Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
‘Anyone fancy heading to The Cellar for a quick drink after this?’ asked Max.
His son, Connor, and Jasmine’s two children had gone back to his house, Njord’s View, where they were staying overnight while Jasmine’s parents babysat.
Jasmine was staying over at his place that night, which she and her kids did occasionally, and her parents had encouraged her to make the most of the evening.
Stella checked her watch. ‘Don’t know about you, Al, but I’ve got time for a quick drink before I need to head back. I’ll stick to fizzy water with me driving. Plus, I still have a bit of prep to do for the trial tomorrow.’
‘Yeah, I’m good with that,’ Alex replied.
Lark checked Maggie and Bear for their reaction. She’d take their lead. If they felt the need to go home to relieve his mum, Chrissie, from her babysitting duties, then she thought it would be best if she and her dad headed back with them rather than them having to walk back.
She was pleased when they were keen to call at The Cellar and made her way over to where her dad was talking to Louisa.
‘Sorry to interrupt,’ she said, smiling as she rested her hand on her father’s arm. ‘Dad, there’s been a suggestion for our group to head to The Cellar for a quick drink, not sure if you’re interested?’
‘Oh… um.’ Silas’s face fell, his eyes darting back to Louisa. ‘I—’
Reading his mind, Lark acted quickly. ‘Maggie and Bear are going, so we can still get a lift back with them. And you’re very welcome to join us, if you’d like, Louisa.’
She pretended not to notice the hopeful look in her dad’s eyes, the tentative smile that danced over his mouth.
‘Are you sure your friends won’t mind?’ Louisa glanced between Silas and Lark, her cheeks flushed pink.
‘They wouldn’t mind at all, the more the merrier. It’d be great if you could join us.’ Lark bit back on her smile, not wanting to betray how happy she felt seeing her dad enjoying himself. He’d actually got some colour back in his cheeks and she was sure it was all down to Louisa. Woohoo!
‘Sounds like a good plan to me. That way we’d be able to continue our conversation over a nice glass of wine,’ Silas said.
‘In that case, how could I refuse?’ Louisa beamed at him.
‘Great. We’re heading off in about five minutes.’ Lark could barely contain her happiness, as she made her way back to her friends.
‘Oh, this place is amazing!’ exclaimed Louisa as she walked over the threshold of The Cellar, Silas holding the door open for her.
The place was busy but not crazily so, and the gentle burble of conversation blended with the hostelry’s playlist of indie folk-rock fusion.
‘I can’t believe I haven’t been here before now. ’
The Cellar was the town’s fashionable microbrewery that was situated on Endeavour Road.
Its reputation for brewing outstanding beers, including Micklewick Magic and Micklewick Mischief was rapidly gaining pace.
The décor was a contemporary take on rustic chic, with waxed floorboards alongside a solid oak bar where a row of gleaming beer pumps sat in a line.
A mix of statement lighting illuminated the space.
This evening, it was decorated for the festive season with a Christmas tree on the far wall by the door to the private quarters and baubles dangling from the antlers of silver stag heads.
‘Ooh, look, there’s a cheeky booth free over there. We should all just about be able to squeeze in,’ said Maggie.
‘Right, missus, you go and grab it for us while I head to the bar. Glass of Pinot?’ said Bear.
‘Fizzy water for tonight, thanks. I’ve got some serious bear-making to contend with in the morning and I want to keep a clear head.’
‘Aye, righto,’ said Bear as Maggie headed over to the booth with Jasmine and Florrie.
‘Hi, folks.’ The Cellar’s co-owner, Netherlands-born Pim greeted them with a warm smile.
‘How’s things, big sis?’ he asked, fixing his gaze on Stella.
The pair had discovered they were half-siblings a year ago, the revelation coming as a massive shock.
It was only then that their resemblance to one another had become so obvious.
Both were above average height with strong shoulders, blond hair, and straight eyebrows above bright-blue eyes.
‘Hi, little brother, things are fine and dandy, how about you?’
‘Good, thanks. Have you come from the reading at the bookshop?’
‘We have, it was amazing,’ said Alex, his hand resting on Stella’s hip.
‘Cool. So, what can I get you all?’ Pim asked in his lilting Dutch accent as he scraped his hair back, revealing a tattoo on his wrist.
Pim’s partner and co-owner, Bill, landed back at the bar as the friends were placing their drinks order.
Both men were wearing The Cellar’s uniform of jeans and a white shirt with The Cellar’s signature black apron tied at the waist and emblazoned with the microbrewery’s logo.
Over their shirts they wore fitted tweed waistcoats.
The staff uniform was the same, though their waistcoats were a slightly different fabric.
Appearance-wise, small-framed Bill was the polar opposite to his husband.
Whereas Pim’s thick locks were chin-length, Bill’s hair was cut close and revealed it was starting to thin.
And he wore a neatly clipped beard while Pim was clean-shaven.
‘Right then, who’s next?’ Bill asked in his usual friendly manner, his eyes growing wide when he spotted Lark’s father. ‘Silas! How lovely to see you.’ His eyes slid to Louisa standing beside him. ‘I see you’ve brought a friend.’
Lark left her father and Louisa chatting about the heritage museum with Bill while she headed over to her friends.
Silas and Louisa were the last to arrive at the booth and despite everyone inching up and making room for them, they agreed that the arrangement was going to be a little snug.
Instead, they opted for a cosy table for two tucked away in a corner and set with a flickering candle.
It pleased Lark no end that her dad felt he was okay to do something like this.
He would’ve recoiled from the idea a couple of months ago.
As the evening progressed, Lark and Nate shared with their friends what had happened at Crayke’s Cottage, the suitcases and the meeting with Louisa, the group listening attentively, occasionally asking questions.
All the while, Buddy sat quietly at Nate’s feet as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
Lark found herself sneaking surreptitious glances in her father and Louisa’s direction.
It gladdened her heart to see them both looking so happy and comfortable in one another’s company, reminding herself that it wasn’t only her dad who’d experienced great sadness, that she’d sensed Louisa had, too.
Florrie caught her eye from the opposite side of the booth, giving a quick hitch of her eyebrows. The mutual attraction going on at the cosy table for two evidently hadn’t escaped her attention either. The two friends exchanged a knowing smile.
Though it was very, very, early days, and she hardly dared to think about it too much, Lark hoped it signalled a fresh start for her dad.