By John Silverton
Michael was relieved to arrive and shelter from the frigid wind of distant tundra, entering the quaint sixteenth century olde worlde tea shop, with leaded windows of rippled glass and blackened oak beams. A tabby cat basked in the warm glow of the log fire in the inglenook fireplace. Copper and brass utensils, blue-and-white china plates and antique prints of local aspects furnished the whitewashed walls.
Michael was a regular customer and the waitress, in customary black dress, white lace-trimmed apron and matching cotton tiara, greeted with a smile of familiarity. The aroma of toasted snacks garnished the warm atmosphere; elderly regulars politely sipped tea and munched crumpets and scones. Soothing classical music added to the aura of cosy contentment.
Michael had arrived before her, removed his coat and hat and chose a comfortable corner seat. His usual menu choice was the traditional English tea: hot toasted crumpets with lashings of melting butter followed by warm fruit scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Swilled down with Tetley’s finest, nothing could be more ambrosial or agreeably English. But today the “cream tea” seemed inappropriate and he ordered a pot of Earl Grey, which came accompanied by a complimentary Amaretti biscuit.
He unwrapped the Amaretti and savoured the almond aroma; the flavour revived memories of these biscuits at the honeymoon hotel before he had ardently unwrapped her modesty. Then they were young kindred spirits in love. Now, she was not the bride he’d choose if he were to start over. As a teacher she’s unable to leave her disciplinarian hat on the classroom coat rack. After a day modifying the behaviour of thirty or so brats, Michael was an older version in need of behavioural redirection. He had become her clay maquette to be pummelled and reconfigured, but he’d realized love should give permission to be his own person.
Accompanied by an unwelcome draught, she swept in with an air of self-importance and sat opposite without any hint of greeting. She didn’t remove her coat and refused his invitation for tea. This was going to be a brief meeting. From her bag she plonked a folder of
legal papers on the table between them and began an impassioned discourse summarising the current legal position. Michael listened in silence, wary of the inevitable animus brewing in unison with the tea.
‘I’ve changed the locks. Your key no longer fits my lock.’ She sniggered at the double entendre.
No matter, thought Michael. He no longer wished to insert his key. Besides, he knew someone else was inserting theirs. She opened the divorce agreement.
‘Sign it,’ she commanded, shoving the papers across the table.
Michael had no intention of signing; he needed more time to negotiate the financial settlement, better access arrangements to the children and mitigation of the indictment of blame. In her present belligerent mood she was no advocate of compromise. An exit strategy had to be engineered.
Michael reached across the table for the pen and knocked over the teapot with accidental pretence. The brownish stain seeped across the papers mimicking the mortified redness suffusing her complexion. His cheek stung from her ferocious slap. Amidst a tantrum of animated threats and broadcast of abuse she flounced out of the café into the bustling street and bitter cold, as bitter and frigid as her feelings towards him.
The cafe’s clientele looked on aghast. Peering over a parapet of spectacles, the regulars cast their disdainful gaze, shuffling uneasily and murmuring disapproval. Michael smiled but otherwise paid no heed. A solicitous waitress mopped up the mess and binned the soggy papers. With a smile of sympathy she delivered another pot of tea. He unwrapped the Amaretti; the biscuit never tasted so good.
Author bio:
John Silverton was born in 1945, A Man of Kent. He is a former freelance journalist, newspaper columnist and magazine features writer, although most of his commercial life has been in marketing. His first novel, ‘A Pearl Amongst Oysters’, a suspenseful romance spanning half a century, received acclaim and is available from Amazon (books). He is winner of the Anderida Writers’ poetry and short story competitions . A book of short stories, entitled ‘Marilyn and Other Stories’, will be published 2025. A second novel, a murder mystery entitled ‘A Murder of Crows’ should be published 2026.
Author contact details:
| Email address: johnsilverton@hotmail.co.uk |
