The promise of mince pies finally gets through to Ricky and he unclenches his fists and goes to find the mops and buckets.
I shake my head at Meredith until she goes back to her vegetables.
Meredith who is usually Haneen’s catering assistant, is now my official helper. My only helper because I kicked Haneen out of the kitchen. She cooks for a living, this can’t be a busman’s holiday for her. So she and the children, Henrieta and Rhys are making Christmas wreaths for the orangery.
It will be a memorial to make Jack proud. And a wonderful Christmas for everyone else. No need to rain on everyone’s parade just because I’m leaving, soon. Just because it’s the end of my Welsh dream.
If the Squad can put on a brave face, then so can I. Last month, I came looking for a father but found much more. I should be grateful. And if I know what’s good for me, I’d focus on making this a wonderful Christmas for the Squad before they all scatter.
When the professor comes in for a cup of tea, he finds me in the middle of cutting crosses into the stems of brussels sprouts, sticking cloves into onions for the bread sauce and making mountains of sage and onion, stuffing, apple and walnut stuffing, and butternut stuffing for the vegetarian. And there’s still the gingerbread to make.
“Tea?” I wipe my hands on a clean cloth and start to get up. He drinks gallons of the stuff, popping into the kitchen every hour for another cup.
He gestures for me to stay at the table. “I can boil a kettle.”
“The Earl Grey is in the blue caddy.” I point to where his favourite teabags are. This is a favourite with quite a few people, including me.
He nods but doesn’t say more while he fills the kettle. You never know with the professor, sometimes he’s friendly at other times he makes the Sphinx look chatty. Today apparently is a Sphinx day. So, it’s a surprise when he brings two steaming mugs of Earl Grey, hands me one and pulls a chair to sit opposite me.
Did he know it’s my favourite tea, too?
“Who is James Bevan?”
The question takes me by surprise. I just stare at him uncomprehending.
“Evan’s been on the phone to him for half an hour.”
“He’s Jack’s grandson from America. He just wanted to thank Evan for being nice to his grandad.”
The professor doesn’t look convinced. “Evan has his business face on.”
“Evan has a business face?” But I’m intrigued. Half an hour is a very long thank you. Now that I think about him, yes he has a serious face. The way he handles the teenagers when they’re acting up.
“He told me you might be taking over the conservatory.” The professor says, reminding me of another time Evan must have had his business face on.
“The orangery?”
He wrinkles his nose. “I don’t think anyone should use the term unless the place actually has orange trees. Otherwise, it’s simply pretentious.”
Despite everything, this cracks me up. “Exactly what I think.”
“So?”
I put down my knife and sweep the chopped walnuts into a bowl. “Do you mean his café idea?”
He frowns at me. “His idea? Isn’t ityourplan?”
“Since I don’t have the money to invest in a new business, it’s not really a plan.”
“How much money do you need?”
I’ve spent every night burning through the internet to research every angle of this, the numbers fly off my tongue. “Thirty thousand minimum. Not only to fit a café and buy the appliances you need for a professional kitchen, but I’ll also need to pay for training in food safety, infection control, get a hygiene certificate and all this before I can even get on a professional cooking course.”
He looks down at his tea and his shoulders droop a little. “I’m afraid, thirty thousand is more than I can afford to lend.”
“No, no,” I rush to explain. “I’m not looking for a loan. I don’t want to be in debt that cripples my business. You know.Borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.” I quote the line. “And you’ve more than fulfilled your obligations to me. Please don’t think you owe me anything.”
I keep my eyes steady and face clear so he knows I’m not just saying it to be polite.
