Yes Chef, No Chef

by Willis, Susan

  From tim.davies to katie.charles

  Hi Kate, Hope you are well and have plenty of work? I’m staying in Chambery in a budget hotel which is quaint, not at all practical, and very French! You would love it but personally I miss a good power shower in the morning.

  I’m so pleased we talked before I left for the trip and I’ll be eternally grateful you were prepared to listen to me. I know now it’s what I should have done the day after you walked out but I was in such a bad place.

  Anyway, I’ve met up with loads of suppliers & contacts and already have a bag full of flavours, spices, cheese and wine samples to bring home. I’ve been thinking of you at the meetings and wondered if I should bring some of the samples round for you to try when I get home?

  Yours, Tim

  PS. Hopefully you’ll be kneading some bread when I call around? I don’t know about you but I can’t stop thinking about that afternoon! XX

  To tim.davies from katie.charles

  Great to hear from you, pleased you’re enjoying yourself and yes, I’d love to see your samples when you get home. I do think of the afternoon we kneaded bread but when I’d upset you and you stormed off I spent the next few days in a state of turmoil and confusion? And then after our disastrous day working together and talking things through, to be honest I feel even more confused than ever? We’ve still got a lot to talk about because I need to be certain that you have changed and I also need to know exactly who this Julie is? But, on a positive note, it was lovely to talk on Saturday and enjoy a meal together like the old days - and I didn’t realise how much I’d missed it, And you!

  Yours, Kate XXX

  From tim.davies to katie.charles

  Julie was a dinner date in an effort to try and get you out of my head. We both ended up very drunk and yes we had a couple of passionate snogs. But the truth of the matter is that when we got back to her flat I was too drunk to actually perform (if you know what I mean). I still haven’t managed to get past that base with anyone else – you’re a hard act to follow!

  Have you?

  Yours, Tim. XX

  To tim.davies from katie.charles

  Well, I did get very close to it with a butcher who had enormous hands (it’s a long story) and my next door neighbour got a little steamy with me in his greenhouse when I was mesmerised by his courgettes and cucumbers but I decided having a fling with my next door neighbour was probably not the best idea I’d ever had. So the answer is no, I’m still

  Your, Kate XXXXX

  From tim.davies to katie.charles

  Aw, Kate. That’s just the best news I’ve had for ages. I’ve just had a glass of red wine and my eyes are drooping with tiredness. Can we talk some more tomorrow?

  Tim XXXXX

  To tim.davies from katie.charles

  Yes please, and you’ll see I’ve scanned the article from The Telegraph and attached it to this email. The review about your new recipes is fantastic, it says the restaurant offers first-class food and uses words like quintessentially British with extraordinarily elegant versions of jelly and custard – well done you!!

  Sweet dreams.

  Kate. X

  The news that he hadn’t been with Julie was better than she could have hoped for and she slept more soundly that night than she had done for weeks. She rang Lisa at work to tell her all the news and although Lisa was delighted she still urged caution. Katie also learned that loved-up Sarah had rang to say Simon was staying at her flat most nights but would meet them both for lunch on Saturday at the bistro with all her news.

  That night Katie emailed him first.

  To tim.davies from katie.charles

  Hey there. Hope you had a good night’s sleep and lay off that red wine! Look where it got you in the past and you know it’s not the answer. I was just hoping to carry on where we left off and was wondering how it seems easier to talk to each other in cyberspace rather than at home. Maybe it’s true that absence does make the heart grow stronger? When I woke up this morning and thought of what we’d said to each other and how close I feel to you again it’s hard to remember why the last few months actually happened. Why couldn’t we have just talked to each other?

  Yours, Kate. XX

  From tim.davies to katie.charles

  Em, it was only one glass with dinner and I can take it or leave it now. I know, it does seem easier on here, doesn’t it? Maybe it helps not being face to face and you know how tired emotional upheaval makes me feel – I slept for ten hours last Saturday when I left your place. Anyway, I just want to add that when you left me I was in total shock. You see, I’ve never been dumped since I was at university and it was a horrible feeling to be rejected like that again. I thought we were both in it for the long haul but you just up and walked out as though what we had was worthless. And, as I told you last Saturday I am truly sorry about the way I behaved towards you. So, I will admit I was definitely out of order and you had every reason to be pissed off with me.

  Your Tim XX

  To tim.davies from katie.charles

  Well, at least you’ve recognised there was a problem and you’re sorting yourself out now. And, as we are baring our souls, I have to say if I’d shown more interest in your job by coming to the restaurant I would have found out why you came home in such a foul temper every night. I should have tried to support and understand you rather than kick-off all the time. But on the Sunday when I walked out, I honestly thought you’d come after me and when you didn’t I reckoned you mustn’t have cared too much about us either – Ditto!

  Your Kate XX

  There was no answer to the last email that night and she resisted the urge to send another. She felt as though she’d said all she could now and although she knew now how sorry he was, she needed to know that he was still in love with her. Snuggling down under the covers she turned out her bedside lamp and longingly stroked the empty side of the bed wishing he was there and wrapped around her body.

  The next day she arrived in the bistro for lunch with Sarah and Lisa. Nearly every table was full as she wove her way through to their usual corner smiling at a large family gathered around a table laughing and shouting birthday wishes to an elderly relative.

  Sarah was taking off her coat and had her back to Katie when she approached the table. “Hey, stranger,” she said and Sarah swung around to face her. They hugged for longer than usual. “Wow, you look radiant!” Katie gushed grinning at her. It was the only word she could think of to describe the glow and happiness shining out of Sarah’s small face.

  Just as Katie was removing her jacket the strong distinctive aroma of Oscar de La Renta hit her and she knew Lisa was behind her.

  It was Lisa’s turn now to hold Sarah at arm’s length. Staring at her she cried, “Just look at you! He’s got to be Mr Right, then?”

  Sarah looked from Katie to Lisa and urged them to sit down. “Yep, Simon is the one. He’s definitely my Mr Right,” she said grinning. “And I couldn’t be happier. In fact, I’m so happy, that frankly, it scares me to death.”

  Katie squeezed her hand. “Oh love, don’t spoil it all by worrying. You’ve waited too long to find him.”

  “I know, but nobody gets to be this happy and for it to last, do they?” she asked with a frown creasing her forehead. “I mean, look at you and Tim. There wasn’t a better couple more suited and in love with each other than you guys were and look what happened?”

  Lisa snorted lightly grinning at Sarah. “Oh, but you’re not the only one with news. Is she, Katie?”

  Katie beamed at them and brought Sarah up to date with the emails they’d exchanged and how she had high hopes that they were going to make another go of it.

  Sarah practically squealed with delight. “Oooh, Katie, how great is that? You must be over the bloody moon!”

  “Well, its early days but at least we’re talking and he sounds as though he can’t wait to see me when he gets home. But I’m following Lisa’s advice and taking it slowly.”

  Lisa blushed slightly and Sarah
teased her. “Well now, Lisa giving advice about love and relationships, that’s got to be a first.”

  They all laughed and ordered lunch while Sarah told them how Simon’s lease on his flat was coming to an end and instead of looking for another she’d asked him to move in with her.

  Lisa put her knife and fork together on her plate and looked seriously at Sarah. “Er, I really don’t want to be the one to burst your balloon, love, but please be sensible about this. I know he’s Mr Right and all but please think about drawing up an agreement before he moves in. If, heaven forbid, he doesn’t turn out to be your knight in a shining T-shirt I’d hate to see you out of pocket on top of everything else. We single girls have to take precautions in all our areas,” she said.

  Katie tittered and Sarah smiled. “It’s ok. He’s already had one done and it was at his insistence not mine.”

  “Jeez, Sarah, I love him already!” Lisa gushed. “And when do we get to vet, I mean, meet Mr Right?”

  Sarah shook her head slightly in mock disapproval but the corners of her mouth were twitching in amusement. “Well, I’m one ahead of you on this one. I’m going to throw a ‘come meet my friends and family party’ for him next week. But there again, after hearing Katie’s news I might change it to the weekend after and then if Tim is back he can come too.”

  Katie smiled, nodded her agreement and offered to bake a cake while Lisa produced her filofax and pen and they threw themselves into planning the party.

  From katie.charles to tim.davies

  Hey, no answer to last night’s email? Are we still ok? I have an invite for you to Sarah’s party…..

  Your Kate. X

  From tim.davies to katie.charles

  Sorry, darling. Lost my signal in the hotel last night because there was a freak thunderstorm and I was just booting up the lap top now to see if I could get it working and if not I was going to ring you. I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid? I mean, just giving up on what we had together – I must have been crazy. All I can say is letting you go was the biggest mistake of my life. Nothing was the same when you’d gone and everything in my life was upside down and the worst thing was I didn’t know how to get it back onto an even keel again until I’d confronted my demons. I’ve missed you so much - there’s no one comes close to you, Kate, and whether you decide to forgive me or not, which I probably don’t deserve, I will always love you…….

  Your Tim. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  Katie gaped at the words she’d been longing to see and sat back in the chair. Oh, thank you, God, she cried with tears of relief running down her cheeks. She knew without a moment’s hesitation she was going to give him another chance.

  From katie.charles to tim.davies

  Oh Tim, it’s already forgiven and if you want to give us another chance you’ve just made me the happiest girl in London tonight (well, next to Sarah, of course). But you do need to know if that arrogant, selfish prat you’d become shows his ugly face again - I’ll be off like a shot. However, I am still in love with you, so let’s put it all behind us now and start afresh. After my embarrassing escapade in the greenhouse last week with Sam I came to the decision that although I could, and did fancy other men I really don’t want to make love to anyone else but you. And I agree, what we had (or hopefully still have) is simply the best and is definitely worth one more try. When will you be home?

  Your Kate

  PS. I LOVE YOU!! (It feels so good to be saying that again).

  From then onwards their emails became light hearted, optimistic, and very passionate. And just before he was due to leave France, one night she wondered if it was possible to have cyber-sex? Because as the emails had gone ping-pong back and forward across the channel, they’d practically talked each other through the motions of making love and she’d hardly slept a wink with frustration.

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Two days later, Tim told her he was taking the Eurostar home which would arrive at St Pancras on Friday at 7pm, and she’d agreed to meet him on the upper concourse at The Meeting Place, a 9 metre high bronze of a couple locked in an intimate pose by the sculptor Paul Day. The couple stands under the famous St Pancras clock at the apex of the Barlow shed and when she’d told Sarah where they were meeting she’d crooned with the romance of it all.

  He’d also suggested that they could have supper somewhere and maybe stay overnight in the new five-star St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. He’d found it on the internet where it claimed that after years of devoted restoration, it was now being hailed as the city's most romantic Victorian building and that they would stay in a world where modern amenities mingle with the extravagance of rail's golden age.

  Katie had giggled with excitement when she’d read the email but knew she didn’t care where they stayed as long as she was with him again. He’d ended the email with sexual innuendos about what he couldn’t wait to do to her and she’d decided on a major plan of preparation which involved the beauty salon, hairdressers, retail therapy, and of course, Lisa.

  “I have to look gorgeous and sexy,” she said to Lisa as they hit the boutiques on Kensington High Street. “I hope you don’t get into trouble for ducking out of work this afternoon?”

  It had rained all night and they both side-stepped the puddles on the pavement. “Tsk, I’m the boss, I’m allowed to bunk off,” she said indifferently. Lisa had always been nonchalant about her work in PR but one of her colleagues on the Thames boat had told Katie she was fantastic at her job and could virtually pick and choose who she worked for now, which Katie thought was awesome.

  Three hours and numerous changing rooms later, Katie was on the verge of giving up when Lisa dragged her into a small boutique off the high street.

  “If we can’t find anything in here I’m throwing the towel in!” she cried in exasperation.

  A young sales assistant picked out a beige dress and held it up against Katie. “If I had a nice boyfriend this is what I’d wear on a date,” she simpered. “It doesn’t look much on the hanger but…”

  Lisa took it from her, gave the dress to Katie and pushed her into the changing room. “Go!” she said plopping down onto a chair.

  The assistant returned with shoes, bag and a belt which Lisa slid under the door of the changing room.

  Katie pushed her arms through the beige, silk, wraparound dress which draped seductively across her full breasts, fastened the wide gold belt around her small waist, slipped her feet into the gold sling backs, picked up the matching gold clutch bag and emerged from the changing room to stand in front of Lisa and the assistant.

  “Fab-u-lous!” Lisa exclaimed, “If that doesn’t get you guys kneading bread again, nothing will.”

  The assistant looked puzzled. “Private joke,” Katie whispered, admiring herself in the full length mirror.

  Giggling, they left the shop and went to Harrods where Katie bought a cream silk bra and panties, and then headed into the beauty salon to be waxed, plucked, and moisturised.

  “All I have left to do now is have my hair cut tomorrow morning and I’ll be ready to meet him,” Katie said feeling her stomach do a triple somersault.

  “Nervous?” Lisa asked as she pulled up outside Katie’s flat.

  “Christ, Lisa, every time I think of it my stomach churns with excitement and I think I’m going to be sick! How I’m going to get through tonight I just don’t know,” she groaned.

  Lisa giggled and squeezed her arm reassuringly. “Ok, let’s crack open a bottle of wine, purely for medicinal purposes of course,” she said climbing out of the car.

  It was a balmy spring evening and because the flat seemed stuffy, Katie suggested they sit in the garden with their wine. Feeling peckish, she put some nibbles onto a tray, uncorked the bottle of wine and with two glasses headed out to find Lisa sitting on the small wall between her and Sam’s garden. Her long legs swung gracefully from the short dress she wore which fluttered in the breeze and she had a genuine coy expression on her face that Katie had never seen before. Sam was prac
tically dancing in attendance around her and making her giggle while demurely, she girlishly twirled a strand of hair around her little finger.

  Unless Katie was very much mistaken there were sparks flying between these two.

  “Hey Sam. How’s it going in the world of courgettes and cucumbers?” Katie asked laughing. “Can you manage a glass of wine?”

  Sam gave her his cheeky-chappy grin. “Lovely, just pour me a little in here,” he said, raising an empty coffee mug.

  Katie poured the wine, handed a glass to Lisa and plonked down on the grass next to them both. They idly chatted about the warm weather so early in the year and how she’d loved his vegetable box and then discussed her plans to landscape the garden next year.

  They all heard her landline ringing from the kitchen and excusing herself, she hurried inside knowing Lisa was in safe hands with Sam. While chatting to her mum she looked out of the window and saw Sam lean towards Lisa and play with the spaghetti straps on her dress while lightly caressing her shoulder. From what she could see this intimate gesture was welcomed by Lisa and Katie quivered with excitement knowing how perfect Sam would be for her. Ending the call and heading back outside, she wondered if Sam could cook as well as grow vegetables.

  Her question was answered when Lisa said softly, “Sam has offered to cook dinner for us Katie, isn’t that lovely?”

  Making a quick decision she declined the offer, feigning a work project to finish but encouraged Lisa to go and enjoy herself. And as there were no protests she figured they were both more than happy to be alone. She gave Lisa an encouraging wink and watched Sam help swing her legs over the wall onto his side of the garden and stroll with her into his kitchen.

  Later that night when she pulled down the blind at her bedroom window she noticed Lisa’s car still parked outside. Hmm, things must be going very well she thought, if Lisa has decided to stay over. The street lamp was directly outside her bedroom window therefore the room was never in complete darkness which she loved, because getting used to sleeping alone again hadn’t been easy. At first lying alone in her bed had brought images and stories of burglaries and attacks on women to the forefront of her mind - whereas when she’d slept wrapped around Tim every night the thought had never entered her head. She climbed into bed, pulled the quilt up under her chin and hugged herself in excited anticipation knowing this time tomorrow night she would indeed be wrapped around Tim’s body and every nerve she possessed tingled in all the right places.