Sebastian and Belle between them brought the barbecue food over to the table accompanied by warnings not to touch the dishes they’d set on mats because they were piping hot.
The remaining seat at the table wasn’t next to his dad but Trevor dismissed Belle’s concern that he’d want to sit with Nate. ‘He’s old enough and ugly enough to look after himself.’
‘Cheers, Dad,’ Nate laughed.
He didn’t miss Betty nudging Morgan and telling her in a voice that carried pretty much all around the room, ‘He’s the opposite of ugly.Andhe can fix a toilet.’
‘Yes, and after all, that is what every woman wants in a man,’ Belle said with a roll of her eyes.
The only chair left was next to Morgan and he wondered whether this had been orchestrated without either of them noticing. Whatever, he didn’t mind. He could be sitting next to anyone, but her company was something he wanted more of even if it wasn’t going anywhere. Although the way she looked at him suggested perhaps she hoped it was and that made him feel helpless. He couldn’t make a move on another man’s girl; he wouldn’t. And that left them as just friends.
White wine was poured for whoever wanted it and talk soon went to the markets. Nate and Morgan recounted the story of the woman returning the tatty cushion and demanding a refund, prompting Nate to ask what she’d done with it.
‘I put it in a bag of things that I’ll keep.’ She shrugged. ‘It was special to Mum so it wouldn’t feel right to get rid of it. And now I can think of that woman demanding her money back too so it’s a cushion with a story.’
‘A cushion with a story… I like that,’ he approved.
‘Thanks again, Nate. For what you did for Marley.’
‘Saving him from an untimely death, you mean?’ At least that made her laugh and lessened any tension between them. Perhaps it was his imagination, but she definitely wasn’t as relaxed with him as she’d been on the green last night. ‘Where is Jeremy, by the way?’
‘I’ve no idea. I hope he’s not still upset. He took a while to calm down after it happened.’ She took the opportunity to go and ask Belle whether Jeremy was coming and was assured that he was; he was just late.
Sure enough, less than two minutes later, Jeremy came bustling inside to the gathering, smiling and greeting everyone with a tentative wave over to Morgan as chatter continued and plates were filled with good food.
As they ate, there were plenty of compliments to the chef as always and Nate realised this was a true glimpse of the village not many would ever choose to leave. His dad was fine; he had all these people around him, they were all pretty wonderful and it had him wondering whether this could be something in his future as well as his dad’s.
‘Nate…’ It was Morgan, offering a salad bowl in his direction.
‘Sorry, miles away.’ He used the tongs to add salad to his plate and passed it on.
‘Is it nice to be back in the village again and come here to one of these dinners?’ Morgan began to eat while she waited for her answer.
No matter how great the crowd was, he wished it was only the two of them. ‘Actually, it’s pretty wonderful to be back.’ He might as well be honest. ‘And these dinners, they’re something else.’
Talk around the table turned to some of the dinners from years gone by: both those Sebastian had hosted and those Gillian had taken charge of herself. And once they’d finished eating, Sebastian urged everyone to go outside and enjoy the garden.
‘It’s a great space out there,’ Nate complimented.
Sebastian nodded his agreement as he put the plug in the kitchen sink, turned on the taps and added washing-up liquid.
Beyond the window was a greenhouse, an impressive set of vegetable patches and plenty of lawn space. The barbecue was still out waiting to be cleaned and several deckchairs had been set out in anticipation of a relaxing afternoon in the British sunshine.
‘Let me help.’ Nate plucked a tea towel from its hook.
Sebastian delivered a stack of plates to the benchtop beside the sink as suds began to form in the water in the sink. ‘Won’t say no to that.’
There were plenty of offers to help as guests filed outside but Belle, also heading this way with a pile of dishes, claimed too many people trying to help out would be a nightmare. ‘The kitchen isn’t big enough if everyone stands up,’ she insisted, waving everyone away, but she accepted Morgan’s offer to wipe down the table.
The dishwasher was already on and Belle insisted she took over the washing up while Sebastian went out to retrieve the barbecue tools ready for cleaning.
‘I’d forgotten about those,’ he said before he pecked Belle on the cheek, as though leaving a room without doing so was near impossible.
Morgan came over to the sink to wet her cloth more than once as Belle washed and Nate dried and Nate didn’t mind her squeezing past him to do so, nor when he had to reach down some dessert plates for her to take over to the table, ready to serve whatever treat Betty had brought along to enjoy later. If anyone could fit it in, that was.
‘Do you use much of the garden produce at the Bookshop Café?’ Nate asked Belle as he plucked another knife from the drainer.
‘I try to use as much as I can.’ She pulled a plate from the suds and slotted it into the drainer. ‘Soups are dependent on season, sandwiches are versatile but even then depending on what we’ve grown I might add in spring onions or chives or radishes. I’m always thinking about what to do next as the seasons turn and we pick something different.’
