The Little Cafe in Copenhagen

by Julie Caplin

  ‘Oh God, I’ll pay for them,’ said Josh, still believing that he’d caused the spillage rather than being Avril’s unknowing patsy. Avril pursed her mouth as if she were considering his offer.

  It took me a second to realise that Avril had gaily stripped off the trousers, there and then in the café, revealing a pair of silk lavender micro-briefs. Mind you if I had tanned and toned thighs like hers and a bottom that pert and perfectly sculpted, I might have been tempted to do the same.

  I put my hand over my mouth to hold in the giggles that were threatening to erupt. They were all mad but so lovely and sweet, going to these lengths to make me look good.

  I thought Josh’s eyes were going to fall out of his head, although David and Conrad did take a second look too. Even Ben cracked his face to let a grin break through.

  Eva whisked them out of her hands and Avril stood there. ‘How am I going to get back to the hotel?’ She looked at me, her eyes pantomime wide.

  ‘Gosh. What. A. Terrible. Disaster,’ I said robotically, clamping my jaw tight so I wouldn’t break into laughter. I saw her bite back a smile, swallowing hard as I added, ‘I can’t begin to imagine what on earth to do.’

  Josh was frowning as if trying to come up with a solution. And I did feel sorry for him, he was absolutely clueless.

  ‘I could walk back to the hotel and go to your room and get you a pair,’ I suggested even as Avril was shaking her head vehemently. ‘Or maybe Josh could.’

  He looked suitably horrified. ‘I don’t think I’d be comfortable with that. It’s going to have to be you.’

  Avril was flashing messages at me with her eyes, raising her eyebrows.

  ‘But I can’t sit here in my knickers all that time,’ she put her hand on her chest in mock horror.

  Suddenly she was feeling modest?

  The atmosphere held all the tension of a tennis match with everyone anxiously waiting for the next volley. They all looked at me and then Avril, and then back again and Sophie was kicking me under the table.

  Ben rolled his eyes and I heard his impatient sigh. ‘You wouldn’t happen to still have those jeans that … were bought for you, when you ruined yours. The ones you were going to take back to H&M today.’

  The carefully placed words and avoidance of that I bought for you stung. No, they hurt. A lot. Buying the jeans had been a gesture full of innate kindness but also showed a thoughtfulness that I’d underestimated. Regret pinched at the loss of that brief bright connection between us.

  I’d done the right thing putting him off but it didn’t help. He was the sort of man you might be tempted to hang on to. Who might distract you from your purpose. I’d known the first time I’d met him that he might be more than I wanted. That gut instinct had been right.

  ‘Silly me. I’d forgotten all about those.’ I pulled the H&M bag out, which had magically worked its way to a spot under my chair and pulled out the three pairs of jeans with a hey presto flourish. ‘Kate saves the day.’

  ‘That’s amazing,’ said Avril grinning all over her face.

  Josh looked utterly bewildered. ‘You had those with you?’

  ‘Just call me Mary Poppins,’ I said gamely, after they’d been to all this trouble, I might as well capitalise on their ploys. ‘It’s always handy to carry a spare pair of jeans. You never know what might happen.’

  ‘What else have you got with you?’ asked Josh, looking genuinely impressed.

  ‘Plasters, painkillers, tweezers, Swiss army knife, spare pair of tights, matches, torch and emergency chocolate bars,’ I lied smoothly focusing on Josh, so I wouldn’t start giggling at Sophie hiding behind her napkin trying to hold in her laughter.

  Avril took all three pairs of jeans and disappeared with Eva to try them on.

  ‘Well done, Kate,’ said Josh. ‘Well done, indeed.’

  I sneaked a look over at Ben; he was stony faced looking at a point below my chin.

  Chapter 22

  ‘I need a large beer,’ said Josh as he fell into step next to me as we walked back to the hotel. ‘I take it all back. They are a nightmare group but well done for handling them.’

  No, they were six lovely people, who had rallied round and I loved them for it.

  ‘It’s a shame we have to go back out again tonight in this miserable weather. And why do we have to spend the last night at that bloody café? I’d have thought Lars would want to push the boat out as a final hurrah! That waitress seems a bit too familiar with everyone. And who put her in charge tonight? She was muttering about a surprise. The itinerary is all over the place. It’s not how I would have managed a press trip. This Lars bloke has some funny ideas.’

  I held my tongue.

  ‘And I’m not sure we want any more surprises after today.’ Josh looked gloomy.

  ‘No harm done.’

  ‘There could have been. I don’t know what we’d have done without you.’ He paused. ‘I owe you an apology. I’m sorry that I … that I … I was a bit of a shit to you really.’

  I shrugged. I was long over it.

  ‘So, no hard feelings?’

  I stopped and glared at him. He had to be kidding.

  Ditching Josh was easy. As soon as we arrived in the hotel foyer, like everyone else he was keen to go up to his room and warm up and dry off.

  ‘I need to speak to reception,’ I said. ‘See you all later. At seven in the foyer.’

  Conrad brushed several drops of water from his moustache, looking longingly beyond me.

  ‘Seven,’ I repeated, knowing that between now and then he could do some serious damage. ‘Go and warm up.’

  ‘Seven it is then,’ he said his moustache drooping around his mouth.

  Avril hooked her arm through his. ‘Come on Conrad, this way.’

  They all crowded into the lift and I immediately felt a sense of relief. Bless them, their hearts had been in the right place today but I felt exhausted after trying to second guess them constantly.

  I headed to reception and the girl behind the front desk was more helpful than I could have imagined and let me use the colour printer in her office. I had to pay for the privilege but I was delighted when I saw the colour photographs spilling out. And even though I didn’t want to brave the rain again, I knew it would be worth it. I just needed some photo frames for the pictures which Fiona had taken this morning. They would make perfect gifts for everyone in the group.

  Eva had been extremely busy. Once again, she’d rearranged the furniture and this time, created a small seating area containing some low-slung leather chairs arranged in a corner with a lamp creating a pool of light around them and next to them two wide grey sofas draped with pale throws and pastel cushions. On the shelves behind them, tea lights flickered in the coloured wine glasses, creating little kaleidoscopes of colour dancing on the walls.

  Beyond this, the tables had been pushed together to make one big square table beautifully laid out with the by now familiar blue and white Royal Copenhagen china. Silver cutlery sparkled among the crystal wine glasses. Varme had been transformed and now it felt as if we’d stepped into someone’s home. Eva’s home. By now I recognised some of her signature touches. The little pots of fresh flowers in the centre of the table in coloured glass jugs. The mix of china, plain and patterned that didn’t match but coordinated all tied in with the pretty floral napkins. A riot of colour and style that came together in one indisputable signature that was definitely Eva.

  ‘Oh, isn’t it gorgeous!’ Sophie clapped her hands as we all came to a standstill just through the door, the damp drizzly night immediately forgotten.

  We were greeted by Eva’s part-time waitress, Agneta, who offered us one of the traditional short-stemmed glasses with a measure of schnapps, to warm us up.

  ‘I vote a toast to Kate,’ said Avril. ‘Who has looked after us through thick and thin, with patience and good humour. I think if I were her I would have ditched us as soon as we got off the plane.’

  ‘Speak for yourself, Avril. I’d have
ditched you at passport control, lovie,’ said Conrad raising his glass.

  She lifted hers and chinked it against him. ‘You’re such a charmer, Conrad.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Eva, this is wonderful.’ Fiona waved, her windmill arms brushing the top of David’s head as Eva appeared from the kitchen, her face wreathed in smiles and her arm was linked with the arm of a tall man.

  ‘Be still my beating heart. Who’s the Viking stud muffin?’ drawled Avril.

  ‘Avril!’ squeaked Fiona. ‘Although I have to admit he is pretty tasty.’

  ‘Objectification ladies,’ said Ben.

  Josh jumped up, his face slightly strained at the unexpected arrival.

  ‘Lars.’ He swung across the room, holding out his hand. ‘Good to see you.’

  Lars’ eyes went over his shoulder to me, a question in them and somehow in a genius move of hidden diplomacy managed to side-line Josh’s outstretched hand by unhooking his mother from his arm and crossing behind to come over to me.

  ‘Kate, how are you? And how has the trip been?’ Twinkling blue eyes surveyed the group.

  ‘Lars, lovely to see you. Can I introduce you to everyone?’

  ‘Let me guess, my mother’s been telling me about you all.’

  She’d done rather a good job as he guessed everyone’s names correctly as he went around the table. And then he came to Josh who was hovering at his elbow.

  ‘Josh Delaney, from the agency.’

  Lars frowned. ‘I remember you but I didn’t realise that the agency was sending two people.’

  ‘I just came out for the last couple of days to offer support to Kate.’

  Eva laughed rather charmingly and patted Lars on the arm. ‘Kate? Support? Darling, she’s been absolutely vidunderlig. We’ve all had such a lovely time together.’

  Avril latched onto Lars as only she could, charming him at the outset. Josh loitered and grabbed me by the arm, frowning.

  ‘Why didn’t you warn me?’

  ‘Warn you? I didn’t know he was coming. I had no idea.’

  ‘I didn’t mean that. Why didn’t you tell me that she was his mother?’

  ‘Who, Eva?’ I thought back. It hadn’t been a deliberate omission. ‘I assumed you knew.’

  ‘Well duh yeah. You’ve made me look a right fool. I thought she was just a waitress.’

  A lump settled in my throat, I was going to miss Eva.

  ‘I’d like to thank you all for coming to Copenhagen,’ began Lars. ‘And I hope that you have enjoyed a taste of hygge and that you have a feeling for what it’s about.’

  ‘Not just candles and cashmere socks,’ jibed Avril.

  He grinned at her. ‘As you know very soon we will be opening Hjem, bringing hygge to London. I really wanted you all to understand what it’s about. That it’s as much an attitude to living as well as essential Danish style.’

  He pointed to a large intricate model at the back of the room and invited everyone to take a look.

  There were clear references to Illums Bolighus in the large atrium and the nooks and crannies of different areas in the store.

  There was a furniture section with lots of Danish style chairs and Conrad immediately craned his head over them. ‘The detail is phenomenal, Mr Wilder. And you’ll be selling all of these designs? My goodness this will become a destination for every furniture faculty in the country. I’d love to do a feature on this.’

  Fiona had whipped her camera out. ‘Can I use these pictures? On my blog?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Lars. ‘I’ve also included floor plans in the press packs, so that you can see all the details.’

  ‘We need to discuss embargoes,’ I chipped in, looking at Lars.

  ‘And what will go here?’ asked Avril pointing to an odd shaped empty room tucked away to the side of the building.

  ‘I’m talking to a florist about perhaps taking over the space,’ explained Lars. ‘But it’s proving difficult to source the sort of native flowers she wants to stock, so she may pull out.’

  Ben had wandered around the back of the model peering in the windows as if absorbing every detail. ‘Who did the model for you? Was it the architects?’

  ‘No, I had to find someone to build it for me. That was one of the hardest jobs. Finding a model builder.’ Ben’s grey-blue eyes sharpened, in a way that I now recognised they did when he was thinking through an idea. ‘I’d like to talk to you more about that sometime.’

  ‘It was important that the design comes alive and becomes a design statement in its own right.’

  ‘It is stunning,’ said David wandering around it like Ben.

  ‘And which architects designed the building?’ asked Ben up and running with his train of thought, ‘I’d be interested in talking to you about financing the project and what your plans are for the future. Can we fix up an interview when we get back to London?’

  There he was, the business journalist. It was the most animated I’d seen him in work mode. He was taking photos with his mobile and making quick scribbles in a slim notebook.

  He and Lars put their heads and mobiles together and a date was arranged for the next week. Ben had finally come good and it had nothing to do with me.

  Dinner was almost at an end and there was a definite party atmosphere. Lars opened another bottle of wine and no one seemed to be worried about the next morning’s early start.

  Avril and Sophie jumped up. ‘We’d like to say a few words.’ Sophie prodded Conrad in the ribs and he stood up too.

  For a minute, they nudged each other whispering. Clearly this wasn’t rehearsed.

  Avril cleared her throat and looked round. ‘This has been … oh gosh I’m getting a bit teary and I don’t do sentimental. I wanted to thank Eva, who has been amazing, looking after us, making us feel so welcome. I think we all agree Varme has become our little home from home while we’ve been here. And tonight it looks incredible. Thank you.’

  There was a rustle from under the table and Sophie pulled out a large bouquet of flowers which she handed to Conrad who trotted around the table to where she sat.

  ‘On behalf of us all, Eva, thank you. You have made this trip an absolute delight and I think all of us have gained so much from being here and knowing you.’

  He kissed her on both cheeks and presented her with the bound bunch of roses in soft pale pink which magically matched her cashmere sweater. She beamed, burying her nose in them.

  ‘It’s been a delight for me, getting to know you all. And you will always be most welcome to come back. I shall look forward to seeing you in London at the opening.’

  Everyone clapped.

  ‘And Mads. Well you have been fantastic. So easy going. I’ve been on some press trips where it’s … well it’s not much fun. This has not only been fun but also very rewarding and I think you have typified what makes the Danes happy. I think we’ve all learned a lot while we’ve been here.’ I could see why Avril was so good at her job.

  ‘We’ve got a little gift for you. A reminder.’

  They pulled out a little gift for him and when he opened it, everyone roared with laughter.

  ‘For someone who must have seen the Little Mermaid a thousand times and still managed to make it come alive for us,’ said Avril presenting him with one of the tourist plastic replicas of the little statue and then she turned to look at me.

  Oh God no, I ducked my head.

  ‘And Kate,’ said Sophie. ‘Stand up, Kate.’

  ‘Do I have to?’ I pleaded.

  ‘Yes. I think we all want to say thank you to you for making this such a great trip. You’ve been endlessly patient with us.’

  I had?

  ‘Kind,’ said Avril, her eyes softening as she looked at me.

  ‘Good natured.’ Sophie saying that was quite something. ‘Whenever there’s been a problem …’

  ‘And there have been a few,’ chipped in Conrad dryly with a self-deprecating roll of his eyes.

  ‘You’ve got on and fixed it. No
fuss, no bother. You’ve been enthusiastic. Helpful. And not the least bit pushy.’

  Did I imagine the quick glance at Josh?

  There was another rustle from under the table and Sophie pulled out an Illums Bolighus bag and gave me a big smile.

  My eyes prickled and I blinked hard, a fierce lump lodging in my throat that had me swallowing.

  She brought the bag around the table and gave me a hug, we held on to each other for a second. ‘Thanks Kate. You’ve been fab.’

  ‘I-I don’t know what to say. You shouldn’t have.’

  ‘Yes, we should,’ said Avril.

  Conscious of all eyes upon me I fought my way into a big bundle of tissue paper, worried about dropping it in front of them all. To be on the safe side, I put it on the table and peeled away the layers, like petals on a flower, to reveal the contents at the centre.

  ‘Oh,’ I looked at Sophie and bit my lip. ‘You shouldn’t have.’

  Inside sat not one but two of the gorgeous and ridiculously expensive china mugs, I’d lusted after because they were things of beauty. Now they also signified so much more and the wave of emotion almost mowed me down.

  ‘T-thanks guys. That’s so … so sweet of you.’ I took in a gulp of air. I was supposed to be professional and cool, but they’d reduced me to tears. ‘Like Conrad said, it’s been interesting at times. But brilliant too. You’ve all been lovely.’ I rallied feeling a bit of a fool but they were all nodding and smiling. ‘I love them and of course, they’ll go beautifully with my egg cup.’

  Eva whispered something to her son and he winked at me and lifted his glass in silent toast.

  ‘I have something for you too,’ I dug under the table and like Santa with his sack, I moved around the table distributing slim wrapped parcels to all the journalists, Eva and Mads. ‘Although Fiona gets most of the credit. Thanks Fi, for letting me have these.’

  The photo frames I’d bought a few hours earlier weren’t much but they framed the picture taken that morning in the café, capturing the sense of camaraderie perfectly.

  As they all unwrapped their parcels there were cries of approval followed by lots of hugs and kisses. No one but me noticed that Ben didn’t move from his seat, although I think I saw a brief smile touch his lips but I might have imagined it.