the shop. “You can cut me out of this dress when I get back.”
“I’m coming with you!”
Lara locks up her shop and helps me bundle the skirts of my dress into my arms. Together, we run along the road and up the street towards my cafe. I get a few strange looks from passers-by who are probably wondering why there’s a bridal gown wearing woman dashing along the street in her trainers. As soon as we get near my cafe though, all eyes are focused on the scene unfolding before us.
Police cars have driven in from everywhere. Some are parked up on the curb as a fire truck engine tries to make its way down the narrow street. “Anika!” I wave to my colleague and drop half my bridal skirts. After picking up armfuls of tulle once again, I head to the front entrance of my cafe.
“Boss lady!” Anika is talking to an officer. “The rendQrség do not believe me when I tell of the robot’s rampage!”
The rendQrség? Oh! I think that’s Hungarian for police. Or maybe it’s a word to describe the uncooperative. I for one second don’t doubt that a robot did the damage I can see through the cafe widows.
My darling personally owned cafe is in tatters. I’m surprised none of the windows were smashed because even from here I can see that every table and chair inside has been over turned.
Similarly, as I stand here dressed like an out of place bride, my whole world feels over turned.
***
I spend the next thirty minutes talking with the police. I know they don’t believe Anika’s story about the rampaging oven robot, I can see the distrust in their beady eyes. Okay so admittedly not all of the officers have beady eyes, but there’s definitely one lackey who’s eyes are much too close together for my liking.
The opposite of Oliver’s bulging eyes.
Damn that Oliver and his malfunctioning robots. I don’t know how he’s gotten funding from CoTechnic to make so many of his disastrous machines!
Finally, Beady Eyes lets me go and I immediately call Callum. He’s here in a matter of minutes and together we all trudge inside my cafe to inspect the damage.
I’m overwhelmed with despair. Chaos reigns inside my once quaint tea shop and deli. Kicking my way through the rubble that has become the kitchen floor, I try not to snap mentally. Actually, I don’t know whether to shout in anger or cry my eyes out. It’s as though I’m emotionally numb.
“You look beautiful, honey.” Callum is the only one with me in the kitchen. Anika, Fiona and Lara are trying to turn all the tables upright in the dining area.
“I’m glad you like the dress.” I reply to my fiancé. “Because apparently I’m going to be stuck wearing it for the rest my life.”
Callum frowns questioningly just as Lara bursts into the kitchen. “I’m so sorry, Emily!” She gushes again and again. Frantically, she searches the countertop with her hands. When she comes up gripping a pair of meat cutting scissors I back away slowly.
“Chill out, Lolz,” I tell her. “I was only joking. You can cut me out of this dress later.”
“You seem to be taking this all very well, boss lady.” Anika has joined us. She’s standing in the door way. Tears are streaming down her cheeks.
“Oh, Anika come here!” Dropping my billowing bridal skirts I go to her and squash her into my overflowing bosom. “I’m so sorry you had to deal with that monster robot tearing up the place.” Putting her at arm’s length, I turn to Callum. “Did you manage to find, Oliver?”
My fiancé shakes his head. “No, but I’m going to hunt him down tomorrow… I mean… I’ll find him after we’ve sorted out your cafe, darling.”
And that does me in. There isn’t a joke in the world that could numb the pain I’m feeling. It’s always Callum and his bloody sympathy that ends up breaking my inner damn of built up tears. I collapse into Anika’s arms and the two of us sob into the night. Well, we would have done if Fiona, Callum and Lara hadn’t intervened.
Eventually I end up at Lara’s bridal shop once again, with Callum this time. I never would have expected that my groom-to-be would enter such a place, after all, the man isn’t supposed to see the bride before the wedding. Considering the circumstances of being physically sewn into a dress though, my fiancé’s presence is most welcome.
At first I’m thinking I’ll