To her surprise, Vanessa felt her eyes fill with tears. “Yes, I do.”
Carmen patted her hand and then returned to the book.
“I actually wondered if I could ask you about the Coca de Sant Joan recipe,” said Vanessa after a moment.
Carmen flipped to the right page. But of course, when she got to it, it wasn’t there. “Ah, I see.” She ran her finger down the soft edge of the torn page. “The recipe in this book is no different from any other, actually. Nothing special. Most families have their own version of the Coca de Sant Joan, but I doubt this one was exceptional at all.”
Vanessa felt disappointed. She’d hoped for some kind of insight into what secrets this book held. She was convinced there was something in it, a story she couldn’t quite see. But perhaps it was just a recipe book without any secrets at all. For a moment she was sure she was about to burst into tears. She felt a gentle hand on her arm, and turned to look up at Joey.
Joey said nothing, but her eyes were warm, and she seemed to know that Vanessa was struggling in that moment.
Chapter Sixteen
JOEY
Joey envied Vanessa.
That was the truth. She envied the way Vanessa had such a strong connection to her family, the way she allowed herself to show it so easily.
That was something Joey knew she would never have.
She was at the bar already. Dani was late, but she normally was. There was a charming predictability to it. Joey sipped her soda water and thought about the conversation about the recipe book again. She’d replayed it in her head so many times. This book meant something to Vanessa. It was clearly a connection to her past.
“You look deep in thought,” said Dani in Spanish.
“Not really,” lied Joey.
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain English woman, would it?” Dani sat down and raised her eyebrows at her friend.
Joey rolled her eyes. “No.” Then she paused. “Well yes, but not in the way you think.”
“Oh, I believe you,” said Dani, furrowing her brow in mock seriousness.
“God, you’re annoying. Have I ever told you that?” said Joey with a half-smile.
“All the time. It’s why you like me.” A waiter came to take Dani’s order. “Pedro’s going to be here in a bit – is that ok?”
“Of course,” said Joey. “He’s a nice guy.”
Dani’s smile was wide. “He is.”
“I’m so glad you’ve found someone,” said Joey. “You and Pedro are lucky to have each other.”
“We are,” Dani agreed. “And what about you?”
“Not this again,” sighed Joey. “I’m good as I am.”
Dani held her hands up, signalling that she was backing off the topic. But deep down, Joey wondered for the first time in a long while what being with someone else might be like. She tried to ignore the vision of Vanessa blowing an errant strand of hair from her face while she was baking.
They continued to chat about what was going on at the bakery and at the language school where Dani worked. Joey studiously ignored Dani’s description of how enthusiastic and committed Vanessa had been in her Spanish lessons. She just nodded and moved the conversation on.
“Señoritas!” exclaimed Pedro, arriving with his arms wide and his smile even wider. He matched Dani perfectly – sociable and positive and always ready with a friendly grin. Joey nodded at him, just as she realised he wasn’t alone. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve brought my new friend with me.”
Joey’s eyes went wide.
“I think you’ll find Vanessa ismynew friend. I introduced her to Pedro at my party,” said Dani with a mischievous smile aimed directly at Joey.
Meanwhile, Joey was aware that her body was struggling to decide between excitement and horror. Her heartbeat had doubled and she could feel heat moving up her face.
