Free Summer at the Heartbreak Cafe: Summer Sweet Romance (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 0) by Melissa Hill

she smiled, a dimple appeared on her cheeks.
    “I’m Grace,” She returned the greeting pleasantly.
    “I’ve seen you at Ella’s cafe I think,” Emma continued, and Grace cringed, hoping that Emma had not seen her during those times when she had been at her wits end. “Your boys are really sweet, sometimes I wish I’d have two of them, so Mikey would always have company.”
    Grace laughed. “Do you know, I’ve never looked at it like that. I always see them as double trouble, but you’re right. They always play together; my job is mostly to supervise.”
    “What are their names?” Emma asked.
    They chatted, exchanging information about each other, and sharing experiences of raising boys. Emma was a single mother, but she had her family to help. She didn't mention anything about the boy’s father, but Grace somehow got the sense that this was a sore subject.
    She looked at her own life and despite Kevin not coming on holiday with them, Grace felt lucky. He was a hands-on dad, and was always around to play with the boys.

17
    T ime flew by , and soon it was time to go. They all changed out of their swimming suits and left the leisure complex together.
    Grace hadn’t had that much fun in a long time. Emma was witty and lively and she laughed a lot.
    As they walked down the street, she even confided in Grace about some famous writer in Lakeview to write a novel that she was hoping to snag.
    She laughed at Emma’s descriptions about how so far her antics weren't working so well. She found it difficult to believe that any man could resist her new friend.
    They went to the cafe for lunch, and even though it was busy, they managed to get a table outside where the three boys could play on the swings as they waited for their food.
    “They do the tastiest club sandwich here, try it,” Emma said.
    “Hello ladies.”
    It was Nina, the cafe’s friendly but brisk waitress. Grace smiled brightly back, hoping to make up for the times she had caused a furore at the café.
    Nina took their order and when she left, Grace and Emma’s conversation continued, as though there had been no interruption. She found herself confiding in the other woman her plans to go back to college and get a job.
    Later, as she and the boys waved goodbye to Emma and Mikey, Grace mused over what a difference it made to have someone to chat to.
    The day had been fun for her too and the boys as well. When they got home, she washed them and put them in front of the TV. There were no fights or arguments about what to watch.
    She remembered what Ella had told her about keeping the kids busy.
    It worked, Grace thought in wonder, looking at how drowsy they seemed. They had no more energy left.
    She ruffled their heads and went to the kitchen to prepare a light dinner. For once, she felt like a normal mother with her children and the tight knot that usually accompanied her everywhere was missing.
    If only Kevin could have seen her today, Grace thought feeling like she’d just run a marathon. He would have been so proud.

18
    E lla’s tummy was rumbling with hunger. She glanced at her wristwatch.
    Late afternoon, and she hadn’t had a bite to eat since breakfast. This happened often, she got so carried away with her work or talking to customers that she forgot to eat.
    She went into the kitchen and finding a pile of dishes and Colm busy, she decided to clean them first.
    The dishwasher was misbehaving so she filled the sink with water and one by one washed off the grease. Half an hour later, she was done, and the kitchen looked decent now. She made herself a beef sandwich and went out to the counter to make a cup of coffee.
    That done, she carried her lunch to a table by the window.
    She chewed on her sandwich as she watched people walk past. From her vantage point she could see shops across the street, with people going in and out.
    Summer was a great time for the town, and Lakeview continued to grow. There was talk of a new tourist centre being built