Inside the gallery beyond the tall glass doors, Plum is wrapping up a miniature sea scape painting for a customer. As soon as she’s seen the customer out, she hurries to join us. ‘Okay, I’m here. Let me at these puddings!’
As I pass her a mini Pavlova I can’t help feeling thrilled with myself. ‘Start with this. We decided individual ones would be easier to serve.’
‘Wow.’ She scrapes a dollop of cream off her meringue stack with a strawberry, then digs in her spoon. ‘This one’s definitely made the shortlist. So, when did you become a meringue ninja?’
It’s hard to think of myself as an expert at anything, particularly in the kitchen. ‘I’ve been whisking nonstop between sorbets. If they’re in air tight containers they stay fresh so I’ve cleared a space in the box room. That way I can make them in advance.’ And hopefully be less frantic. When it comes to meringues, thanks to Laura and Cressida Cupcake, I do seem to haveallthe knowledge now. Although without Charlie’s input I know I’d still be struggling.
Plum scrapes out her dish, then begins on an Eton Mess in a china mug. ‘You’ve done more clearing at the flat?’ She gives me a hard stare. ‘And did you come across any more treasures?’
I wouldn’t describe the photographs I found last time as that. ‘No strings of diamonds yet. Just lots of bags of wool and fabrics.’
Sophie’s nostrils flare. ‘And how about the pictures. Now you’ve had time to think it over, have they made you want to find out more?’ If she’s insisting on confronting the big-news issue, at least she’s sensitive enough not to personalise it.
‘Actually, I’ve decided it’s best not to poke the bear.’ I’m thinking cans of worms, balls of snakes and sleeping dogs here. ‘If a five centimetre photo makes me bawl my eyes out for no reason, I’m better not going there.’
Plum looks anxious. ‘You haven’t thrown them away?’
I shake my head. ‘They’re buried deep in a drawer now.’ I let out a sigh. ‘There’s still one picture on my phone though if you want to look.’ I know she will. I can’t bring myself to open it, so I hand it to Plum.
‘Oh my.’ She spreads her fingers across the screen to enlarge it, and lets Sophie see.
‘Well, well, well. Who’d have thought?’ Sophie’s not often this lost for words. ‘Remember that picture of us the day we covered Plum’s mum in sand when we were about three then all sat on top of her laughing?’
Plum nods. ‘That’s the one I was thinking of too. It’s not just the features that are similar, it’s your expression.’ She pulls in a breath. ‘Although maybe it would be more surprising if youdidn’tlook like each other.’
I might as well tell them where I stand on this. ‘Every time I see that picture it’s like someone’s walking on my grave. I had one gap in my life for a dad and Harry filled it. This really isn’t where I want to go.’
Sophie’s got her fake bright voice on. ‘And we’re totally with you, whatever you decide. We’ll take our lead from you on this.’ She flashes a smile to match and reaches in for another meringue. ‘So what’s this, Clemmie? How the hell do you know how to dopipedmeringuesandperfect whipped cream?
Plum butts in. ‘The last we heard you were tipping egg white all over yourself. Have you been takingadvancedclasses?’
I have to come clean on this. ‘It turns out Charlie has enough cookery skills to be in theBake Offtent. And he’s been sharing in return for Pancake’s board.’
Plum’s mouth twitches. ‘Thisisan afternoon of surprises. So, Pancake’sstillat yours?’ She looks vaguely horrified.
‘It’s not all bad. When she insists on lying next to my head her purr drowns out the noise of the sea. So at least I can sleep when she’s there.’ With the warmer weather and open doors, Diesel has a knack of sneaking in to cosy up on his favourite sofa, so I’ve often got him too. Which seems to be missing the point somehow. But whatever. ‘Charlie’s always dropping by to bring yummy meals too.’
That makes Sophie sit up. ‘What kind of yummy are we talking here?’
I shrug and try to remember the labels. ‘Trout royale, potted shrimp and pasta pearls, duck and bamboo shoots, Florentine with pollack.’
She sniffs. ‘Luxurious but very fishy. I thought you preferred sweet stuff?’
I laugh because she’s got it so wrong. ‘These are Pancake’s dinners not mine.’
‘Bleugh, that’s sonotfunny.’
Plum grins at Sophie’s disgusted expression. ‘So the top floor’s turned into an access all areas pet haven.’
‘Pretty much.’ Charlie padding around barefoot to sort out Pancake is a small price to pay for Pancake’s purr, even if it does give me heart failure from time to time.
‘Which reminds me.’ Sophie’s arching her eyebrows. ‘George’s receptionist, Janet, was at Bumps and Babies with her daughter’s twins. I went for it and asked if she could explain why Charlie’s got Dainty Dusters all over every flat at Seaspray Cottage apart from yours.’
I let out a wail of frustration. ‘I bet George has super-glued her lips the same as he has mine.’
Sophie’s smiling her superior smile. ‘I was careful not to make things awkward for her. Apparently, if you want to know who owns the flats you can apply to Land Registry.’ Sophie pulls a face at that suggestion. ‘But for a short cut, simply ask George for copies of the Residents’ Committee minutes. According to Janet, all the details of ownership changes for the flats are noted in there.’
Plum punches the air. ‘Brilliant. There’s nothing secret about those. If you’d been interested he’d actually have sent you those already.’
