“Was Stella really that bad?” Lisa asked Marcy with a chuckle.
“Uh-huh. She was—”
“Hey, enough,” Stella interrupted her. “No talk about my past antics with my girlfriend present, I don’t want her to run off,” she joked. “But it’s good to see you again. How’s life? Lisa told me you’re leading the Sunset refurbishment.”
“Yes, it’s been fun. Business has been great in general and I love working with Lisa.”
“That’s great. Are you seeing anyone?” Stella asked, already knowing the answer.
“No, still single.” Marcy let out a dramatic sigh and ran a hand through her short, blonde hair. “I’m bored with straight tourists, and I’ve just about slept with every available lesbian in the region.”
Stella threw her head back and laughed. “Yes, it does get boring, I won’t argue with that.”
Lisa looked from Stella to Marcy and back. “Why do I get the feeling the two of you used to be the biggest womanisers along the Costa Blanca?” She shot Stella a humorous look and added: “Should I be worried?”
“No, babe. Not at all.” Stella put an arm around her and pulled her in. “I’ve only had eyes for you since the moment we met.”
Marcy groaned. “God, you guys make me sick but it’s also kind of endearing.” She beckoned the waiter over. “Everyone okay with sangria?”
“Sure. I love sangria,” Lisa said. “We’re practically home so we won’t have to worry about driving.”
“Good point, I think I’ll stay at my parents’ house tonight.” Marcy leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. “So, talking about parents, I heard Lisa met yours, Stella.”
“She did. It was fun.”
“I met her sister too. They’re all lovely,” Lisa added.
“And do your family know about Stella?” Marcy asked.
“Yes, I’ve told them. They’re very happy for me, but they’re also a bit worried that they won’t see me as much anymore.” Lisa turned to Stella. “And talking about meeting family, there’s something I wanted to discuss quickly before I forget.” She opened her messages on her phone and scrolled through them. “My friend Ebony—who is practically family—wants to come over next weekend and my brother the weekend after. I know it’s a bit much but…”
“No, it’s not a problem. I’d love to meet them.” Stella was glowing, delighted that Lisa’s best friend and brother wanted to meet her. She’d secretly hoped it would come to this, that she’d finally be able to welcome the people Lisa loved into her home. “I could take a day off, unless you want to spend time alone with them?”
“No, I’d love that if you don’t mind.” Lisa leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“God, just get a room already,” Marcy said with a chuckle, then pointed a finger at Stella. “You’d better show your best side to her nearest and dearest, because this one is a keeper. Very talented too.”
“I know she is.” Stella moved back so the waiter could place a jug with sangria, three glasses and a plate with complimentary pinchos on the table. “I’m a lucky woman.”
“So am I.” Lisa helped herself to a tomato bruschetta and turned to Marcy. “Now tell me, what happened between you and the new chef? You’ve been arguing over silly, minor things for weeks now. I just don’t get why you dislike each other so much.”
“Zoe…” Marcy groaned. “That little girl is feistier than she looks.”
“Little girl?” Lisa frowned. “She’s thirty-one, hardly a little girl. It might seem young for a head chef, but her CV is impressive; she’s worked internationally.”
“Well, I just assumed she was a lot younger with her lean frame and big, baby eyes. Never trust a skinny chef is what my mum always says.” Marcy poured them a glass of sangria and took a long drink before she continued. “Anyway, to answer your question…” She frowned and paused for long moments. “God, I don’t even know where to start so I suppose I’ll just start with our first meeting at the site. I introduced myself and she looked at me weirdly, like, not in a good way. She barely acknowledged me when I shook her hand. I said, ‘it’s nice to meet you’ and she mumbled ‘whatever’, which is seriously rude, right?” Marcy raised a brow when Lisa didn’t reply. “Right?”
“Sure, that is a little rude,” Lisa finally agreed.
“Thank you.” Marcy spread her arms in a dramatic gesture. “She said she wanted to discuss the kitchen layout with me before we started the work, and when we went through it, she criticised just about everything in the plans. I kindly reminded her that it wasn’therkitchen, that she was an employee and that showing her what we were doing was a courtesy from my side. We’ve been contracted to get the job done in the most cost-effective way and that certainly doesn’t include rewiring and moving all gas and electric outlets and plumbing. And then she looked at me like she wanted to shoot me and stormed off.”
“Okay, so that wasn’t the best start,” Lisa said with a puzzled look. “Zoe didn’t mention anything to me but then we just talked about launch week and the menus. And you’re right; she doesn’t really have any say in the refurbishment.” She hesitated. “Still, it might be useful to listen to her suggestions. She’s an expert in her own field, after all.”
Marcy groaned. “Ask the ‘expert’ and you’ll have to cough up double. Do you have the budget for that?”
Lisa carefully considered that before she answered. “Why don’t all three of us get together and discuss it? You haven’t started on the kitchen yet and I may be able to stretch the budget a little if certain changes will make the service run more efficiently.”
“I’d rather you just shoot me,” Marcy said. “And not because I’m not open to a change of plans; I’m the most flexible contractor you’ll ever come across. But Zoe just has it in for me.”
