“We all do. But in the meantime, we’ve got a one-hundred-seater wedding reception booked for this afternoon and no one to run it. We’re already stretched as it is and there’s no one free to come in at the last minute to cover things. Marlena is going to step in and run the wedding reception and I’m going to cover for her at the big birthday party booking she was already scheduled to manage. We can’t let either client down, so it’s all hands on deck. Which means our plan for an afternoon getaway together is out the window. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologise. Of course you have to help. I’m just sorry this has happened.”
“This was supposed to be our first proper afternoon together since you opened this place,” the man said, gesturing around the café.
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll make up for it when things aren’t so hectic. But are you up to the challenge of running a birthday party event by yourself?”
“I guess I’ll find out. We don’t have any other choice.”
Gaby couldn’t miss the hint of alarm in the man’s voice. His problem wasn’t really any of her business but it was impossible to stay silent when she knew she might be able to help.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing,” Gaby said. “It sounds like you’ve got some sort of staffing crisis and a big hospitality event that you need someone to manage. Well, maybe I could pitch in?”
Both Mel and the man turned towards her, looking completely puzzled.
“I work in the hospitality industry,” Gaby explained. “I manage hotel functions and corporate events of all shapes and sizes, from family parties to weddings, dances and balls, conferences and fairs and everything in between. My last job was in a large four-star hotel in Madrid where I worked for three months, and I can give you a quick rundown of my other contracts before that and the sorts of duties I’ve taken on.”
Both Mel and her man were still staring at her in amazement and the lack of interruption kept Gaby talking.
“Right now, I’m on a break between jobs for a few weeks while I stay with my aunt and help her around the house while she recovers from knee surgery. It sounds like you’re in a tight spot and need some help. I can pitch in and manage either the wedding reception or the birthday party you mentioned, if you think that might be helpful.”
Both Mel and the man stared at her for a long beat.
“Are you serious?” the man asked at last.
“Absolutely,” Gaby said, getting up from the table. “Like I said, managing large hospitality events is my bread and butter and because I work short-term contracts to cover staffing absences I’m used to getting familiar with in-house systems and operations quickly. I can give you the phone number of my last boss over in Madrid if you want to check me out.”
Gaby pulled her phone out to find the number.
“Hang on,” the man said, giving her a curious look. “Did you say you’re staying here with your aunt who’s had surgery?”
The segue caught Gaby a little by surprise, but it stood to reason that the guy would want to quiz her on what she was telling him. “That’s right. Her name is Jill Young and she lives on Foxglove Street.”
The man’s odd expression collapsed into one of understanding. “My aunt knows your aunt!” he said, his voice excited. “I drove my Aunt Anita to the hospital to visit your aunt after the surgery. My aunt had surgery herself a few months ago and your aunt visited her while she was recovering, so she wanted to repay the gesture. I think they know each other through some sort of litter picking committee they both sit on.”
The serendipity of the encounter made Gaby smile. “Aunt Jill mentioned she was annoyed not to be able to take part in her committees until she was properly up and about again.”
“When I drove my Aunt Anita to the hospital to see your aunt, she said that her friend had a niece coming to stay with her during the recovery and that she worked in various hotels all over the world. As that’s our family business too, she was naturally interested and told me all about it afterwards when I drove her home.”
“It’s a small world,” Gaby said with a laugh.
The man held out his hand. “I’m Harry Goodwin. I run the finance side of things in our family’s hospitality business.”
“It’s great to meet you, Harry,” Gaby said, shaking his hand. “I’m Gaby Leonard.”
“Listen, I’m used to stepping in and helping out from time to time around our businesses when we have a staffing shortage but I’ve never had to take charge of running an entire event before. To be honest, I’m terrified. Do you really think you could help us?”
“Absolutely. How big is the birthday party?”
“We’ve got sixty people coming for a celebration to mark an eightieth birthday. It’s a full afternoon including canapes and champagne on arrival, a three-course lunch complete with a jazz quartet, followed by a special photo slide show the family put together and then speeches and a bespoke birthday cake served with more champagne. They’ve even got a professional photographer coming to take pictures. The client is a frequent guest at our hotels and it’s important this event goes smoothly. To be honest, me being in charge of running it isn’t ideal, but everyone else in my family is already busy doing other things today that are just as important. The manager who was supposed to be running the birthday party is stepping in to oversee the wedding instead, because we’ve got no other choice. The staff on hand for the birthday party will do what they can, but me being in charge of running it is, well, let’s just say it’s sub-optimal.”
“I understand and I can get up to speed quickly with the staffing team you have in place and familiarise myself with the schedule and requirements for the day. Well, if you’d like me to, that is.”
“I’d like that very much,” Harry said, relief flooding his face. “I can’t tell you how much of a relief this is. Are you sure you can spare the time?”
“I’m sure.” With her Aunt Jill managing better than expected, Gaby knew she’d be fine by herself for the afternoon,especially once she learned she’d be helping the family of one of her friends avoid a potential disaster in their hospitality business.
“We’ll need you to sign a contract for insurance purposes and we’d want to agree your fee before you start,” Harry said.
