Chapter Seventeen

‘ Y ou look as though you might need this.' Teresa slid into the chair opposite Erin at the table in the bakery's window and pushed a mug of coffee towards her. ‘Late night.'

‘Yes.' Erin smiled as she thought back to the perfect evening she'd shared with Tim on the roof terrace.

‘Look, tell me to mind my own business if you want to, but that's the first smile I've seen you crack since you came down to help with the baking this morning.' Teresa frowned. ‘Is everything okay?'

Wrapping her hands around the mug, Erin dipped her head and breathed in the bitter steam of the coffee. ‘Everything's perfect.'

‘Then why...?' Teresa held out her hand.

‘Because it's perfect. What I feel for Tim is perfect. The time we spend together is perfect. And I can't imagine feeling like this about anyone else. Ever. I certainly didn't feel this way about my ex.' She took a long sip of her coffee, holding the hot liquid in her mouth and savouring the flavour.

‘Isn't that a good thing?'

Erin shook her head slowly. ‘It should be, shouldn't it? But I move to America when I finish here. I have a new job, an apartment, a life all set up for me to go to.'

‘And now you're second guessing your decision to go? You're wondering whether you should stay?' Teresa sighed.

Erin frowned. ‘No, I know I've got to go. This promotion is what I've been working my entire career for. If I don't go, then what do I do? All my life I've been working on five-year plan after five-year plan and this one, this promotion, will see me reach the ultimate goal in my career. If I don't have that, then I don't know who I am anymore.'

Teresa glanced up as a family walked through the door, the youngest child rushing straight up to the coffee and cake counter, his older siblings and parents not far behind.

‘I should go and serve. You've got time to figure things out.' Standing up, Teresa laid her hand on Erin's shoulder and nodded before returning to the counter.

Did she? Did she have time? Less than two weeks and since last night, since spending the evening on the roof terrace with Tim, she suddenly felt as though a huge decision was looming in front of her. Holding her mug to her lips, she looked outside, watching people making their way down to the beach, a small handful walking in the opposite direction, take away coffee cups in one hand and carrying briefcases or bags in the other.

See, life did continue. Just because the setting, the bay, was beyond stunning, people still had to earn a living, people still had to work. Erin included. She couldn't just pass on this job, this once in a lifetime career opportunity. It wasn't who she was, and she didn't know any other way.

‘Are you all set for the big day?' Diane sidled up to her on her way back from the kitchen to the counter, a tray of freshly baked cookies in her hands.

‘Big day?' Erin frowned. She didn't think she'd ever be ready to leave Tim, but she had to. When the day came.

‘Hudson's party.' Diane nodded towards the pile of party bags lying on the table in front of Erin, surrounded by a mound of bubble tubs, a heap of assorted sweets and other random bits and pieces perfect for a young child's party loot.

‘Ah yes, the big day.' Erin nodded as she replaced her coffee mug on the table and picked up an empty party bag. ‘I think I have everything sorted. I'll finish these and then I'll likely be able to come and help out behind the counter.'

‘Okay, that's not why I was asking, though.'

‘No, I know.' Erin smiled. ‘But I think everything will be done after this. I hope so anyway, unless I've missed something completely, of course.'

‘I'm sure you won't have.' Lowering the tray to the table, Diane picked up a cookie and placed it next to Erin. ‘Enjoy.'

‘Thanks.' Erin grinned as she watched Diane return to the counter before she picked up the cookie and pulled it gently apart. The chocolate chips were still melted after the oven and the soft cookie crumbled beneath her fingers. Perfect. Taking a bite, she set back to filling the party bags.

There wasn't any point worrying about leaving. They had both known she would. After all, that was why she was here, to see Tim before she jumped on that plane. She just had to remember that they'd both discussed her departure, and they'd both decided to jump into the relationship together, regardless. They'd gone into this with their eyes fully open. Aware.

‘Hello, I'm sorry to bother you, dear, whilst you're so busy.'

Grateful for the distraction from her thoughts, Erin looked up to see one of her customers from last week. ‘Morning. Not a problem.'

‘Oh good. I won't keep you long.' The woman pulled her glasses from her nose, letting them hang around her neck on a thin strap. ‘I just wanted to thank you for recommending the roofer after I'd spoken about the problem with the crows and my felt roof.'

‘Oh, I remember. No problem. Did he manage to fix it for you?' Erin grinned at the mention of Tim.

‘Yes, he did. And whilst he was up there, he sorted out a little problem with the downpipe.' The woman glanced around the bakery before looking back at Erin and lowering her voice. ‘Although that he did free of charge as apparently it didn't take him long.'

‘That was nice of him.'

‘Yes, very kind. He's a good chap, that one. A very good chap.' The woman nodded. ‘Anyway, I'll leave you to get back to what you were doing. I just wanted to thank you for putting me in touch with him, that's all.'

‘No problem. Are you sleeping better now?'

‘Like a baby.' The woman smiled before turning and leaving.

Erin picked up a bag of bouncy balls before popping one in each party bag. Again, another person to confirm what she already knew. Tim was one of the good ones. She picked up a napkin from the middle of the table and discreetly wiped her eyes. This looming goodbye was going to be the hardest she'd ever had to do.