by Katie Ginger
‘I can’t imagine him in Málaga in his budgie smugglers. Actually I can. Yuck.’ He gave a shudder but then smiled and Stella’s heart struggled under its loveliness. ‘I’m happy the shop has gone to someone who clearly cares about it as much as he did.’
Her eyes flicked to Jay’s left hand, holding the stem of his wine glass. No wedding ring, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a girlfriend or a fiancée. He was about the same age as her so there must be someone – he was too handsome to be single. Not that it mattered as this was a business meeting, she reminded herself again. It was nothing to do with her.
‘So I know a few things that I’d like on the website,’ Stella said, trying to focus her mind. ‘It needs to be for the shop and the holiday lets and I wanted a little bit of the history of the building in there too. Something to show how special we are. Did you know the whole lot used to be known as Admiral’s Corner because an admiral actually used to live there?’
‘I didn’t know that. It sounds great.’ He looked impressed then thoughtful. ‘You’ll need an online checkout facility and did you want a booking facility too? Or do you want people to enquire first?’
Stella thought for a moment. ‘I think they should enquire. Until I’ve got used to all the changeover days I should probably keep things simple. Once I’m more experienced we can add that later, can’t we?’
‘We certainly can,’ he said, tapping his index finger as he spoke. She liked him saying ‘we’. ‘Are you keeping the shop name as it is?’
‘The Potter’s Wheel? I don’t think so. I don’t think it represents all the different things I plan to sell. And from researching the history of the place I think it would be nice to have the apartments called something else too.’
‘So what are you thinking of?’ Jay sipped his wine.
She’d never seen a man drink in such a sexy way. He didn’t swig with his mouth open or gulp it down. It was gentlemanly and made his mouth look nice. Stop it, she told herself. Business meeting. Nothing else. Business meeting. ‘I’ve thought about it but I couldn’t think of anything suitable. And some of the things I came up with were downright silly so I’m not going to tell you those.’
‘Come on,’ said Jay leaning forwards, a teasing glint in his eye. ‘Tell me one.’
‘No. Definitely not. Not till I’ve had more wine at least.’ Was this flirting? Why was she doing that? Frank came back over and Stella leaned down and gave his head a stroke. He curled into a ball in the sunshine and went to sleep at her feet. ‘I still haven’t come up with anything perfect.’
‘It’s funny, I didn’t really know it was called The Potter’s Wheel. I mean, I know it’s written over the door but we’ve only ever known it as old Herbert’s shop.’
Stella paused and played his words over again in her head. Why hadn’t she thought of it before? It was obvious what the shop should be called.
‘What is it?’ asked Jay.
‘I think that’s it. I think we just figured out the name.’ He looked confused. ‘I’m going to call it Old Herbert’s Shop in his honour. As the building was named after an admiral it kind of fits that the shop should be named after him, don’t you think?’ Excitement bubbled out as she spoke. Something about the name felt right.
‘I do,’ he replied, topping up their glasses. ‘We definitely need a toast to that.’
Stella grinned and raised her glass. As the light changed from the brightness of day to a mellow evening glow, it dappled through the gaps in the buildings catching Jay’s face and highlighting his stubble. She’d expected it to be red like his hair but it was more a mixture of browns and blonds. She dipped her eyes, not wanting to be caught staring. ‘I thought I’d go back to the original building name for the apartments and keep it simple and classy. Just Admiral’s Corner.’
‘I think that deserves another toast. Cheers.’
‘Cheers,’ Stella replied. She had to stop smiling or her cheeks were going to hurt. She must look ridiculously silly, grinning like a lunatic with this man who was, quite frankly, out of her league.
‘The website won’t take long to build and I’ll only charge mate’s rates. We’ll need some pictures of the stock and the apartments, and some nice descriptions as well. Once I’ve got everything up and running, I’ll sit down with you and show you how to update everything.’
‘Okay,’ she replied tentatively.
‘Don’t look so nervous.’ He laughed and reached out a hand across the table, resting his fingers lightly on hers. ‘It’s really easy, I promise, and I’m only down the road or on the end of the phone if you get stuck.’
‘Thank you. I can’t believe how friendly everyone is here.’
Jay moved his hand away and a prickle of disappointment passed over her. ‘We try our best.’
Stella studied her wine happily. Here she was sat in a pub garden with a truly gorgeous man. If she turned up to Isaac’s wedding with Jay on her arm she wouldn’t be cast as the sad old spinster she so feared. In fact, people would be jealous as hell. Isaac’s mother in particular, who’d never really taken to Stella. Stella chastised herself for being so petty. She shouldn’t want to get one over on Isaac – she was a grown-up – but it was hard not to under the circumstances.
‘Would you still like to have some dinner?’ Jay asked. ‘They do great food here. And with company to match, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.’
Stella’s breath caught in her throat. He couldn’t have a girlfriend if he was saying something like that. As excitement mounted she tried to stop her voice coming out like a helium-filled squeak. ‘Yeah, that would be great.’
‘I’ll grab us a couple of menus.’
As Jay left, Stella caught the eyes of a group of young women at another table following Jay as he went back inside. They turned to each other and giggled and Stella sat taller, pulling her shoulders back. She pretended that this was a normal meeting for her and not something so amazingly, brilliantly out of the ordinary. Jay arrived with the menus and another bottle of wine and they carried on talking about this and that as the sun set slowly.
When they were finished, they walked back towards the shop, and Stella congratulated herself on an evening in which she didn’t embarrass herself horribly. Jay had been so easy to talk to and so friendly. There was no bravado, no false modesty and he didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t. He wasn’t stuck-up and snooty like Miles Parker. If things carried on going this well, she thought, there was every possibility she could ask Jay to Isaac’s wedding, and even more possibility he might just say yes.
Chapter 10
On Saturday evening, Stella waited impatiently for a knock on the door from Lexi. She’d tidied the flat from top to bottom, cleaned everything including the Seventies kitchen units and pushed the windows fully open to finally get rid of the horrible smell of stale tobacco. As takings had been okay and sleeping on the sofa was giving her a terribly bad back, Stella had shelled out a little bit of money and replaced Herbert’s skanky old bed with something simple and cheap from IKEA. As far as the flat went, she was actually beginning to settle in and it was feeling more and more like home. After locking up the shop, she’d quickly made a lasagne and side salad. Knowing that a lot of wine would be consumed tonight by herself if not by Lexi, a good carby dinner was definitely called for.
The back door to the flat, accessed through a small garden, was blocked thanks to the piles of rubbish in front of it, so Stella sat on her stool by the counter waiting for Lexi to arrive. Spying her approach she opened the door. ‘Hi, thanks for coming.’
‘It’s my pleasure,’ said Lexi, proffering a bottle of wine in one hand and wrapping the other around Stella’s shoulders, pulling her in for a hug. ‘And the kids have been absolute arseholes today so I was quite happy to hand them over to Will.’
Stella laughed. ‘I’m sure they weren’t that bad.’ Lexi’s ability to speak so honestly about her children was refreshing and not at all like Stella’s sister who was sometim
es blind to the faults of her offspring. ‘I’ve made dinner and the wine is already open.’
They went through the shop and into the flat where Frank sat in the hallway, wagging his tail. He received a pat on the head as they walked past then followed them into the living room, charging forward to claim his place on the sofa but getting diverted by his food bowl.
‘You take a seat and I’ll grab the wine,’ said Stella. She nipped into the kitchen and quickly poured it into two polished-up glasses she’d laid out in preparation. When she returned she sat in the armchair opposite Lexi who was snuggled on the large scruffy brown leather sofa.
‘How do you like the flat?’ asked Lexi.
‘It needs a lot of work,’ Stella replied, curling her legs under her. ‘But I love the layout, and where I’ve added a couple of the paintings from the shop it’s hidden some of the terrible wallpaper.’ Two of the paintings had been so beautiful Stella had decided to keep them for herself and forgo, at least for now, the possible profit. One was of a dark and stormy sky over a raging sea. There was something so gothic about it that it put Stella in mind of Wuthering Heights and she knew then and there she couldn’t possibly part with it. The other was a more abstract piece: swipes and slashes of colour in oranges and yellows on a plain canvas. The chaos of colour had sparked a strange feeling within – a sure sign it was meant for her. Both were placed either side of the large living room window under which Lexi was now sat.
‘I’ll just have to do bits as and when I can. I need to concentrate on the holiday lets first and get them ready to go. I’ve got a load of work planned for tomorrow. Which reminds me, Jay said I need some photos taken once they’re cleaned.’
‘Jay the website guy?’ Stella nodded and swallowed her mouthful of wine. Frank managed to scrabble onto the sofa with an ungainly thump and plonked down next to Lexi. ‘Jay the handsome website guy?’
‘Umm hmm. Kiera, Miles’s fiancée, recommended him and we met yesterday. I thought he’d be perfect for the job.’
‘And is this just for the job of website guy or did you have something more romantic in mind?’
Stella kept her eyes down on her wine glass. ‘We did have dinner last night but it was just a business meeting.’
‘Ooooh!’
‘I’m a bit out of practice when it comes to men,’ said Stella, unsure why yet again she was sharing so much. Yet, each time it was coming more and more naturally. ‘It was a really lovely evening.’
‘Good, I’m glad. I definitely believe that love finds us when it’s ready. I’m happy to wait and just concentrate on the kids at the moment.’
Stella smiled. Lexi really was a cool woman, content to be herself and live her life, knowing she would deal with whatever came her way. She also looked fabulous tonight, as usual, encased in a Fifties-style dress with a buttoned-up cardigan. Her hair was scraped back into a bun and she wore a headscarf, like housewives used to wear, but somehow, with just her flicky eyeliner and some mascara she looked incredibly chic. The vintage style really suited her.
‘So when will your website be up and running?’ Lexi asked, draining the last of her wine.
‘By the end of this week I hope. Jay texted me earlier to say that he’s already got a basic website sorted and it just needs the images and text. I’ve got a lot of it already written. I’ve been working on it in the shop during the slower times and if I can get the images up soon then we’re sorted. I’ve already got a booking for the one-bedroom from someone who’s stayed here before. They arrive on Friday.’
‘That’s so exciting.’
‘I am quite excited,’ Stella replied. ‘I’ve left the one-bedroom up with the listings Herbert had already organised because once I’ve ripped up the floor tiles and sanded, apart from a good clean and replacing the bed linen, it’s good to go. I’ve taken the three-bedroom one down until I’ve got it in a better state.’
‘Is it that bad?’ asked Lexi.
Stella sighed. ‘There’s nothing structural but it’s tired and old—’
‘Like me.’
‘Hardly. I want to get the carpet tiles up there too and either sand or paint the floorboards, and move stuff around. That’s my job for tomorrow. I’ve set my alarm for five so I can get Frank walked and then start as early as possible. I need to get as much done tomorrow as I can and then I’ll work in the evenings too so I can get it back on the listings from next Monday. That’s my deadline.’
‘Wow. You’re really self-disciplined.’ Lexi twizzled her glass in her fingers. ‘I can’t believe you’ve moved here and taken over a business like it’s nothing. You’ve made it look so easy.’
‘You haven’t seen me running around freaking out about stock levels, sales margins, and mark-ups. Or waking up in the middle of the night, worrying this is all going to go wrong and leave me homeless and bankrupt. I’m sure Miles Parker is thoroughly enjoying watching me all stressed out and manic.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘Because every time he walks by he’s always slyly peering in and sneering, judging every item I have in the shop. I’m sure he’d be over the moon if everything went wrong for me. The other day I nipped out the back to grab a cup of tea and when I came back he basically had his nose pressed against the window. I’m surprised Frank didn’t bark at him. Then when he saw me he didn’t even smile or say hello, he just shuffled off with his head down.’
‘Poor Miles,’ Lexi said, and Stella raised her eyebrows, unconvinced. ‘He really isn’t that bad, you know. He was probably just curious to see what you’re doing with the place. Honestly, he is a nice guy really.’
‘Well, I’m yet to see that side of him.’
‘Anyway,’ Lexi said brightly, ‘I’m sure you’ll make this place successful. The shop’s doing okay, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, it is.’ Stella tucked her hair back behind her ear. ‘I just want to find some new stock that will sell nice and quick. I’ll need a quick turnover to keep the money coming in. Stock can’t just sit around. It’s got to be in and out. And I can’t sell it for less than I paid. I don’t mind doing that with Herbert’s old tat but going forward it’s not sustainable.’
‘It sounds like you’ve got it all sorted out.’ After adjusting her hairband, Lexi said, ‘I’d love to run my own business.’
‘Really? Would you sell the clothes you make?’ Stella could happily offer Lexi some space in the shop if she did.
Lexi nodded. ‘And all things vintage. But I don’t think it’s on the cards for me. By the way, that lasagne smells great.’
‘It should be done actually,’ Stella replied, getting up to check. ‘Do you want to sit at the table and I’ll bring it in?’
Stella brought in a huge dish of steaming lasagne then went back to fetch the side salad and wine as Lexi moved to the small circular table at the far end of the room. At the moment it was nestled next to some more boxes of stock, but Stella was slowly selling all the old stuff and it wouldn’t be long till the room was clear. After topping up their drinks, they ate with glee. ‘How are the kids?’ she asked Lexi.
‘Oh, they’re fine.’ Lexi rested her elbows on the table and took up her glass. ‘Will loves having them and they love seeing their daddy. It’s better now the kids have got used to things. We had some bad times when Will and I had only just split. Ralph’s behaviour went haywire and Taylor just shut down on me, but now we have a routine they’re a lot happier.’
‘Do you mind if I ask what happened with you two?’
Lexi took another sip and Stella noticed a slight tension in her expression. ‘It’s complicated really but suffice it to say things were tough after the kids were born. They’re really close in age and it was exhausting having a newborn and a toddler. I didn’t feel like me anymore, I just felt like … oh, I don’t know … a housekeeper, a mother, a cleaner … Not a person.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Plus Will was out a lot working. Or in the pub.’
From the way Lexi looked at her, Stella knew it was time to
change the subject. They both wanted this evening to be full of laughter and fun. ‘Why were the kids arseholes today?’
Lexi gave an amused smile. ‘Taylor decided to be a grown-up and got into my make-up bag and Ralph wanted to do some splatter painting and ended up completely covering my walls rather than the paper. My landlord will go nuts.’
‘I take it Taylor’s make-up didn’t go well?’
‘She came down looking like The Joker. Honestly, it was absolutely terrifying. And when she asked me if she looked nice, I kind of mumbled a yes and she could tell I was lying. She then had a complete hissy fit and told me I was the worst mum in the world and ran upstairs.’
‘Oh no,’ said Stella, imagining Taylor’s confidence had been forever dented. Not to mention how heartbreaking that must have been for Lexi to hear something like that.
‘It’s not as bad as it sounds,’ Lexi replied. ‘She’s told me the same thing three times this week already. I was more worried about getting the make-up out of my bedding because she face-planted my duvet wearing my favourite red lipstick. Makes you happy you haven’t got kids, doesn’t it?’
‘Sometimes,’ Stella replied. ‘But I bet the cuddles are nice. I miss cuddles with someone.’
Lexi rested her knife and fork for a moment. ‘Cuddles mostly mean snot or toothpaste-covered shoulders. But yeah, I do like cuddle time.’
‘Oh, by the way,’ said Stella, suddenly remembering. ‘Did you want that roll of fabric? I saved it for you as no one else bought it. I thought it should go to a good home.’
‘I’d love to,’ Lexi replied, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. ‘But I still can’t afford it. Ralph needs some new school shoes. His are falling apart so I won’t be able to buy it for a while.’
Stella suddenly felt very awkward and stupid for asking. She should have waited for Lexi to mention it and now she’d embarrassed her. Stella wanted to just give it to her, but she worried that Lexi might think it was out of pity and be even more offended. Stella quickly moved the conversation along. ‘Oh, I bought cake for pudding.’