by Julie Caplin
Nina busied herself making coffee so that her face was hidden. Maddie was far too perceptive and persistent.
‘I ought to take him a drink.’ With that she fled back to the kitchen with one of the strawberry tarts and a cup of coffee.
Her soft-soled trainers, chosen deliberately to weather whatever today threw at her, concealed her return when she descended the small flight of steps into the kitchen. Sebastian had his head thrown back, his eyes closed and his lips pinched tightly.
‘I brought you coffee,’ said Nina quietly, not wanting to startle him. ‘Would you like a glass of water as well?’
He nodded, pain etched into the lines around his mouth and then gave her a wry smile. ‘Yes, Nurse Nina.’
She looked at her watch. ‘By my reckoning, you could probably do with another pain killer right about now.’
‘There are still nine minutes and thirty-six seconds,’ said Sebastian looking at his watch.
‘I’m sure the pain relief fairies will give you a bit of leeway,’ said Nina.
Sebastian’s mouth crinkled as if he might just smile. ‘Pain relief fairies?’
‘Not heard of them?’ Something made her give him a cheeky wink as she handed over his coffee. ‘I’m not sure if you still take sugar or not. I put one in. And yes, there are guardian angels of people with nasty breaks in their legs.’
‘Guardian angels as well? Who knew? And who said it was a nasty break?’ He took a hesitant sip of coffee. ‘And yes, I’ve never managed to kick the sugar habit. On a really bad day I take two.’
‘Alex mentioned you’d had surgery.’ She ignored the sugar comment, wishing she’d not brought it up. It brought back memories of her rushing to make him and Nick coffee when they were round at the house in her desperate attempts to get him to notice her. God, she’d been so obvious back then, it was embarrassing.
‘Telling you everything, is he? Yeah, who knew that one innocent cabin bag could do so much damage? They put a plate and a few screws in.’
Nina winced. She wasn’t normally that squeamish; with four rugby-playing brothers she’d seen her fair share of dislocated thumbs, black eyes, split lips and broken ribs but nothing that involved internal metal work. It seemed horribly unnatural and very painful. Worse still was the thought of being in hospital all by yourself with no family support.
‘How long were you in hospital for?’
‘Five days. They didn’t want to let me out until I said I could stay with Alex.’
‘Stay with Alex? That’s a rather elastic use of the term stay with.’
‘I hate hospitals. I was desperate to get out.’
‘Even though it probably would have been better for you?’
Sebastian’s face darkened. ‘You know how much time my mum spent in them. Visiting her was … you know. Not the best. I … I have a real…’ He checked himself as if he’d given too much away.
‘I don’t blame you,’ said Nina quickly, patting his arm. His mother’s chronic illness and father’s business interests had meant that Sebastian virtually lived at her house from the age of fourteen until he went away to university. Hospitals and the constant threat of death hanging over him couldn’t have been good companions for a teenage boy.
‘How is your mother?’
‘As well as she’s ever going to be. She has to carry an oxygen cylinder with her everywhere, but she doesn’t complain.’
‘And your dad?’
He shrugged and took a long slug of coffee and closed his eyes again. ‘Just what the doctor ordered. Thanks, Nina.’ With a nod, he gave her a rueful, genuine smile that hit the jackpot. Like an arrow zeroing in right on bullseye, it made her feel … well, just wonderful. It was as if he’d been himself without worrying about encouraging her or trying to keep her at a distance. For the first time in forever, she felt like his equal, a work colleague, a friend. No sides or hidden nuances to worry about.
‘No problem.’ She turned. ‘I’ll just clean this lot up.’
‘Thanks. Sorry. I didn’t really think this through. I should have got more help. I forgot about the washing up and that side of things. I was so focused on preparing, I overlooked the practicalities.’
‘I’m sure I can manage. Besides—’ she looked over her shoulder at him ‘—we could always rope Marcel in.’
Sebastian snorted. ‘You think?’
‘No,’ she said, trying to keep a straight face.
Together they burst out laughing.
With a heavy sigh, Sebastian shook his head. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with him. Once the bistro is up and running, I’m not sure what he can do. He’s far too superior to be a waiter.’
‘Couldn’t he be mậitre d’?’
‘Marcel? I don’t think being a glorified manager of a patisserie quite qualifies him.’
Nina frowned. ‘You do know he worked at the Savoy?’
‘What, Marcel?’
‘Yes. He was mậitre d’ there.’
‘You’re kidding.’ Now it was Sebastian’s turn to frown. ‘Why didn’t I know that?’
Nina refrained from rolling her eyes, instead she shrugged.
‘So what’s he doing here then?’
‘I’ve no idea, but he certainly knows how to look after customers.’
Sebastian’s lips clamped together, scepticism written large on his face.
‘I’m serious. You should see him out there, buzzing around like a mother hen. He absolutely dotes on Marguerite.’
Sebastian lapsed into thought and Nina carried on with the washing up. It was easy work and she flashed through the dirty bowls, whisks and pans as the others began to troop back in.
Chapter 12
Nina caught the muttered groan as Sebastian sat down on his stool. The second part of the day had been much busier as Sebastian taught everyone how to make crème pâtissière with varying degrees of success. Only Marguerite had managed to get a truly smooth, creamy finish. Bill’s wasn’t bad and Jane’s had a few stray lumps in, but Maddie and Peter were in competition to see whose most resembled scrambled egg.
‘Don’t worry,’ Sebastian had said as the day came to a close, ‘Patisserie is all about timing and chemistry. Today is only the first day. And as they say, patisserie wasn’t built in a day.’
Nina’s lips quirked at the image of Maddie, Peter and Bill all groaning in unison while Marguerite had exchanged a wry smile with Jane when she gave a gentle tut. Sebastian had been very good with all of them but he must be exhausted. He’d been on his feet for too long.
‘Why don’t you order the taxi now?’ she asked gently, conscious that he was probably about ready for another painkiller.
‘Because there’s still a lot to do,’ said Sebastian, eying the untidy room, his lips clamped in a pinched line.
‘It’s just a bit of washing up. And I can always come back tomorrow and give the place a thorough clean.’ She shot him a quick look trying to gauge his mood. ‘And I thought if you didn’t mind I could practise making choux pastry again and improve my piping skills.’
He shrugged. ‘Fine by me, if that’s what you want to do.’ He looked utterly disinterested and rose to scoop up one of the dirty mixing bowls, wincing as he tried to manage with one crutch.
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake. Leave it, I’ll tidy up.’ Was the man trying to prove he was superhuman or something? ‘You need to get some more painkillers down you and put that leg up.’
He dropped the bowl with a clatter and glared at her but then at the sight of her face, nodded. ‘Yes, nurse.’
As he’d capitulated just a tad too easily, she refrained from adding, ‘Glad to hear it.’ Clearly he was in more pain than he was prepared to let on.
Only once Sebastian had limped out to his taxi, his laptop bag swinging from his neck, (his choice, it was easier, he said) looking like a St Bernard with an overlarge brandy barrel, did Nina stop and slump onto one of the stools. Bloody Sebastian. Why couldn’t he bloody follow doctor’s orders?
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nbsp; Holy moly, the kitchen looked like an icing sugar tornado had swept through. Despite her sensible trainers, her feet throbbed and the mountain of washing up facing her made her feel distinctly like Cinderella. Wearily she rose to her feet, deciding that if she could just get all the benches wiped down and clean and make a start on the washing up, she could come back tomorrow morning and finish up and wash the sticky patches from the floor.
‘There you are, Nina.’ Maddie popped her head through the door. ‘Come and sit down for a minute. Have a coffee. You bloody deserve one. And you can judge who made the best éclairs.’
‘I can’t do that,’ said Nina, with pretend horror on her face.
‘Course you can,’ said Maddie. ‘Come on.’
Casting a brief look at the washing up, Nina peeled off her apron, a nasty plastic thing that Sebastian had handed out to everyone at the beginning of the class, and dumped it in the nearest bin before following Maddie.
As she appeared there was a rousing cheer.
‘Well done today, Nina,’ yelled Bill above the noise. ‘You worked like stink. You’re a proper little trooper. I’d have you in my unit any day.’
She turned pink with pleasure.
They were all sitting around two tables which had been pulled together. Maddie and Bill around one, Peter, Jane and Marguerite around the other.
‘You’ve been wonderful,’ said Marguerite, patting the empty chair next to her. ‘Come sit down. You deserve a coffee and a rest.’
‘She certainly does, although she could probably use a proper drink, I’m not sure coffee fits the bill,’ said Peter, draining his cup.
‘Not much fits me,’ said Bill, laughing across the table at Peter, patting the belly overhanging his trousers.
‘That’s an excellent idea, Peter,’ said Marguerite. ‘Marcel. Champagne, please.’
‘Champagne?’ Maddie looked worried. ‘Not on my student grant.’
‘Don’t worry, dear. This is on me. Marcel always keeps a couple of bottles for me.’
In a flash Marcel had rustled up a tray of flutes and was carrying them over to the table, along with a gold-foil-topped bottle.
‘This is very kind of you, Marguerite, I adore champagne,’ said Jane with her quiet smile.
‘She certainly does,’ said Peter, giving her a quick hug. ‘Would bathe in the stuff, given half a chance.’
Jane laughed. ‘That would be expensive.’
‘And you’d be worth every penny.’ He winked at her.
‘Oh, you.’ She squeezed his knee.
Marguerite smiled at them. ‘And I think the first toast should go to our newlyweds. It’s a joy to see.’
Marcel undid the wire, popped the cork and poured the champagne, without spilling a drop or any of the liquid fizzing over the top of the glasses. With effortless efficiency, he’d poured seven glasses and served them up as Nina took her place at the table.
‘To Peter and Jane,’ said Marguerite. ‘May you have as long and happy a marriage as I did to my husband, Henri.’ Everyone raised their glasses. ‘And to Nina for being such a wonderful hostess today and working so hard.’
‘Hear, hear,’ said Bill.
‘It really has been a lovely day,’ said Jane, leaning into her husband. ‘And Peter can now make me profiteroles every day for the rest of my life.’
Maddie looked a little disconsolate and let out a big, gusty sigh.
‘Don’t worry, pet,’ Bill patted her on the arm. ‘Sebastian said that we’ll be making choux pastry plenty of times over the next few weeks.’
‘But it was … horrible.’ She peered inside her box. ‘These are…’ She shrugged her shoulders, a chagrined expressed on her face. ‘… Like zombie éclairs. I think my new motto might be “cooking into the apocalypse, food for those beyond all hope.”’
‘You’ll improve,’ said Nina. ‘Just think, in seven weeks’ time, how much better you’ll be.’
‘Hmm, is that a herd of rainbow unicorns I see prancing along the horizon?’ asked Maddie with one last despairing look at her éclairs.
Eventually everyone started to drift off. Jane volunteered to escort Marguerite down the street as it was on their way and Peter and Bill, who rather bizarrely had discovered a mutual love of ice hockey, decided to go for a beer together and watch an international game between Canada and Russia.
‘Right then,’ said Maddie rolling up her sleeves. ‘Better get cracking on with the washing up then.’
Nina looked at her horrified. ‘You can’t do that. You’re a paying customer.
‘Don’t be daft. I can’t leave you here with that lot.’
‘I’m being paid.’
Maddie shrugged. ‘And?’
The light was starting to fade with appropriate timing as Nina dried the very last bowl. With Maddie’s help, they’d laughed and joked their way through washing up sticky bowls, cream-covered whisks and chocolate-smeared knives.
‘I can’t believe how much fun today was,’ said Maddie, reaching for the last bowl.
‘It was rather lovely.’ Nina couldn’t believe how well the disparate group had gelled. They were already on their way to being firm friends after only one day.
‘I loved how Marguerite took Jane under her wing. They’re both so kind.’
‘I loved how you and Bill were so competitive!’ laughed Nina. ‘And how Marguerite was so refined … even when she swore. Haven’t you got a home to go to?’ she asked with a smile as Maddie picked up the broom and started sweeping the floor. She was already looking forward to putting her feet up and vegging out on Sebastian’s large sofa, although it would have been nice to know that tomorrow she had something to do. She still hadn’t plucked up the courage to go exploring the city on her own.
‘Not really.’ Maddie sighed and began brushing the floor with energetic sweeps of the broom.
‘Oh,’ said Nina, a bit nonplussed.
‘Well I have but … I applied late, so I’m in a studio apartment on my own.’ The broom clanked noisily against the steel leg of one of the benches. ‘Turns out I’m not built for solitude.’
She glanced up and gave Nina an unhappy look. ‘Listen to me. I should be grateful. It’s just that everyone else in the block is in a flat of six. You’d have thought after sharing a room with my sister for ever and tripping over my brothers’ crap all the time, I’d enjoy the novelty.’ She pulled a face. ‘Who’d have thought I’d miss… putting the kettle on and knowing someone will join me for a cuppa, those signs of habitation, a coat on the post in the hall, falling over Brendan’s shoes, Mum’s shopping bag hanging up and Theresa’s make-up scattered in every room in the house. When no one’s home, I know one them could walk through the door at any minute. I miss that.’ She screwed up her face and took in a funny breathy sob.
‘Now, when I shut the studio door, I know that’s it, until I go out again the next day. It gives me an achey feeling. You know kind of unsettled, a waiting for nothing sensation.’ She perched her chin on top of the broom, blinking furiously. ‘Pathetic eh? Today’s been one of the best days since I came to Paris.’
‘Oh, Maddie.’ Nina dropped her tea towel and crossed the room to give the other girl a hug.
‘Bloody stupid, eh,’ muttered Maddie against the top of her head.
Nina gave her a squeeze and looked up – Maddie topped her by a good few inches. ‘No, not at all. Being lonely is horrible. You don’t need to apologise for it.’
‘Yeah, but you came here on your own. You’re managing.’
‘Ha! That’s what you think.’ Nina knew she could confess to the other girl and not be laughed at. ‘I’ve been watching far too much Netflix.’
‘You can never watch too much Netflix,’ said Maddie staunchly.
‘You can if you’ve binge watched the first three seasons of Once Upon a Time.’
‘Yikes … aren’t there like twenty-two gazillion episodes a season?’
‘Not far short.’
‘Girl, you so need to get out.�
� Maddie hopped up and sat on the clean bench, which less than half an hour ago had been covered in flour.
Nina covered her cheeks with her hands and pulled a rueful face. ‘Yeah, I do, don’t I? Can I blame it on the weather?’
‘No, although it has been crap. Paris in the springtime my arse. But I don’t blame you. You miss your family?’
‘Ha! You have to be joking.’ Nina rolled her eyes. ‘They never leave me alone. If I don’t check in on the hour every hour, they start threatening to alert Interpol. They’re a flipping nightmare.’
Maddie gave a snuffly half-laugh as she swung her legs backwards and forwards. ‘Families, eh? Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.’
‘I could live without mine, believe me,’ said Nina grimly. ‘They love to interfere. I thought coming to Paris might give me a bit of space.’
‘Whereas my lot are probably high-fiving each other on a daily basis, glad I’m not around giving them grief about not doing their homework, not helping Mum enough and not leaving their flipping shoes where everyone can trip over them.’
‘I take it the shoe thing is a problem,’ teased Nina in response to Maddie’s exaggerated exasperation.
Maddie rolled her eyes. ‘I swear, Brendan is flaming Imelda Marcos mark two. That boy is definitely in touch with his feminine side. He’s got more pairs of trainers than JD Sports.’
‘Oh, God,’ said Nina with feeling, thinking of her brothers and sweaty sports kit. ‘I hope they don’t smell as bad as the twins’ trainers. You needed a face mask to go in their room.’
Together, they smiled. ‘Thanks, Nina. You’ve cheered me up.’
‘Tell you what. Why don’t we meet up one day in the week, if you’ve not got lectures? I’ve barely seen anything of Paris.’
‘All that Once Upon a Time, how will you tear yourself away?’
‘I’ll survive.’
‘OK. But it’ll have to be next week. I’ve got an essay to hand in and I haven’t even started yet. Where do you fancy going? Mona Lisa at the Louvre? Which is totally mad. Train spotting at Gare du Nord? Impressionist hunting at the Musée d’Orsay? Huge. Serious perfume shopping at Galeries Lafayette? Awesome roof by the way. Notre Dame? Nice. Les Invalides? Interesting. Or just drinking red wine in a bar all afternoon?’ Maddie’s eagerness had Nina laughing again.