The Waffle House on the Pier - Tilly Tennant Page 0,51

wait times for food and ensuring the dining room was clean and tidy, Sadie flitted in and out of the kitchen where April worked to keep an eye on her. Each time she was fully expecting to find a vacant, slack-jawed stare while smoke billowed from a waffle iron, or salt was poured onto peachy pancakes, or coffee was mixed into a milkshake, but none of these things happened. April was brisk and bright, and by midday Sadie felt able to breathe a relieved (if still a little cautious) sigh.

She was also thrilled when Natalie and Georgia made time to pop in and say hello during their lunch breaks – Natalie mostly to wave around the letter that advised her the decree nisi for her divorce had been filed and now all she had to do was wait for the shortly-to-follow decree absolute and she’d be free. She was so excited that not only did she show it to Sadie, but she also went through to the kitchen to tell April about it.

‘People used to marry for life,’ Gammy said in response, giving a dismissive shrug and wiping a hand down her apron before bustling off to prepare Natalie’s order. But, just as Sadie came in to see what was happening, Natalie grabbed a shocked April and gave her a big hug.

‘But you know me better than that, don’t you?’ Natalie asked, smiling a little sadly as she let April go again.

‘I remember you being born. It was so cold that day the bay froze over.’

‘So you know that I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t want to get divorced. I would never have married if I didn’t think it was for life. Maybe the first time I was silly but this time…’ She shook her head. Natalie gave the impression that she didn’t care, that she treated her failed marriages like some kind of game, but Sadie – and to some extent April – knew her better than that. ‘I was unlucky. I suppose you could say I was unwise. Does that mean I have to pay for that mistake for the rest of my life? That’s what all those couples did; the ones who used to marry for life. They got it wrong and then they were stuck in misery. And for what? Because it was proper? Because that was what people did? Because the neighbours would gossip if they dared to do anything about it?’

April sniffed. ‘I guess not.’

Natalie held her at arm’s length and appraised her. ‘Does this mean I’m not your favourite anymore?’

‘You know you’ve always been my favourite, darlin’,’ April said, a smile blooming now. ‘You’re like family – you and Georgia; you know that. It’s why it makes me sad to see things go wrong for you.’

Natalie kissed her on the cheek. ‘Well I’m glad not to be in the bad books now. I don’t think I could bear it.’

April laughed and wagged a finger as Natalie started back to the dining room, Sadie following. ‘I didn’t say that…’

Natalie and Sadie both started to laugh too as they went back to the table where Georgia was checking her phone.

‘She seems like her old self again,’ Natalie said.

‘I thought that too.’ Georgia looked up from her phone. ‘Not at all what we’d expected.’

‘Yeah…’ Sadie replied carefully. ‘I wonder if I jumped the gun a bit. I suppose it was bound to be weird being back here at first, but she seems a lot better today.’ She smiled. ‘I don’t mind telling you I was starting to think I’d made a terrible mistake, but today I’m hopeful this might work out after all.’

Natalie got settled on a chair and took off her jacket. ‘So you don’t regret quitting your course now?’

‘Oh, I regretted that as soon as I’d done it. You know me and my history of terrible decisions. I thought straight away I’d made another one, but whether I did or didn’t, it’s too late to undo it now.’

‘It’s never too late,’ Georgia said.

‘I’m proof of that,’ Natalie agreed.

‘Yeah.’ Sadie nodded. ‘Ewan said something similar last night when he dropped us off at home. He said I could always reapply for the course, but I’m not so sure.’

‘I imagine you could,’ Georgia said.

‘Maybe, but even thinking that now is kind of already setting myself up for failure here – if you catch my drift. I shouldn’t be making plans as if this isn’t going to work out, I should be concentrating on making