by Helen Spring
She laughed again. ‘And neither would I. But when we have our chain of first class restaurants...’
‘I’ve told you I’m not sure about that...’
‘Well I am. Why do you think I’ve been working so hard all this time, picking up tips from the best Chefs in town? I am teaching young Jenny McCormack all I know, she’s really good Clancy, and will be ready for responsibility before too long. And as for society, when we have our chain of first class restaurants, we shall make our own society.’
Clancy sighed. ‘You and your big ideas. I didn’t know I married such an ambitious woman.’
‘You did.’
He looked at her and then laughed. ‘Yes, I suppose I did.’ He crossed to the drinks table and poured himself a whisky. ‘You want a drink?’
‘No thank you.’
Clancy sat down in the large armchair opposite. He sipped his drink and regarded her gravely. ‘These big ideas of yours. If I agree...’
‘Oh Clancy!’
‘I said if I agree... it has to be on a proper footing.’
‘Of course...’
‘You say “of course” but you don’t even know what I’m talking about,’ Clancy said hotly.
She waited for him to explain, and at length he said in a conciliatory manner, ‘Anna, we don’t have the knowledge, enough business expertise... to take on something of this kind.’
‘But we do! Clancy we do! I have the most wonderful food planned...’
‘There you go again, I’m not talking about food!’ Clancy was becoming impatient, ‘I’m talking about business.’
‘But we are running our business very successfully...’ she protested.
‘Yes,’ Clancy agreed, ‘But as much by luck as good judgement. The bank has been very helpful but the more I learn the more I realise how ignorant I am, so I do.’
Anna was quiet now, she could always tell when Clancy had something on his mind. He smiled sheepishly and then continued, ‘I was going to talk to you about this anyway, but now, if you insist on these plans, it’s even more urgent...’
‘What is?’
‘Anna, I want to go to College.’
‘College? Whatever for?’ She looked dumbfounded.
‘A Commercial degree. I don’t think I could get into Colombia but there are other...’
‘But whatever for?’ Anna asked again.
‘Because Anna, if we are going to have a really successful business we must know what we are doing! You understand the practical side, the meals and training our staff on the sites. You always were a born organiser. But I have to deal with the business accounts, and there is so much to know! Not only the ookkeeping and profit and loss account, but the various taxes and the regulations and...’
‘But surely we can employ an accountant?’
‘Yes, and then we have to believe everything he says! When I had that meeting at the bank last week I didn’t understand half of what was going on!’ Clancy said vehemently. ‘Anna, if anyone wanted to cheat us we would be fair game.’
She frowned. ‘I never thought of it like that. I see what you mean, but... does it have to be you?’
‘Yes. I have to be involved, understand the business side in the same way that you understand the kitchens. You know instantly if someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.’
She looked at him intently, he was getting through. He pressed his point. ‘At the moment they could tell us anything.’
‘Yes, I see.’
Clancy remained quiet, letting the idea sink in. At length she looked up. ‘If you went to College, would it mean a delay in opening the restaurants?’
‘Yes, but we can go on expanding in the business we already have, we know what we are doing by now. The new delicatessen is going well...’
‘Yes, with Joe Kowalski’s help.’ Anna smiled. ‘That was a good move. I’m glad he agreed to work for us. But what I dream of is a chain of really top class restaurants...’
‘I understand that, and I want it to happen one day. But that kind of venture will involve much more risk. It will cost a fortune to launch each restaurant, that is if you want to attract real society people.’ He leaned forward in the big chair. ‘We have to be much more financially secure before we do it, darlin’. And we need to know more. If some cheapskate gangster tries to move in on us I want to know more than he does...’
‘What do you mean? We’ve never had any trouble’
‘Not so far, most of the canteen sites are out of town. But things could change, and the delicatessens may be different,’ Clancy said grimly.
‘But what could they do?’,
‘Bribe our accountant to hive off some of our profits, that’s what! ‘
‘Oh!’
‘That’s only one of the reasons I need to learn more.’ Clancy said. ‘I don’t want to alarm you, but we are not in Sandley Heath now. Most of the small businesses in town pay protection money to the mob. I didn’t tell you but it was the main reason Joe Kowalski agreed to join us. He was frightened and didn’t want the responsibility of being the boss any longer.’
‘Oh Clancy, poor Joe!’ Anna was upset. ‘But the newspapers said last year that Johnny Torrio had moved to Chicago.’
‘He has, but he has left someone to run his rackets here. A man called Capone.’
‘I’ve never heard of him,’ Anna said doubtfully.
‘Perhaps not,’ Clancy replied. ‘He may not be so well known but he has been a friend of Torrio’s for years. Things will not get any better, you can be sure of that. We need to be big Anna, really big, to stand a chance.’
Anna sighed. ‘I know you’re right Clancy. But how long? How long before we have our chain of restaurants?’
Clancy laughed. ‘How can I know? It will take as long as it takes. Three years perhaps for me to be qualified. By then James will be old enough for school, and with luck we shall have a larger chain of canteens, which Lee Sung can continue to run, with Joe running the chain of delicatessens. You will have extra time to train Jenny for the restaurants, and we should be in a very healthy position.’
‘Yes.’ He sensed her disappointment, but her eyes were bright as she began to laugh. ‘Have you thought Clancy, we are still making chains?’
‘Yes,’ he smiled, ‘But these kind pay better. And talking of chains, that reminds me. I increased the monthly bank order to Will and the family, as you wanted.’ He finished his whisky. ‘What’s for dinner? I suppose it’s something exotic again?’
‘Of course. You are my recipe tester.’
Anna crossed to Clancy and kissed him gently. ‘I shall enjoy having a top businessman for a husband,’ she said.
He put his arm around her. ‘And I enjoy having a good cook for a wife,’ he rejoined. ‘Mind you, I do have one complaint about the food.’
Her eyes widened. ‘A complaint?’
‘Yes. I wish, just once in a while, you would make us a good bread pudding.’
~
The Chef from the Plaza had handed over the recipe like a lamb, Anna reflected happily. She had been right about the ingredients, but it was good of him to give her the tip about the bouillon. It had been a good evening, and for all his misgivings Clancy had enjoyed it as much as she had. She glanced across to where her husband lay, deep in slumber. I'm not surprised you can sleep like that, Anna thought, you surpassed yourself tonight. She turned into him and gazed closely at his face. He looked very young and vulnerable when he was asleep, and for some unaccountable reason she suddenly felt like weeping. She drew in her breath and considered him, still a handsome man, a little more flesh on the bones perhaps. His features had a chiselled look, and the thick dark eyelashes which had inspired so many comments from the girls at the chainshop were still long against his cheeks. Not fair for a man to have such eyes, Anna thought. Irish eyes, her mother had called them, and the look she had seen in those eyes tonight had told her how much he still loved her. He was a passionate man, she thought tenderly, so passionate and so gentle
. She had stopped feeling guilty about making love with Clancy long ago. You couldn't help yourself, she thought tenderly, there was something about Clancy that made it easy to make love, and she had enjoyed it tonight as much as he had.
Then why couldn't she sleep? Why was her mind going around in circles? She suddenly realised she had felt uneasy for days, since Lottie had made that remark about James being just like his Pa.
James was not like his Pa. Anna had searched the boy's features for a look of Robert, but apart from the blonde hair there was nothing. James was more like her family, and if anything looked rather like Billy when he was small.
Just like his Pa. A sudden image of Robert came to her, fair and smiling, as he flicked the hair from his eyes with a quick shake of the head. In an instant they were in the hayloft at La Maison Blanche, making love with wild abandon in the sweet scented hay. She remembered with a pang of delicious pain the little hollow on the cliffs above the beach at Locquirec, and suddenly it all was back, the feeling of freedom, the generous liberality of France, the exuberant joy and the terrible anguish. The rushing remembrance enveloped her, and rolled back the last three years as if they had never been.
Anna turned over and buried her face in the pillow. Why? her mind demanded bitterly. Why did she still feel so much for someone who had tossed her aside like a plaything, like a summer toy which had served its purpose once the season faded? How could she still yearn for Robert, long for news of him, when he had treated her so badly? Because, her heart answered simply, because of what he meant to you. Because of how he made you feel, how he was, how you thought he was. Because you were young and he was the first, at the time you thought the only one.
Anna got out of bed quietly, and went downstairs. She found her reticule and read again the last letter from Therese, written out in Jacques's steady hand. She skimmed through the items of local news until she came to the part she sought.
Robert was not here this summer. We heard he had spent the Spring with his mother in England, but then went straight to Cannes. He spends most of the year there now, at his wife's home. They have a little boy, one year old now. Did you know? Jacques says he thinks Robert is not painting much these days.
Why had Jacques sent that message? Did he think she was interested in Robert's painting? At least she had news. In the two letters she had received from Florence there had been hardly a mention of Robert and Delphine. Of all who were there in France, Anna felt that only Jacques had perhaps understood anything of the passion of that summer...
A slight noise made her start. Clancy stood in the doorway in his dressing gown. 'What are you doing down here darlin'? I woke up and missed you, so I did.'
Anna dashed away a tear which she only now realised was running down her cheek. 'I... I couldn't sleep,' she said lightly. 'I didn't mean to wake you...'
Clancy was looking at the letter in her hand. 'What are you reading?' he asked.
'It's nothing important... just a letter...'
He nodded slowly. 'Yes, I can guess which letter it is.' He came across to her, took the letter and glanced briefly at the signature. He folded it and replaced it in her reticule.
'The past is over Anna,' he said quietly.
'Of course it is. I was only thinking of Therese...'
Clancy took her arm. 'I know what you were thinking of. Come back to bed.'
As they reached their room Anna saw the dejected droop of Clancy's shoulders and guilt overwhelmed her.
Clancy asked, 'Would you like me to make a cup of tea?'
'No thanks,' Anna said. 'I'll sleep now, I'm sure.' She smiled brightly. 'I have a busy day tomorrow, I'm going to start looking at restaurant design.'
PAOLO
1911
Exactly three months to the day after Clancy qualified, the first Sullivans restaurant opened. It was an immediate success, and from the outset was heavily booked. Anna felt they should have chosen larger premises.
'Most certainly not,' Clancy assured her, as they locked up after a hectic evening. 'Part of the attraction of Sullivans is the special atmosphere you have created. If the restaurant was larger we should lose that.'
'But we are turning away so many customers...' Anna complained.
‘And the answer to that, my dear, is to open another Sullivans as soon as possible, but not too near this one.'
'Fifth Avenue?' Anna asked hopefully.
Clancy sighed. 'You know my views about Fifth Avenue, it is far too expensive...'
'Even now? Now you know how successful we can be?'
'Even now.' Clancy took Anna's arm and tucked it under his. 'Let's walk home, at least part of the way, shall we?'
Anna nodded, and Clancy asked their chauffeur to follow them at walking pace. It was a lovely evening, the air was fresh and sweet after the oppressive atmosphere of the kitchen, and they strolled comfortably, enjoying the quietness of the streets late at night.
'Imagine,' said Clancy, 'That our restaurant is on Fifth Avenue. Could you have taken any more money tonight?'
'No,' Anna admitted. 'Although we could have charged a little more maybe...'
'How much more?' Clancy asked.
'Er... perhaps ten per cent,' Anna said.
'Right. If we were on Fifth Avenue instead of just off Union Square we should have taken ten per cent more. But our rent would have trebled. We should actually be making a loss, whereas our present site will make us a good return.'
'I can see that,' Anna said, 'But I thought Fifth Avenue was the place to be.'
'It is if you can make it work.' Clancy said. 'But it is no use opening something that will not make a contribution to the business. Every canteen and delicatessen we own pays its way, and we must make sure that every Sullivans does too.'
'I suppose so,' Anna said a little sadly.
Clancy laughed. 'We are still making chains Anna, as you often remind me, and every chain is only as strong as its weakest link.'
She looked at him keenly. 'A restaurant on Fifth Avenue would be a weak link?'
'Yes. Not only would it make no contribution to the chain, but its losses would wipe out the profit from a few of the others. The secret is to find sites which are quite near to the best areas, but not in the prime positions where the rents are beyond us.'
'And you think you can find sites like that?' Anna asked.
'Oh yes. I shall keep my eyes open and we aren't in any hurry. The customers will always want your food.'
Anna laughed. 'I must admit I didn't expect such compliments. It's very gratifying after all the time I spent planning. They like the design too.'
They walked on in silence until Anna said, 'Jennie has been a Godsend. She has worked so hard, I think we should pay her a bonus.'
'Yes,' Clancy agreed. 'I was going to mention it myself. I must say you were right about her. I had my doubts, but for an eighteen year old she has a good head.'
Anna smiled. People often underestimated Jennie McCormack. With her slender figure, fair hair and pale skin she appeared frail, almost wraith like, but her ephemeral beauty hid a very practical nature and a strong tenacious will. It probably came from her orphanage background, Anna thought, and having to make her own way in life.
She leaned her head against Clancy's shoulder. 'I suddenly feel very tired. Shall we drive the rest of the way?'
Clancy beckoned the chauffeur and within a few minutes they were home. Lottie, their housekeeper since James had started school, had waited up in case they needed anything.
'I'd love a cup of tea, Lottie,' Anna said, sinking into a sofa.
'And something to eat?'
'Not for me,' Anna responded, 'But perhaps Mr. Sullivan...'
'Yes,' said Clancy. 'Tea for me as well Lottie, and a slice of that bread pudding I saw in the ice box.'
Anna suppressed a smile, Clancy's success had not altered his fondness for bread pudding. He sensed her interest and said defensively, 'Well, I like it, so I do.'
'I know. That's why I made it.'
He smiled. 'I'm surprised you had time. You have been working far too hard lately.'
For once she agreed with him. 'Yes, I know. Now we are up and running with the restaurant I can relax a little, I was meaning to talk to you about it.'
'Well?'
'Firstly, I want to hand over all the cooking to Jennie McCormack...'
'I know she's good, but is she that good?'
'She is, I have taught her all I know. With the help of the new chef she will do well, I'm sure of it. As we are closed on Mondays that will be her day off, and I shall go in to help at the weekends and check the ordering.'
'Do you need to do even that much?' Clancy asked.
'Yes. I don't want to lose touch with the business, I must always know what is going on, in that way I can develop new menus...'
'Do you have to?' Clancy said gently. 'If you wish you can never do a hand's turn again. It's time you put your feet up, enjoyed the money we have earned...'
'I could never be idle,' Anna smiled.
'But why not? Now we have the first Sullivans open, it will be a simple matter of copying your ideas for the others, and we have plenty of good people...'
'I know, but I need to be involved, especially as James is at school. Perhaps if we had other children...'
Clancy fell silent, and neither of them spoke as Lottie entered with the tray. After she had gone Clancy said, 'I sent the money to Will today, by the way. Enough to pay for the house, and some extra for furnishings and moving expenses, as you wanted.'
'Thank you.' Anna said. 'They must be so excited to be moving to the country. I can't imagine our Billy is fourteen now, and Dottie eight. Little Andrew will be four soon, I'm glad he will grow up away from Sandley Heath.' She hesitated. 'If ever I feel I can leave the business for a while I'd like to go home to see them all.' She smiled at him. 'Wouldn't you like to do that Clancy? Go home for a visit?'
Clancy shook his head ruefully. 'Someone would need to stay here. Anyway, it isn't home to me. Personally, I don't care if I never see Sandley Heath again. It was never really home to me the way it was for you.'