Last Orders at the Star and Sixpence

by Holly Hepburn

  Luke stopped halfway across the room, turning to frown his objection. But then his expression lightened and he flashed her a suspiciously obedient grin. ‘Yes, Mum,’ he said. ‘Whatever you say.’

  *

  ‘Nessie, darling. How are you?’

  Nessie paused in the act of getting into the car and glanced in the wing mirror to see Ruby heading towards her, snugly wrapped in a glorious faux-fur leopard-print coat that looked as though it belonged in a Grace Kelly photo shoot. For half a second, she thought about pretending she hadn’t heard, but Ruby’s high heels had begun to crunch across the gravel and she knew there was no escape.

  ‘Hi, Ruby,’ she called, forcing herself to sound cheery. ‘I’m fine. How are you?’

  The other woman waved a hand at the mid-morning blue sky overhead. ‘I feel like breaking out my old Dame Vera Lynn records and singing at the top of my lungs. Do you think spring might finally be on the way?’

  ‘Quite possibly,’ Nessie said, smiling in spite of herself. ‘Let’s hope so – we need good weather for the Easter Extravaganza next month. I don’t suppose it would be nearly as much fun hunting for eggs in the snow.’

  Ruby nodded. ‘No, we definitely need sunshine and spring freshness for that.’ She paused and lowered her voice, ‘And how are things with you?’

  ‘Everything is fine,’ Nessie repeated, determined not to get sucked into another conversation about Sam’s pregnancy. ‘I’m just off to the wholesalers to pick up a few things for Gabe.’

  ‘Would you like some company?’ Ruby asked. ‘I’m not busy.’

  Nessie hesitated. It was only natural that Ruby was concerned – she often said that she considered both Sam and Nessie to be the daughters she’d never had – but her well-meaning questions would almost certainly upset the precarious sense of peace Nessie had carved out for herself in the few days since her sister’s announcement. There were still more downs than ups, but Nessie thought she could feel herself starting to heal. The last thing she wanted to do was pick at the wound. ‘It’s only a lightning visit,’ she told Ruby. ‘Another time, maybe?’

  Ruby accepted the rejection with her usual good grace. ‘I’d like that. But don’t let me keep you – I was popping in to beg a recipe from Gabe and thought I’d say hello to you first.’

  ‘Gabe’s in the kitchen,’ Nessie said, swinging into the driver’s seat. ‘If you’re really lucky, you might even get some of the brunch he was rustling up for Sam.’

  ‘Lucky me,’ Ruby replied. ‘Drive carefully, darling. See you later.’

  Nessie swung the car door shut. ‘I will. See you.’

  She started the engine and waited until Ruby had disappeared inside the pub before taking out her phone to check the traffic. As she opened the app, she noticed an unread email and clicked on the icon.

  To: Nessiechapman@starandsixpence.co.uk

  From: Anne.Coutts@McBrideBreweries.com

  Subject: Management Opportunity

  Dear Miss Chapman

  I hope this email finds you well.

  We’ve never met in person but I know you by reputation and I’m well aware of your excellent work at the Star and Sixpence. I’m writing because I’d like to discuss a position at McBride Breweries that I think might interest you. Please do drop me a line or ring me if you’d like to meet for coffee and a chat about the very generous offer we have in mind for you – we have offices across the country and I am very happy to travel to wherever suits you best.

  I look forward to hearing from you.

  Kindest regards,

  Anne Coutts

  Managing Director, McBride Breweries Ltd

  Nessie sat for several minutes after she’d read the message, frowning at her screen. Of course she’d heard of Anne Coutts – anyone in the hospitality business knew the highflying MD of one of the most successful breweries in the country – but she had no idea why Anne might have heard of her, much less why she’d felt the need to send such an astonishing email.

  There must be a mistake, Nessie thought, opening the message again to check the name at the top; maybe it was meant for Sam. But it was definitely her email address – not the generic one they published on the Star and Sixpence website; enquiries came into the general shared address, not to Sam or Nessie themselves. In fact, the only people who messaged Nessie’s named account were the ones she’d expressly given the address to. And she would definitely know if she’d given it to Anne Coutts . . .

  Deep in thought, she shut down the message and switched to Maps.

  It didn’t really matter how Anne had got her email, she decided, reversing out of the car park and setting off along Star Lane – she wasn’t looking for a new job, generous offer or not. She’d send a reply once she’d been to the wholesaler, thanking Anne for thinking of her and politely declining her offer of coffee.

  She glanced in the rear-view mirror at the rapidly receding Star and Sixpence, outlined against the cloudless blue sky. As refreshing as it was to be heading away from the pub and all its complications right now, she couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. Anne Coutts was going to be disappointed.

  *

  The weather continued to brighten over the weeks that followed, much to Nessie’s relief. The trees on the village green finally burst into leaf and the mornings were damp and dewy, rather than brittle with frost. Things had thawed a little with Sam, too; without ever discussing it, both sisters seemed to be making a concerted effort to close the distance that yawned between them. Nessie did not find it easy; she tried to avoid looking at Sam’s softly swelling stomach, but at least the knowledge of what caused it no longer made her want to weep. It helped that Sam never mentioned her changing figure or complained about any of the aches and pains and problems that pregnancy brought – at least not within Nessie’s hearing. At some point, Nessie knew she would have to face up to reality, preferably before the baby was born, but, for now, it helped not to think too much.

  Laurie turned out to be an unexpectedly handy go-between. Nessie had lost count of the number of times she’d turned to him for something she might otherwise have had to ask Sam for, and she suspected Sam had used him in the same way. He seemed to enjoy the role; there’d been one or two occasions in the past where he’d overstepped his responsibilities in the day-to-day running of the pub, but he’d been a model member of the team since Christmas and Nessie thought it would do no harm for him to glean some insight into the way she and Sam managed the business.

  ‘I don’t know how you find the time for all this,’ he said admiringly one Tuesday morning as they sat in the downstairs office and she explained how the bed and breakfast booking system worked. ‘Between the restaurant, the guest rooms and the awards, you’ve turned this place into a real gold mine. It’s pretty incredible, Nessie.’

  The praise made her feel warm inside. It’d been hard work – had taken months and months – but it finally felt as though everything was coming together. They had a brilliant chef running the restaurant and the guest rooms were booked out months in advance. All they needed now was to bag the national Pub of the Year award to go alongside the regional prize they’d won a year or so ago and Nessie would be over the moon.

  ‘It’s a shame Sam is breaking up the dream team, though,’ Laurie went on, with a regretful look. ‘I can’t see her keeping that white-hot focus with a baby to care for.’

  It was a thought that had occurred to Nessie too, although she was uncomfortably aware that she’d have been doing the same thing had she not lost her own baby. ‘I don’t think she should try to,’ she said, hating the stiffness in her voice. ‘It’s understandable that her priorities will change – we’ll cope.’

  Laurie didn’t appear convinced. ‘Poor Sam. It can’t be easy, knowing she’s going to be bringing the baby up on her own.’ He paused. ‘Especially when she knows so well what it’s like to grow up without a father.’

  His underlying bitterness made Nessie wince; he made no secret of his anger with their own fa
ther, who had abandoned him and his mother all those years ago.

  ‘But Sam says Joss is moving back to the village. He’ll be part of the baby’s life.’

  Now it was Laurie’s turn to look uncomfortable. ‘If he’s the father.’

  Nessie felt incredulity wash over her. ‘What?’

  Laurie shook his head. ‘I’m probably wrong. Forget I said anything.’

  ‘You can’t say something like that and then tell me to forget it,’ Nessie said, feeling her cheeks grow warm with indignation. ‘What are you suggesting, Laurie?’

  ‘Nothing, really,’ Laurie replied, fiddling with the computer mouse. ‘It’s just – well, I wondered how sure Sam can be that Joss is the dad, given that she was also sleeping with Gabe.’

  Nessie stared at him, open-mouthed. ‘But—that’s not—’

  He spread his hands. ‘Maybe she thinks Joss is a safer bet to stick around. Let’s be honest, Gabe is only here because we pay him a lot of money. He’d be off like a shot if he got a better offer. And I don’t think he’s the marrying type, either.’

  A sudden clatter outside the door snapped Nessie out of her confusion. She looked up to see Gabe looming in the doorway, a thunderous expression twisting his handsome features.

  ‘Liar!’ he snarled. ‘None of what you just said is true.’

  Laurie looked momentarily caught out, then raised his chin in challenge. ‘So you’re not here because we pay you?’

  ‘Of course I am,’ Gabe said, scowling. ‘I work here. Do I need to explain the nature of having a job?’

  Nessie buried a shudder of embarrassment. ‘Laurie, I think—’

  ‘Don’t take his side!’ Laurie snapped. ‘He’s the one eavesdropping on our conversation.’

  ‘Eavesdropping on your lies,’ Gabe said. ‘I don’t know what game it is you are playing, Laurie, but I will not stand by while you try to stir up ugly rumours about me or Sam. I’m not the father of her baby. Joss is.’

  ‘So you say,’ Laurie muttered, his face an unattractive shade of red.

  ‘I do say,’ Gabe growled. His gaze flickered to Nessie, then back to Laurie. ‘But I can assure you that if the baby was mine, I would not be looking for the quickest way to abandon them. No matter how badly you think of me.’

  Nessie wished the ground at her feet would open up and swallow her. ‘Stop it, both of you. Sam is only upstairs, she’ll hear you.’

  Laurie gave her a mutinous glare and she thought for a heartbeat that he might ignore her. But then he lowered his eyes and glowered at the carpet instead.

  ‘Laurie, you need to apologise to Gabe,’ Nessie continued, hoping her voice was steadier than she felt. ‘I don’t want to hear about this again.’

  A few excruciating seconds rolled by. ‘Sorry,’ Laurie mumbled, with only a cursory glance in Gabe’s direction.

  The chef said nothing.

  Nessie threw him an exasperated look. ‘And, Gabe, I hope you don’t skulk around outside the office all day, on the off-chance that you might hear us talking about you.’

  His dark eyes flashed. ‘I do not. But—’

  ‘But nothing,’ Nessie insisted. ‘Didn’t your mother ever tell you eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves?’

  ‘No,’ Gabe said. ‘She was too busy bringing me up alone after my father left. So please don’t suggest that I would be the kind of man to do the same thing.’

  Laurie had the grace to look a little ashamed, but Nessie wasn’t about to let him say anything that might make a bad situation worse. She gave a single unsmiling nod, which she hoped would serve as a warning to both men. ‘Enough, then,’ she said, her stomach roiling with a mixture of crossness and mortification. ‘I’m sure we all have better things to be doing, anyway.’

  Gabe nodded once. ‘If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the kitchen.’ He stopped to glare at Laurie. ‘Working.’

  Laurie opened his mouth to speak and Nessie knew he was going to say something else inflammatory. She jumped in, before he could fan the flames.

  ‘Thanks, Gabe.’

  She waited until she was certain he’d gone before rounding on Laurie.

  ‘How could you say such a thing?’

  He shrugged, as though he didn’t care, and then seemed to register the depth of her anger. ‘Sorry,’ he said again, with more conviction. ‘I didn’t mean to get you involved there.’

  ‘Involved?’ Nessie repeated in disbelief. ‘Of course I’m involved. Sam is my sister – I’m hardly going to stand by while you throw around accusations like that.’

  Laurie’s face fell. ‘It wasn’t an accusation,’ he said quietly, getting to his feet. ‘Just a thought I’d had. And Sam is my sister too – I just thought you ought to know the situation, that’s all. In case you end up holding the baby.’

  He left the room. Nessie stared after him, nonplussed. Where on earth had he got the idea that Gabe might be the baby’s father? Her frown deepened as she considered something else: what exactly had he hoped to achieve by sharing his suspicion?

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Sam had no real idea how Joss would react to seeing his child on the monitor. He’d arrived from Chester on Thursday morning, looking nervous but unwavering, and hadn’t said much as they drove to the hospital. The sight of so many pregnant women seemed to sober him further; when the sonographer had summoned them, Joss had gripped Sam’s fingers and she hadn’t pulled away.

  His expression when he saw the baby almost melted Sam’s heart. The sonographer – a woman who’d introduced herself as Mel – had seemed to sense this was his first time, because she took the time to explain exactly what they were seeing.

  ‘There’s a hand,’ she said, pointing at the screen. ‘And those are the feet, although they’re tucked away so neatly that it looks as though he or she is doing yoga.’

  Joss stared in obvious fascination. ‘I still think that’s my nose.’

  ‘Will you stop going on about the nose?’ Sam said with wry exasperation, as Mel made some notes on her file. ‘Is everything okay?’

  ‘Things look fine,’ Mel replied, nodding with brisk reassurance as she clicked at the screen. ‘Your baby is a good size and the heartbeat is strong. Did you want to know the sex? I can try to find out, although it’s never an exact science.’

  Sam hesitated as her eyes met Joss’s. They hadn’t discussed the question of finding out the sex of the baby, although she’d thought about it a lot in the days leading up to the scan and had privately decided she would rather not know. But would Joss feel the same?

  ‘Well?’ she asked. ‘What do you think?’

  A faint smile tugged at his lips. ‘This baby has surprised us both once already. I think we should probably let him or her surprise us again.’

  Sam felt an answering smile cross her own face. ‘Okay,’ she said and turned to Mel. ‘We don’t want to know the sex, thank you.’

  The sonographer nodded. ‘No problem. I’ll just take a few more measurements and then we’ll be done.’

  Joss was a different person on the way home. ‘Fancy heading over to Great Bardham for lunch?’ he asked as Sam navigated the country roads. ‘There’s a good old-fashioned pub that does brilliant food.’

  She risked a sideways glance. ‘Really? Don’t you have to get back for work this evening?’

  ‘No, Seb gave me the whole day off. So I’m in no rush, unless you are?’

  Sam considered the question. She had a mountain of PR and marketing work for the Easter Extravaganza to get through, not to mention going through Gabe’s food order for the following week. But it was good to see Joss again, and there were probably things they needed to discuss. Surely a quick pub lunch wouldn’t do any harm?

  ‘No,’ she said, seeing the sign for the village of Great Bardham up ahead. ‘No rush.’

  The pub was exactly as Joss had described: an old, redbrick building that probably had its roots in the sixteenth century, just as the Star and Sixpence did. The inside had been tastefully modern
ised, Sam noted with approval, but had retained the charm of the original building.

  ‘It’s a McBride pub,’ Joss said, as a waitress showed them to a table in the half-full restaurant section. ‘They’re really good at restoring these old places and the beer they brew isn’t bad, either.’

  He ordered a pint of Black Badger from the waitress, along with Sam’s water, and sat watching her study the menu.

  ‘The burgers are amazing,’ he said. ‘I recommend the one that comes with melted Stilton on top.’

  Sam grimaced. ‘No blue cheese for me, sadly.’

  Understanding dawned in Joss’s eyes. ‘I feel like I should apologise. Are you finding it very hard?’

  She wondered how he would react if she gave an honest answer: that yes, she found having to forgo some of her favourite foods difficult, and yes, she held him partly responsible. That she sometimes woke up in the night panicking about what the future held: how would she cope with a newborn baby, would Nessie ever forgive her, was she going to make a good mother or would she totally balls things up? And, most of shallow of all, how much worse would Joss feel if she confessed that she was terrified of the way her body was changing?

  Even just a few weeks earlier, it had seemed impossible that there was a whole new person growing inside her; then she’d felt the first flutter of movement and it had all become real. Now there were regular flurries that she recognised as kicks – soon, other people would be able to place their hands on her stomach and feel them too. And now that she couldn’t ignore reality, Sam had started to worry that her body would somehow not know what to do to keep this little person alive and deliver them safely when the time came. Things had gone wrong for Nessie. They could go wrong for Sam too.

  But she knew as she gazed into Joss’s questioning blue eyes that she wouldn’t burden him with any of her secret fears. It wasn’t fair – there was nothing he could do to help, especially not from Chester. ‘Oh, you know,’ she said, forcing herself to sound carefree. ‘Swings and roundabouts. I haven’t had a hangover for months.’

  The waitress arrived to take their food order. Sam tried not to mind when Joss ordered a medium-rare blue cheese burger and focused instead on how good her spinach and ricotta ravioli would taste. If she was very lucky, she might even have room for the sticky toffee pudding she’d spotted on the dessert list.