Esther Chilton

If you’d like to be included in this slot, please get in touch: estherchilton@gmail.com. Poems can be up to 60 lines and prose 2000 words. If you’d like to add a short bio and photo, then great. All I ask is that there’s nothing offensive.

I have another new writer to welcome to my Guest Writer Spot this week. Andrea Gray is a member of The Writers Bureau’s writing club, Let’s Write and has written some lovely pieces. This week she shares one of them:

Steamy Encounter

By

Andrea Gray

Rachael busied herself with a fast incoming of drink orders. It was loud and steamy. She was feeling hot and bothered with the August sun streaming through the coffee shop windows. The hum of chatter from the shop full of customers rattled in her ears.

I can’t believe so many people want hot drinks in this weather. What’s wrong with a nice, cool iced latte or iced tea? she considered to herself.

She turned round and delivered the cappuccinos to the latest customer with a wide smile. The queue was still growing; she sighed at this and then she saw him.

Joining the queue with a blonde, heads close together, laughing and hugging.

Rachael couldn’t believe her eyes and what she was witnessing. How could this be happening, he knows I work here. What am I going to do, say?

‘You okay, Rachael?’

‘I don’t know, Amy. See the guy with the short spiky dark hair with the white t-shirt at the back of the queue?’

‘Yeah, he’s quite a looker!’

‘He’s Gill’s fiancée!’

‘Oh, sorry I didn’t realise, so that’s Gill then.’

‘No, it’s not, I don’t know who she is.’

‘Oh, that’s awkward, can this lady have an Americano and an iced fruit tea please?’

Rachael turned back to the machine with her stomach in her mouth trying to concentrate on the orders. What was she going to do? Did she confront him? I can’t believe he is doing this in the coffee shop where his fiancée’s best friend and bridesmaid works.

She turned round and delivered the coffee and the tea. They were getting closer. What was she going to do, say? she panicked to herself.

‘What am I going to do, Amy?’

‘Just ask him to introduce her.’

‘How am I going to tell Gill?’

‘Stop panicking, I need two lattes, a hot chocolate and a mocha!’

Who’s drinking hot chocolate in August? she thought as the steam from the coffee machine and hit her face again, causing her to flush even more.

She turned round with the drinks; there he was, almost at the front in full view of her but he didn’t blink or show any sign of realisation he was about to be caught red handed.

‘What shall I say Amy?’

‘Play it cool, see what he says first. I need two Earl Grey teas, an Oat milk latte, an Americano and two Cortados please.

Rachael turned back to the coffee machine with an audible sigh and made the orders. When she turned back, there he was with the blonde at the front, the blonde standing sideways facing towards him, arm looped through his, leaning her chin on his shoulder looking doe eyed.

She looked him straight in the eye with a hard serious expression on her face expectantly, with her hand on her hip.

Amy looked on, her heart in her mouth worrying about the coffee shop full of customers about to witness a barney.

James looked back puzzled then finally spoke. ‘Could we have two iced lattes please?’

‘Are you serious, James? I cannot believe the nerve of you coming in here with her!’

‘Oh, I see, he said, ‘I think you’re talking about the wedding?’

‘YES, your wedding to my best friend, remember, I’m helping to arrange it.’

‘Oh, right yes, this is my girlfriend, Patsy!’

Rachael stood stunned, is he serious?

‘I’m Jake, James’s twin brother. I live in Australia and don’t come back very often but just arrived today for a few weeks for the wedding.’

‘Twin brother? Do you think I’m stupid, you never mentioned a twin before!’

‘Well things haven’t been great between us over the years, but I decided to come back to surprise him for the wedding hoping it can be a new start between us.’

Rachael stood open mouthed unsure what to say.

Amy decided to intervene, ‘Rachael can you make the lattes while I take the next order, please.’

Taking a deep breath she got back to making coffee, her faced flushed with anger and embarrassment.

As she passed the coffees to Jake, he offered her his mobile phone.

‘I managed to get hold of Gill; I called her as I can see your struggling to believe me.’

She passed the coffees and took the phone, throwing him a dark thunderous look.

‘Oh, Rachael I’m so sorry.’

‘Is that definitely you, Gill?’

Yes, it’s okay. James does have a twin brother but doesn’t talk about him. It’s meant to be a surprise, please don’t say anything.’

‘Well, it’s a certainly been a surprise for me, I wish I had known earlier.’

***

Bio

I am a new writer who has started late in life to explore this art form.

Always an avid reader I would often have ideas for fiction or memoir but never the time to bring these to fruition.

After retiring from a long Nursing career in the NHS almost 3 years ago I decided to take it a bit more seriously. Through various courses I have been exploring genres and learning what I want to write, now favouring fiction, poetry and memoir.

In my spare time I love travelling, gardening and outdoor swimming but most importantly engaging with other writers in The Writers Bureau community helping me to learn what it is to become a writer.