Chapter 26 #2
Tess took the plates that had been warming in the oven and placed them on the worktop, then, working alongside Danny, she started dishing up the carved lamb.
When the job was completed, she paused, thinking how much Marjorie would have loved to have been here.
She would have been at the centre of the action, issuing orders, telling stories.
Listening intently to the others. Perhaps it was an idea for future lunches, to invite some other people around because her mum always loved meeting new people – well, she certainly used to at least. Grabbing an additional plate from the cupboard, Tess filled it with some lamb and then a spoonful of each of the different vegetables from the serving dishes: carrots, savoy cabbage, cauliflower cheese, and some roast potatoes and parsnips.
She’d also knocked up some Yorkshire puddings, which had most definitely risen to the occasion and were towering from the bun tins impressively, eliciting a collective gasp of appreciation from the others.
She prised the first one out of the tin and popped it on the extra plate with the lamb, covering it with foil and putting it to one side, just in case an extra dinner would be required for later.
The way everybody mucked in, you would never have thought they were coming together for Sunday lunch for the first time.
Rob was transferring the dishes onto the centre of the table, Hannah was decanting the mint sauce and redcurrant jelly into ramekins, Dilly was filling the tumblers with water and Danny was tidying up the rest of the lamb and putting it on a serving place.
‘Right well, lunch is served,’ said Tess with a flourish.
‘Honestly, this is so good,’ said Danny a few minutes later when he came up for air, from where he’d been tucking in eagerly.
‘Now I can’t say it’s as good as my mum’s because if she were ever to find out, she would disown me, but I have to say that this is right up there.
’ This was delivered with a disarming smile and a cheeky wink at Tess.
‘That’s the best possible compliment I could hope for. As good as Mum’s!’ Tess took it all in good part, laughing along with the others.
‘You can’t beat your own mum’s dinners; it was one of the things I really missed when I was in Australia,’ said Hannah.
‘When I got home and had that first Sunday roast that I had been looking forward to for months, honestly, it was first class, better than I even remembered.’ She brought her thumb and fingers of her right hand to her lips in a chef’s kiss.
‘Well, I think we’re all agreed that Tess is an amazing cook and a wonderful hostess, and there can be no better place to have a roast dinner, so same time, same place next week?’ joshed Rob.
‘Well, you know you’re always welcome. Anyway, did you have a good turnout on your walk today?’
‘The best yet. There were eight of us, three newcomers including Danny and Michael.’
‘You mean silver-fox Michael.’ It was the affectionate term they used to describe him these days, out of his earshot, of course.
‘Yes, I was talking to him at the open-mic night and mentioned the group and he said he would be interested in coming along. As a newcomer to the area, I think he saw it as an opportunity to meet some new people, and he alluded to his own mental health problems in the past so hopefully he found it beneficial. He mentioned how much he enjoyed it today.’
‘I think it’s wonderful that these types of groups exist. Especially for men who are not always equipped to talk about their worries.
Women are much better at confiding in their friends, or their family, or their hairdresser.
I should know! Honestly, some of the things my clients tell me, you wouldn’t believe it, but I like to think I’m providing a public service.
Everybody needs help occasionally, or even just someone to listen. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.’
‘Exactly,’ said Tess. ‘And not everyone has the opportunity to sit around a dining table with their family and friends and to be fed and nourished by the food and conversation.’
‘That’s a very good point. We should have a toast to that,’ said Rob, raising his glass. ‘To our wonderful hosts, Tess and Hannah, for feeding us today, and to the warmth and friendship around this table. To friends and family!’
They took their time over their lunch, enjoying the conversation and the laughter, going back for seconds when they’d finished their meal, with them all agreeing with Dilly that they couldn’t possibly still be hungry, but how could they possibly resist one extra fluffy roast potato?
The fruit crumble, served with a choice of custard, cream or ice cream, or in Danny’s case, all three, finished the meal off perfectly, so that they were all completely full and barely able to move when they pushed their empty bowls away.
The clear-up process was again a real team effort, with Dilly and Danny clearing the table, Rob stacking the dishwasher, Hannah putting away the condiments while Tess took orders for coffee.
When Hannah popped to the loo, Dilly and Danny went into the orangery, giving in to Barney’s demands to play tug, as he had been incredibly patient all over lunch, Rob took the opportunity for a quiet moment with Tess.
He pulled her in towards him, his arms wrapped around her neck, their bodies touching as their lips met in a kiss, before she melted into his embrace.
‘Thanks for today,’ he whispered into her ear.
‘It’s been great and I really appreciate you inviting Danny along too.
He’s had the best time.’ Rob gave a flick of his head in the direction of the orangery from where the sounds of unbridled laughter reached them.
‘I meant to tell you, Michael has commissioned me to paint The Old Post Office.’
‘Really? That’s amazing.’
‘I’m pretty chuffed. You know I’ve been wanting to spend more time on my art so now I have the perfect excuse.
It’s one of those things that gets pushed to the bottom of the pile when I have work and other stuff to deal with so I’ll be glad to get stuck back in.
So I need to thank you for that too.’ He kissed her again on the lips.
As far as she was concerned, he could spend the rest of the afternoon thanking her if it meant she would be on the end of more of his delicious kisses.
‘No, I can’t take any credit for that. That’s all down to your own creativity and talent.’
‘Ahh, you’re too kind. I’m going to pop down in the week and take some photos and do some initial sketches.
It’s a bit daunting in some ways. It’s one thing to create a picture for your own pleasure, but to do so for someone else brings a whole different level of responsibility. You want to get it right.’
‘And I know you absolutely will. I have utter faith in you.’
‘I’m glad someone does,’ he said with a lazy smile that Tess always found so attractive.
‘I really do,’ she said, her turn now to kiss him.
After all, hadn’t he shown the same degree of faith in her as she had taken the first steps in getting her new business venture underway?
She often thought how she might not have had the confidence to follow through without Rob’s gentle but insistent encouragement.
It was a mutual thing, and now it was her turn to provide him with the same encouragement and support.