d done and wasn’t sure he’d get a very warm welcome. But it wasn’t those acts that kept him up at night, it was the other brush with the law after leaving Heritage Cove that sometimes gave him nightmares of being trapped in a cell unable to get out, of Harvey telling him he got what he deserved.

Benjamin was on a rare night off from chef duty at the pub and already waiting on the customer-side of the bar when Daniel walked in, and when they’d had a quick catch-up about getting ready for opening day, Daniel recounted some of his tales of making amends.

‘It’s like completing one of the twelve steps alcoholics have to deal with,’ said Benjamin.

‘Yeah, well, I’m glad not everyone is holding a grudge.’

‘Is anyone at all?’ He thanked the barmaid for the pints of Guinness she settled on the bar top.

‘Only one person.’

‘Don’t tell me’ – Benjamin licked away the creamy froth that clung to his top lip after his first sip – ‘your brother.’

‘Got it in one.’

‘He’s a good guy, I don’t get it. Did you take all his toys when you were little? Blame everything on him? Steal his girlfriend? What?’

‘None of the above. I left.’

‘That’s it? You left?’

Daniel sipped his pint. When the going got tough he’d got going, he would never dispute that, but Harvey had done the same without realising. And he’d done it a long time before Daniel. The only difference was he’d stayed physically in the same place. Harvey had sought solace at Barney’s and he’d had Melissa, and his escape route was shockingly similar as far as Daniel was concerned. Harvey just couldn’t see it.

‘Talking of stealing girlfriends,’ Benjamin went on, perhaps sensing a deep-and-meaningful wasn’t really on the cards, ‘not that it’s stealing because she’s single…I dated her a while back…’

‘Get to the point, mate.’

‘How about I set you up on a blind date?’

‘Not a chance,’ he said swiftly. ‘Not interested but thanks for the offer. And besides, I’m way too busy with starting my own business to think about women for a while.’ Unless it was a certain blonde who went by the name of Lucy. ‘Come on, I’ll give you a game of darts.’ The board at the back of the pub where the quiz was always held had become vacant.

‘You’re on. But I warn you, I practise when it’s quiet in here.’

‘Don’t worry. I had a dartboard as a kid.’ He’d used it to vent his frustration many a time.

Daniel and Benjamin got through several games before turning their attention to the pool table until they finally took up their stations back at the bar. Benjamin ordered another round and Daniel checked his phone when it vibrated in his pocket.

Lucy. She must’ve got his number from his contact sheet and was texting to say the sign was ready. He messaged her back. ‘Photo?’ And her reply came straight away to say there wasn’t a chance of her sending one, he’d need to see it in person and could come over whenever he liked.

Shame they’d just got another round in. Because this was an offer he didn’t want to refuse.

‘What’s the smile for?’ Benjamin quizzed, pocketing his change.

Daniel pushed his phone into his back pocket. ‘No reason.’

‘Come on, nobody looks that happy just because they won a few games of darts.’

‘And three games of pool, don’t forget.’

‘I think we should avoid talking about it, don’t you?’ Benjamin protested.

Talk turned to work in the hospitality sphere, their hopes and dreams and how they’d both started out. They shared anecdotes