Page 99 of Little Wing
‘Pay her,’ Rachel told Dougie and pointed to Nell. But Nell suddenly had no idea what anything cost or how the till worked.
‘It’s on the house,’ she said.
‘Join me?’ he said.
‘We’re crazy busy,’ said Nell.
‘Join him,’ Debbie said, suddenly there. ‘We’re fine. We’re always fine.’
Danny brought Dougie’s tea over, much of which was in the saucer. He went back for the cake and brought another slice for Nell too.
‘Debbie says Don’t. Rush. Your. Food,’ Danny told them.
‘Are you the famous Danny?’ Dougie asked him.
‘Yes, I am,’ said Danny. ‘You can leave a tip if you like.’
‘Danny!’ said Nell.
‘I’m worth it,’ said Danny.
‘That I don’t doubt,’ said Dougie.
‘OK, well I’m very busy,’ said Danny, walking off with a dismissive wave.
‘He’s just as you described,’ Dougie said. He looked around the café. ‘Everything is just as you described. I’ve been into every single bloody café to find you. I couldn’t remember what it was called. I knew it had something to do with birds.’
Just then, Nell loved him for defining the café by its name, not its workforce. Dougie sipped his tea and tried the cake, swooning as he did so.
‘But Dougie,’ said Nell. ‘What are you doing here?’
Dougie thought how best to explain. ‘I was working in Chelmsford. I finished early. I wanted a slice of cake.’ He looked at the cake. ‘I wanted to see if I recognized you not in your crappy old anorak and walking boots.’
Nell tipped her head to one side and gave him a long look. ‘Meanwhile your hair does its Heathcliff thing out of the Harris wind too.’
Dougie laughed.
‘I like your café.’
‘I like it too,’ said Nell.
Dougie nodded, as if in private conversation. He looked at Nell. ‘I would have phoned – but I haven’t been able to remember anything else for you.’
In her peripheral vision Nell could see Debbie staring straight at her, hands on hips, her head cocked, as if urging her on and blocking any escape routes.
‘I was hoping you’d phone anyway,’ shrugged Nell with a mumble and a blush that Dougie found strangely bolstering.
‘Aye.’ Dougie sighed. ‘I’m a dick. And there it is.’
Thoughts were colliding so fast that they pushed through all his barriers and he had no time to censor what came next. ‘But that’s not to say that I haven’t thought about you. Because I have. And yes, I didn’t want to phone – but I wanted to see you. So here I am.’
‘But I have to go,’ she said. ‘I have to go now, Dougie – to see Frank.’
‘Frank of the Walnut Whips?’
‘Yes.’
Dougie stared into his cup, hoping to read signs in the tea leaves about what to do next. But it was a teabag and he’d already squeezed it and put in the saucer.
