Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
VANESSA
“Look what I found,” Joey said, as Vanessa walked into the bakery kitchen.
“Give me a minute, I haven’t even said good morning.” She laughed and kissed Joey on the cheek.
“Sorry, I just thought you’d want to see it. I was going through the old books in the back room, and I came across this.” Joey handed an old tome, holding the page open for Vanessa to read.
“A recipe?” Vanessa peered at the words, and immediately saw what it was. “Coca de Sant Joan?”
“Yes!” Joey grinned.
Vanessa’s heart sang. Was this going to give her a sense of the missing recipe?
Might it tell her something about her gran, or her Spanish family?
The knowledge that Joey had gone out of her way to find it warmed her soul, and she beamed at her.
She really was the very best girlfriend Vanessa had ever had.
Or was that a bit of an assumption, to think of Joey as her girlfriend? Vanessa wondered whether perhaps it was better not to ponder too hard on that, given their impending separation.
“What do you think?” Joey asked.
“Well, aside from anything else, it looks delicious.” Vanessa looked carefully down the list of ingredients.
“And it is the right time of year to make it.” Joey looked hopefully in Vanessa’s direction. “I thought we might make a batch today for the customers?”
“I’d love that,” said Vanessa. Perhaps the act of making the recipe would somehow make her feel more connected to her past.
And perhaps being more connected to her past might explain what she should do with her future. In the back of her mind she knew she had only a few days left to provide the deposit and sign the contract on the premises she and Carl had decided were the best fit for her bakery.
They’d talked long into the evening the night before, with Vanessa contemplating the next chapter in her life. She had limited time. The estate agent had confirmed that there was someone else interested, and she needed to make up her mind quickly.
“Look,” Carl had said, “give yourself a beat. Think about it. There may be another option you haven’t thought of.”
Vanessa wasn’t sure what that option might be. But she’d heeded her brother’s suggestion and given herself some more time to think. She marvelled at the fact she was taking so long to make up her mind. She was known for being impetuous. Maybe she really had turned over a new leaf.
And yet, when she thought of the new cafe, it didn’t make her feel the way she’d felt when she’d bought her tickets and flown to Barcelona straight from her grandmother’s funeral.
She’d been optimistic and excited and brimming with ideas.
Now, her mind kept drifting to Carmen and Joey’s plans for celebrating Saint John’s Eve.
Working together, Joey and Vanessa made a large batch of the enriched dough and left it to prove while they turned their attention to other bakes.
After it had risen, Vanessa enjoyed the soft elastic feel of it between her fingers.
It was totally different to regular bread.
It held the warmth of the kitchen and felt almost like a living thing. A precious thing.
Vanessa and Joey shaped it into the traditional flat ovals, then decorated it with glace fruit. There followed a sprinkling of pine nuts and sugar, and then they all went into the oven, spreading a sweet and spicy smell through the building.
“You read my mind,” said Carmen as she walked into the kitchen. “And I’ve had an idea for La Revetlla de Sant Joan in a few days.” She rubbed her hands. “I think you’re going to like it.”
“Why do I think this is going to mean more work for me?” Joey put her hands on her hips.
“This is your life’s work, my dear Josefina,” said Carmen with a wink.
Vanessa laughed. “I’ll help.”
“You are a precious girl.” Carmen patted Vanessa’s arm. “That cafe of yours will be a huge success.”
Vanessa felt her heart sink a little at the reminder. “Thank you, Carmen. And thank you both for all you’ve taught me. Honestly, I really couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Well we should thank you,” said Carmen. “Our profits are up since you started making those pale English sponges!”
Vanessa wasn’t sure what to say. This was beginning to feel like a goodbye. She looked across to Joey, who was studiously examining the spice shelf.
Carl arrived later for lunch, full of the wonder of the Sagrada Familia. “The sun shining through the windows is incredible,” he exclaimed.
Joey was out at the wholesaler for supplies, so it was just Vanessa and Carl. They had each ordered a salad and some bread and olive oil. It was simple but delicious.
“So, any further thoughts about the cafe in Birmingham?” Carl asked.
“Oh God, no. I mean, I know I just need to do the thing. I promised Gran.” Vanessa pursed her lips.
“You know,” said Carl drily, “she’s not here.”
“I know.” Vanessa felt her lower lip wobble. “But I promised her.”
“But what exactly was it you promised her?” He looked searchingly into his sister’s eyes.
“That this time I would stick to my plan. That this time I wouldn’t be a magpie and get myself all excited by something new and shiny.” Vanessa pouted. “And she was right to pick me up on that. I’m thirty-five and I still haven’t settled to anything. Or anyone.”
“But one day you will settle down to someone, right?” Carl put his head on one side.
“Well, yes, I hope so.” A vision of Joey’s brilliant smile flashed inside Vanessa’s mind.
“What if that someone is actually Joey?” Carl folded his arms. “I’m just saying that changing plans for something more important isn’t the same as being flaky.”
“Hmm, but how do I know the difference?” Vanessa drained her coffee cup.
“Well, that’s something I can’t help you with.” Carl smiled kindly at her.
“Honestly, you come here for some support from your amazing sister, and I yammer on about my own issues. How are you doing?” She pushed her plate aside.
“You know what?” said Carl. “Being here has really helped. I expected to miss her so much, but you know, a change of scenery has shown me that maybe I need something different, too. Someone different. Well, perhaps one day. Not now.”
“That’s amazing, bro.” Vanessa beamed at him.
“Ooh, before I forget, and this is going to sound weird, but I want to show you a photograph.” She took her phone out and scrolled to the hastily snapped picture of Sergio’s grandmother and the mystery woman – Esther.
“That’s Dani’s Great Nan. This, we think, is her lover. ”
Carl unfolded his arms and leaned forward, taking the phone from his sister.
“Now, maybe it’s just me, but don’t you think the other woman is a bit familiar?” Vanessa hadn’t been sure whether to show the picture to Carl, but her curiosity had got the better of her.
Carl frowned and used his fingers to zoom in. “I see what you’re thinking. She looks a bit like Grandma Sophia, I think.”
“Yes,” exclaimed Vanessa. “I thought it was me going mad. But Sophia was our great grandmother, right? I don’t remember meeting her, but I think I’ve seen photos.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” said Carl. “She died when I was quite young and you were tiny. I remember her, though. She visited us sometimes from Spain. She had this amazing accent. Gran loved it when she visited.”
“I can imagine.” Vanessa thought about her gran missing her own mother. It made her heart swell.
“It’s hard to draw a proper comparison, though,” said Carl, handing the phone back to Vanessa.
“She was very old when we knew her, but this woman in the picture certainly looks like some of the old photos in the family albums. Maybe she’s a more distant relative? It would be a bit of a coincidence.”
Vanessa sighed. “Yes, I suppose so.” She couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.