After my disastrous time with Crispin and Seb I had again been feeling sorry for myself. Jane encouraged me to do something different, something, maybe, I’d always wanted to do but for whatever reason hadn’t. It was her way of getting me to see things from a different perspective. Nervously, I’d signed up for a basic cordon bleu cookery course at the local university. One evening a week, for twenty four weeks. I’d enjoyed it more than expected. Granny Wise had taught me the basics of cooking but as a teenager I maybe hadn’t concentrated enough. Now, both older and wiser, I seemed to pick it up easily. There was only one man on the course and he was nearing retirement, so I felt safe. The following year I did an intermediate course and this year I was doing cake decorating.
Usually Jane and Simon had been the guinea pigs for my new found skills but I decided I would spare them for once. Since meeting Neeta in the café, we’d spoken half a dozen times and met twice. As it was approaching Neeta’s birthday, I suggested they came to my house and I’d cook them a birthday meal. It would also give me a chance to meet Rich, her fiancé. Her previous experience of my cooking had been pretty basic, although I had followed some recipes with varying success. As I hadn’t said anything to her about the cookery courses, I was hoping to amaze her. And I planned to make and decorate a small cake to show off even more.
Rich was gorgeous, tall and athletic. He was obviously madly in love with Neeta, and she with him. “Neeta has told me what great friends you used to be and how she destroyed that friendship,” he told me over dinner. “I can tell you it has hurt her a great deal, too. That you have now forgiven her is something I can only marvel at. What she didn’t tell me was what an excellent cook you are.” Neeta interrupted to say that was because she didn’t know. I hadn’t cooked like this before.
“I hated her with a vengeance, at first,” I told him. “It took me quite a while to realise that in a strange way, I was grateful to her. If it had been anyone else, I might have forgiven Jake. Even though he confirmed what Neeta had said, that she wasn’t the first or the only woman, I might still have forgiven him. But to destroy the trust I had for my best friend was unforgiveable. And that was what irked me the most. But when she spoke to me in the café, I realised she had changed. I knew her apology was sincere It was then I realised I could forgive her.” It hadn’t been a speech I’d prepared as I hadn’t expected Neeta would have been so open with him. That she had been, and he still loved her so much, had freed me to let them both know how I felt.
"Any idea what the cheating bastard is doing now?"Neeta asked.
"We both had to make a statement as to whether we intended to cohabit with anyone after the divorce. It seems he is planning to get married as soon as he can. It didn't say so but I suspect she's pregnant."
"Poor woman. She'll find out what he's like and regret ever meeting him," Neeta responded.
"Maybe he's changed," Rich suggested charitably. "After all, you did," he added, smiling and turning to his fiancée.
I liked Rich. He was a salesman for a software company. He was intelligent, amusing, a good raconteur and very polite. When I presented them with the cake, he immediately asked if I’d make their wedding cake. I cautioned them to wait until they’d tasted it, but once they had, they were even keener for me to agree. I was flattered and eventually agreed. They hadn’t set a date for the wedding yet, but were eager for me to make suggestions for the design.
“So, how are you getting on with our Irish café owner?” Neeta said to change the subject. Although we had met twice since that day in the café, neither had actually been in the café. The meetings had only been for half an hour or so and we hadn’t discussed much apart from what had happened to each us in the last three years. And then it was only briefly. So much had happened on both sides we hadn’t had time for an in-depth sharing of news.
I told them I’d become a regular at the café and the food there was excellent. Sean was a very friendly and outgoing character, talking to everyone as if they were the most important person on earth at that moment. Perhaps, as far as his business was concerned, they were. I felt that was why the café now was full most lunch times. And no, we hadn’t progressed beyond mild flirting. I was disappointed that he hadn’t asked me out but we’d never really had an opportunity for anything like a private discussion. It was always so busy. Neeta was disappointed for me.