People eat and laugh and everyone drinks a bit too much. Except Raff.
And me.
My mind is reeling. Raff insisted I don’t give anyone my answer for 24 hours. So I just sit next to him, enjoying his closeness and try to work out what must have happened.
Clearly, this is something he and Evan had discussed before. Didn’t Evan mention something about a project that needed fundraising. And yesterday, that long phone call with Jack’s grandson. And the email to Raff. That’s why…. That’s why…
Philomena, sitting opposite, catches my eye and raises her glass. “The best Christmas dinner I’ve ever had.”
There are shouts ofhear, hear!But suddenly Philomena is wiping tears from her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Meredith sitting next to her puts an arm round her.
“I’m just…” her voice dissolves into sobs and it’s a few seconds before she can speak. “I’m so happy. I never thought we could have a way out and live in this beautiful house. If it weren’t for dear Jack.”
“We owe it all to Jack.” Vanessa says. Her voice shaky.
“To Jack.” DeNiro raises his glass.
“Merry Christmas,” Gethin shouts. “Wherever you are, you old bugger, I hope you’re surrounded by sexy naked girls.”
Deniro shakes his head in tragic disapproval. “Trust you to lower the tone.”
“To Jack.” Raff raises his own glass filled with sparkling apple juice. “A generous wonderful man. Thank you.”
Everyone toasts but my own voice doesn’t come out because I too am in tears.
In my heart I say.Thank you darling Jack for everything. I promise to do what you asked. To be happy and do my best to make your friends happy too.
Raff must sense my thoughts; he leans closer and presses a soft warm kiss on my temple. “Don’t give them your answer now. Sleep on it so you’re sure.”
“Didn’t you ask me, before you went away, to do what makes me happy?” I ask him in a whisper.
Raff slides me a glance full of meaning
“Tonight,” he says in a rough whisper. “I will make you very happy, tonight.”
The New Year
15th February. Kendric House. 1pm
“Ready for your first customer?” Evan is in business mode. Not that he’s in a suit or anything. he just has that serious air.
“You better be,” Raff looks up from fixing a socket low down under one of the small tables. “Think of it as a dry run before tomorrow lunchtime.”
Since his return, Raff has made my café a priority. My small budget didn’t stretch to more than the essential conversion of the back rooms into a catering kitchen, a larder and a small office. I have a fridge, a freezer but only a small second-hand oven. There are so many appliances I need but as my father, the wise professor, advised, start small and grow. But the seating area of the café is gorgeous. Raff has sanded the wooden floorboards, then we stained them green like the leaves of orange trees. One day soon I will have real orange trees in planters placed in every corner and giant glass bowls of oranges. One day. For now, the only orange comes from the tables and chairs. Yes I know I’ve really worked the green and orange theme. When the Squad come tomorrow, they will never have to eat in a dark, grey world.
For their first lunch, I’m planning Spanish chicken with lemon and green olives. Roasted potatoes flavoured with thyme and a side vegetable of peppers, mushrooms and carrots, all sauteed in olive oil and lemon zest. Yes I am pushing the boat out. Considering I’m being paid £10,000 a month for catering, they will get their money’s worth. When they arrive tomorrow, there will be a fruit bowl, and a biscuit jar in each room. Each of the beautiful new rooms.
“I still haven’t seen the new rooms.”
“Just a few final touches.” Raff gets up from the floor. “Okay, now you have power sockets with USB next to every table.” He gives me a beautiful smile.
“I like you with the shorter beard,” I walk into his arms for one of his hot-furnace hugs. “I can see your mouth better.”
“You never complained before.” He lifts an eyebrow.
“I didn’t know what I was missing under all that hair.”
