Charlie turns to me. ‘You saw how much he enjoyed the party, and it’s good for him to lighten up. You’re going to have to help me persuade him.’ He turns to me. ‘Obviously, you need to come too, Clems. I can’t think why I didn’t mention that to start with. And Plum, too?’
Plum puts her hand up. ‘Count me out, Sunday’s my busiest day at the gallery.’
I’m looking down at my kitten heeled sandals and wiggling my toes. And remembering whatever he’s up to with Joe. ‘Sorry, I’m out too, girlie shoes and boats don’t mix.’ It’s only the first excuse of many. When I stop to think about it the list of objections is as long as my new maxi skirt. Which incidentally is floaty and purple, with stacks of fringing and two floor to knicker kick splits, which will be getting sewn up if I ever get a minuteandremember how to sew on the same day. At the knock down price of £1.75, it’s my best buy yet from the Cat’s Protection shop on the High Street. Although my finances went up the spout a bit when I splurged on nail varnish to go with it. The perfect match was Chanel Frenzy in this gorgeous smokey lilac colour. Worth every penny at twenty quid. But at the same time that’s a hell of a lot of meringues.
Charlie’s staring at my feet. ‘Nice toe nails, Clems. Leave the footwear to me, I’ll sort something out. What size are you?’
‘Five.’ I’m not sure I’m comfortable sharing my measurements with a guy.
‘Great.’ He’s back to Nell again. ‘So make that three for the boat trip please.’
Good to know someone else appreciates the colour as much as I do. But I’m back to the objections. ‘For me sailing’s even worse than beach walking. Dresses really don’t mix with rigging.’ I have a final brain wave. ‘I’ll look after Diesel.’ If I say it like he does, as a statement not a question, he’ll have to take notice.
I’m saved the reply when Nell’s phone rings, and she dives off to answer it.
Asyou’re the one that i want … whoohooohooo, Honey … the one that I wantechoes round the gallery repeatedly, I grin at Charlie. ‘Greasewas her favourite film back in the day. She had a major thing for John Travolta.’ I leave out that she waits so long to answer her phone it usually goes to voice mail, just so she can do the dance moves. Even as I glance over my shoulder I can see her wiggles as she shadows Olivia Newton John’s skipping steps. Back then the rest of us were kind enough to overlook that John Travolta was practically old enough to be our grandfather. At least it left moreAmerican Piehunks free for the rest of us to share out between us.
He doesn’t even give an eye roll before he turns to Plum. ‘As for the seascapes, I’ve seen half a dozen big ones that would work really well. As soon as I’ve seen the designers, I’ll come back to you and we’ll thrash out some figures.’
‘Brilliant. Wow. Thanks.’ Plum’s got every right to look ecstatic. Even if Charlie negotiates discounts for buying shedloads, she could make enough from this one deal to keep her going for months. And there could be other flats to hang in too.
Charlie sends her a wink. ‘No, I should be thanking you. We like to use local artists wherever we can. Your paintings are so in tune with the region we’re counting on them to sell the development.’
I give Plum a nudge and squeeze her arm. Then Nell comes back and high fives her.
‘Well done, Plum, way to go.’ Then she turns to me and waggles her hand by her ear. ‘And that was an SOS call.For you, Clems.’
My heart sinks. ‘Not a chocolate overdose?’ I’m thinking back to Sunday evening, and how hard everyone was hitting the puddings. I’m just hoping she doesn’t blow it and start talking about me and my events in front of Charlie.
Nell laughs. ‘It’s good news not bad. Ben and Rachel, one of my very first couples from the Singles’ Club have booked a meal for their second anniversary at the Harbourside. But their baby’s getting over an ear infection and they don’t want to leave him.’
‘So where do I come in?’
Nell’s blowing out her top lip. ‘They’d like a candlelit anniversary dinner on your balcony.’
It’s as if Nell’s been peering into my head looking at my dreams. The last time she mentioned dinner for two it was a joke. But lately I’ve been thinking – where three parties a week might be pushing the Seaspray Cottage rules, smaller more exclusive evenings could give the Little Cornish Kitchen a whole new direction. I know those first sorbet evenings were rough around the edges, but I’ve come a long way since then. And this way there would be much less for Charlie to object to.
I’m trying not to let the exited fluttering in my chest get out of control. ‘If the wind off the sea’s a bit flukey I can’t promise their candles will stay alight.’
Plum’s laughing. ‘A well-known hipster tip – night-lights in Mason jars will stay alight in a Force 10 gale. So, that’s the candles sorted.’ Which possibly also explains why Sophie’s got so many of the damned things.
Nell’s almost as breathless as me. ‘They’re bringing their own high chair for Levi. And a travelling cot.’
‘Brilliant.’ I’m flapping my hands, imagining the twinkle of the lights and the sea rushing up the beach, then it hits me. ‘There’s only one drawback – I don’t knowanystarters or mains.’ Talk about getting letting my puddings go to my head.
Charlie’s joining in now too. ‘Don’t forget, Clemmie, we’re making pastry later.’
I want to hug him for cutting through my panic. I can do this. ‘We could do mini quiches for starters. And strawberry tartlets with sweet crust for dessert. We already know Laura’s recipes are fool proof, and we can easily rustle up a couple of other desserts. So, that only leaves a main.’
Nell’s looking exceptionally pleased with herself. ‘And for that they’ve requested salmon skewers with a side salad, because that’s what they had on their very first date.’
Charlie’s straight in there. ‘Easy. I can talk you through that. We could even fire up a chargrill at my end of the balcony.’ He’s obviously forgotten. I told him the day I moved in that barbies on the balcony weren’t happening.
Plum’s clasping her hands excitedly. ‘And Nell and I will help too. Four of us making a meal for two, we should nail it.’ They’re all as enthusiastic as I am, and I’m loving that they’re joining in. I’m also guessing Plum’s seeing as much Operation Siren potential in this evening as I am.
‘I’ll pick up the fizz. Which only leaves one other thing …’ Nell’s eyebrows are on wiggle overdrive as she beckons us all closer. Once we’re in a tight huddle, listening to her low murmur she carries on. ‘Ben specifically requested cupcakes, because he wants to “hide” something.’
Plum’s jaw drops. ‘Holy shit, he’s planning aproposal?’
