Free The Seafront Tea Rooms by Vanessa Greene

us?’
    Séraphine smiled. ‘I’d love to.’

10
     
    Thursday 11 September
    ‘Ready?’ Charlie asked. She and Séraphine were standing in the hallway of Kat’s flat.
    Kat had a last look in the mirror. Her hair was pinned back on one side with a mother-of-pearl vintage hair comb, and she was wearing an oyster-and-black tea dress with T-bar heels.
    ‘I think I am, yes,’ she said. ‘What am I forgetting?’
    She checked her handbag quickly. Mobile, lipstick, keys, notebook, pen – it looked so empty without the rice cakes and wet wipes that usually cluttered it up. Her heart contracted a little as she thought of Leo.
    ‘Nothing – as long as you’ve remembered your appetite,’ Charlie laughed.
    ‘I’ve brought mine,’ Séraphine said.
    ‘No problems there.’ Kat smiled and closed her door behind her.
    They turned into the side street, and Charlie pressed the button on her keys. The lights flashed on a green MG convertible.
    Kat drew in her breath. ‘That’s yours?’
    ‘Yep,’ Charlie replied proudly. ‘My pride and joy.’
    Séraphine got in the back, and Kat climbed into the passenger seat and ran her hand over the cream leather. ‘Wow, this is nice.’ She leaned into the plush passenger seat, enjoying the sensation of the leather moulding to the shape of her body. ‘I’ve never been in a car like this before.’
    ‘Wait till we get going.’
    Charlie turned the key, switched the stereo on and wound down the windows on both sides. A young man walking past on the pavement stopped to admire them, giving a nod of appreciation.
    Charlie put her foot down on the accelerator and Kat instinctively held the sides of her seat.
    ‘Road trip, here we come,’ Charlie said, turning to Kat and Séraphine with a smile.
    They listened to music on the journey, and Kat’s mind drifted as she gazed out at the fields. It felt strange to be in the company of two women she barely knew, but she was more comfortable than she’d expected. Séraphine, with her warm, down-to-earth nature, was immediately welcoming. Charlie – Kat hadn’t quite worked her out yet. She was friendly, of course, and impressively determined in her approach to work. Kat wondered what she made of her, if she thought less of her for not being as ambitious.
    An hour later, in the early afternoon, they arrived in York.
    ‘First stop, Betty’s,’ Charlie said. They walked along the cobbled streets until they came to the tea rooms. ‘Not exactly secret, but an essential visit.’
    ‘So this is it,’ Kat said, peering in through the glass of the tea rooms in awe. Inside, the tables were made up with crisp tablecloths, waitresses serving in traditional black-and-white outfits. ‘I’ve always wanted to come here.’
    They were greeted by a waitress who showed them to a table in a peaceful corner of the room.
    ‘Thanks,’ Charlie said. Without looking at the menu, she put in their order. ‘We haven’t got that long, but could we have full afternoon tea? With – what type of tea shall we get?’
    ‘Don’t look at me,’ Séraphine said with a smile. ‘You two are the experts.’
    ‘Darjeeling,’ Kat said, without hesitation.
    ‘Right,’ Charlie said. ‘That.’
    A few minutes later, the waitress brought over a white teapot and teacups.
    ‘The champagne among teas,’ Kat said, lifting the lid of the teapot and drinking in the aroma. ‘Smell that. There’s a trace of blackcurrant in this one.’
    ‘Delicious,’ Séraphine said, leaning in.
    A tiered cake stand arrived. Kat took in the finely crafted mix of savoury and sweet. Finger sandwiches with delicate layers of cucumber and smoked salmon were placed neatly on the bottom tier, above them a variety of cakes and pastries.
    Kat poured the tea out carefully into two fragile white teacups. The light-coloured liquid was precisely the shade it should be.
    ‘Let’s get started, shall we?’ Charlie said.
    The three women sipped tea, and each tasted one of the sandwiches,