54. Present Day – April
54
PRESENT DAY – APRIL
JOSIE
‘ I have to say, this is a very good idea of mine.’ I mumble through a mouthful of Victoria sponge cake.
‘Mmmm,’ agrees Jamie, equally gross, cramming the baked decadence in his mouth. ‘I’m getting more.’ He heads off to a table next to the bar which is overspilling with cakes, cupcakes, and sweets.
‘Don’t eat all the stock,’ Scott chuckles. The smile lines stay creased at his eyes as he takes in The Bull.
Having been perpetually interrupted by people seeking coffee when I’d been here helping to redecorate and again when painting the bull mural, I’d snarked at Scott that he should just pour the damn people a drink and at least earn money from them. He’d looked at me like I’d slapped him in the face and then broke into a laugh.
‘What?’ I’d asked, confused.
‘I can’t say it enough, Angel. You’re a bloody genius.’
He’d then phoned Enzo, who’d bolted over to the pub and they squirrelled themselves off in a corner and emerged an hour later very happy with themselves and announced that they were going to trial opening The Bull as a cafe, earlier in the day, for the tea, coffee and cake brigade.’
Enzo comes over, rousing me from my memory, and Scott slaps him on the back with a, ‘Hey, partner.’
‘I will never get bored hearing that.’ His Portuguese accent is rich and smooth to my ears.
‘Me neither,’ says Scott. ‘I was never supposed to run this place on my own.’
Enzo thumbs behind him to the pub door. ‘A couple have popped their heads in asking if we’re open. I explained we were hosting a leaving party but I’d see what you thought. There’s plenty of cake to go around.’
‘The more the merrier,’ I say with a shrug. ‘Don’t be turning away customers on my account. Let’s consider it a soft opening before the big day tomorrow.’
‘That’s what I thought you’d say.’ He backs away to go and let the couple know they can come in.
‘People round here really seem to want a cafe,’ he chuckles. ‘It is such a fucking relief to have Enzo on board. That man is gold.’ Scott sighs and shakes his head.
‘The Bull will be in safe hands while we’re away.’ I use a serviette to dab crumbs from my mouth.
Scott strokes his finger at the corner of my lips then sucks it with a pop.
‘Did you just spit wash me?’ I drawl.
‘You missed a bit,’ he chuckles, then continues with, ‘Anyway, I’m hoping to be more of a silent partner in our business relationship, now. Maybe the trip will help me work out what I really want to do.’
‘Hey, I’m still figuring my shit out, too. What my niche really is. Please can we normalise not knowing what the fuck we’re doing in life? Don’t put pressure on yourself.’
His eyes swirl at my words and I push up onto my toes, kissing him.
‘Mmm, strawberries,’ he groans against my lips.
‘Heyyy,’ sings Ella as she shimmies over and I step away from Scott so I can engulf her in a hug.
Nate and Chunk strut up, too. Nate’s arms are across his chest, showing off his ink, and Chunk is devouring a piece of cake like an animal who hasn’t been fed for a while.
‘Got you a leaving gift. It’s from all of us.’ Ella holds up a cylinder wrapped in fabric with a black and white checked pattern and tassels.
‘You guys!’ I sing.
‘The wrapping is part of it,’ explains Chunk as I turn the bundle over. ‘It’s a shemagh. You never know when you need a scarf, or shoulder cover up, wind protector, makeshift pillow, towel?—’
‘She gets the idea, Action Man.’ Nate nudges him. ‘Let her open it.’
‘That is very cool. Thank you.’ I smile at Chunk and he flashes a white beam back at me.
‘Got you one, too.’ He turns to Scott and, cake in one hand, reaches in his back pocket with the other, passing him a dark green and black scarf, similar to the one I’m unwinding from my gift.
‘Thanks, man.’ With a tight voice and slight frown, I can tell Scott’s choked up by the gesture.
Inside my shemagh is a rolled up, bumpy sheet of leather, bound with a coarse ribbon.
I glance at Ella curiously. ‘Is this a jewellery roll?’
‘Almost.’ She bounces up and down. ‘Open it.’
I unfurl the bow and the leather uncurls to reveal a long pouch of pencils, and paintbrushes.
‘It’s—’ Beautiful. Breathtaking. Unbelievably thoughtful.
‘It’s an organiser for your art stuff.’
I hug my best friend in close, and bury my head in her neck. ‘Not sure what I’ll do without you keeping me organised.’
‘Shut up. You’ve got this,’ she whispers back, squeezing me tight.
‘So, what’re the latest plans?’ Chunk asks as we pull apart.
‘My flight to Mexico is in a couple of days, then I’m going to get my art on with Abi and Camila.’ I shimmy my shoulders in excitement. ‘ Then Scott’s joining me a few weeks later and we start our tour.’ I roll my lips together, unable to keep the grin from my face.
‘I’m just making sure Enzo is happy taking over the reins here, what with the pub and now a cafe. Oh, and we’re neatening up the beer garden so it’s ready for the better weather.’
Nate grasps Scott’s shoulder. ‘Same, same. I’ve nearly got the treehouses ready for the summer season at The Wreck.’
‘Your boy here has done an excellent job of getting the site ready to welcome glampers and people wanting a romantic getaway.’ Chunk explains, dipping his head towards Scott’s brother.
‘It’s because he’s such a romantic softie himself.’ Ella pinches Nate’s dimpled cheek and he pretends to look embarrassed.
‘Can’t believe I’m missing the famous treehouse opening,’ I exclaim. ‘You’ll have to send pictures.’
Chunk nods, then frowns as if in disbelief and says, ‘This is good cake,’ through his last mouthful of lemon drizzle.
‘That’s thanks to Lucia,’ I say. ‘Her cooking is phenomenal.’
Hearing her name, Lucia grins and waves at me across the bar.
‘Fuck yeah, those pastry bites were awesome,’ Nate sighs at a memory.
‘Be right back. I’ve had an idea.’ Still clutching my gift, I slip away from the group and head over to Lucia.
‘You enjoying your leaving party?’ She crosses her arms, leaning on the bar towards me with a smile.
‘It’s great, thanks. Perfect to catch up with everyone before I go.’ I move in closer to her, conspiratorially. ‘Listen, I’ve had an idea, but I wanted to run it by you before I say anything.’
‘Go on,’ she says, eyes bright.
‘Why don’t you do more than just cake? Why don’t you do some Portuguese dishes too, like for lunch or something?’
‘I’ve been wondering the same thing.’ She grasps my hands, voice quiet but brimming with excitement. ‘Didn’t want to presume people would want it.’
‘Oh my God , they would want it.’ I squeeze her hands back.
‘I have so many ideas.’
‘You’re married to the manager. You’re serving behind the bar. Baking the cakes. You should share those ideas.’ My hushed voice implores her with a building enthusiasm.
She nibbles a lip, her huge brown eyes sparkling as if her brain is reeling from all the possibilities.
‘And,’ I add, ‘anything I can do to help, just say.’
She smiles and taps my hand. ‘I have a lot of thinking to do.’ She wriggles her shoulders and then says, ‘More customers,’ and greets my parents warmly as she heads over to serve them.
‘Great shout from Enzo, employing Lucia behind the bar,’ I say when I return to my friends.
‘She hated her other job,’ Scott says. ‘And she’s brilliant with the punters.’
‘So, what are you doing for the few days before you go?’ Ella asks. ‘You’ve been awfully secretive about it.’
I glance at Scott, his eyes dancing and mouth tightly shut as if to say it’s my story to tell.
‘Well …’ I drawl.
‘You’re not normally so mysterious.’ Ella frowns suspiciously.
‘I have a gig at a party,’ I say coyly. ‘A … play … party.’
Not everyone in my sphere is so open with this kind of thing, so I’m nervous to admit my plans.
I try to pretend to be this bold character, who doesn’t give a flying fuck. But this opportunity, it’s something I’d really like to make a success of. Maybe to become a regular thing. I do give a flying fuck. And that makes talking about it, admitting it, pretty scary.
‘Like waitressing again?’ Ella smiles, unfazed. Like I should have known she would be.
‘Like, drawing, I guess.’ My voice peters out and I look to Scott.
He surrounds me with a huge arm. ‘She gonna be Artist in Residence at a sex party.’ He sticks out his chest. ‘And I’m supplying the drinks.’
‘Apollo is pretty into erotic art, so I’m doing this one on Saturday and, when I’m back from travelling, we’re going to work something out.’ I smile and shrug, struggling with this feeling of pride. ‘It might be a one-off or a semi-regular thing …’ I tail off, not really knowing what my plans are or what will happen, but with the promise of adventure swelling in my chest.
‘If you come back.’ Ella smiles sadly.
Chunk nudges her and says, ‘If you love something, set it free?—’
‘Unless it’s a lion,’ laughs Nate.
Scott moves behind me, pulling me tight to his chest, and I sink back into him, enjoying watching our friends joke about.
‘I love you,’ he murmurs into my ear, and I’m so happy,so free, I could soar.