Episode 7 - Cafe Soleil

Susannah didn’t quite know how to answer him. Her memory was hazy about the time she had spent in the hospital. Later when she’d driven back along the road – the scene of the accident, she’d felt a dull ache in her stomach and a pervading sense of panic. Sometimes she wanted to remember more and sometimes she didn’t. It was enough for now that she and Darryl were getting closer, that she had someone to share things with – she hoped that might be true for the two of them.

Darryl stuck his head out the window the following morning and realised the weather forecast had been right, for a change. The clouds moved ominously across the usually blue sky, greyer and gloomier by the minute. The weather dictated what sort of a day he would have in the café – sometimes bad weather meant fewer customers, since a lot of their tables were outside. Perhaps he could cope without Rosie – and now there was Susannah. He felt a little thrill knowing she was around. He’d get to spend more time with her. It was midweek and the dive boats wouldn’t be operating – it wasn’t worth their while unless they got good numbers. It was probably going to be a day in for the pipe and slippers brigade and even the most intrepid runners wouldn’t risk a downpour. He’d wait and see.

When he got to the café and started putting out the chairs, a tall, well-dressed man sat down on one of the first chairs he put down. He looked kind of familiar, and then Darryl realised he was the one sitting with Susannah the first day he saw her.

“Hi, do you mind if I sit here? I’m waiting for someone”

“No, not at all. Just give me a minute. What can I get you?”

Darryl wondered whether the someone was Susannah. He would have to wait and see. It wasn’t any of his business really.

After he’d served the guy his coffee, Darryl lurked behind the counter and watched him. Was it some ex? Someone in the background that was still a part of her life? Even though they hadn’t moved in together yet, Darryl had been thinking about a life with her. She was so much fun and they seemed so compatible. It wasn’t too much to imagine them continuing to stroll on the beach together, work in the café – and when Mark got better, he could come back to it. But who was he kidding, really? That might never happen. The odds were certainly against it.  

When Susannah eventually arrived, she appeared flustered when she saw the man. Darryl just crooked his thumb and said:

“Old boyfriend?”

Her face darkened.

“Hardly.”

She put her bag down and went out to where he was sitting, relaxed and sipping his flat white, enjoying the ocean view. From what Darryl could see, they were quite amicable, kissing briefly on the cheek before she too sat down. Darryl was too busy getting cakes in the display stand sorted and the rest of the chairs out, to keep an eye on them. So when he suddenly heard her scream, he flew out to see the man twisting her arm.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“You stay out of it, you fat bastard.”

“Susannah, are you alright?”  Suddenly the man had let go and stormed off, knocking his cup over. Darryl quickly righted it and mopped it up with a napkin.

“What was that all about? What’s going on?”

By now, she’d composed herself, but he could see where her cheeks were wet and the mascara had run.

“You’re not OK. Do you want me to go after him?”

“No, no.”

“Well, are you going to tell me what’s going on then?”

“It’s not what you think Darryl. He’s not an ex. He’s a…well, he’s an ex-client.”

“Oh.”

He didn’t want to pressure her, so he just sat there while she gathered her thoughts, if that was indeed what she was doing. Was she lying? Did he really know her? She hadn’t really told him why she lost her practice. Was she an embezzler? Was an ex-con after her because she’d put him away? What was it?

It took a few hours and a few G and Ts on the deck later that evening for her to open up. She took a deep breath and sighed it out. He took her hand and held it securely in his

“Darryl, that was my brother-in-law. He’s not a bad person, but he’s really angry because when my mother passed on, she left everything to me. He’d just started a business and was desperate for the cash. I was acting for him in the purchase.  While there’s no law against acting for relatives, it’s not advised. The business was not going to make him the sort of money he wanted. It was one of those franchises. I warned him about going ahead with it, but he wouldn’t listen. Because at that time I’d had my accident, I couldn’t do anything. He’s never forgiven me. And he thinks I owe him. He’s got quite a temper. Although he looks very suave and business like, he can get really angry really fast. He almost ran me over one night.”