I didn’t respond for a moment. I didn’t know. My gut was telling me that Trina wasn’t solely interested in Phillip’s charming personality. He would know that, he wasn’t stupid, but even when he’d married before, I hadn’t had the same sense of something not being quite right as I had now.
“Speak to Phillip. I’ll call him when I’m on the way to Toad Hall.”
My phone vibrated again. The same number announced itself on screen. I looked down, knowing it would be Trina again.
It’s quite private. I’d appreciate a call as soon as you can. Trina.
“She’s persistent.” Vanessa had read it over my shoulder. “And it puts you in an awkward position. Making enemies with your business partner’s potential wife isn’t a top tip for today.”
I locked the screen. “I’ll call her tomorrow. Doing it straightaway probably isn’t the best idea.”
Victoria nodded. “Maybe speak to your ex first and don’t mention she’s contacted you. You might find something out without needing to ask.
I ordered a coffee and sat back, happy to let the conversation change to weddings and trips to Reykjavik.
Chapter 12
Jack
The biggest sea-change in my life had been when Lauren was born. I went from being a pretty much care-free twenty-something who had the freedom to do almost anything, to being controlled by a tiny, pink screaming thing who needed feeding more than an art student with the munchies. Nothing would ever come close to how much my life altered at the point where my baby daughter was placed in my arms. The centre of my world altered. It was no longer the earth’s gravity that pulled me; instead it was her.
The second massive alteration to my life was clearly becoming another stubborn, driven woman. In the two weeks since I’d been leered at by her friends in Mount Street – because there was no other way to describe it – Simone had become the second central point in my life.
I knew it was too quick, too sudden. I knew that I shouldn’t be feeling like this when I had more to consider; my job, Lauren, my missing brother. But Simone and the way she launched herself into each day with her determination had dug a pathway into all parts of me.
We were professional when we worked together, although the more astute members of staff had realised that something more was going on between us. After work, she’d stay with me, or the nights when Lolly was at her grandparents’ or Lily’s, I’d go to hers. The mornings when I didn’t wake up with her felt like something was missing. She was a staple ingredient in my life.
The Tipsy Toad had started to look and feel like a restaurant. Simone had woken up one morning and known exactly what the décor and ambiance were going to be like and that had kicked of a runaway train of go. I saw the vulnerable side, the part where she’d dance with my daughter and then end up having a pillow fight or cry at a Disney film that she’d never watched as a child. The Simone who had a clear focus and vision had the power and force of the dictator of a large country. She knew who to bring in and she had them lined up to help and she knew exactly what everyone’s deadline needed to be.
Max Callaghan’s birthday was the first of our trial nights. He had no idea; apparently his fiancée was luring him to the restaurant with the promise of it being a sex club or some half-cocked story like that. The rest of the Callaghans and their extensive network of friends were making up our first batch of diners. Although I’d been in the business as a chef for well over ten years, this was the first time I’d been involved in opening a restaurant.
“The Padron peppers need more salt.”
Jimmy had been hired as the guy who would be our main chef here when I went back full-time to Mount Street. He was talented, tapas was his bag and he’d had a shit-load of experience so far. He was also a player with the ladies and had half the waiting on staff drooling over more than just his patatas bravas.
“Yes, chef.” Antony was the sous-chef and hadn’t said a word to contradict anyone. Yet.
“How are things?” Simone wasn’t cooking and it was killing her.
“All under control.” I smiled at her, putting away the knives I’d finished with. Part of the beauty of tapas was that it was all in the preparation, unlike Blue or Mount Street where you were cooking to precise orders for certain items such as steak. “How’s things out there?”
“Getting busy. Seph’s just bought a bottle of tequila. Victoria asked if we could house him in the staffroom later.”
I laughed and folded my arms because I couldn’t touch her right now. “He’s not coming home with us.” Home. We were going back to hers tonight, Lauren staying with my parents for a weekend and being treated to a shopping trip – more fool them. After the food had been served and the extra dishes we’d prepared, we were joining in the party. These were her friends and in the last couple of weeks I’d seen her become more comfortable with them, letting them closer to her.
“I think he’ll be okay. He’s moving into Callum’s while he’s away. Then he’ll have to find somewhere he can cope with his own company.”
I wanted to talk about us and how we lived together. Out of each seven nights we were together for at least five. Lauren liked her: Simone made no attempt to be a mother-figure, just a human-figure, but there were ways in which she had supported her that Rebecca couldn’t.
“How long do you think you’ll be?”
“Another hour. Then everything will be out or about to come out. Jimmy can sort the extras.”
She smiled. “Good. I think we got lucky there. He went for a job at Buckley’s restaurant. Chose us instead.”
It was another victory.
“He mentioned it. Didn’t like Buckley; thought he was a tool.” I wondered if I could get her alone for ten minutes but the noise coming from the restaurant suggested it wasn’t going to happen.
