Chapter Ten #3
She found Nathan in the lounge looking relaxed in a pale blue jacket, grey trousers and white open neck shirt.
As they waited for the lift they chatted about tomorrow and their planned afternoon on the beach.
Surfing had been a part of their lives since they were very young.
Sam Dixon, together with his wife, Benita, ran Sam and Beni’s beach restaurant, a large bleached wood building tucked into the bottom of the cliffs below the hotel.
Sam had taken over the business from his parents a few years back.
Now Beni looked after the restaurant while he ran the West Beach Surf School, housed in an adjacent building.
There he taught youngsters and adults the art of mastering the waves.
Cat remembered her own childhood when both Nathan and she were under the tutelage of a much younger Sam.
It was also the place where she had met and become firm friends with Jodie.
Having been such a full-on time at the hotel, tomorrow would be the first opportunity she’d had since her return from France to revisit her skills … and she couldn’t wait.
Reaching the ground floor, the lift doors parted with a light hiss and they crossed the marbled reception area with its elaborate wrought iron staircase, heading for the bar.
It was quiet at this time of the evening with just a smattering of early diners in the restaurant, the sound of wine corks popping and muted conversation drifting through the open doors.
As they entered the bar she saw the rest of their dinner group had already arrived and were gathered in the far corner.
The bar manager, stood taking a drinks order from Ruan, while Gareth and étienne were deep in conversation, the Italian’s hand draped casually on his shoulder in quiet camaraderie.
Evie stood next to her husband, fussing over Jordan’s tie, much to his annoyance.
Seeing them approach he batted her hand away, angry and embarrassed.
She noticed Nathan attempting to hold back an amused smirk.
‘Behave,’ she warned, giving him a small dig in the ribs.
They were both greeted with hugs from Gareth and Evie, while Jordan made a hasty retreat to the bar, eager, Cat suspected, to avoid any more of his mother’s unwanted ministrations.
Blonde, slim and with great bone structure, when Evie had been eighteen she had won the Miss Cornwall crown and automatically became a contestant for the Miss England title.
Taking in her flawless appearance Cat realised such perfection didn’t come without effort: a personal trainer and regular trips to the most expensive London clinics to ensure she maintained both her figure and looks.
Ruan and Gareth drank a toast to étienne and their long friendship.
Evie rolled her eyes, which made Cat and Nathan laugh.
Even after all these years it appeared she either didn’t understand their close companionship or was embarrassed by it.
With drinks over, the small group left the bar and made their way down the carpeted corridor towards the Tintagel Suite.
As the hotel’s smallest private dining room, the family normally held a block booking for its use as Ruan hosted dinners here for Rotary members and other business associates.
Tonight, its cream and aqua décor was enhanced by warm low level lighting, the large circular table laid with gleaming cutlery and shimmering cut glass.
As everyone took their places she noticed an eighth setting.
Immediately, she observed Gareth and Evie exchanging glances.
‘Well, did you really think he’d come?’ she heard Evie’s sharp comment, and realised her father’s invitation had indeed been extended to Luke.
‘Propping up the bar in The Smugglers, I expect,’ Ruan joked as he seated himself and Anton arrived to consult him on wine choices for the evening.
‘Luke never has been one for formal social gatherings,’ she heard Gareth say quietly.
‘Well, let’s face it, he’s not one of us, is he?’ Evie said with a syrupy smile. Gareth glared at her, animosity crackling between the two of them.
‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ an apologetic voice announced.
Cat looked up to see Luke standing in the doorway and dressed for the evening in a pale linen jacket, light blue T-shirt and navy chinos, his dark hair falling untidily over his forehead.
Brushing it back from his face, he gave everyone a friendly if slightly nervous nod, his eyes meeting hers for a moment.
She responded with a reassuring smile, one which he returned before stepping into the room and taking the empty seat place between Evie and Nathan.
Settling himself he pulled his napkin onto his lap and leant in to say good evening to his aunt.
Cat saw her deliberately ignore him, choosing instead to turn away and begin a conversation with étienne with a flutter of false eyelashes.
Cat watched her, angered by her blatant rudeness. She noticed her father had seen it too.
‘Glad you could make it, Luke,’ he said getting to his feet and reaching across the table to shake his hand, shooting a cool look in Evie’s direction.
étienne followed suit, leaving Evie shocked and surprised as he deliberately cut her off mid-sentence to add his welcome.
As the waitresses arrived with the first course Cat observed the scene quietly, secretly enjoying her discomfort.
As they ate, Cat watched events unfolding across the table.
Luke appeared completely at ease during the meal, polite and charming to everyone.
Jordan, in contrast, became quiet and sullen, pushing his food around his plate, drinking far too much wine and glaring at everyone.
Unhappy, no doubt, because his cousin appeared to be the person everyone wanted to talk to.
Luke didn’t seem aware of Jordan’s animosity and entertained everyone with stories about his recent travels
‘So at last your fun time is over? You begin the serious work now?’ étienne raised a curious eyebrow as the waiter circled the table once more, refilling glasses.
Luke was about to respond but, before he could reply, Gareth got to his feet, the flush in his cheeks indicating more than a few glasses of red had already passed his lips.
‘Can I have your attention, please.’ He tapped his fork noisily against his glass, ‘étienne’s comment has made me realise this might be an opportune time to break some news,’ he said, grabbing another mouthful of wine before setting the glass down and swaying unsteadily.
‘The Capricorn Group’s current Service Director, Roger Clarke, is due to retire soon.
He’s been with the company for over thirty-five years, working first for my father and then for me. ’
‘Gareth, do sit down.’ Evie tugged at his shirtsleeve. ‘I’m sure no one here is interested in hearing about Roger’s retirement.’
‘Will you let me finish, please?’ He pulled his arm free and frowned at her before continuing.
‘I did think at one time he’d be irreplaceable.
However, now my nephew is back from his travels …
’ he reached around Nathan and patted Luke’s shoulder ‘… I think he would make an ideal replacement. And that is why I’m planning to offer him the job.
That’s if he’ll take it, of course.’ He flashed a smile at Luke.
The whole room fell silent. All eyes were on Luke. It was clear from his shocked expression he knew absolutely nothing about this.
‘Gareth!’ Evie shot her husband an angry glare and yanked at his sleeve again. ‘For goodness’ sake,’ she hissed.
‘Sorry.’ Gareth gazed at everyone in turn before lowering himself slowly into his seat. ‘I guess I got a little carried away. My apologies.’
Still looking a little dazed from the news, Cat saw Luke suck in a heavy breath. He looked extremely uncomfortable and she didn’t miss the hate-filled glare Jordan shot him.
‘I can see this has come as something of a surprise,’ étienne remarked, eyeing the still silent Luke as he dabbed his lips with his napkin. ‘But it is a wonderful opportunity, no? And such an honour to be given this senior job in your uncle’s company, eh?’
‘Yes, yes it is,’ Luke agreed, acknowledging étienne with a brief smile.
‘Such a shock though, I never imagined …’ He shook his head and stared at the remnants of his meal.
Moments later, Anton and the team arrived to clear away.
Luke simply sat there as his plate was taken away, his eyes downcast, frowning silently.
Nathan rescued the awkward moment by getting to his feet and waving the dessert menu to attract everyone’s attention.
‘Right listen, please! I’m about to read out pudding options.’
Anton hovered, ready as usual to explain the contents of each item on the menu – something Evie always seemed to insist on before she made her choice.
Cat had no idea why a slim, attractive woman with no known food allergies had to do this.
It could be a throwback from her modelling days she supposed, but she simply couldn’t imagine a life where you had to analyse everything before you decided whether or not to put it in your mouth.
Choices made, Anton disappeared. Cat heard étienne asking her father when he planned to visit him in Garda.
Ruan’s response was that he’d love a return visit but only when the busy summer season was over.
He spoke of September or October. Nathan shot her a look across the table as if to say ‘we need to talk about this.’ She knew as well as he did that they were capable of looking after the hotel for a few weeks while their father spent some quality time with his old friend.
He desperately needed a break but their biggest difficulty, she knew, would be persuading him to go.
As she looked at her brother again, a nod towards Ruan and a sly wink indicated Nathan obviously had an idea; one which they would discuss later.
Gareth’s embarrassing moment seemed all but forgotten as the topic turned to golf and the men discussed their planned trip to Ruan’s club the following morning.
As they argued about handicaps and other golf jargon she didn’t understand a word of, the door opened and a dark-haired waitress arrived carrying the desserts on a large tray.
Cat saw Jordan’s eyes stray lazily in her direction, watching her as she selected two of the dishes and began distributing them around the table.
It took a moment for her to identify the girl as the hotel’s new waitress, Marika Stefanski.
As she placed Jordan’s Eton Mess in front of him he gifted her with one of his killer smiles.
Marika smiled back and arched her eyebrows provocatively.
Gareth cleared his throat, frowning at his son, who ignored him, continuing to watch with interest as she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Cat saw him smile secretly to himself and then the moment was gone.
By the end of the evening he’d probably have forgotten her because although Marika might be very pretty, Jordan certainly wasn’t into dating waitresses.