Miranda spent another hour just daydreaming. She was enjoying escaping the misery of her morning when Penny came bursting through the shop door looking like a woman on a mission.

"Hello darling. How are you?" She asked Miranda, who was leaning her head into her hand on the shop counter.

"Tired, hungry, sore, lon-"

"Fantastic," Miranda rolled her eyes and tried to ignore her controlling mother's rambles. "Now darling, I was going to ask you, when is Gary back from his course?"

"Not for another week" Saying that was like a punch in the stomach as she tried to hold back the tears.

"Right then, that all works out then. Belinda is being such a pain in the ASS!"

"Wrong way round!" Miranda fretted, thankful that no customers were in the shop. "Anyway, what all works out?"

Penny continued as if nothing had happened "Belinda is organising a fundraiser dinner for a local shelter next month and keeps gloating that she has 150 people going"

Not seeing the problem, Miranda sighed and endured her mother's speech as best she could. She folded her arms on the counter and rested her chin on them.

"I just wanted to know if Gary would be able to cater for around 200 to 500 people for MY fundraiser lunch to help build a new block at a rest-home in two weeks"

Miranda shot up from her seat and sprang into action. 500 people! Either her mother was absurd… or her mother was absurd. "500 BLOODY PEOPLE! IN TWO BLOODY WEEKS! Mum, Gary was lucky that he could get enough time off from the restaurant because they're so busy! I really don't know if he'll be able to!" She refused to agree, hating the idea of Gary coming home to a huge stress.

"Good!" Penny only heard what she wanted to hear and Miranda, frustrated, laid her head on her arms and closed her eyes, too tired to argue. "So I will be back in a few days to confirm numbers, and when Gary gets back I'll meet with him to organise the what I call menu-"

"Oh for goodness sake! WE ALL CALL IT A MENU!" The anger bubbled up and out of Miranda.

"-Anyway, must dash and speaking of the devil, must find Belinda and brag that I have more people going to my lunch. Such fun!" Penny left, and Miranda headed to the restaurant for a well-earned break. She wanted nothing more than to clear her head of her mother's plan to always out-do someone.

Locking the shop and stepping into the rain, Miranda set off on the short walk to the restaurant. She didn't bother to wear her jacket. Her day was going bad enough and wearing a jacket in the rain wasn't going to make a difference. Miserable, lonely, tired and hungry couldn't begin to describe how Miranda felt.

Clive was reading the paper when Miranda walked in, drenched and soaked despite the distance.

"Miranda!" Clive shouted. "Why didn't you wear a jacket or carry an umbrella! You'll catch a cold!" He rushed around the bar and started rubbing her arms to keep her warm. Miranda sat down on the stool, only to slip off into a heap on the floor.

"OW! Oh, this is ridiculous!" Miranda groaned standing up. "Clive, could I please have a low-fat blueberry muffin and a wheatgrass smoothie?" she asked.

"Sure, I'll bring your hot chocolate and lasagna right out" replied Clive, and he walked off to get her food.

Miranda walked over and sat down on the couch, now regretting not wearing a jacket and feeling the chill. The familiar smell of tomatoes, oregano, basil and garlic hit Miranda. She knew that Gary had made a large lasagna before he left, ready whenever she was. Clive bought Gary's chef jacket over with him along with the lasagna and hot chocolate.

"Here, put this on" He said, handing her the jacket. "It's dry unlike you". Miranda did as she was told and she noticed Clive looking at her curiously.

"What?" she asked, exasperated.

"Oh you know what. Why are you so upset?"

Miranda finally managed to get the jacket on. It smelled like him. It felt like him. And it was another punch, knocking the wind out of her. A silent tear rolled down her cheek, but it was loud to Clive.

"C'mon, spit it out then" he pressed.

"I'm just… not having a very good day is all. I'm working because Stevie's sick, Gary's been away for a week which feels like a year and isn't back for another, Mum's trying to what I call out-do Belinda again, Gary's away, it's raining… and Gary's away…" she trailed off into silence and looked up at Clive whose face was one of complete knowing all. Understanding his expression, Miranda whispered.

"You knew"

"Course I did. The minute you walked in I knew. You weren't yourself. No hello, no asking for free food, no dancing round to the Billy Joel playing now" Miranda listened and heard 'In the Middle of the Night' gently playing, surprised she failed to notice a favourite.

"I've had a really bad day, Clive" Miranda stressed. "I just want him home".

Clive offered her a gentle smile. "I know you do. It's not long to go now. I've gotta go and make a phone call to… umm… a supplier but stay as long as you want" He got up and walked back into the kitchen.

Miranda was very grateful that no one else was in the restaurant. She had a little sob to herself and inhaled Gary's scent off his jacket. It was intoxicating and comforting at the same time. Cuddling the jacket around her, she closed her eyes and breathed him in before taking a few deep breaths to hold the tears. Her stomach protested so she made a start on her lasagna. Trying to put on a brave face was hard. Something overcame her today, and Miranda wasn't sure what, but all she wanted was Gary home.

Wiping the tears from her eyes and putting on a brave face, Tilly walked in texting on her phone.

"Back. Konger's! How are you? Oh! You look awful!" Tilly laughed. Miranda offered a slight smile in return.

"Thanks. Not feeling too good. Tired, cold, we-"

"Good, good!" She cut Miranda off and Miranda sighed in frustration. Was Clive the only one who was going to listen to her today?

"Now Queen Kong, I came to ask you if Gary would be able to cook for Mummy's dinner for the shelter. Penny hasn't already asked for him to cater for her lunch has she?"

"No, no" Miranda lied. "Didn't know she was having one". She really couldn't be bothered dealing with this now. "Look Tilly, I really don't know if Gary will be able to. He's alrea-"

"Oh goody gum drops! I shall call around tomorrow and sort out a list of nibbles and drinkingtons! Ciao!" And with that, Tilly walked out hearing what she wanted to. Just like Penny.

Clive walked back out to check on Miranda. She had her eyes closed and was breathing deeply.