A Rich Man's Touch

‘So how long has he been there?’

Stephanie’s head was bent over her task but Rachel knew exactly who she was talking about. However, she didn’t intend to get involved in another discussion about Gabriel Webb, and, being deliberately obtuse, she said, ‘About five years, I think. He and Liz emigrated the year after Hannah was born. Did Mrs Austen say if she had any grandchildren yet?’

Stephanie turned her head. ‘Oh, very funny,’ she exclaimed. ‘You know I wasn’t talking about Mark Austen. What is it with you? Are you afraid of the man or something?’

‘Afraid of Gabriel Webb?’ Rachel’s face suffused with colour. ‘Of course I’m not afraid of him. I just don’t understand what all the fuss is about. He’s just another customer, for God’s sake! Just because I once dated his son—’

‘You make it sound like a one-night-stand,’ protested Stephanie, sprinkling cheese on top of the pasta. ‘You and Andrew went out together for months. Everybody thought he was serious about you until his father got heavy and broke you two up.’

‘It wasn’t—’

Rachel bit off her words before she said something she shouldn’t. It had been easier to let her friends think that Gabriel Webb had split them up than admit that Andrew had been to blame for the breakdown of their relationship. Kinder, too—to herself as well as Hannah, she conceded bitterly. No way had she been willing to involve her daughter in that sorry mess, and she had no doubt that Andrew’s father’s relief would have been as great as his son’s.

‘I’d rather not talk about it,’ she said at last, aware that Stephanie was waiting for her to finish her sentence. ‘Oh, Patsy.’ She turned with some relief to the teenager who had just returned from clearing tables. ‘Can you clear these dishes away, please? And then go and ask—that gentleman by the window if he wants anything else.’

‘Okay.’

Patsy was a willing helper and Rachel hoped her intervention had put an end to Stephanie’s gossip. Her eyes flickered reluctantly towards her unwelcome customer and then, squashing any doubts that still lingered, she took down the menu board to amend the day’s specials.

‘How much do I owe you?’

His voice was low and attractive, deeper than Andrew’s had been and possessing a warm sensuality that prickled Rachel’s startled nerves. Despite the fact that she had gone out with his son for several months, Andrew had never introduced her to his family. And although most people in Kingsbridge knew who Gabriel Webb was, apart from seeing his picture in newspapers and magazines, this was the first time Rachel had seen him face-to-face.

Her mouth dried. This close, she realised he was younger than she’d imagined. Probably mid-forties, she guessed, though he didn’t look well. His dark hair, which was shorter than his son’s had been, was liberally spliced with grey, and there were dark rings around eyes that were so dark as to appear almost black in this light. She wondered if he’d been ill and then chided herself for even caring. Just because there were hollows in his cheeks and his clothes hung on his lean, angular frame, he wouldn’t welcome her sympathy. Wouldn’t welcome anything from her—or her daughter.

‘I—’ Aware that Stephanie was probably listening to their every word, Rachel wished she could just tell him it was on the house and ask him to leave. But after spending the last few minutes trying to convince her friend that his presence didn’t bother her, she had to try and behave as if she had complete control of the situation. ‘Um—one ninety-five, please.’

‘One ninety-five?’ He nodded. ‘Right.’ He fumbled in the pocket of his trousers and came out with a five-pound note. He put it on the counter and turned away. ‘Thank you.’

‘Wait!’ Rachel wanted no charity from him. And when he turned to see why she had spoken she held up her hand. ‘Your change,’ she said, ringing the money into the till and extracting the necessary amount. ‘You forgot your change.’

‘I didn’t forget,’ he said flatly, heading for the exit, but Rachel went after him. Ignoring the fact that Stephanie was now staring after her with a look of disbelief on her face, she went round the counter and caught up with him at the door.

‘The service charge is included,’ she told him tightly, holding out the money. ‘If you’d wanted to leave a tip, you should have given it to Patsy.’

Gabriel Webb’s gaunt face wore a resigned expression as he took the coins from her. ‘Is this necessary?’ he asked, and she was relieved that he spoke so quietly that even Stephanie’s sharp ears could not have heard his words. ‘I realise you probably don’t like me, Rachel, but I’d have thought you might control your antagonism for the sake of your staff.’

Rachel was taken aback. Not just by his use of her name but by the fact that he evidently had expected her antipathy. ‘I don’t know you, Mr Webb,’ she declared when she could find her tongue, and he inclined his head.

‘No, you don’t,’ he conceded drily. ‘Which is why you might have given me the benefit of the doubt.’ Thick lashes veiled the glitter of those dark eyes. ‘I am sorry if you think my intention was to offend you. It wasn’t.’ His shoulders moved in a dismissive gesture. ‘But anyway, if I did, my apologies.’

Rachel took an involuntary backward step. There was something about him that disturbed her and she didn’t know what it was. But it inspired a momentary feeling of panic inside her, as if her body sensed a connection she didn’t want to feel. She didn’t know why she should feel that way. His appearance was unexpected, that was true, but could that be responsible for her sudden unease? She decided rather tensely that it must be his resemblance to Andrew that was upsetting her.

Yet she sensed it was more than that. They were both tall men, with dark hair and the olive skin of their Mediterranean forebears, but she could hardly compare this man’s haggard looks with his son’s handsome features. Besides, Gabriel Webb’s face had a much harsher cast than Andrew’s; less conventionally handsome, she conceded, even without the obvious aftermath of some shock—illness?—she didn’t know what. But compelling, even so.

‘It was good meeting you at last,’ he remarked now, but although Rachel managed a polite acknowledgement she doubted Gabriel Webb’s sincerity. He could have no positive thoughts about a woman whom he and the rest of his family had obviously never desired to meet.

He left then, flicking up the collar of his overcoat as he stepped out into the crisp spring air. April had been unseasonably cold, but Rachel wouldn’t have thought an overcoat was necessary. Almost irresistibly, she stepped closer to the window, drawing the Roman blind aside to watch him stride away along the street. It had been a disturbing encounter and she wished she didn’t have to go back and face Stephanie’s grilling. Her friend was bound to want to know chapter and verse and she wondered why she felt so reluctant to discuss him with anyone else.

‘Some man, huh?’ Stephanie’s sardonic voice in her ear made her realise her unguarded interest had not gone unnoticed. ‘What did he say?’ the other woman added. ‘You seemed to be having a pretty intense exchange.’

‘That’s not true.’ Rachel was aware that she had no excuse for her flushed cheeks this time. And, despite her misgivings, she gave in to her own curiosity, ‘Do you think he looked all right?’

Stephanie arched inquisitive brows as they walked back to the serving area. ‘Is that a serious question?’ she asked drily. ‘Yeah, I think he looks all right. As all right as any man with a bank account that runs into millions can look, I guess.’

Rachel gave a frustrated sigh. ‘That’s not what I meant.’ She glanced back over her shoulder. ‘I just thought he looked as if he’d been ill, that’s all. He was very pale, and he had these deep grooves in his cheeks.’

‘My heart bleeds,’ exclaimed Stephanie unfeelingly. ‘For goodness’ sake, Rach, you sound as if you feel sorry for him. If he’s looking under the weather, it’s probably because he’s had a heavy night. Men like him are always having heavy nights. That’s what they do.’

‘You don’t know what they do,’ retorted Rachel shortly, and was glad when several customers chose that moment to come into the café. It gave her the excuse to end the conversation and attend to them, and she hoped that by the time the midday rush was over Stephanie would have forgotten all about Gabriel Webb and Rachel’s ill-advised interest in him.

Rachel’s mother brought Hannah into the café as they were closing. She sometimes waited until her granddaughter got home from her school to do her shopping, and then she and Hannah usually called in Rachel’s Pantry for a pot of tea and a cream cake, if there were any left.

Rachel was pleased to see them. Although Stephanie hadn’t said any more about Gabriel Webb, there had been a certain tension between them all afternoon and Rachel was relieved to find that it was almost five o’clock. The small café, which opened at eight-thirty most mornings, closed at five, and she wouldn’t be sorry to get home tonight.

‘Hello, sweetheart,’ she said, bending to give her small daughter a hug, and Hannah’s pale cheeks filled with becoming colour.

‘’Lo, Mummy,’ she answered, clinging to her mother’s arm when she would have drawn away. ‘May I have a Coke today, please? Please?’

‘I’ll think about it,’ said Rachel lightly, taking charge of her daughter’s wheelchair and fitting the wheels under the edge of the nearest table. ‘How about you, Mum? Tea, as usual?’

‘That would be wonderful,’ agreed Mrs Redfern, subsiding into the chair beside her granddaughter. Then, with her usual perception, ‘Is anything wrong?’

‘No.’ Rachel’s response was rather too hasty. ‘What could be wrong?’ she added, heading towards the counter. ‘One Coke and one tea coming up.’

‘I’ll get them,’ said Stephanie, meeting her as she rounded the end of the counter, and Rachel met her diffident gaze with some relief.

‘Oh, would you?’

‘Hey, I’d do anything for my favourite girl,’ Stephanie exclaimed more confidently, exchanging a wave with Hannah. ‘Hi there, honeybun. Have you had a good day at school?’

‘I got a gold star,’ Hannah called back proudly. ‘Do you want to see it?’

‘Can I?’ Stephanie made the tea and set two cups on the tray. Then, flicking the cap on a bottle of Coke, she carried the order to the table. ‘My, aren’t you the clever girl?’ she went on, admiring the stick-on gold star Hannah was exhibiting on the lapel of her blazer. ‘What was this for? Talking in class?’

‘No, silly.’ Hannah giggled, and, dropping into the spare chair at the table, Rachel was grateful to her friend for not allowing their differences to interfere with the attention she always showed towards her daughter. ‘We did some spellings and I got all mine right.’ She beamed at her mother. ‘Twenty out of twenty!’

‘Goodness!’ Rachel pretended to be amazed. ‘Well, I think that deserves a special treat. What would you say to a banana split? I think I’ve got some ice cream left in the freezer.’

‘Ooh, yes.’ Hannah loved banana splits. ‘And can I have some of those sprinkly bits on it, too?’

After Hannah was served, and Mrs Redfern had accepted a vanilla slice, Stephanie said her goodbyes and left them to it. Rachel turned the sign on the door to ‘Closed’, dropped the blinds, and then came back to her chair.

‘You look tired,’ said her mother consideringly. ‘You’re working too hard, Rachel. You really should take a day off now and then.’

‘I take every Sunday off,’ replied Rachel, sipping her tea. She smiled at Hannah before adding, ‘Remind me, I need to speak to Joe Collins before the weekend. That second oven isn’t working properly, but I’m hoping we can manage until Sunday.’

Her mother nodded. ‘He’ll probably say you need a new one. This isn’t the first time it’s let you down.’