Riverside

Mike has a surprise for Dave . . .

MORNING, Dad,” Dave said. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning.”

Mike shrugged. “Thought I’d come down to see what needed doing in the deli today.”

Dave nodded towards the kitchen.

“Chef’s doing the prep right now, Susan’s sorting out the menus and staff rotas and I was just about to have a coffee before we opened. Fancy a cup? It’s those new coffee beans we’ve been trying.”

Mike headed towards the coffee machines.

“I’ll make them, son,” he said.

Dave watched as Mike slowly took off his coat and put on his work apron with the Old Engine Room deli and café logo on the front.

“You all right?” Dave asked as Mike frothed up hot milk in a jug.

“Never better. Why do you ask?”

“You seem a bit . . .” Dave grasped for the right words. “I don’t know.”

Mike swirled the frothed milk into two large mugs.

“Would you like chocolate on the top of yours?” Dave shook his head. Mike nodded towards the windows with the river view.

“Come and sit over here with me, son.”

Dave sat opposite his dad. They stared out of the window at the river as it flowed slowly by.

“Looks peaceful, doesn’t it?” Mike said. “Your mother used to love the river at this time of year. She’d have been over the moon with all the walkways along the riverside now. And she’d have been very proud of you.”

He shifted his gaze. “I’ve been thinking, Dave, about selling the house. Since you and Susan are settled in your new flat, I’m rattling around the house on my own.

“There’s too much space there. Everywhere I look I can still see your mother. I need to move on. You understand, don’t you? It’s over twelve years since your mother passed away.”

“If you’re sure selling up is what you want, then I’ll support you all the way,” Dave replied.

Mike smiled. “Thanks. I was hoping you’d say that. I’ve got the estate agent coming this afternoon to get the ball rolling and put the house up for sale. I’ve been told it should fetch a good price, being in the old part of Ryemouth.”

“Have you thought about where you’ll move to?”

Mike took a long sip of frothy milk from his mug before he answered.

“There is somewhere I’ve had my eye on for a while, to be honest.” “Oh?” Dave said. “I’ve put a deposit down on it already, so it’s mine to move into as soon as I like. I’ll move out of the house and leave it with the estate agent to sell.”

“Where is it? Are you staying in old Ryemouth?” Mike shook his head. “A little closer to you, actually. I’ve bought one of the new riverside apartments.”

“Which one?” Dave asked, puzzled. “The only one left is the luxury penthouse on the floor directly above our flat.”

Dave shot his dad a look across the table.

“Oh, Dad. You haven’t, have you?”

Mike nodded.

“I move in next week. We’re going to be neighbours!”

“How’s Buster today?” Sam asked when Jim came downstairs to open up the pub.

“Oh, he’ll live.” Jim smiled. “Mind you, the vet bill cost a small fortune. It was my own fault for leaving my phone lying about on the floor. Buster chewed it to bits, but the vet’s X-rayed him and she said he’ll be fine.”

“Oh, Uncle Jim? That woman came in looking for you again last night. The blonde woman,” Sam said.

“Anna? I really should ring her. We’ve been trying to get together on a date for weeks, but every time we plan a night out, something comes up. It’s as if the fates are conspiring to keep us apart!” Jim laughed. “How did she seem when she came in?”

Sam thought for a moment.

“Well, I wouldn’t put any money on the fates changing their minds any time soon, by the look on her face when she found out you’d stood her up.”

Jim sighed and looked around his pub.

“You know what we need in here, don’t you?” he asked Sam.

“A karaoke machine? We did have ten votes for karaoke posted in the suggestion box, you know.”

“Yes, but they were all in the same handwriting!” Jim reminded him. “No, what we need in here is some help behind the bar so you and I can take a night off every now and then.”

Sam nodded in agreement.

“I vote for that.” “Right,” Jim said. “I’ll tell you what we’ll do . . .”

Jim pulled out a sheet of paper and a marker pen from behind the till.

“I’ll put a sign up in the window saying Bar Staff Wanted – Apply Within.”

“Or we could just offer the job to the first customer who walks through the doors today?” Sam laughed.

Just then the pub door swung open and Bob Lewin sauntered in, muttering miserably about the weather.

Jim winked at Sam. “Let’s try the sign first, eh?” More next week.