Rick was now behaving like a child whose sweeties had been taken away. He’d called her a tease and then followed her around with his dark, brooding eyebrows and his peeling nose, and Kate was deeply regretting ever getting involved with him in the first place. In fact, she wasn’t really sure why she had, except it had been nice to be flattered for once, to have a man take an interest in her. It had also been a practical arrangement, as it had not impacted on her home life at all.

She stood up from putting all the clean dishes away in the cupboard and looked out across the restaurant. It was a reasonably nice place, set in an exclusive village just five miles from where she lived. Her three full tables were still eating lunch and her colleague, Kannika, had just taken an order for drinks from another group. She saw Rick clock her lack of activity and was about to find herself another job when the front door opened and in came two women. Kate’s heart sank as she recognized one of them as Julia Cromwell. Becky had mentioned she lived in the village.

Kate had seen Julia briefly at various school events: assemblies where Julia had sat tight-lipped as Becky had been awarded certificates for exceptional grades in her end-of-term exams or had a solo in the Christmas concert. Kate had also noticed how Julia had refused to clap as Becky crossed the finishing line on sports day, two places ahead of Violet, Julia’s daughter.

Kate moved over to Kannika and asked if she wouldn’t mind waiting on Julia’s table. Sympathetic to what was clearly something personal, Kannika was just agreeing when Ricky sidled up to them.

‘Kate, I think you should do it. You’ve spent long enough scuttling around at the back here.’

Kate reminded herself he was wounded. ‘I’d rather not,’ she said calmly. ‘If it’s all the same to you.’

‘We can’t pick and choose our customers.’

‘I’m not. I just don’t particularly get on with that lady, that’s all.’

‘Why?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Why don’t you get on with her?’ Arms folded across his mini-paunch, Rick was enjoying her discomfort.

She wasn’t going to explain to him how Julia had treated her like a skivvy, had taken a deep and personal dislike to both her and Becky. It was none of his business.

‘This is a restaurant, Kate. You are a waitress. It is your job to wait on the people who come in here, whether you like it or not.’

‘I really don’t mind—’ started up Kannika.

‘Kate’s got it,’ said Rick sharply.

Kate glared at him. Whatever had possessed her to fall for this small-minded, power-hungry lobster. She half considered telling him where to stick it but she couldn’t afford to get fired. Roll on the end of her shift. It was Becky’s thirteenth birthday and she was going shopping to get her a present.

Picking up a serving pad, Kate made her way over to the table where Julia was sitting with her friend.