‘I’m gonna have to have the Sea-salted Caramel. Sounds delish,’ added Becky. ‘Tea for me too.’
In dashed Katie, just in time to order. ‘Hi folks, sorry I’m late, toddler tantrums and husband hold-ups. I’ll have one of those delicious-looking cheese scones,’ she said, turning to Abby, ‘with a flat white please. Thanks, love!’
The girls chatted away in catch-up mode, and Abby was soon on her way back over, with the order balanced on a large tray.
‘So, how was your party last night then?’ Lucy asked Becky as she reached the table. Her friend had been telling her about her cousin’s up-and-coming thirtieth.
‘Yeah, it was great, thanks. A meal out with lots of fun, family, friends, and plenty of booze. Head wasn’t too good this morning, mind. But I made it here in time, just, and I’ve rallied. The sugar hit of the Caramel Cake is what I need.’ She smiled at Abby. ‘What about you, Luce? How was the wedding pizza event?’
Lucy nearly choked on her tea. She fiddled with a napkin and then answered, ‘Ah, good thanks, yeah … all fine.’ There was a bitter taste in her mouth, as the image of Jack heading off with that girl in his campervan filled her mind once more. A quick deflection was needed. ‘Oh, and last week, what happened? I’ve been meaning to ask you, Abby. You seemed to be getting on pretty well with that lad at the party at the farm … you know, the bottom half of the cow.’
‘What?’ Becky screwed up her nose, looking bemused.
‘That sounds one crazy party,’ added Katie with a grin.
‘Hah, well, the pizza horsebox gets to go to all kind of places, I can tell you. It was good fun actually, and a really nice crowd.’
‘Hah, yes …’ Abby suddenly seemed coy.
‘Well, did he call?’ Lucy quizzed.
The last Lucy had seen was him tapping in her assistant’s number on his phone.
‘Yeah, he did actually.’ Abby had flushed a perfect shade of pink.
‘Whoop, whoop. Aw, I’m pleased for you, hun.’
‘We’re going to meet up next week, actually,’ the young girl added shyly.
‘Aw, that’s brilliant. Good for you, Abby.’ Lucy was delighted for her.
‘Anyway, what about you …?’ asked Abby.
Lucy felt the heat rise from her neck up to her cheeks. She had a dreadful feeling she knew where this was going. ‘What about me?’ she blustered.
‘Well, the last I saw of you … was you up close and kissing Cocktail Campervan Guy. Can’t blame you, mind; he is pretty cute.’
Becky’s mouth dropped open, and a chunk of salted caramel sponge plopped out onto her plate. ‘You are kidding me?! Luce, how the hell could you? After everything I told you. That’s a disaster waiting to happen, that is.’
It already has, mused Lucy, sadly. And so sodding soon too.
‘What am I missing here?’ Katie queried, trying to play catch-up with the drama.
‘I warned you, Luce, that guy is toxic. Are you nuts?’ Becky’s cheeks had gone bright pink.
‘It’s okay. It wasn’t what it looked like, Becks.’ Okay, so it was, but there is never going to be a repeat performance, not after watching last night’s spectacle with the damsel in distress. ‘I’d lost Daisy, and well, Jack had been the one to find her. I was just so relieved and I did give him a hug to thank him. But that was it. It might have just looked like something more,’ she rambled with a blush.
Abby gave a frown and looked rather sceptical, but she didn’t want to argue with her new boss.
With that, Louise called over from the counter, ‘Got an order to go out here, Abby.’
‘Okay, I’m coming,’ she replied, and then dashed away to help, leaving Lucy red in the face and feeling sore in the heart.
Oh, yes. Lesson well and truly learned.
With Becky still sat shaking her head, she and Katie slipped once again into easy chat. It seemed, Lucy hoped, they’d fallen for the little white lie.
Well done Joshua on your Graduation
and well done to Helen for putting up with me for Fifty Years!
Join us Golden Oldies on Saturday 17th July
at home
7 p.m. onwards for food, fun and festivities.
Best wishes, David x
Chapter 30
Why did he get the feeling that Lucy was trying to avoid him?
Jack had been serving drinks for an hour already and, other than a brief reply to his ‘Hello’ on arrival, she’d hardly looked his way. Jeez, he never seemed to know where he stood with this exasperating, but bloody gorgeous, woman. She blew hotter and colder than anyone he’d ever met.
Ruby was positioned in the beautiful garden of a modestly grand country home. There was a marquee set up – he’d peeked in earlier – with circular tables, white tablecloths, and pretty floral displays of dark-green ivy with delicate white and yellow flowers edged with gold spray; the greenery was even intertwined down the marquee poles. Helen and David, whose home it was, had organised the party as a big family get-together for their grandson’s graduation and their Golden Wedding Anniversary. There was a buffet laid out within the marquee, as well as the fabulous All Fired Up horsebox parked alongside.
Helen had mentioned wanting ‘something more fun’ food-wise as an alternative for the youngsters; and Jack had known just where to send her. Though from the gathering at the counter, it wasn’t just the youngsters who were keen to try Papa’s pizzas; all ages were being drawn by the tantalising smells of hot, baked dough, tomatoes and cheese. Even Jack’s mouth was watering, and he knew exactly what to expect. At least the food was a lot more predictable than the owner, Jack mused wryly.
Back to his own clients, and this evening’s bar theme was classic, with G&T’s and Gin Fizzes, and chilled champagne on arrival. He’d also done a bit of research and found a gorgeous-looking shimmering Golden Champagne Cocktail to serve to those guests who fancied trying something a little different – which was elderflower liqueur fizz, stirred with edible gold-leaf flakes – just perfect for the occasion.
The marquee was buzzing from eight o’clock when a live band came on, giving a great show with plenty of toe-tapping tunes, both old and new. There was much dancing and merriment; the gathering really getting into the swing of it. It was such a lovely atmosphere, and Jack couldn’t help but wish to share some of those happy vibes with Lucy. He stole the odd glance Lucy’s way, but when she did finally catch sight of him, she seemed to immediately refocus, head down. And then again twenty minutes later, as their eyes met, she quickly turned and began talking to one of her customers. There was definitely something up with her – she’d been acting strangely ever since that kiss at the farm.
People were milling in and out of the marquee throughout the evening. They enjoyed Jack’s bar service and were drinking steadily, but not in any crazy can’t-get-them-down-quick-enough way, unlike a few of the guests at last week’s wedding. Oh yes, at the end of the night, he’d made sure that Tipsy Girl had got back safely, dropping her off at home. There was a great ambience here tonight, with little kids happily dancing along with parents and older family members. Good times, making memories, at least three generations of a family enjoying themselves with close friends – these were the events that Jack enjoyed working the most. He felt a part of their special celebration; chatting with the guests whilst making their favourite drinks.
A couple, who must have been in their late seventies, strolled up to Jack’s bar. The gentleman, who was white-haired and dressed in a beige linen suit, stood back, evidently admiring Ruby, and then moved in to pat her shiny paintwork with a smile.
‘My, she’s a real beauty, isn’t she? Someone’s done a grand job of the conversion, I must say.’
Jack stood proudly at his gleaming countertop. ‘Well, I did much of it myself, with a few technical tweaks here and there.’
‘You’ve done well, son.’
‘Thanks, so what can I get you both?’ Jack grinned.
‘Oh, I think we’ll stick with the G&T
’s, shall we, Clive?’ the floral-dressed lady said.
‘Perfect,’ he agreed.
‘Coming right up.’
Whilst Jack fetched glasses and the Hepple Gin bottle, Clive continued, ‘I do love a Classic, that’s why I married my good lady here, Betty.’ He chuckled, whilst Betty gave a smile that crinkled around her kind blue eyes, well used to his chatter after all their years together. ‘Yes, we had some damned good times, didn’t we, Betty? Remember that summer we headed off to the continent? Top down in our vintage MX5 Mazda. Ah, those were the days.’ Clive’s eyes were a-sparkle as he reminisced.
Betty was nodding happily.
‘Oh, it sounds fabulous,’ Jack was genuinely interested.
‘Zipping through all those rustic French villages,’ Clive took up. ‘Oh, and those hairpin bends in the Pyrenees. Do you remember those, my love, and the sheer drops beside us? Now, that was exciting.’
His wife pulled a dramatic face at that, as though the hairpin bends had been particularly hair-raising, and perhaps not quite such fun from the passenger seat.
Jack had to laugh as he filled their gin globes. It was lovely to hear their tale, and they seemed such a sweet couple.
As he passed over their drinks, Clive ended with the story of them breaking down on a Tuscan hillside, which turned out to be rather a blessing in disguise, as the locals were so friendly, coming to their aid and hosting them royally for two days whilst the local garage waited for parts and then helped Clive to fix up the vehicle. Jack could just picture the pair of them, in their youth and their retirement enjoying the open road, and he couldn’t help but admire such a relationship – one that could stand the test of time yet still be filled with adventures.
The evening rolled on, and when he finally got a quiet moment, he decided to bite the bullet and call across to Lucy. ‘Hey, everything okay? Do you need a break at all? I can come across there and keep an eye on the oven if need be?’ He’d spotted that she was working on her own.
‘Ah, it’s okay, I’m fine, thanks.’ Lucy gave the coolest flicker of a smile, then set back to shaping her dough bases behind the counter.
‘Alright, well just shout if you need a hand at any point. It’s no problem,’ he persisted.
‘Thanks.’ Her eyes barely lifted.
Those gorgeous dark-brown eyes that had looked right into his on the night of that kiss. Refocus, Jack, refocus. He pushed on with his own tasks, slicing lemons and curling twists of lime peel. A few people strolled up, and an order came in for two Mojitos and a Sidecar, and he soon found himself chatting with a middle-aged guy at the counter, lost in his mixology moments once again.
The party continued in full swing with lots of fun, singing and dancing. Partygoers were spilling out of the marquee in search of a cool drink and a cool-down, whilst others were drifting back in. A young couple were sat at the little table beside his campervan, sipping their gin fizzes. Pizza aromas wafted enticingly on the evening breeze, whilst the pizza van owner carried on working, head down, rather aloofly. Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out from the front of the marquee. Jack looked up to see that someone was on the ground, their leg stuck out at a really awkward angle.
‘Oh my, oh my!’ A woman’s voice rang out in a sob.
Jack recognised her as the elderly lady from the vintage-car couple earlier. Betty, that was it. He dashed out of Ruby like a shot, rushing over to see if he could help, and was soon crouching beside her. A small gathering began to cluster around them, as Jack carefully assessed the injury. He didn’t want to yank at Betty’s leg, as it looked slightly displaced around the ankle. He’d done a First Aid course as part of some voluntary mountaineering work he’d undertaken with a youth group a few years back. There was no blood or bone showing, which was good, but the ankle seemed to be swelling already.
‘Okay, Betty, now just take a few deep breaths. Are you in much pain?’ Jack’s voice was soothing, calm. ‘Do you think you can move that leg at all? Just test it real slow to start, and stop straight away if it hurts.’
Betty, bless her, had tears in her eyes as she tried to move it, gasping in anguish. It wasn’t shifting easily, so she’d need to sit tight.
‘Right then, you just keep still there now, Betty. We’ll try and make you more comfortable.’ Jack figured that an ambulance would be in order; it might well be a break or a bad sprain, but she was stuck in a really tricky place where someone else could well trip over her themselves; they couldn’t just leave her splayed out like that at the entrance to the tent.
‘Mate, can you give me a hand here?’ he said, addressing a sturdy-looking bloke who was looking on. ‘And if someone could fetch a seat from inside and pop it somewhere close by, we’ll lift her carefully onto it.’
‘No problem.’ The burly chap replied.
‘Someone’s likely to trip over you here, Betty,’ Jack explained, ‘so we’ll just get you carefully moved.’ Jack had taken control of the situation. ‘Oh, and can one of you call an ambulance, please?’
‘I’ll do it,’ said the young woman who’d been sipping a Gin Fizz at Jack’s bar.
‘Right, arms tight around our shoulders, Betty,’ said Jack. ‘And, on the count of three …’
The two men made a seat from their joined hands, wrist to wrist, and hoisted her up, just as her husband Clive appeared looking flustered. ‘Oh Betty, I’ve just heard! What on earth have you done, my darling?’
‘A little trip, that was all. So silly of me.’ Betty was pale with shock and no doubt in pain, but she was trying to make light of it.
‘We’ll get you sorted, my love.’ He took one of her hands in his own.
‘The ambulance is on its way,’ said the young woman with her mobile pressed to her ear. ‘Might just be a little while. They’re doing the best they can, but it’s a busy night, apparently. Oh, and they say to keep the foot up, if at all possible.’
Jack went to fetch an ice bucket from the campervan, emptied it and upturned it. It’d make a good foot rest. He also wrapped some ice tightly in a clean tea towel, to apply to try and ease the swelling. Bless her, Betty looked a little shivery now that the shock was settling in.
‘I’ll get your coat, Betty, love.’ Clive bustled off, leaving Jack sitting with the poor woman for a while, gently pressing the ice pack against her ankle.
‘I’ve got a fleece rug in the truck,’ Lucy called out, having seen the episode unfold. ‘Hang on, I’ll fetch it.’ She got it and ran across to them straight away, before Betty’s overcoat had a chance to arrive. ‘There you go. That’ll warm you up.’
Lucy had left her pizza post unattended for a brief while, but she couldn’t look on and not help Betty. She had to admire the way Jack was handling the situation, but it also left her feeling confused. His actions, his instincts to help others, were often kind, yet when it came to the way he treated younger women – with his playboy-style antics – well, he seemed to be a different guy altogether. Why did everything – everyone – have to be so bloody complicated?
With the anniversary party coming to an end, Lucy listened in to the many touching words of thanks from the guests and glimpsed heartfelt hugs amongst them, as taxis and lifts turned up.
‘Hey …’ Jack approached the horsebox, as Lucy was giving her work surfaces a final wipe-down.
‘Hi … you did well back there,’ she said, looking down at her feet. ‘… With the old lady, I mean.’
‘Thanks, the poor thing. Took quite a fall, didn’t she?’
‘Yeah, bless her.’
Lucy looked up and found herself staring at Jack’s slate-blue eyes and his slightly unkempt sandy-blond hair. Her heart started to beat double-time and she felt a dryness in her throat. Why did her body have to betray her? Every time they met, whenever they were near each other, it was like he cast some kind of weird spell over her. But she knew better than that, she’d witnessed his kind of Jack the Lad antics before, and she wouldn’t allow herself to sink. It would be like drowning.
It was j
ust the two of them at the horsebox. They stood like that for a few moments, in silence, a strange awkwardness rippling through the air.
‘Luce, what is it?’ Jack whispered tentatively. He paused for a few seconds. ‘What’s going on with us?’
‘Us? There is no us, Jack,’ she blasted back, frowning.
‘Oh …’ He felt deflated, but persisted, ‘Luce, I really don’t know where I stand with you,’ he continued. ‘One minute you’re giving me a hug … a kiss … which I have to say was rather lovely … but then, like tonight, well, you can hardly manage to speak to me.’
‘You don’t know where you stand? Hah, well, that’s rich coming from you, Jack …’
Lucy took a breath. Was it time to be honest? Tell him what she knew about Becky, about his past? There was no-one around in hearing distance.
‘It’s like you’re two different people. There’s this Mr Nice Guy helping little old ladies and finding lost dogs, but then … well, with women … young women who you might date, for example,’ she took a deep breath, ‘then you don’t seem to care much at all.’
Jack frowned at her. ‘What’s this about, Luce?’
‘My friend, Becky …’
He didn’t show any sign of recognition at the name.
‘Rebecca Smith,’ she clarified.
Jack merely looked vacant, which wound Lucy up even more.
‘Well, she’s one of your exes. One of the many, by the sounds of it,’ she couldn’t help but add the dig. ‘Well, she told me all about your “treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen” antics. How you were seeing someone else at the exact same time as dating her …’
‘Ri-ight … And when was this?’ Jack looked bemused, but perhaps not totally surprised.
‘Umm … about nine years ago.’
‘Wow, we really are keeping score.’ His tone was sarcastic.
‘Look, she warned me off you. Told me all about how you messed with her … how you were seeing someone else at the same bloody time. She’s a close friend, Jack.’
Jack looked chastened, as though something in this was ringing true. ‘Okay, look, why not come across a minute, and have a glass of something with me? We can chat a bit more privately, and I’ll tell you more about my “misspent youth” … if you really want to hear about that.’
The Seaside Cocktail Campervan Page 18