1
Happy New Year?
Jerome was sitting in his kitchen, staring into his coffee cup.
He’d hardly slept. By the time he’d arrived home, Liz was asleep, or at least she was in her room.
He played over what had happened last night in his head.
He knew he’d screwed up. Messing around with your staff was a recipe for disaster.
He’d lectured everyone on it and here he was crossing the boundaries he’d vehemently enforced.
The truth was he didn’t feel guilty. He didn’t even feel as though he’d betrayed Liz.
He felt nothing towards her. What he did feel was an overwhelming need to see how Dani was.
David’s brother-in-law was lucky the restaurant had been packed and that both Cosimo and Arsenio were there to hold him back.
Jerome clenched his teeth, remembering Dani’s distraught face.
He picked up his phone and tried her number again. It was still switched off. How on earth was he going to hold it together until five this afternoon when her shift started?
“Morning.”
Jerome’s thoughts were interrupted by Liz walking into the kitchen. “Morning. Happy New Year.” His eyes travelled over her face to see what mood she was in and to his surprise she seemed to have calmed down from last night.
“Happy New Year. You’re up early.” She filled the kettle as she spoke.
“Yes. I have a lot to get through today.”
“Shall I bring the children down for lunch? That way your mother will see them.”
“Er… yes, sure, she’d love that.”
“Make up for last night.” She smiled sweetly at him and then busied herself with her tea. “They fell asleep early last night. They’d never have lasted at the restaurant.”
“Oh. No. Perhaps not. I called you at midnight to wish you Happy New Year, but you didn’t answer. I didn’t call the house just in case I woke the kids.” Jerome drained his coffee and stood up.
“I went to bed early and had it on silent. Sorry.” She shrugged apologetically.
“Well, I’d better get into work. It’s a busy day. What time will you be down?”
“Two o’clock okay?”
“Sure, and thanks. Mama will be so pleased.”
“It’s the least I could do. I know she would’ve been disappointed last night.”
A slight understatement, thought Jerome as he smiled tightly.
“Yes, she was. Okay then, see you at two. I just need to get my jacket. “
Liz nodded and walked through to the conservatory, leaving Jerome, who then promptly headed to the hallway and ran up the stairs two-by-two, into his room.
He walked past Liz’s room and pushed the door ajar.
The bed was unmade and her clothes were strewn over the floor.
He shook his head and sighed at the mess, then walked to his room.
In contrast his bed was made and the room was immaculate.
He pulled his jacket from the hanger, shrugging it on, and walked swiftly down the stairs.
He popped his head into the playroom where Kara and Alessandro were watching TV, to say goodbye, then headed to the wine fridge in the kitchen.
He pulled out a bottle of Dom Perignon from the rack and furrowed his brow.
He was sure he had restocked the shelves with four bottles. Now there were only three.
Jerome slipped into his car and started up the engine, then checked the time. Ten thirty. He put his phone on hands free and called Peter.
“Buongiorno.”
“Buongiorno, Peter. Just to let you know I’ll be in around twelve and Liz will be down around two with the kids, so hopefully you can squeeze a table in for us to have a late lunch.”
“Um, sure Jerome, leave it to me.”
“Thanks. See you. Ciao.”
Jerome then pulled out the scrap of paper he had in his pocket and entered the post code on his sat nav that he’d scribbled down last night. He pulled out of his garage and powered onto the road.
DANI SHIFTED HER LEGS as she turned and felt something obstructing her stretch.
She lifted herself up to see what it was and was greeted by a pyjama-clad Sophie sat on the side of her bed holding the Twister box.
Sophie beamed at her, her curly blond hair dishevelled from sleep and her bright blue eyes sleep swollen.
“Good morning, angel. What are you doing here?” Dani rubbed her face, trying hard to calm her pounding head.
“Can you play Twister with me? Ollie won’t play.”
Dani looked at the clock. It was seven thirty. “Can I get up and have a shower first?” Sophie beamed and nodded. “Then maybe we make some breakfast?”
“Pancakes?” Sophie asked expectantly.
“Sure, pancakes. And then we’ll all play Twister,” Dani reassured.
“Ollie wants to play on his Xbox,” she added sulkily.
“Once we start, he’ll join in too. You’ll see.” Sophie clambered up the bed and got into the covers next to Dani. Dani pulled her close to her and snuggled her. “Happy New Year, angel.”
“Happy New year, Dani. Eskimo kiss?” She lifted her face to stare at Dani.
“Definitely.” And they rubbed noses and giggled.
Within half an hour, Dani was showered and dressed. She turned on the coffee machine and started on making the pancake batter. Sophie sat on the kitchen counter swinging her legs, drinking her warmed milk.
“Okay, pass me the eggs. One at a time, though.” Sophie set down her milk and handed Dani the first egg.
Dani cracked it into the blender. Then Sophie systematically passed the eggs one by one.
Once they were all in, Dani placed the lid on the blender and signalled Sophie to press the switch.
Sophie grinned as it whizzed loudly. Then, after Dani’s instruction, she pressed it off, again.
“All ready. Now we need the pan and palette knife and we can start cooking.” Sophie jumped down and rummaged in the cutlery drawer, retrieving the palette knife while Dani pulled out the frying pan.
Before long, they were joined by Ollie, who’d come into the kitchen rubbing his eyes.
“Come to help?” asked Dani.
“Can I flip one?” he asked hopefully.
“Just one though, and only after you’ve given me a kiss.”
Ollie narrowed his eyes. Dani laughed, knowing he was struggling with the idea. “Okay, Eskimo kiss.” Ollie grinned, nodded and stepped closer to Dani. She bent down and they rubbed noses. Dani grabbed him and squeezed him and he giggled. “Happy New Year, Ollie.”
“Happy New Year.”
By the time Adam and Chloe came down, the table was set and the huge stack of pancakes was warming in the oven. “Wow, you’ve all been busy,” Chloe yawned.
“I’m starving and I need coffee,” mumbled Adam, looking a little worse for wear.
“Offee,” repeated Rosie.
Chloe grinned at Rosie. “Warm milk for you, baby. Daddy needs coffee because he has a hangover.”
“Anover!” repeated Rosie. Chloe stifled a grin as Adam huffed.
“Mummy, we’re going to play Twister. Dani, Ollie and me.
” Sophie placed the syrup and chocolate spread on the table while Chloe put Rosie in the high chair.
Adam collected the coffee pot and placed it on the table.
He slumped in the chair and held his head.
Dani grinned at Chloe who rolled her eyes.
Before long, the pancakes had been devoured and Dani started clearing up the table. Chloe took the children upstairs to get dressed and Adam helped to load the dishwasher.
“How’s your head?” Dani smirked.
“Better. Shit, I used to be able to drink loads and be fine the next day. I didn’t drink that much.” He shook his head in disbelief.
“How was the party?” Dani filled up the coffee machine and switched it on again.
She was going to need gallons today. She’d hardly slept.
She’d tossed and turned trying to fathom out how she was feeling.
Jez’s message had thrown her. She was secretly pleased he’d got in touch, but she knew she couldn’t go back there.
It was over. After five years of waiting for a commitment, she knew now he was never going to settle down.
Not yet anyway and not with her. New year, new beginning.
He’d had his chance and he’d blown it, big time.
As for Jerome, that was a lot more complicated.
Dani knew how she felt about him and it was wrong, really wrong.
He was married and he had kids. She looked over at Adam as he ruffled his curly blond hair and thought how horrible it would be if he left Chloe and the children.
Dani’s heart twisted. No, however much she felt she couldn’t do that to Jerome’s family.
“Good, actually. We don’t get out much. Well, not together anyway, and it was great for the kids too. They’d crashed on the sofas by ten thirty. How was the restaurant?”
“Busy.” Adam waited for her to elaborate and when she didn’t, he carried on fitting the last of the cups into the top rack of the dishwasher.
There was a thunder of footsteps coming down the hallway into the kitchen and Adam cringed. Ollie and Sophie ran into the kitchen, Sophie clutching the Twister game.
“Come on, Dani. Ollie said he’ll only play if you play.”
“Okay, okay. But Mummy and Rosie can turn the dial for us.”
“What’s Daddy going to do?” Ollie narrowed his eyes at Adam.
“He’ll umpire,” suggested Dani and Adam exhaled audibly, clearly relieved. “Go and set it up in the sitting room. I’ll be there in a minute.” Dani shooed them out and they ran back down the hallway to the sitting room.
“Thanks, Dani. I swear I don’t know where they get their energy from.”
By the time Chloe had dressed Rosie, the sitting room had been set up for their game. Chloe settled into an armchair with Rosie on her lap, thrilled that she’d be doing the spinning. Adam sat at the other side of the sitting room with his third coffee in his hand, resting it on his knee.
“Now there’ll be no cheating, not if I’m umpiring.
” Adam put on an exaggerated stern voice and Sophie giggled at him.
“Okay we’ll start from the youngest to the oldest, so Sophie’s first. Spin the dial, Rosie.
” He softened his voice as he turned his attention to Rosie.
She awkwardly pushed the dial and then clapped her hands, thoroughly pleased with herself.