Chapter 6
Chapter Six
JOEY
Joey was tempering chocolate. It was a hypnotic task that brought together the heat of the chocolate, the cool of the marble surface and the regular smooth movements of her specially designed metal spatula.
She spread the molten mixture once more, judging that it was almost ready to dip the ends of the morning’s croissants in. There was a satisfaction in the knowledge that not only would it taste delicious, it would have a silky sheen to it.
This was what Joey loved about baking. Spending time, just her and her ingredients, making moments of perfection for others to enjoy. The bakery was always at its best when she was alone in the kitchen.
She heard an exclamation from Carmen who was serving at the counter. It seemed she was having an animated conversation with a customer. Then suddenly Carmen’s voice grew even louder, followed by another voice, softer, too quiet for Joey to hear clearly.
“Here,” said Carmen in English, “I am certain that Josefina will make room for you, my dear. I cannot wait to try this sponge delicacy.”
What the hell?
Joey looked up to see Vanessa, her ridiculously talkative neighbour, who looked a little flustered. Carmen was pushing her into the kitchen.
“Oh, I don’t know about now,” she was trying to say.
“It’s perfect,” said Carmen. “You can show us what you can do.” Carmen grinned as she handed Vanessa, who looked decidedly uncomfortable, an apron.
For once, Joey felt sorry for the woman. She clearly hadn’t intended this, and there was a blush moving across her face.
“Carmen, stop meddling,” said Joey, in a low voice.
“Nonsense, Josefina, there’s no time like the present.” Carmen tutted and went back to the counter.
“I’m so sorry,” said Vanessa. “This wasn’t what I planned. She just asked what my favourite British bake was, so I told her. Then all of a sudden I was in here.”
“Hmm,” said Joey, rapidly dipping her croissants before the chocolate changed temperature and lost its lustre. She wasn’t sure what to say to the woman before her. Vanessa wasn’t as irritating as she had been, but she was now in Joey’s private space.
“Look, I know I’m in your way here,” said Vanessa, holding her hands out, one still clutching the apron. “You don’t need me messing up your kitchen.”
“You plan to mess it up, do you?” asked Joey, a half-smile playing on her lips.
“No, of course not. I know you like your space,” said Vanessa. She put the apron on the side. “I’ll explain to Carmen and come back another time.”
“Am I really such an ogre?” Joey put down her pastries, folded her arms and leaned back on the surface behind her.
“No, of course not. I just don’t want to overstep. I’ll go.” Vanessa’s face was now beetroot red.
“No, if you do, I’ll never hear the end of it from Carmen.” Joey sighed, finding herself amused by Vanessa’s vulnerability. It made a change from the perkiness she’d shown before. “Look, there’s plenty of room in here.” She gestured to the side of the industrial kitchen she wasn’t using.
“Really?” said Vanessa, her large brown eyes looking warily at Joey.
“Of course,” replied Joey, beginning to worry that perhaps she’d overdone her general antisocial nature and become unfriendly. “Here,” she gestured to the space.
Vanessa gave a shy smile. “OK,” she said.
“What quintessential British bake can we expect from you?” asked Joey.
Vanessa was putting on the apron, which was far too large for her slim frame. She doubled the tape and tied it around her middle, then paused and looked at Joey before speaking. “Wait and see,” she said.
“Hmm,” said Joey. She left Vanessa to it and returned to her task, praying Vanessa would understand that this was not an activity that required verbal accompaniment.
She could hear clattering, and the sound of cupboards opening and closing.
It was an unfamiliar kitchen, so of course it would take the newcomer a while to work out where everything was.
She tried to ignore the movement and the sighs of her fellow baker.
“Ah,” said Vanessa under her breath, “there you are.”
Joey smiled. The woman was incapable of not talking, even to inanimate objects.
She lifted her head to see Vanessa taking a pair of round cake tins from a drawer.
She placed them on her work station, on which she had already arranged an assortment of ingredients.
She looked pensive, biting the side of her thumb, before pulling all her hair back and tying it into a messy bun on the back of her head.
Joey was always impressed with women who could do that.
She hadn’t had long hair since she was a child, and it had always been wild and unkempt.
The moment she could, she’d had it cut off, much to her mother’s horror.
She recalled the silent ‘o’ her mother’s mouth had made, and the tears that sprung from her eyes, always ready to cry at the drop of a hat.
Vanessa was carefully sieving sugar, her focus complete. This was an unexpected side to her and Joey couldn’t help but stare.
“Everything ok?” asked Vanessa, her eyes not straying from her sugar. “Only you’ve been watching me like that for the last few minutes.”
“Sorry,” Joey replied, feeling heat touch her cheeks. God, she was such an idiot. She asked herself why she was so socially inept, something she’d wondered a thousand times over the years. “Just checking you aren’t wrecking the joint.” She turned abruptly to her chocolate duties.
“I don’t plan to,” said Vanessa, her face turning to look at Joey. “I just wondered if I was doing something wrong? Have I made some kind of kitchen faux pas? Am I using salt instead of sugar? Messing with the wrong utensils?”
Joey looked up. Vanessa’s face was dusted with flour, and the heat of the kitchen had brought a dark pink to her cheeks, through her olive skin . “No, you’re good. I’m just not used to sharing the kitchen. Ignore me.”
“Ok,” said Vanessa, her brow furrowing slightly.
Joey felt strangely on edge for the next few minutes as she worked methodically through her tasks. It was as if she’d forgotten how to be around people. She was never like this when Carmen came in and worked alongside her. The truth was, she was used to sharing the kitchen. Just not with Vanessa.
But why Vanessa felt quite so different was beyond her.