Realising the dangerous lurch of her train of thought, Elsie bundled the questions to the back of her mind, took a deep lungful of Parisian rooftop air and settled herself to enjoy the meal as a string quartet began to play. Tonight, she was here with good friends in a stunning restaurant in a beautiful city. Questions could wait for England.
They were treated to the kind of cuisine usually reserved for television shows like MasterChef: classic French cuisine served across four delicious courses, each flavour delicately balanced and every portion judged to perfection. Fresh asparagus with anchovy butter, shellfish and sea urchin to start; red snapper, pan-roasted scallops and langoustines for a fish course; veal, duck and rib-eye steak for mains; followed by desserts laced with brandy, cassis and champagne – every course was perfect.
The wine and conversation flowed easily as The Sundaes revelled in the luxury of their surroundings. Elsie was aware of Torin’s eyes as they occasionally caught her attention during the meal. He looked apologetic, as if his impertinent questioning of her earlier that day was a source of great embarrassment to him now. She smiled back, determined to enjoy this remarkable evening without further controversy.
During dessert, Olly nudged her with his elbow. ‘You know, I could get used to this.’
‘It’s certainly a great way to end our trip,’ Elsie agreed, her eyes drifting across the Paris skyline to the glow of the Eiffel Tower. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.’
‘Ah, that’s the City of Light for you,’ Olly smiled. ‘It’s impossible to resist its magic. Anything can happen in Paris.’
‘As Woody now knows,’ Daisy laughed.
While they waited for coffee, Elsie picked up her glass of wine and walked to the edge of the roof terrace, leaning against the glass-panelled barrier to gaze at the view. A cool calm had settled within her, and seeing the Eiffel Tower again reminded her of the significant step she had taken this weekend. Lucas would be smiling at her now, she thought. He would point at the happy members of her choir, with Woody safely back at its heart:
‘Look at them, Els – all the pieces are falling into place for you. And this could only happen because you were brave enough to come here. What does the future hold for you, my darling? Only possibility and promise. I’ll be watching …’
At that very moment, the Eiffel Tower began to shimmer and sparkle on the far horizon, as tiny blue twinkling lights flashed up and down its height. Elsie’s heart skipped a beat and tears of surprise filled her eyes. The Sundaes saw it, too and, whooping, grabbed their phones and cameras to capture the spectacle. For ten minutes they watched, transfixed by its beauty, until the light show ended and the restaurant diners broke into delighted applause.
‘How amazing was that?’ Daisy exclaimed, as Elsie returned to her place at the table. ‘The waiter said that happens every hour during the evening. Oh, Els, you’re crying …’
Elsie’s heart was beating fast as she wiped the tears from her eyes. ‘I’m fine. It just happened at the right time. All of this trip happened at the right time.’ She nodded at André. ‘Especially for you.’
Daisy pulled her sister to her, kissing the top of her head. ‘And you have your whole life ahead of you, to do with it what you will, darling. I reckon Lucas is loving all this. And I’m so proud we could be here together – I love you, little sister.’
When the meal was over, the group made their way to ground level, assembling on the pavement as Torin prepared to leave.
‘Woody, it’s been fun,’ he smiled, offering his hand to the ageing rocker and laughing in surprise as Woody flung his arms around him in an enormous hug.
‘You’re a gent, brother,’ he exclaimed. ‘I won’t forget what you did for me in that place.’ Depositing a slightly crumpled solicitor back on the pavement, he slapped his back. ‘Any time you need old Uncle Woody’s assistance, you just call.’
‘Erm, thanks – I’ll bear that in mind.’ He turned to Olly. ‘Good to see you again, mate. Take care of this lot tomorrow, yeah?’
Olly shook his hand. ‘I will. I appreciate your help with the police.’
‘It’s what I do, so no problem.’ He smiled at The Sundaes. ‘Nice to meet you all. Keep Woody out of any more trouble, won’t you?’ He checked his watch and looked at Elsie. ‘I should go. Can I have a word?’
Nodding, she followed him a little way down the street. When they were a sufficient distance from the rest of the group, he stopped, his eyes assuming their strange stillness that she had witnessed before.
‘I know this is probably not the time, but please let me say this. I’d like to think we could be friends one day – real friends – after everything that’s been said today. I’d hate it if my overactive gob and rash opinions have jeopardised any chance I have of getting to know you.’
It came from nowhere, but Elsie found herself warming to his newfound openness. ‘They haven’t. I think if we could manage an entire conversation without either of us taking offence it might be a start.’
‘Like this one, for example?’
Uncertain in this new territory, she smiled. ‘Possibly.’
He took a breath. ‘What are you doing Tuesday evening after work?’
Elsie thought for a moment. ‘Nothing, as far as I’m aware.’
‘Then have a drink with me? I’d like to give our non-confrontational experiment a try. And if it fails spectacularly, we can admit defeat and give up there and then.’
Elsie could think of no good reason to refuse. She was keen to see if she could shake off the inner cynicism, which even now was screaming belligerent questions at her. After all he had done for Woody this weekend, she felt she should at least try to be friends with him.
‘OK, let’s give it a go. But I’m paying.’
Torin smiled as he hailed a taxi. ‘Then I wouldn’t dream of refusing.’
Buzzing from their unexpected exchange, Elsie rejoined the others and they began to walk to the Metro station.
‘I think I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight,’ Stan said, stretching his arms overhead as he walked.
‘I don’t care how you sleep as long as you don’t snore,’ Graeme joked. ‘It’s like sharing a room with a pneumatic drill!’
‘Attendez, s’il vous plaît!’
They turned to see a waiter from La Fantasmagorie running down the street after them, waving something in his hand. When he reached the group, he handed Elsie a small, black leather-covered object and she recognised it immediately.
‘A gentleman from your party left this on the table,’ the waiter explained.
‘Oh, merci, Monsieur,’ Elsie said.
‘Je vous en prie, Mademoiselle. Au revoir.’
‘What is it?’ André asked as the choir gathered round.
‘It’s Torin’s Filofax.’
Danny and Lewis sniggered. Olly shook his head. ‘I didn’t think high-flying lawyers still had those.’
‘I know. Go figure,’ Elsie replied. ‘I’ll make sure he gets it back.’
‘People, may I announce that there is a brand new bottle of bourbon in my room, which I will gladly share for a nightcap when we reach our lodgings,’ Woody announced. ‘I reckon on our last night in Paris we should all get a little rock’n’roll, eh?’
‘Woody Jensen, I think walking into a major drugs raid and being incarcerated in a French police station overnight is more than enough rock’n’roll for anybody,’ Elsie laughed.
‘Fair do’s, babe. But you’ll still partake of it with me?’
Happier than she had felt in a long time, Elsie linked arms with him. ‘Just you try and stop me!’
CHAPTER TWENTY
Back to the future
Next morning, The Sundaes bid a fond farewell to Paris, with Daisy staying behind to travel home with André.
‘Are you sure you’re going to be OK without me?’ Daisy asked, her face a picture of worry, ‘because I can tell André to make his own way home if you like.’
‘Stop talking, Dais.
We’ll be fine. Now, we have a ferry to catch and you, I believe, have a set of future in-laws to meet.’
André circled Daisy’s waist from behind and grinned at Elsie over her shoulder. ‘My mother has been waiting a long time for this. She will hold us hostage at her house until she has heard every detail.’
It was so good to see her eldest sister glowing and happy. If it was possible for Daisy Maynard to become more beautiful, she did so now, safe in the arms of her handsome fiancé. Elsie hugged them both and climbed into the passenger seat of the minibus beside Olly.
‘Now, do what I suggest and take the scenic route out of the city,’ Daisy said, leaning in to direct her comment at Olly. ‘It would be wrong not to make the most of Paris as you leave.’
Olly saluted her. ‘Yes, ma’am,’ he replied.
‘Have a safe journey!’ Daisy called as they drove away.
So they passed the Louvre, the Luxembourg Palace, the Sorbonne and the Seine, glimpses of the Eiffel Tower never far from sight. It surprised Elsie how quickly she had become accustomed to the beauty of this city, its elegant stone buildings, vivacious streets and breathtaking vistas both majestic and familiar to her now. So much had happened here in such a short amount of time, and Elsie knew, as they skirted the city’s famous landmarks, that she would return here often. Paris had been a place of memory and rebirth: it would always now have a place in her heart.
Reluctantly leaving the city they began the long journey towards Rouen and on to Dieppe. They arrived in time to board the mid-afternoon ferry crossing and Elsie joined the others to wander around duty-free, buying a bottle of Jim’s favourite aftershave and Cher’s beloved Chanel No5, together with an Yves Saint-Laurent Touche Éclat as a treat for Guin. Olly was a little quiet, but Elsie assumed it was due to tiredness from the journey.
They arrived back in Brighton just before six p.m. and reluctantly said goodbye to one another. Woody almost crushed Elsie with the strength of his embrace.
‘Give me a few days to recover from my adventure and then we’re back on it, babe. I’ve been dreaming about our next project and I reckon a flashmob ninja attack is well overdue. We start small – Brighton Pavilion, maybe – and then build up to something bigger than the Eiffel Tower. I’m thinking the music of Marley, The Rasmus and Pink colliding in a world-class venue. How do you feel about a Sundaes campaign in London?’
‘After this weekend I can honestly say anything’s possible,’ Elsie replied.
Casting a surreptitious glance around him to make sure none of the other choir members were in earshot, Woody moved a little closer to Elsie. ‘Actually, old Woodster’s been meaning to ask you something.’
‘Ask away.’
‘The lovely Lady Cher. Is she – is that dude still hanging around?’
Elsie shook her head. ‘Oh no. That dude is long gone.’
Woody’s eyes twinkled. ‘So – hypothetically, angel – if a certain Brighton figure was to, you know, pursue a certain line of action that might be agreeable to the lady …’
‘I think she’d say yes,’ Elsie replied, ‘hypothetically.’
‘Sweet,’ he nodded, a treacle-slow smile appearing as he raised his Stetson to her and sauntered away. Elsie grinned to herself, secretly delighted at the prospect of a Woody–Cher collaboration. Cher had no idea what she was in for …
Danny walked over and hugged Elsie. ‘Thanks again for everything you’ve done. You totally made it happen for us.’
‘You’re welcome. You two just be happy, OK?’
‘We will,’ Aoife beamed, slipping her arm round Danny’s waist. ‘We’ll see you at rehearsal on Wednesday?’
Elsie smiled back. ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’ As they walked away, she turned to Olly. ‘You’ve been a star this weekend. Thank you for everything.’
‘I did it for you,’ he said, suddenly. ‘Because I want to be part of your life.’
‘Oh, Olly, you are …’
‘Look, don’t be mad at your sister, but she told me – about The List.’
‘What?’ Of course it was something Elsie planned to share with Olly – but the knowledge that Daisy had furnished him with the details already was inexplicably unsettling.
‘I was worried about you when we left you up on the Eiffel Tower. You looked so lost and I didn’t want you to be on your own. I was all ready to come back up, but Daisy explained about Number 51. I know what you were doing up there and I think it’s amazing. No – let me say this, OK? I don’t want to take Lucas’ place – I know I’ll never come close to being the kind of man he was. But I think we could be happy together, Elsie. I think we have a chance. And Paris made me realise that I don’t want to wait around any more. You asked us to be friends, and we have been friends, and it’s been wonderful. But everything within me wants us to start discovering how it could be for us right now – no more delays. So here it is: I am yours, wholeheartedly, completely, if you want me.’ He stopped, his face flushed and his breath coming fast. ‘I should get the minibus back. Promise me you’ll think about what I said?’
Numb from his passionate declaration, Elsie promised. ‘I will.’
He nodded, climbed into the minibus and sped away. Elsie stood alone in the middle of the car park, breathing the familiar sea air of home but feeling as if she was standing on another planet entirely. Her limbs were heavy with travel weariness and she could feel the need for sleep pulling at the corners of her eyes. She needed to put all the pieces from the weekend into their rightful places and see what picture was revealed. Only then could she decide the way forward, once and for all …
Jim’s budding relationship with his new lady friend turned out to be far more serious than he had suggested in his phone call. When Elsie arrived at his house that evening, things were decidedly cosy between her father and Louise, the A&E nurse. Elsie noted with interest the sudden proliferation of female toiletries in the family bathroom and the arrival of several pots of orchids on the kitchen window ledge.
‘This woman is an angel,’ he told her happily as Louise fussed around him in his armchair. ‘She’s been looking after me so well, Els.’
‘Your dad’s a poppet,’ Louise smiled. ‘He’s no trouble. Although I can’t promise I’ll ever love vegetarian food as much as he seems to do.’
‘I don’t think anyone loves it as much as Dad,’ Elsie smiled, accepting a mug of tea from the forty-something bottle-blonde.
‘So, how was Paris?’ Jim asked, leaning forward as far as his raised plastered leg would allow.
‘Gorgeous,’ Elsie replied truthfully. ‘I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did, but I think I might go back there again. Daisy was mentioning I could go on a springtime trip there next year with her and André.’
‘I wonder if Lucas knows what he’s started?’
‘I wonder too. So come on, be honest, what’s happening with you two?’
Jim flushed and took Louise’s hand when she stood by his chair. ‘I think I might have stumbled across a very special lady, pardon the pun.’ They giggled together and Elsie was thrilled to see Jim looking so happy. Quite what Daisy and Guin – who were far harsher critics of their dad than she was – would make of his new girlfriend remained to be seen, but Elsie loved this new development in Jim’s life. After everything he had done for his daughters, a shot of happiness of his own was more than deserved. When Louise left the room, Jim patted the empty chair next to his and Elsie moved to his side.
‘Now talk to me, littlest one. How are you feeling?’
‘Odd, to be honest. I finished The List.’
Jim’s eyes blinked his understanding. ‘And now?’
Elsie took a deep breath. ‘Now, I don’t know. So much has changed during the past year and I feel as if I’m learning every day about what my life is going to look like. It’s immensely scary but I can’t help being fascinated by it, too. Lucas was right about me finding my own way forward; I’m still just working out how to do that.’
‘You
’ll do it, Elsinore. I know you will.’ He smiled in the direction of the kitchen, where Louise was busying herself to allow him time alone with his daughter. ‘Life rarely throws you a challenge you can’t find a way to handle. You just need to keep your mind open to consider the twists and turns ahead.’ He stroked her hair, the way he used to when she was a little girl, and Elsie was immediately soothed by it. ‘You are my fighter, darling, you always were. I wish for all the world that you hadn’t had to go through all you did with Lucas, but I can see you’re so much stronger for it. Right from when you were the tiniest toddler, you always worked out a way to do things. I used to joke with your mother that you were destined to be an inventor, a problem-solver. It was almost as if we could see your brain whirring. What I’m trying to say – in a very “your Dad”-like way – is that you’ll work this out. When the next step comes, you’ll find yourself taking it.’
Elsie wrapped her arms round her father. ‘Thanks, Dad. I love you.’
‘I love you too, my darling little one. Great things are a breath away.’
When Elsie arrived at Sundae & Cher next day, Cher greeted her at the door like a long-lost sister.
‘I can’t wait to hear all about Paris!’
Elsie laughed. ‘You will, I promise. Can I just make it through the door, please?’
Sheepishly, Cher stepped back and Elsie walked into the kitchen to hang up her bag. She was just tying on her apron when a familiar voice spoke behind her.
‘A-aangel.’
‘Woody! You nearly scared me half to death! Don’t let Cher find you back here, you know how she feels about café customers stepping behind the counter.’
‘I think for this one I might make an exception,’ Cher replied, as she walked into the kitchen and Woody slung a lazily affectionate arm round her shoulder. A smudge of flour was streaked across his cheek and, if Elsie didn’t know better, she could swear his self-satisfied smile bore smudges of what looked suspiciously like Cher’s favourite shade of lipstick …
When I Fall in Love Page 34