The Heartbreak Cafe (16 page)

‘
Not at all, he deserved his comeuppance and you gave it to
him. No better woman too,’ she said proudly and Ruth looked at her,
touched.

‘
Thanks Ella.’

‘
So what can I get you? I know those LA types don’t eat a bean
and by the look of you you’ve gone down that road too,’ she said
with a glance at Ruth’s size zero frame. ‘But I’ll wager you won’t
be able to resist my soda bread. You never could when you were
younger,’ she added and Ruth wondered how she was going to break it
to Ella that she no longer touched carbs.

‘
Oh I’ve already had breakfast actually, so just a coffee would
be fine thanks.’

‘
Soda bread it is then, and I’ll cut it good and thick too,’
the older woman said, as if Ruth hadn’t spoken.

‘
So what do you have planned while you’re here?’ Trish inquired
when Ella left.

‘
I’m really not sure. I don’t usually have this much downtime
and of course, I don’t really know too many people around her,
beside my family and you two.’

‘
Well, now that all the hubbub about your homecoming is over
with, I’d like to organise a time with you for an interview – for
the Lakeview News?’

‘
Of course.’ Ruth quite looked forward to doing an interview
that she knew would be hugely flattering and most importantly,
would be read by everyone in this town. The local paper had always
been a staple in the Seymour household and she was sure nothing had
changed.

‘
And I wonder if you might be interested in helping out with a
project I’ve just started working on. I’ve already asked Nina and
she’s game.’

‘
What kind of project?’ Ruth knew better than to commit to
something before she knew the facts.

‘
Well I’m compiling a photographic history of Lakeview, and
publishing it for charity,’ Trish said, excitedly, and Ruth smiled
graciously, unwilling to betray her hesitation. Sifting through old
photographs of her sleepy hometown didn’t particularly sound like
her cup of tea, however worthy the cause might be. Still she
supposed it would be an interesting way to pass some of her
time.

‘
It would be great if we could incorporate you into the book
too, into the present day bits as our most famous local
resident.’

‘
Sure, sounds like fun.’

‘
We going to check out the library archives tomorrow if you
feel like joining us?’ Nina asked.

‘
Count me in,’ she replied, smiling. ‘So what else do you like
to do around here?’

Trish sat
forward. ‘Well, as you know, the place has really improved since
you left, we’ve got some great new restaurants and pubs, but really
for any great level of excitement or indeed shopping, you have to
go to Dublin.’

‘
I see,’ Ruth was beginning to wonder if spending the summer
here would be such a good idea after all.

‘
Bit different from L.A, I’d imagine?’ Nina laughed. ‘Don’t
worry, I know how you feel being away from the big city. I miss the
hustle and bustle of Galway as well, although I know that too is a
million miles from Hollywood.’

Ruth
shook her head, ‘Yes, I guess I’ll have to get used to that. L.A.
is such a different world and I’m always so busy and have so much
going on and well … everything seems so quiet and slow.’

‘
Well, Lakeview has its charms too,’ Trish said, a little
defensively.

‘
Oh of course, I didn’t mean….’ The last thing Ruth wanted to
do was alienate her new friends, especially when they’d already
been so good to her.

‘
So tell me about the two of you, are you married, do you have
boyfriends? What have you both been up to?’ she asked, hoping to
break the ice.

Both
Trish and Nina filled her in on everything they’d been doing for
the last few years. Nina spoke briefly about wanting to swap Galway
for a quieter life after a recent break-up and Trish gave some
details about some guy she’d just started seeing.

‘
What about you and yummy Troy?’ she asked, clearly looking for
the scoop.

Trying
not to forget that her old friend was in fact a reporter, Ruth
wasn’t sure how much she should divulge. ‘Oh, he and I aren’t
really a couple or anything. It was really just a one time
thing.’

‘
A delicious one time thing, I’ll bet!’

Ruth
laughed, the first time she’d done that in days. ‘It wasn’t ….bad,’
she said coyly. ‘Although, I really wish the whole world didn’t
have to know about it.’

‘
Did he really make you scream the place down?’ Trish said,
eyes bulging, and Nina nudged her.

‘
Sorry Ruth,’ she said, smiling kindly at her. ‘Personally, I
really don’t understand the big deal. I mean, you’re both single,
so who cares? It’s not as if you’re married or anything,’ she added
with a shrug. ‘So how come it’s front page news?’

Ruth
resisted the urge to remind Nina that she and Troy were wildly
famous, incredibly attractive celebrities, which made everyone
care. But she supposed they wouldn’t understand.

‘
So no one special in your life, then?’ Trish
persisted.

‘
No, honestly I’ve been so busy the past few years, there
hasn’t been a lot of time to date.’

‘
Never found anyone to replace Charlie then?’

Ruth’s
face burned. ‘What?’

‘
Ah, I’m only joking,’ Trish went on, ‘I know we’re talking
ancient history there, but to be honest, I only remembered it
because he just walked in.’

Ruth felt
her heart drop into her stomach. Charlie … here?

Trying
her utmost to be discreet, she slowly turned around to face the
door of the café. Her mouth fell open slightly; Trish hadn’t been
lying, Charlie Mellon was indeed standing there like a ghost from
her past. And although it had been five long years, still she would
have recognised him anywhere. He had the same tousled blond hair
and ruddy complexion, the same broad shoulders and huge hands. He
was speaking to someone by the entrance, shaking hands and nodding.
Ruth watched him for a moment, remembering the last time she saw
him.

She’d
wondered if he might be at the welcome home party the other night,
and had wondered what she might say or do if he was. But just as
quickly she’d reminded herself that Charlie Mellon had probably
left this town long ago. She’d never quite been able to bring
herself to ask her mother about him, and as Breda had never
mentioned anything she’d just assumed….

Suddenly,
it was as if Charlie felt her eyes on him, because he stopped what
he was saying and turned to look in her direction.

Ruth met
his level gaze and felt her pulse race; she had no idea what her
next move should be.

‘
Charlie, how’s it going?’ Trish said, waving.

But he
made no move towards their table, nor did he wave in
acknowledgement at the greeting.

Trish was
unperturbed. ‘Typical, rushing around the place as usual. He took
over his dad’s place a few years ago,’ she informed Ruth.
‘Transformed it into a huge place.’

She must
have been talking about his father’s car dealership, Ruth mused.
He’d always talked about taking it to the next level. Clearly he’d
done exactly that.

In the
meantime, Charlie had finished talking to his companion so deciding
to bite the bullet, she got up out of her seat. ‘I suppose I’d
better say hello,’ she murmured to the other two.

Turning
towards the door, she placed one foot in front of the other,
suddenly very aware of just how great the distance was between the
two of them. In reality it was probably only twenty-five feet, but
it felt like several miles. She was also acutely aware of the eyes
that followed her; after all it was public knowledge what had
happened between them all those years ago.

Charlie
however, did not make a move towards her and as Ruth neared, she
tried to summon up a smile. Still, knowing him, he would see right
through it, know just how nervous she was at this moment. As it
was, she could see he was appraising her, taking in her
appearance.

‘
Hello Charlie,’ she said, standing in front of him.

He didn’t
answer immediately, instead he just studied her intently, and
Ruth’s face was beginning to flush with embarrassment when finally
he opened his mouth, ‘Well, if it isn’t Hollywood Ruth….’ Although
it sounded like a joke, there was an edge to his tone.

Ruth
tried laughing it off but her insides felt like jelly. ‘Oh Charlie,
of course it’s just Ruth,’ she joked, plastering on the smile that
always wowed the cameras at premieres, and completely disguised her
churning insides. ‘Great to see you, it’s been a long time, hasn’t
it?’

‘
Yes, it has been a long time.’

‘
So how are things with you? I hear you’re doing
well.’

‘
Well you know, I’m no star, but I’m doing well enough for
someone who was stuck in Lakeview.’

The
coldness of his words cut her to the bone, and while on some level
Ruth knew that perhaps she deserved it; on another she wasn’t
letting him away with such a put-down.

‘
I’m glad to hear it,’ she said, shifting her weight from one
foot to the other. ‘I always knew you’d be a huge success.’ When he
didn’t reply, she smiled through her embarrassment, unsure what to
say next. ‘Well, I’ll be in town for a little while so maybe we can
get together for a coffee or something? I’d love to hear about all
the goings-on.’

At this
Charlie eyes darkened. He leaned in, getting close enough for her
to smell the scent of the aftershave and without ceremony, took her
by the elbow and guided her from the café.

‘
Charlie …what?’ Ruth gasped as he led her out the door.
‘What’s going on?’

Once
outside, he spun on his heel and the hitherto lazy cats quickly
scattered . ‘I knew I was going to run into you at some point,’ he
said drolly.

‘
But what…what’s all this about –?

‘
Spare me the small talk, princess. I have no desire to be part
of all this, no intention of being pulled into some
Hollywood-paparazzi-crap simply because it suits you. I’ll deal
with your presence in my town this summer, but other than that, I
will not give you another thought. You have been out of my life for
the past five years and I plan to keep it that way.’

Ruth was
shocked at such directness. ‘Charlie, I….’

‘
Before you start, I don’t care about you anymore, but I will
not have my life disrupted while you are here because you happen to
be a shameless drama queen OK? So let’s get the rules straight
right now. I don’t want to have coffee with you; I don’t want to
have dinner with you – anything. I don’t want to be involved with
you or the lapdogs that follow you around.’

His words
stung her and she puffed out her chest in indignation. ‘How dare
you insult me Charlie Mellon? You have no right to talk to me in
such a manner.’

He
laughed out loud and right then, Ruth felt relieved; clearly he was
only joking around, messing with her head a little.

But what
he said next didn’t sound humorous at all. ‘Please,’ he said,
shaking his head. ‘Next time you do righteous indignation; try not
to make it sound so rehearsed. I guess you’re not that great an
actress after all.’ Then before Ruth could respond, he patted her
cheek in a patronising manner, and walked off leaving her standing
there alone. The irony wasn’t lost on her. At their last meeting,
Ruth had made Charlie look like a fool.

Now five
years on, it was her turn.

This
would have to be the marketing campaign of Jess’s life. She was
going to have to sell this idea like no other, make it sound like
the ultimate must-have.

And Jess
could do it, she was sure of it; after all, wasn’t selling an idea
her absolute speciality?

She paced
the floor of the living room, listening intently for the front door
to open, signalling Brian’s return from London. She’d set the
table, picked up a nice lamb moussaka from a nearby deli, and had a
bottle of his favourite pinot grigio in the cooler. She’d also
picked up something very nice from La Perla to wear beneath her
figure-hugging Issa dress in the hope that all would go well and
things could get moving immediately.

It was
nine-thirty in the evening, and Brian had called about half an hour
ago from the taxi on his way from the airport. He should be here
any moment and while Jess always looked forward to her husband’s
return, this time was different. This time, she was …well if truth
be told, a little nervous.

Then
right on cue, she heard the front door open and her heart began to
race.

‘
Hey sweetheart,’ Brian greeted happily, but stopped short as
he caught sight of the wine and the carefully laid dining table.
Surprise registered on his face, and Jess tried to ignore the way
the side of his mouth twitched, something that usually happened
when he was amused.

‘
What’s all this?’ he said, casting an eye over Jess’s attire
and her blonde hair worn loose around her face. ‘I was expecting
you to be in your comfy pyjamas by now.’