‘I suppose, it is her livelihood.’ She didn’t add that she wouldn’t have had it in the first place if it wasn’t for Pete. ‘But couldn’t she get some sort of loan and buy his interest out of the place? If it’s doing as well as it seems to be, I’m sure that there are plenty of investors who’d be jumping at the chance for a share in the place.’ The café always looked busy despite the exorbitant price for a cup of coffee Anya charged.

‘I’m not sure that’s Anya’s area of expertise.’

‘But there are people, agencies to help with all that sort of stuff, surely…’

‘I think she’s just hoping that he will continue to keep the place afloat until she can figure out something else.’ Eddie put down his knife and fork and belched loudly. ‘God, I needed that,’ he said sitting back in his chair contentedly. He looked rough, as if he’d spent half the night in the pub and the other half of it sleeping somewhere he shouldn’t have been.

‘You okay?’

‘Sure. I’m just a bit worried about Anya.’ He lowered his voice. ‘She has nowhere to live and she has to go back to open up the coffee shop again.’ Anya’s coffee shop was bang smack in the centre of the banking district. It wouldn’t be busy for Christmas – her customers would survive without her – but she would have to open her doors soon.

‘No, but I’m sure she’ll figure something out before too long,’ Liv said thinking of her mother’s warning the day before. There simply wasn’t room in her little flat for Anya and if she was completely honest, even if there was, Liv wouldn’t fancy sharing her home with the girl; they just didn’t click. And then there was Pete. At the end of the day, he was her best friend and while she didn’t want to fall out with Anya, neither had she any intention of making things awkward with Pete. ‘Come on,’ she said then, changing the subject, ‘you can have a cigarette and I’ll pay for this, then we’ll go for a short walk across the beach.’

‘Uh, do we have to?’

‘Yes. It’s how you’re going to pay me back for breakfast and you’ll feel much better if you can clear your head before you go back to Flannelly’s and get pulled into another mad drinking session.’

*