Even if I’ve seen another side to Charlie, I’m surprised at her turnaround where he’s concerned. ‘Whatever happened to the big, bad developer?’
She shrugs. ‘Sometimes in business you have to look at the bigger picture.’ Then she goes to the door to check on Milla and turns back to me. ‘Talking of which, seeing Levi here made me realise you’re missing out on a whole chunk of the market. You should be doing Mum and Bumps afternoon teas.’
They sound very exciting, but I’m not tempting fate. ‘As if candlelight dinners aren’t enough.’ I’ll only be chalking this one up as a success when it’s over. ‘Anything with cake, I’m in. Although it’s not exactly child friendly here with so many stairs, so we’ll probably have to give that one a miss.’ I’m so disappointed I’ve talked myself out of that one so fast.
Sophie’s eyes narrow. ‘You’d obviously have to find a better venue. But now you’re building a reputation, it could be time to move on from here anyway.’ That’s a big step to take in.
Nell’s got cash register signs flashing in her eyes. ‘Sophie’s right, we should be using our property contacts to get you a permanent place.’
My voice shoots high with horror. ‘Hold it there. The whole thing with pop up venues is they disappear as fast as they arrive. They’re like a glimpse of a mermaid’s tail in the waves. Here and gone. Just like me.’ I snap my fingers to show how fleeting I am. Or should that be how fleeting I used to feel.
Nell’s turned on me. ‘Bollocks. Your Little Cornish Kitchen is a living breathing part of St Aidan now. You can’t seriously throw that away?’
Right now, all I’m thinking of is all Maude’s money I’ve saved up. If I don’t go back to work, I’ll have to give that back. ‘There’s nothing I’d love more than to live here doing the Little Cornish Kitchen.’ That much is true. ‘As soon as I’ve got my renovation cash together I’ve got some juggling to do.’ The questions have been buzzing through my mind. If I didn’t go back to Paris could I do Airbnb here to help my income? Am I really up to sorting out a new home for the Little Cornish Kitchen, and paying for it? But most important of all, can I keep the flat? This is more the size of Sophie’s wish list than my usual one, and it also sounds like it needs serious injections of cash I don’t have. It’s a big jump from the flight out and no commitment job I’d usually be wishing for.
Wanting is an alien concept to me. This far in life I’ve simply thrown out my metaphorical net, accepted what came along as destiny, and worked with it. Striving for a specific goal is a whole new game that takes way more skill and energy. For the first time in my life I’m wanting grown up stuff. And if I truly want it I can’t run away. If I want to keep the flat and the Little Cornish Kitchen, I’ll have to stayandlearn to fight. The only good part is that Nell, Plum and Sophie will be here to help me. And they all perfected the art of getting what they wanted years ago.
Nell’s scowling. ‘Juggling? What kind of juggling?’
It’s too huge to go into here. There must be a fairy god person on hand to get me out of this particular tight spot, because a second later Plum appears in the doorway, with Charlie close behind.
She’s got the empty quiche dishes on her tray and she’s jumping up and down. ‘Wake up, you guys, the salmon’s done, we’re ready for the salad and the main plates please.’
When there are twenty people crammed into the flat all needing wine and puddings at once there’s very little time to worry. With only two it’s much more tense, especially with so many of us looking after them. I’m hovering by the French window, worrying in case the sunset’s not orange enough, or in case the salmon marinade isn’t lemony enough, tryingnotto watch every forkful Ben and Rachel eat. So, when Sophie suggests I join in story time with Milla and Levi, I’m straight on the sofa, followed closely behind by Diesel.
If anything, Levi’s even cuter than Maisie in his stripey velour pyjamas with his blond quiff. As he snuggles onto Milla’s lap and sucks on his finger there’s no sign of the grizzly baby we were expecting. He chortles at the zoo pictures I’m waggling in front of him, then smiles all the way throughMog and Meg. By the time we get to the last page ofThe Tiger Who Came to Tea,Ben and Rachel are coming to the end of their strawberry tarts.
Nell beckons me from the kitchen, champagne bucket in hand. ‘If Levi can spare you, Mrs, I’ll take the bubbly, you can light the anniversary candles and carry the cupcakes out.’
As I push myself up from the sofa there’s a loud squawk. As I turn and look behind me Levi changes from cute and snuggly to red faced and screaming faster than you can say ‘angry baby’.
I’ve no idea what to do here other than join in and shout to the kitchen for help. ‘Sophie, come quick, Levi needs you.’ Given the volume, I’m actually playing it down. The screams are so ear-piercing poor Diesel buries his head under a cushion. ‘Sooner rather than later would be good, Sophie …’ I’m putting my hands over my ears to avoid my ear drums bursting when Charlie comes wandering in from the balcony.
His hands are in his pockets and he’s completely unhurried. ‘I’ve told Ben and Rach to sit tight for the moment. Anything I can help with here?’
I can’t help the sarcastic note in my voice. ‘Unless they did childcare diplomas at your speculator school, thanks for the offer, but we’ll wait for our expert mum with four kids.’ Milla dodges a right hook from Levi and shrinks back into the sofa.
Charlie laughs. ‘I don’t have diplomas, but I’m here, Sophie’s not.’ He reaches past me and a second later he’s swinging Levi up through the air, nestling him into the crook of his elbow and crooning in his ear to quieten him. ‘Okay, little guy, what’s the matter?’ A moment later, Charlie pulls back swiftly, wrinkling his nose. ‘Whoa, problem located, he’s only telling us his nappy’s dirty. Is his changing bag around?’
‘Here you go.’ Milla jumps up with a stripy Cath Kidston backpack.
I’m picking my jaw up off the floor as I stare at Charlie. ‘How do you know how to change nappies?’
He’s looking at me like I’m the stupid one here. ‘My sisters have kids and no one’s exempt from nappy changing in our house.’ Charlie’s already in the velvet chair undoing poppers, with Levi stretched out across his knees. ‘Once you know what you’re doing it only takes a couple of minutes.’
‘In that case I’ll leave you and Milla to it and go and help Nell.’
When I join Nell in the kitchen she’s put her ice bucket down and she’s standing by the work top scratching her head.
‘Everything okay?’
She frowns. ‘I thought I left the special cupcake on a saucer by the bread bin but now I can’t find it.’
As the reality of what she’s saying sinks in my heart starts to hammer. ‘That’s the cupcake with the ring in?’ I try not to screech.
Nell nods. ‘That’s the one.’
As Sophie comes back in, I bring her up to speed. ‘We’re looking for a cupcake on a saucer. You haven’t seen it, have you?’
