My appointment with the solicitor was set for 11:00, so I’d had to take the morning off work. I woke at the normal time and decided to go into town early, maybe do some shopping, but my mind was elsewhere. The solicitor was expensive, but, I had been assured, worth his fees. Nonetheless, it was an expense I could do without. I was also nervous about what questions I might be asked. I didn’t really want to go into detail if I didn’t have to. With time to kill before the meeting, I decided to have a quiet cup of tea. A new café had opened just off the high street, the Rainbow’s End. I decided I might as well give it a try.
As I opened the door a bell tinkled towards the back of the café. The café was empty, but the sound of the bell had attracted someone’s attention, for I could hear footsteps walking quickly towards me. I had seated myself in a corner when the owner, as I was soon to discover, entered. He had a smile that suggested he had found a long lost friend, yet I’d never seen him before in my life. “Oh, how glad I am to see you,” he beamed. His voice was soft Southern Irish. “Congratulations on being my first customer. I knew this was going to be a successful venture. And what can I get for you, beautiful lady?” No woman is immune to flattery, especially when it is delivered by a good-looking man who has the knack of making that flattery sound genuine. I ordered tea and he disappeared into the back again.
There were about a dozen small round tables in the room, each with two or four chairs. The tables had lace tablecloths and a small vase of flowers, real, not artificial, in the centre of each. The paintings on the walls were Irish scenes; mountains, seascapes, a pub somewhere in Dublin and a Gaelic football match. It suddenly struck me that I had forgotten about the meeting.
“One pot of tea.” He set the cup down in front of me. “Sean O’Flynn, proprietor, waiter, cook and washer-up at your service.” Before I could make any reply, the door opened and the bell tinkled again in the distance. We both looked to see who the new arrival was and for a few moments I was dumbstruck. The woman headed straight for my table and sat down.
“Please, hear me out,” Neeta spoke quietly. “I want to apologise properly and sincerely. And I want to thank you.” I was stunned. I hadn’t seen her since she’d visited me just after I’d found her in bed with Jake. I’d told her I never wanted to see her again. I wasn’t sure if I was angry that she was here or intrigued why she wanted to thank me. There was no hint of sarcasm in her voice, just humility and a pleading to be listened to. I didn’t smile as I indicated that she should proceed.
“Well, this is my lucky day,” Sean gushed as he approached our table. “Not one, but two beautiful ladies. Perhaps I should seat you in the window so people can see the class of ladies who are patrons. Can I get your friend something to drink?” For an instant I hoped he had realised I didn’t really want her there and was asking me whether I would be happy if she had a drink, but he then continued. “There’s no pot of gold at the Rainbow’s End, but I can always provide a pot of tea. Or a cup of coffee, chocolate or cocoa.” He laughed lightly at his own joke. Neeta ordered a pot of tea. I wished she hadn’t. It meant she intended to stay for several minutes.
“I saw you from across the road,” Neeta commenced. “I wasn’t sure whether to come in or not. I know you blame me for what happened, and told me you never wanted to see me again, but I’ve changed, Rusty, I really have. I cried after our last meeting, probably not as much as you did, but I cried a lot. At that time, I was crying for myself; crying that I had lost my best friend, someone who meant the world to me. It was later that I realised I was also crying for what I had done to you. I had betrayed your trust, your friendship. I had been selfish. I tried blaming it all on Jake, but I couldn’t. I could and should have said ‘No’. I was as guilty as him. And I really, sincerely, mean it when I tell you I can’t apologise enough. If I could rewind time and start again, it would be so different, honestly.” I was beginning to believe her. My anger at her presence was getting less. Sean brought the pot of tea and discreetly withdrew.
“And realising the effect it all had on you,” she continued, “made me realise there was something wrong with my lifestyle. There was something missing in my life, something you had and I’d destroyed – a stable loving relationship.” I took a sip of my tea to cover a fleeting surge of remembered pain. “You had been so happy. Perhaps I was jealous. I’d never had a relationship that lasted more than a few weeks. Slowly, I realised that if I wanted a stable relationship, I would have to work at it, not jump into bed with every man who suggested it. No more married men. They’d been my excuse for not getting deeply involved. And I did work at it. I had a few false starts, had my heart broken a couple of times, but I stuck at it, working at relationships, I mean. Last year I met someone really nice. We had a few ups and downs, broke up, but got back together. Four weeks ago last Friday, he proposed. The full works, down on one knee. I can’t tell you how happy I am.” She held out her hand to show her engagement ring, a cluster of diamonds in a wishbone shape. “None of it would have happened if it hadn’t been for you. That’s why I wanted to thank you. I only wish I could have seen what I was missing without all the upset I’ve caused.” She half emptied her cup. “I’ve missed you, Rusty, I really have. I don’t expect you’d ever have me as a friend again, but I hope we don’t have to be enemies any more.”
It had been a long and touching speech, one that the old Neeta would never have made. She must have changed. Once a relationship had broken down, the old Neeta would immediately be looking for the next one. Working to overcome difficulties had never been part of her routine. I wasn’t sure whether we could be best friends again. It would take a long time before she could re-establish the level of trust that would be required. “Have you seen Jake recently?” I asked. She hadn’t. She hadn’t seen him since the day I found them together. I then told her about Jake wanting a divorce and about my meeting in a few minutes time. Without realising it, I had begun to slip back into the habit of discussing my life with her. I had forgiven her.
We exchanged phone numbers, and promised to get in touch again soon. Sean, sensing that the mood had lightened, reappeared, offering refills on the house. We both promised to come back another day. Just as we were about to leave, the door opened and four pensioners entered. “I hope your day is as wonderful as you two lovely ladies, and that you return soon to encourage others to search for the Rainbow’s End,” he smiled as we left the café.
“He’s a bit of all right, isn’t he?” Neeta said as the door shut behind them.
“Careful,” I replied lightly, “you’re spoken for.”
“I wasn’t thinking of me. What about you? If you’re not spoken for, he could be very interesting.” I smiled. The idea had already crossed my mind.