Chapter 50
The Lyons was as busy as ever. Cook had to wait ten minutes to get in.
Everyone in the queue had a story to tell about the bombings, comparing notes about where they’d been on what night, what they’d heard, what they’d seen.
There was a clear hierarchy. Seeing a bomb yourself was essential – if you’d seen one you had a story worth listening to.
If you’d felt the blast, even better. Hearing one was second best. From the thirty-odd people in the queue, it seemed everyone in London had personally seen a bomb, and most had felt one.
Stories were told with a giddiness, a sense of exhilaration at having faced the worst – the thing that every Londoner had been dreading for more than a year.
The same surly waitress seated Cook, evidently disappointed that she had to waste a table for two on one person.
Cook did his best to make up for it with his order.
Tea, kidney pie and mash, apple pie and rice pudding.
Last time he’d been here, he’d had to dash off and leave his food.
He felt like he was owed a generous meal.
The waitress was one of four on duty. None of them spent more than ten seconds with a customer, Cook noticed. They moved quickly and efficiently between the tables, shuttling stainless-steel teapots and refills of hot water. It was an impressive display of logistics.
‘You’re Ruby’s friend,’ Cook’s waitress said as she dropped off his tea things – teapot, extra pot of boiling water, small jug of milk, a tiny saucer holding two sugar cubes.
‘Good memory,’ Cook said.
The waitress flicked her eyes around, checking to see who was watching.
‘Drop your cup on the floor,’ she said, under her breath.
Cook understood. She needed cover. Couldn’t stand chatting with the customers without an excuse. He reached across the table for the teapot and knocked his teacup to the floor. It smashed on the hard lino.
‘I’m sorry,’ Cook said, bending down to pick up the pieces.
The waitress took a cloth from her pocket and knelt down, putting her head alongside his.
‘You didn’t hear this from me,’ she said. ‘But you might want to check out the bar at the Empire. From what I hear Ruby’s been doing a roaring trade.’