Secrets & Souls - prequel to The Soul Guide

Given the street was deserted, and there really wasn’t anywhere else to go, Bertram and Mellissa headed over to the café. On stepping inside, they were immediately accosted with the smell of freshly ground coffee.

“This is nice,” Mellissa said. He glanced over and she gave him a smile.

“Hmm,” he said, still annoyed with her. She had an impulsiveness that was as equally endearing as it was frustrating. Even though he had opened the door to the alleyway, he doubted he would’ve walked through it had it not been for Mellissa. He wasn’t sure whether he should be angry or grateful. Bertram saw the excitement in her emerald eyes and doubted he’d ever really be angry with her, not for long anyway.

“Please, don’t stand in the doorway. Come in, come in,” said a friendly, heavily accented voice from behind the counter.

Bertram couldn’t see who was talking until a rather short, rotund man stood up. He placed two mugs on the counter in front of him, his blue eyes twinkling. “What can I get you both?”

“Well, um,” Bertram began. “Actually, we just want to find out where we are. We’re a bit lost.”

“Lost? I see, well you’ve come to the right place. I can help. Take a seat, you both look like you could do with a nice cup of coffee, eh?”

“Yes, please. That sounds lovely,” Mellissa said, just as Bertram was about to decline.

“Bene. Give me a moment and I will bring them over. Oh, I’m Carlo by the way,” he said.

“Thank you, Carlo. Good to meet you.” Mellissa smiled.

Bertram gave Mellissa a look as she made her way to the large leather sofa in the corner of the café. “I don’t have any money on me,” he hissed under his breath, realising he’d left his wallet back at Clayhill. “How are we going to pay for the drinks?”

Mellissa laughed. “You’re always such a worrier. He seems nice enough. I’m sure that once we explain our situation he’ll understand.”

“What? Tell him that, somehow, we managed to find ourselves in a strange city after walking through a magic door in our back garden? I’m sure that’ll go down well.”

“Well, when you put it like that…” Mellissa said with a giggle.

Bertram huffed. This really wasn’t funny at all. They had absolutely no clue where they were, with no way of knowing how to get back home. Mellissa was clearly enjoying every minute. She sat down on the sofa and made herself comfortable.

“Sit down, Bertram. It’ll be OK.”

“Fine,” he said, plonking himself down next to her.

He looked about the café, which was empty aside from himself, Mellissa, the owner, and a rather large dog that was trotting towards them. “Mellissa, look at that beast. It’s the size of a pony.”

“Don’t mind Giuseppe,” Carlo called from behind the counter. “He’s really quite friendly with people he likes.”

“And what about the ones he doesn’t?” Bertram said, to no-one in particular.

“What a handsome dog,” Mellissa crooned, as Giuseppe came over and plopped his head into her lap. She laughed. “Well, hello Giuseppe.”

The dog licked her on the hand and pushed his head further onto her lap. Mellissa scratched him behind the ears.

Bertram looked at Giuseppe, who gave him the eye, his tail wagging. “Don’t even think about it,” Bertram warned. Mellissa giggled, and Giuseppe stayed put.

After a couple minutes, Carlo walked over with three cups of coffee on a tray. Bertram noticed that there were three slices of chocolate cake as well. He thought about how he was going to refuse the cake without sounding rude. He had no money for either.

“I thought I’d bring over some cake to have with your coffee. It’s my favourite,” Carlo said.

Bertram was about to decline but Mellissa cut him off, again.

“That looks delicious, Carlo, thank you. The only thing is Bertram forgot his wallet, and I lost my purse, so we can’t pay you right now.”

“Oh, not to worry,” Carlo said waving his hand. “All new patrons to my café get a free drink and a slice of cake on their first visit. I thought you saw the sign in the window?” He pointed to a poster which offered just that.

“Well, that is kind of you. What a lovely thing to do,” Mellissa said.

Out of the corner of his eye Bertram could see Mellissa’s lip twitch. It appeared that she found this whole situation hilarious.

“It’s my pleasure. I find such an offer encourages people to come back. Now, you said that you were lost.” Carlo placed the mugs of coffee and cake on the table in front of them both.

“That’s right,” Bertram piped up. He wanted to find out where the hell they were so they could find their way back home. “Where are we exactly?”

Carlo took a sip of his coffee. “Oxford street is a five-minute walk away.”

“Oxford street?” Mellissa said. “As in London?”

“Yes, as in London,” Carlo laughed. “You two really are lost, no?”

Bertram coughed on the mouthful of coffee he’d decided to take a sip of seeing as it was free. “London!?” he spluttered. Mellissa thumped him on the back. He gave her a look. She just shrugged.

“Don’t mind Bertram,” Mellissa said on a laugh. “Sometimes he forgets his own name.”

“Are you two -what do you English say- pulling my leg?”

Bertram shot her a look of disgust, but went with it anyway. “Yes, sorry. Mellissa loves to joke about. Of course, we know we’re in London. We just got a little lost. We’re not from around here.”

“Si, I assumed that,” Carlo said, cutting into his piece of cake and popping a forkful into his mouth. He chewed it thoughtfully. “Where are you from, if not London?”

“Cornwall,” Mellissa said. She had already devoured half the cake and was now surreptitiously feeding Giuseppe the rest.

“Ah, I have never been. I’ve heard it is beautiful though. Isn’t that where Wuthering Heights is set?” Carlo asked.

“No, that’ll be Yorkshire,” Bertram grumbled.

“Apologies amico mio, my knowledge of the English classics is a little poor.”

“Think Poldark, that’s more like it,” Mellissa said, smiling.

“I’ve not read this book. I will look it up.”

“Do that, you’ll like it. Poldark, the main character, reminds me of you a little, what with your dark hair and devilish smile.”

“Well, I must take a read then. See what this Poldark is all about.” Carlo winked at Mellissa who laughed. Bertram rolled his eyes.

Mellissa shifted to one side as Giuseppe clambered on the sofa next to her, wedging himself between the two of them. Bertram tutted, but made no effort to push the dog away. He didn’t want his hand torn off.

“Giuseppe, leave the young lady alone, she does not need you slobbering all over that pretty dress of hers,” Carlo said.

“Never mind me,” Bertram huffed. Carlo didn’t seem too bothered by the fact Giuseppe’s arse was practically in his face, more so that he was getting Mellissa’s dress dirty.

“Oh, don’t worry Carlo. He’s fine.” Mellissa said, ignoring Bertram’s predicament.

“Fantastic,” Bertram muttered. The day was just getting better and better.

“How long are you staying in London?” Carlo asked.

“We’re going home today,” Bertram said, before Mellissa could answer. She gave him a look that said, ‘spoil sport’. He ignored it. He didn’t care, he wasn’t certain he liked the flirting that was going on. Carlo was at least twenty years older than Mellissa, but that didn’t seem to stop either of them.

“Ah, that is a shame. I would’ve liked you to meet some of my regulars. On the last Sunday of every month I close the café and invite them all back for a meal. I think you would get on well with them.”

“That’s tomorrow,” Mellissa said. “Maybe we should stick around Bertram, come back tomorrow?”

“That can’t be good for business,” Bertram said, ignoring Mellissa’s request. “Losing out on trade like that.” He thought it was rather stupid. Obviously, Carlo wasn’t much of a business man given he gave away so much for free.

“On the contrary, Bertram, business is booming.”

“Looks like it,” he said, casting an eye around the empty café. Mellissa shot him a look. He glared back.

“Perhaps tomorrow is too soon. It would be good to see you both again, next month maybe?”

“I doubt we’ll be back in London any time soon,” Bertram said. Never, if he could help it.

Mellissa kicked Bertram’s shin. “Thank you, Carlo, for your hospitality. The cake was quite delicious and this coffee, I’ve never tasted anything as rich and smooth. What brand is it?” Mellissa asked, swallowing the last mouthful and placing the cup back on its saucer.

“It is my own special concoction. A secret recipe,” he said, tapping his nose.

“Is that so? I’m sure I can taste honey. Am I right?” she asked.

“It wouldn’t be a secret if I answered that, now would it?”

“No, I guess not,” Mellissa grinned.

Bertram looked between the two. They were talking as though he wasn’t even in the room. That and the fact Giuseppe had made himself comfortable on his lap, was having a bad effect on his temper. He gave Giuseppe a shove just enough so he could stand up. The dog turned and looked up at him with doleful eyes before plonking his head back onto Mellissa’s lap.

“Well, I think it’s time we make a move. It’s going to be a long journey home,” Bertram said. He avoided Mellissa’s stare. He could feel her disappointment boring into the side of his head.

“Ah, well, that is a shame. I was enjoying your company,” Carlo said, patting Mellissa on her hand. Bertram bristled.

“I bet,” he said under his breath. He caught Mellissa’s eye. She was giving him a look of disgust.

“Likewise, Carlo. You’ve been very kind. Unlike some people,” Mellissa said.

Carlo waived his hand. “I am but a stranger. Bertram doesn’t know me. I hope, however, that will change.”

Bertram gritted his teeth. “I apologise if I’ve come across rude.” He heard Mellissa snort then mutter something. “It’s been a bit of an odd day, and I really just want to head home.”

“Of course, I understand perfectly.” Carlo stood and offered his hand to shake. Bertram took it. “Before you go. I would like to give you both something.”

Before Bertram could protest, Carlo had already headed back around the counter and was pulling two jars from the shelf fixed to the wall. He began to busy himself filling them up, taking several other canisters down and heaping spoonfuls of different coffee into each jar.

Mellissa patted Giuseppe on the head and he got off the sofa. He lumbered over to the door and lay down on the mat.

“Looks like the two are in cahoots,” Bertram moaned, glancing between Carlo and the dog. “At this rate, we’ll be stuck here permanently.”

“Bertram, stop being such an arse,” Mellissa chided. “Carlo has been nothing but pleasant. You could be a bit friendlier.”

Bertram didn’t bother to answer her. He wasn’t going to get drawn into an argument about his social skills. He was who he was, Mellissa could like it or lump it.

Carlo returned with a paper bag for each of them. He handed them over. “I have a knack of knowing what coffee would suit my customers, it is a gift I suppose. Inside you’ll find a special concoction for each of you. I hope you like the flavours.”

“Thank you, Carlo, that’s very kind,” Mellissa said, giving him peck on the cheek. Carlo blushed a deep red. Bertram could sympathise.

“Thanks,” Bertram mumbled. He eyed the glass jar. The coffee inside was khaki in colour, reminding him of a pair of trousers he used to garden in. He never washed them and they were covered in grass stains and mud. His nose crinkled.

“It has a strange colour I know. Its initial flavour is quite tart, and slightly bitter, but after the first mouthful it really warms on you and a gentle, almost earthy, flavour comes through. I assure you, it is quite delicious.”

“Well, that sounds perfect for Bertram,” Mellissa said, not bothering to hide the mirth in her voice. Bertram pulled a face.

“And what about Mellissa’s?” Bertram asked. He bet hers was going to be all flowers and summer sun and the like.

“Mellissa has a medium roast. It has rich undertones, and warmth, like smooth chocolate. Then as the taste settles on your tongue you get a shot of chilli, quite a punch for the unsuspecting. Definitely an acquired taste. It’s certainly delicious and very powerful, but not for all.”

Bertram laughed at the look on Mellissa’s face, maybe he was going to like this Carlo after all.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” Carlo said, clapping his hands together. “I do hope you will visit me soon. If you find yourself in London around the last Sunday of October, please consider coming to visit. I would be glad to see you both.”

“We will definitely consider it. Thank you, Carlo,” Mellissa said.

Bertram shook Carlo’s hand. “It has been interesting.”

Giuseppe got up as they approached, moving out of their way so they could exit the café. Carlo stood at the door. As they were about to turn in the opposite direction to the way they arrived Carlo said, “If I were you, I would retrace my steps. I’m sure you’ll find your way back home.”

Mellissa and Bertram gave each other a look.

“What a nice man,” Mellissa said.

“Hmm,” Bertram replied. There was something very interesting about Carlo, very interesting indeed.