I glance over towards John’s café, my stomach grumbling for food now. “Sure thing. I’ll let you know. Love you.”
I hear the smile in his voice when he replies, “Love you more,” before hanging up.
I place my phone back in my pocket and look for an opportunity to cross the busy main road. I’m so glad the antique store is on a busy road because after what happened to me, I don’t think I will ever walk anywhere isolated ever again. At least not alone. Without wanting to, my eyes wander to the side alley that leads to the back of the shop, and I shiver, the images still all too consuming in my mind.
I glance away, instead looking again for my opportunity to cross. A few seconds later, I’m in John’s packed café. It’s always full of blue-collared workers having their big breakfasts. Watching them all eat makes my stomach grumble even more.
“There she is. A sight for sore eyes.” John, the big, balding owner’s smile stretches wide as I approach him. “No bodyguard today?”
Without him having to say, I know he means Chris. It’s his new nickname for him, considering he’s always so protective around me.
“No, he’s working. And so am I.”
John beams back. “What can I get ya? Your usual?”
I offer him a big smile back. “Of course. Can’t start my day without the John’s special.”
He winks back at me. “One John’s special made with love coming right up!”
God, he’s such a flirt.
I completely forgot about this bloody storm coming until the shop door suddenly blew open after three in the afternoon, causing leaves and bits of paper to come flying in with it.
Launching myself up on my feet, I race to the door, shutting it behind me just as Charlie appears—obviously hearing the commotion.
I lean on the door, slightly out of breath from my jolt of adrenaline. Man, I need to exercise more.
“Shit, it’s getting pretty bad out there.”
Charlie’s forehead forms a tight frown, his eyes fixed on the window. I turn my head to look behind me, noticing not one person is out there braving it. The wind is howling, plastic and paper bags flying all over the place in the wind. The skies are grey but are increasingly blackening by the second.
Shit! “How am I going to get home in this?”
“I guess you’re staying here until it passes.” I hadn’t realised I had said that out loud until Charlie answered. “Lock the door, Bri. The shop’s closed for now.”
He disappears into the back, and I do as instructed, locking the door behind me and turning the open sign over to closed. I wonder why Chris hasn’t called about this, so I take my phone out of my pocket and notice there are already five missed calls from him. Immediately, I call him back.
“Bri, fucking hell, why didn’t you answer my calls? I’m going fucking crazy here. I tried leaving to come get you, and part of a metal roof flew at my head—”
Panic searing through me, I blurt out, “Oh, shit! Are you okay?”
He sighs, and I note the instant relief in his voice. “I’m fine. More importantly, are you? The storm came quicker than expected.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’m safe in the shop. Charlie just told me to lock the door. There’s zero people outside. No customers are going to brave this.” Just as I say that, I spot a branch from a tree flying into the window of a shop next to John’s café. Glass smashes with an almighty crash.
“Holy fucking shit!”
“What’s wrong, Bri?”
No one seems to be around. The branch is just sitting there, wedged inside the shops window. “A branch just hit the shop opposite us.”
“Stay away from the window.” He sighs, frustrated. “I can’t fucking get to you.”
“I know, don’t worry. I’ll stay here and ride it out until I can come home. Just stay safe yourself, okay?”
“Okay, let’s stay in touch. I’ll come and get you as soon as it starts to calm.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too, baby.”
I hang up, my eyes scanning outside. It’s not getting any calmer at all. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. My eyes narrow, attempting to see if there’s any signs of life in the shop opposite, but if anyone is in there, they’re choosing to stay away from the window for now. It’s frustrating, knowing that there’s another commercial premises in trouble and not being able to do a damn thing about it.
I guess I’m just going to have to sit, twiddling my thumbs in the shop and wait it out.
A thump sounds against the window, making me jump with a yelp. All it was is a cardboard box of some kind, but it was a big enough thump to scare me.
Remembering Chris’s words to stay away from the window, I take his advice, moving towards my seat behind the counter, perching myself on top with a sigh. Lord knows how long I’m going to be sat here for.
“Fancy a brew?” Charlie’s voice jolts me up from my seat. “Sorry,” he says, looking guilty that he’d scared me. I guess I’m still jittery after what happened.
Not wanting my mind to go there, I answer, “No need to be. And yes, I would love a cup of tea.”
He motions with his head towards the back. “Well, come on then. There’s no use in you sitting out here anymore, is there?”
My eyes almost bug out of my head. My boss is seriously inviting me in the back with him? I must be dreaming. I pinch myself.
Nope… Not dreaming.
Swiftly, I get up from my seat and follow Charlie into the back. It’s only a tiny hallway with his office tucked off to the right at the back. I notice that his light isn’t on, but there is light shining from upstairs. Gingerly, I grab the staircase and take one step up, noticing the creak on the first step. I take the rest of them without noise and emerge into the light.
A slightly bigger room, old, but not in the least bit untidy, appears before my eyes. In fact, this kitchen/dining area is almost military grade tidy, with all the plates stacked one on top of the other in order by size, same with all his tea cloths. The kitchen is galley style with a small, rectangle wooden table placed what appears to be right smack bang in the centre. It’s also warmer up here. I shiver at the warmth radiating through me.
“I can turn the heating up, if you’re cold?”
“No, it’s fine,” I reply. “I was actually thinking how warm it is up here compared to downstairs. It’s nice.”
He motions to the table. “Take a seat. I have a feeling we’re going to be here for a while, so may as well make yourself comfortable.”
I sit down, looking around the dimly lit kitchen area, taking everything in. It’s strange being up here after working downstairs for six months. It’s like an attachment to another world.
“It’s not much, but it’s home.”
His voice pulls me from my musings to find him sat right opposite me, tea already placed on the table along with some chocolate biscuits perfectly stacked in a line, one overlapping the other.
“I bet if I were to inspect your wardrobe, all your shirts and everything will be neatly pressed and stacked in military order.” He doesn’t respond, just eyes me, almost suspiciously. I shrug my shoulders. “Everything seems in perfect order, that’s all,” I explain. “I’m betting your ex-forces of some kind.”