Issi and Seb spoke in a way that indicated they’d said similar things before and were getting just a bit fed up with it.
‘As long as people pay enough,’ said Fran. ‘We need to cover our costs and make sure we can pay everyone—’
‘I don’t need to be paid,’ Seb interrupted. ‘I have a job.’
‘So have I,’ said Tig.
Fran felt suddenly tearful. ‘Thank you so much! I absolutely insist on paying you, but I really appreciate all the effort you’ve put in to helping us.’
Issi, possibly guessing her friend was a bit overcome, changed the subject. ‘It’s a shame it isn’t summer. People would pay just to look at the view.’
‘Well, we can do another supper club or two,’ said Fran. ‘If this one goes well.’
‘I’vegot cows to milk, so I’ll be off now,’ said Tig, who had refused to be a waiter, or to just eat the supper, but had agreed to hang around in the kitchen and wash up if necessary.
‘You’ve been brilliant. Thank you so much, Tig,’ said Fran.
‘Yes you have,’ Issi agreed, and gave him a hug.
‘I’d better go too,’ said Seb. ‘Ant’s got a meeting later. What time do you want me tomorrow?’
When the goodbyes and thank yous had been said, and the two women were on their own, Issi said, ‘Remind me what we’re doing about alcohol? Is it Bring Your Own?’
‘Oh, Is! I’ve been wondering if I should have applied for that licence that lets you do five events per year that Antony told me about but I left it a bit late and ended up not doing it.’
‘Well, you have been busy, doing all the cooking over at Ant’s and having the cheese room built.’
‘I have but I probably should have gone for it. I just didn’t think we’d do this five times a year.’
‘So people will bring their own?’
‘We made it really clear they had to, but Antony has supplied some nice but inexpensive table wine. People will donate to his favourite charity to pay for it.’
‘I think you’re his favourite charity, Fran,’ said Issi, studying her friend.
Fransighed. ‘He has been incredibly kind but he hasn’t ever given me any sign he likes me more than just a neighbour. Not that I’ve actually seen much of him. I know I always seem to be over there recently, but he’s never there at the same time.’
Issi laughed. ‘You know what Mark Twain said – that there’s no such thing as an unselfish act. He likes you.’
‘Not like that! And if his generosity to me has an ulterior motive, it’s because he wants to buy the farm if I inherit.’
‘You will inherit, don’t worry. Amy is very fond of you.’ Issi had finally been to meet Amy and had since been to visit her with Fran a couple of times. To Fran’s relief, they had got on really well.
‘Not always. She accused me of trying to poison her with my cheese, don’t forget, even though I didn’t actually give her any!’ Fran fiddled with a loose curl as she thought about it. ‘Sometimes she does seem fond, and keen for me to make a success of the farm, but at others, she’s all, well – I don’t know – argumentative and difficult.’
‘She’s old, she’s allowed to be.’
‘I know,’ said Fran. ‘But it makes it hard for me. For example, she won’t tell me …’
‘What?’
‘Oh, never mind. You know, I’m still not sure that people can actually sit at the chairs. It’s one thing being able to squash everything round the table, butthey’vegot to be able to actually use their knives and forks.’
In the end Fran and Issi sat next to each other on the table where space was tightest and mimed eating. It was just about possible.
Fran was encouraged. ‘As long as I haven’t forgotten how to cook for big numbers, it’s going to be fine. At least everyone’s having the same thing at the same time, more or less. The publicity material said to ring if you were vegetarian and no one has, but I will make some individual veggies pies, just in case. You know what people are like.’
Although they had started arranging the room in plenty of time, it was late when they were finally satisfied with how it looked.
