Strangers (34 page)

His mobile rang while he was trying to clean up the mess.

“Hey, what you doing?” Kate asked.

“You don’t want to know.” Charlie looked at the towels he’d thrown into the bath.

“Yes, I do,” she said.

“Cleaning up puke.
And before you ask, it’s not mine.
I wish you were here.”

“Why?
So I could help?”

“Yes.” Charlie laughed.

Natalie moaned from the bed and bolted back to the bathroom.

“Who’s throwing up?” Kate asked.

“Natalie.”

“Campbell?”

“Natalie Glass.
She’s got a part in
The Green
.”

“The one in the red slashed dress at Armageddon?”

He heard the change in tone.
And lied.
“I don’t remember.”

“Charlie, you’re telling fibs.
Are you in her room?”

“Yes, but I’m not doing anything.” Charlie turned away as Natalie threw up again.

“Just cleaning up puke,” Kate corrected.

“This is not in my job description.”

“Get someone else to do it then.”

“I don’t think this is in anyone’s job description.
Nice shot, Natalie.
At least you mostly hit the bowl that time.”

“When you’re on your own, call me,” Kate said.
“And we’ll play a little game of doctor and patient.”

“I need a shower first.”

“Is the phone waterproof?” Kate asked.

Charlie perked up.
He’d find a plastic bag and make it waterproof.

Chapter Twenty-One

On Monday morning, Kate strolled into Crispies through the door that Dan held open for her.
She glanced at the clock.
On time.
But Mel’s toothy grin caused Kate’s smile to dissolve like ice cream on a hot pavement.
Something was wrong.

“How are you feeling, Kate?” asked the Mel look-alike.

Dan put his palm on his sister’s forehead.
“You don’t have a temperature.” He slid his hand to her nose and squeezed it.
“Ah, it’s warm.
Not a good sign.” He winked at Kate.
“Oh no, I’m wrong.
It’s a dog’s nose that should be cool.
Guess you’re healthy, Mel.”

“Piss off, Dan,” Mel snapped.

He laughed.
“That’s more like it.
I thought you really were ill.”

Kate took off her jacket and hung it in the staff restroom.
Lois walked past, her mouth and eyes wide open as she stared at Kate with something approaching awe.
Two of the other waitresses huddled in a corner, whispering.

It was going to be a long day.

Kate made her way to the kitchen, hoping Tony would cheer her up, but instead of the flirting she’d grown to enjoy, he carried on chopping carrots at breakneck speed.
Kate was annoyed, self-conscious and worried, all at the same time.
She returned to the dining area to find Mel still talking to Dan.

“We’re going to be very busy today,” Mel said.
“I had to serve yesterday because
some
people wouldn’t come in and help.” She glared at her brother.

“I told you I was busy.
I do have work of my own.”

Mel rolled her eyes and turned to Kate.
“Had a good weekend?”

Kate’s mouth dropped open.
She clamped her lips together.
Mel was never interested in what any of the staff did outside work.

“What did you get up to with Charlie?” Mel asked.

At the mention of his name, a crackling charge filled the air as every person in the vicinity tuned into the conversation.
Lois sidled over and dusted the chairs behind them.

“He took me to meet his parents.” Kate’s hand slammed to her mouth.
Shit, was she a complete idiot?

“Oh.
My.
God.
He must be serious.
Is he coming in today?
Please, can he come in today?” Mel hands danced with excitement.

“He’s in Ireland.
Don’t tell anyone we went to see his parents,” Kate pleaded.

Mel frowned and then her face brightened as if she’d seen Father Christmas coming down her chimney with presents for her and not Dan.
“Okay, but keep the fact that he’s in Ireland a secret, too.
If a customer asks, say you’re expecting him anytime.”

“But—” Kate stopped when she saw the way that Mel looked at her.
An order, not a request.
“Only—” Kate made one more attempt.

“People will flock here if they think there’s a chance of Charlie Storm popping in,” Mel snapped.

“But the newspaper didn’t say precisely where I work.
There are loads of cafes in Greenwich.”

“I’m sure it won’t take long for people to find out.” Mel avoided Kate’s eyes.
“After all, he was in here last week.
They’ll think he’s a regular.
We’ll attract a different crowd.”

“The only stars will be in your eyes,” Dan said and laughed.

Mel turned on the face Kate knew so well.
Pissed off and harassed.

“Did you ring and tell them?” Dan asked.

Mel’s gaze shifted to the glass ceiling.

Damn
, Kate thought.

“Mel, tell me you didn’t do that,” Dan said.
“Please tell me you haven’t thrown out Charlie’s name in order to fill this place up.”

But Kate knew she had, because spreading the word that Charlie might walk in at any moment would be great for business.

“Of course not.”

Dan sighed.

“Would you be a kind brother instead of a mean one and sort out the wine delivery?” Mel asked.

Kate knew why she’d got rid of Dan.
The moment he was out of sight, she followed Kate like a puppy, eager for any scraps.

“So what’s he like?” Mel asked.

Kate ran her cloth over a table top and pressed her lips together.

“How did you meet him?”

Kate moved to the next table.

“You can tell me.
We’re friends.”

Kate turned round and crossed her arms.
“Who are you and what have you done with my boss?”

“Oh, very funny.
Come on, Kate.
Dish the dirt.”

“I can’t talk about him.” Kate tried to explain.
“The press will twist everything.”

“We’re not the press.” Mel made another attempt to deliver a sincere beam and failed.

Kate jerked as a brush hit her foot.
Lois swept the floor behind her, hunched over with her antennae twitching.

“How did you meet him?” Mel asked.
“Is his dick really—”

“Mel,” Tony bellowed from the kitchen.
“Get in here.”

Kate breathed a sigh of relief.
Mel always jumped for Tony.

“Has he sung
Just One Look
for you?
I love that one,” Lois mumbled in a dreamy voice at Kate’s shoulder.
“I’ve got all his albums.
Do you think you could get him to sign them for me?”

“I don’t know,” Kate said, almost wishing Mel had sacked her.

Kate heard a tap at the front window.
Her eyes shot up.
She couldn’t believe it.
Ten minutes before they opened and a line of people stood on the pavement.

Dan flew past.
“I’ve got to go to the wholesaler.
See you later.”

Mel emerged from the kitchen, cast a guilty glance at Kate and began to polish the mirrors.
Another first—Mel working.

The Charlie fiasco hit the moment the door opened.
The curious stares and impertinent questions left Kate with a throbbing headache.
The open-mouthed envy she could cope with, but the ill-disguised hatred made her desperate to flee.

Break time couldn’t come soon enough.

She hid in the store cupboard, sat on a drum of cooking oil and switched on her mobile.
Charlie had sent a text.

Thought of U and now I’ve got a huge prob 2 deal with B4 I go 2 breakfast. Wish U were here

xx Hippo

U’ve given me huge prob 2. Millions of people @ Crispies cos they think U might B here

xxx Mermaid

Just after the “message sent” screen appeared, the phone rang.

“How am I supposed to call you if you keep your phone switched off?” Charlie demanded.

Kate smiled.
“Good morning to you, too.”

“I want you,” Charlie whispered.
“I want to continue our discussion of last night.”

Kate felt a familiar tightening between her legs from just the sound of his voice.

“Haven’t you sorted out your little problem?” she asked.

“It wasn’t little and yes, I have.
I’m eating breakfast.
Hey, hands off my toast.”

Kate heard a woman laugh and felt a pang of disquiet.

“Natalie?” Kate wished she hadn’t asked.

“Yes.”

There were sounds of a tussle and then a woman spoke into the phone.

“He’s such a tease, Kate.
I don’t know how you put up with him.”

Then the phone was back in Charlie’s hands.

“I’ll phone you tonight,” he said.
“I’m going to be tied up all day.”

Kate heard Natalie giggle.

“In meetings,” he added.

“Okay, I’ve got to go now,” Kate said in a quiet voice.

“Bye, Mermaid.”

Kate heard more laughter and then the phone went dead.
She snapped it shut and pushed it in her pocket, her foot kicking at the drum.
The sound of Natalie’s giggling echoed inside her head.
Kate wanted to go home and bury her head under her pillow but instead she forced herself through the door.

She slunk past Tony, busy cooking extra of everything, and peered through the circular glass window of the swing door.
The place heaved with chattering people.
Great, Kate thought, Charlie’s eating breakfast with a beautiful woman, who even though she puked on him is still gorgeous, while she had to serve breakfast to a few grumpy regulars and a hoard of nosey parkers and look happy about it.
She wasn’t jealous.
She wasn’t.
She never let herself get attached enough to anyone to feel that way.

Despite her rocky life, Kate didn’t feel insecure.
She had no hang-ups about her looks or her body.
She’d learned never to show that sort of weakness.
It was an invitation to bullies.
She’d settled into an acceptance of what she had, though that didn’t mean she wasn’t sometimes envious of other people.
Not for their money or cars or houses, but for their loving families, their friends, the fact that they had people who cared about them.
Kate had never been jealous about a guy before.

She wished she had a passport.

* * * * *

The one thing about being busy—it stopped her thinking.
Everyone was rushed off their feet.

“Yes, we’re expecting him later.”

“No, you haven’t missed him.
Should be any time now.”

“Oh yes, he’s a regular here.”

Mel answered the questions that Kate ignored.
Customers who wanted to linger were forced to keep ordering and if they tried to stick to tea or coffee, Mel pointed out the minimum order threat she’d stuck on the bottom of every menu that morning.

Kate carried out a plate of lasagna to table twelve and smiled at the young man sitting there, a round-faced, blond-haired guy with a cute smile.
The type who usually gave her a big tip.

“Is it always this busy?” he asked.

“Crispies is very popular.”

“Worked here long?”

“No.
Is there anything else I can get you?” Kate smiled at him.

“I’ll have a glass of red wine.
I’ll treat you to one, too.”

“Bit early for me, thanks.
So, which paper do you work for?”

He laughed.
“The
Star
.
Andy Swift.
Want to give me an exclusive, Kate?
How you met?
What he’s like in bed?
That sort of thing.
Five thousand pounds?”

“No.”

“Ten.”

She gulped.
“No.”

“Twenty,” Andy offered.

Kate walked away, her heart pounding.

Every time she went near his table, he put the price up another thousand.

“Give me some idea if I’m getting warmer,” he complained.

“Max told me not to talk to anyone.”

The reporter’s face dropped.
Kate knew he’d think she meant the PR guru, Max Clifford.
She turned away from the table, grinning, to find herself facing a tall blonde about her age.
Before Kate could step to one side, a hand shot out and slapped her hard across the cheek.
Kate gasped and her own hand flew up in a belated attempt to protect her face.

“Bitch,” she screeched at Kate.

Kate stepped backward, rubbing her tingling cheek.
The whole place had gone quiet.

“Leave him alone.
He’s mine.”

“Right.” Kate turned away.

This was becoming a pain.
She could see what Charlie had to put up with.
Stupid, crazy people.
Before Kate had taken two steps, she felt a blow high up on her shoulder and staggered forward.

“For crying out loud,” Kate snapped and clenched her fists.

There was a piercing scream from somewhere, not from Kate, and then the place was in uproar.
She turned and saw the reporter from the
Star
holding the blonde woman’s wrist.
He shook a knife from her fingers.
Kate watched it drop to the floor and spin away under a table.
Bloody hell, she thought, good job he’d been here after all.
When the realization hit that he’d have his story, just not the one he’d hoped for, Kate gave a heavy sigh.

“Kate.” Tony appeared in front of her and took her arm, pulling her out of the mayhem of the dining area and into the kitchen.
Only after he put his fingers on her back and showed her the blood, did Kate realize she’d been stabbed.

“Oh Christ,” she gasped and wobbled.

Tony dragged over his stool with his foot, sat Kate down and unfastened her blouse.

Mel came blustering into the kitchen from her office.
“What the hell is that racket?
What— Tony what are you doing?”

Kate glanced up, saw the distress on Mel’s face and knew it wasn’t for her.

“How long has this been going on?” Mel’s mouth was a hard line.

“For fuck’s sake, Mel.
Can’t you see the blood?
Some lunatic’s stabbed Kate.”

“What?”

“She stabbed me?” Kate still couldn’t believe it.

“I’ll call the police.
What about an ambulance?” Mel asked.

“No,” Kate said.
“Neither.”

“But she stabbed you,” Mel shrieked.

“Please.
I’ll be fine.
I don’t want you to call anyone.
It’s not that bad, is it?”

“Don’t worry,” Tony reassured her.
“She hit your shoulder blade.”