The Beach Cafe Read Online Free PDF

Evie, but—’
    ‘Well, Evie can just put it on the market, can’t she? Make a few quid, get a nice place in Oxford,’ Ruth put in dismissively. Her voice had a falsely bright topnote betraying how furious she really was that I’d been singled out for special attention.
    ‘I am sitting here, thank you very much,’ I reminded them. ‘And I’ve got a nice place in Oxford already, remember.’
    ‘Well—’ Matthew began, and I stiffened as I sensed he was about to correct me.
    ‘All right, we’ve got a nice place,’ I said, before he could get in first. ‘Oh, all right, for heaven’s sake, Matthew’s got a nice place that I’m living in, then.’
    There was an awkward pause. Sore point.
    ‘I didn’t mean—’ he started defensively.
    ‘ Anyway ,’ Ruth said over him. ‘That’s not really relevant, is it? Personally, I don’t think it’s fair that Jo gave you the café. There are three of us, after all.’
    ‘Ruth!’ Dad exploded. ‘Poor Jo’s not been in the grave five minutes. How dare you start bitching about the will? You haven’t been forgotten, don’t worry, there’s something left for you.’ He looked crosser than I’d seen him for years. ‘Honestly!’
    Ruth lowered her eyes to the table and Tim put an arm around her. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered to nobody in particular.
    Mum looked anxiously at me. ‘Evie, this is obviously a surprise to us all, but there’s no rush to do anything. Dad and I can help you with the legalities of getting the café onto the market, and—’
    ‘Who said I wanted to sell it?’ I blurted out. Everything seemed to be moving so quickly. People were making assumptions, making decisions for me. I hadn’t yet had time to work through my own thoughts on the bombshell.
    Matthew stared at me. ‘What do you mean?’ he said. ‘ Don’t you want to sell it?’
    ‘I . . .’ I began, then stopped. The words of Jo’s letter were still running through my mind; I could almost hear her saying them out loud to me. My fantasy world popped up inside my head again – ker-ching! – with a vision of Matthew and me in matching aprons behind the counter, smiling happily at one another as I frothed the milk for cappuccinos and he sprinkled on the cocoa powder in a heart shape. We could do it, couldn’t we? We could run away to Cornwall and live here, and . . .
    ‘Because it’s not exactly practical, is it?’ Matthew went on, as if reading my mind. ‘I mean, we both live and work in Oxford.’
    He was right, of course. Completely right. It was ridiculous to daydream about running away. Silly. Childish. My daydream vanished immediately, like smoke in the wind.
    ‘I just need a bit of time,’ I said. I rubbed my eyes, feeling drained. You are the only person to whom I would entrust my precious café , Jo had written. You can do it. And here was everyone flogging it, before I’d even had a minute to think. My family, honestly. This was them all over. Couldn’t take the black sheep seriously, even when a fully fledged business had fallen into her lap. ‘I’ve got to get my head around this. I haven’t taken it in yet.’
    ‘I’m not surprised,’ Mum said kindly. ‘It’s been one hell of a day. There’s no rush to make any decisions – certainly not tonight anyway. There’s plenty of time to sort everything out.’ She gave everyone a tired smile. ‘Let me tell you what else the will said . . .’
    She and Dad began relating what the others had been bequeathed, but I tuned out, unable to stop my mind whirling and spinning with the news. Jo had given me the café. It was mine. I owned a business, a building right here in Carrawen!
    There was only one thing I could think of doing. I necked my glass of wine and got to my feet. ‘My round,’ I said. ‘Who wants another?’

Chapter Three

    ‘Evie, have you finished that letter yet? I need it as soon as possible.’
    ‘Evie! Mr Davis wants coffee.’
    ‘Evie, I’ve left a pile of filing on your desk. And