Chapter Nine

‘ H ere's Gerald. That means the quiz will start soon.' Brooke nudged Erin's arm before nodding towards the bar.

‘Now, before we begin, I have some news I'd like to share with you all.' Gerald brought the microphone closer to his lips as a shot of static rang through the pub.

‘Ouch, Gerald! What are you trying to do? Deafen us all?' A man from the table nearest the bar stood up.

‘Sorry, sorry.' Gerald's voice boomed through the burst of static before he pulled the microphone away. ‘Is this better?'

‘Yep, much better, mate.' The man sat back in his chair.

‘Good, good. Right onto the news. In a couple of months' time, my beautiful wife and I will be cruising with the best of them all the way to Australia and back.' Gerald looked behind him and ushered his wife to his side.

‘Oh wow, you're taking a holiday?' Diane called out across the hubbub of chattering.

‘We are indeed. A sabbatical if you wish.' Gerald grinned.

‘I don't think they've ever been on holiday before. I don't remember a time when they weren't here working at the pub.' Teresa took a sip of her bright orange cocktail.

‘What about us lot? You're abandoning us?' The man who had called out before raised his arm, waving to get Gerald's attention.

‘Ah, do not fear, my dear patrons. I have you covered. My nephew will be running the place and I'm sure you'll be in good hands.'

‘Does that mean the pub quiz prizes might improve?' A woman shouted from the corner.

‘Ha.' Looking down at the bar, Gerald moved papers around and picked up a pen. ‘Thank you for the reminder to pop a note to tell my dear nephew not to be coerced into giving anything other than one free drink to each winning team member away.'

A huge groan filtered its way across the tables.

Erin laughed and turned to Tim. ‘Sounds like you might have fun trying to trick this nephew of his when he arrives.'

‘It does.' Tim smiled.

‘And now, onto the pub quiz!' Changing the subject, Gerald picked up another piece of paper and waved it towards his captive audience. ‘And after our news, this one has a theme, an extra point if you guess what it is.'

‘Pen, pen, pen. Where's our pen?' Teresa picked up the answer sheet in front of her before moving the jug of cocktails and her glass.

‘Don't worry, I've got one here.' Lauren, Diane's sister, rummaged in her bag and passed a pen across to Teresa. ‘That's one plus side of having an extra late staff meeting at the school and not having the chance to run home. I've got all the pens, highlighters and colouring pencils we could ever need.'

Laughing, Teresa took the pen and held it above the answer sheet, ready to write. ‘Thanks, Lauren.'

‘Question number one, what is the name of the largest cruise ship ever to sail?'

‘How are we supposed to know this?' Wendy rubbed her forehead.

‘At least we can guess the theme of tonight's quiz now.' Ollie chuckled.

‘Yes, cruises. Knowing Gerald, we should have been able to guess that before the first question.' Brooke took a sip of her drink.

‘Yes, we should have.' Diane laughed and looked around the table. ‘Come on, there must be one of us who knows something about cruises?'

‘Oh, I know. Or I might know. Someone at the veterinary practice was asking if I could recommend a dog sitter for her as she was going on a cruise, and we got talking.' Freya turned to her partner, Chris. ‘Do you remember I told you about the conversation and I'm sure she said they were going on a new ship and it was the largest one? What was the name of it?'

‘Oh, I remember.' Chris leaned forward in his chair. ‘It wasn't King of the Seas, was it? No, something of the sea though.'

‘Icon of the Seas, that was it. I'm sure it was.' Freya whispered across the table.

‘Question number two...'

‘We'll take it.' Teresa scribbled the answer down before turning back to Gerald and the next question.

‘What is...' Gerald paused as the door to the pub flung open and someone hurried in. ‘Welcome, welcome, please take your seat.'

Erin looked from the woman who had entered the pub to Tim. She knew who it was. She'd changed her hair, chopped it from shoulder length into a pixie cut, but she recognised her. ‘That's Susie, isn't it?'

‘Yes.' Tim swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as Susie marched up to the table. ‘Tim, I need to speak to you.'

‘Okay. Let's go outside.' Standing up, Tim excused himself from the group and left.

As soon as the pub door had closed behind them, Gerald turned back to the question sheet. ‘On which of these rivers could you cruise through ten countries?'

WHILST THE BAKERY FAMILY team tried to answer the question, Erin looked towards the window. She couldn't see them.

She tried and failed to concentrate on the quiz. Tim had been off sorts, upset. Maybe she could talk to them both, try to help them sort things out. She should go out there and see if he was okay at least. Pushing her chair back, she turned to Brooke. ‘Sorry, I won't be a moment.'

Brooke nodded and tucked her chair further under the table, making room for her to squeeze past.

‘Thanks.' Keeping her eyes on the door, Erin skulked past Gerald as he continued with the questions and pushed the door open. Blinking, she let her eyes adjust to the dim evening light before looking around the small courtyard area. There they were, Tim sitting on the bench of a wooden picnic table and Susie standing in front of him. What was she saying? She looked annoyed.

Suddenly unsure if she should interrupt or not, Erin paused. She'd always got along well with Susie. Maybe she could calm the situation, make a suggestion as an outsider looking in, someone impartial. She took a step towards them. ‘Hi, is everything okay? Did you fancy coming inside for a drink?'

Looking straight at her, Susie scoffed before glaring at Tim. ‘So, this is why you didn't want to meet up tonight? She's here.'

Erin frowned. She? Susie hadn't even greeted her, just spoken about her, not at her.‘Why don't you come in and join us?'

‘That's not how it works, Erin.' Susie narrowed her eyes.

Looking down at the floor, Tim mumbled, ‘Not now, please, Susie.'

Turning forcefully back towards him, Susie pointed at him. ‘Don't you ‘not now' me, Tim.'

‘Sorry, I just...' Standing up, Tim held his hand up, palm forward.

‘I know exactly what you meant, and this is just it, isn't it? I never stood a chance with you, not with her around.' Spitting out the word ‘her' Susie pointed at Erin. ‘And that's why you didn't have time to talk yesterday or tonight. You're busy with her.'

‘No, I...' Tim ran the palm of his hand over his face.

‘I've heard all the excuses I need. I should never have come to see you. I should have guessed you'd have moved Erin down here with you.' Twisting on the spot, she began walking away before calling over her shoulder, ‘Well, I hope you're happy now you've got what you always wanted.'

Sinking back onto the bench, Tim watched as Susie disappeared up the hill.

Erin walked across to him and sat down, the wood cool beneath her. ‘Are you all right?'

Tim nodded. ‘I will be. Sorry you had to get caught up in the middle of it all.'

‘What was the argument about? And what did she mean by you having got what you'd always wanted?' Erin rubbed his arm.

‘I don't know.' Shaking his head, he looked at her and met her eyes. ‘No, that's not true. I know exactly what, who, she was referring to and I should be honest with you. I should tell you the truth.'

Erin laughed nervously. ‘The truth? You always tell me the truth. We've always been honest with each other. Haven't we?'

‘Not always, no,' Tim sighed.

‘Really?' She knitted her eyebrows together. What was he referring to?

‘I haven't told you the real reason I broke things off with Susie and now with you moving to America, maybe it's time I came clean.'

‘Came clean? What have you done?' Surely he wouldn't have cheated on Susie? No, she refused to believe it. She couldn't imagine what he'd done and lied to her about.

Taking Erin's hands in his, he swallowed. ‘I love you. I had and still have feelings for you.'

‘Of course you love me. We love each other. We're best friends, but why would that have come between you and Susie?'

‘No, you don't understand.' Tim tucked a strand of loose hair behind Erin's ear. ‘I love you. I have feelings for you. Feelings which a friend shouldn't have for another.'