Chapter 13
Sassi Vino Bianco – expensive tasting. A cheeky little number
A s the pub began to empty Livvy felt herself starting to relax, although her eyes were gritty with stress and fatigue.
Jason paid his bill, mouthed the words, ‘It was excellent,’ put up a hand and left.
He passed a woman walking in and they stopped and greeted one another.
She was tiny, blonde, very attractive and looked familiar.
Livvy suppressed a grin at the way most people seemed to know one another in Lullbury Bay.
It was very unlike where she’d worked last.
The woman came up to the bar and smiled. ‘Well, darling, I’ve just heard great things about the food from Jason, but I suppose I’m too late for any today?’ She reached a hand over. ‘I’m Simona Stratton, your neighbour for your sins. I’ve been away, otherwise I would have popped in before.’
Livvy shook Simona’s hand in response. ‘If I sweet talk Fabio, he might rustle you up a baguette. Welcome to The George. Can I get you anything to drink?’
‘Oh, sweetie, a large dry white please. I’m absolutely parched.
Ye gads, please excuse me for a mo, I’ve just spotted the love of my life.
’ She tripped across to the end of the bar, reached up and enfolded Mark in a bear hug.
Livvy watched and then it clicked. Simona was the woman driving the flashy white sports car she’d seen him in the other day.
There was a large Georgian house adjoining the pub; Livvy had always admired its symmetry.
It was the sort of house she’d like to own when she grew up.
So this was who lived in it? Pouring Simona’s glass of Pinot, she tried to not to watch as the woman had a very animated conversation with Mark.
She wondered if there was something going on between the two.
Simona’s hands were all over him, stroking his arm, hugging it to her, gazing up at him as if she could eat him up.
Leaving the wine on the bar, Livvy went to check with Fabio about whether he could do one more food order and came back to see Simona and Mark still deep in conversation.
Collecting the wine glass, she took it over and presented it to Simona with a flourish saying, ‘One white wine. It’s a good Italian Pinot so should hit the spot.
Fabio has one hot smoked salmon and cream cheese baguette left if you’d like it.
Or a turkey and cranberry roll. I twisted his arm, and he said he could do a few chips too. ’
‘Oh angel!’ Simona rolled her eyes in pleasure. ‘That sounds heavenly.’ She turned to Mark and pouted. ‘But you can’t join me? Are you sure you have to go?’
Mark extricated himself. ‘I’ve already eaten and some of us have to work for a living, Si,’ he said, softening the words with a smile.
Turning to Livvy, he surprised her by kissing her on the cheek.
‘So glad the reopening has gone well so far. Congratulations. If I can, I’ll pop back for a swift pint later.
Tell Fabio the food was as delicious as it was the other night. ’ Then he went before she could answer.
Simona rounded on Livvy. ‘Ooh now, that’s intriguing! The other night, eh? What have I missed out on by being stuck in Tuscany?’ She put her hand through Livvy’s arm. ‘I simply insist you join me for lunch and tell me all about it.’
Livvy glanced around the bar. There were hardly any customers left.
Karl and Brittany were perfectly capable of taking it from here and she hadn’t eaten since…
actually she hadn’t eaten anything. The two cups of coffee drunk first thing that morning had been all that had passed her lips.
‘I’d like that. Let me just pop into the kitchen and see what else Fabio has left and I’ll be right back. ’
Ten minutes later, apart from Pete snoozing in the corner, the pub was empty. Karl, Brittany and Stewie would eat lunch with Fabio in the kitchen and then leave, before returning at seven when the whole thing would start up all over again.
Livvy poured two glasses of wine and took them over to Simona, who was sitting at the same table where Daisy and Rick had sat. ‘Food won’t be a minute.’ She put the glasses down. ‘I took the liberty of pouring you another and thought I’d join you.’
‘Oh yummy.’ Simona clapped her hands together.
‘What fun to have the place doing decent wine and nosh again. I’ve missed it.
So handy being right next door. Not far to totter home.
’ She finished the dregs of her first glass and sipped at the second.
‘So,’ she tapped the table with French manicured nails, ‘sit yourself down and tell me how a gorgeous honey-blonde creature like yourself has ended up in Lullbury Bay running a public house of all things.’
Livvy collapsed onto the chair. ‘Ooh, feels so good to sit down. It’s been hectic.’ She took a slug of wine and then said, ‘I’ll give you the short history, shall I?’ She stuttered through an explanation, leaving out the Gavin part.
Simona’s eyes widened when she mentioned her parents’ hotel chain.
‘Ooh, I’ve stayed at The Olde Gates in Broadway.
That’s part of your parents’ group, isn’t it?
It was the most delicious place. If The George becomes half as good, I’m going to rather enjoy having it on my doorstep.
’ Her mouth dropped open as Fabio came through the swing door from the kitchen, carrying their lunch.
‘Talking of delicious… Now, my darling, who is this?’
Amused, Livvy introduced them and grinned at how Simona kept hold of Fabio’s fingers just a little too long, breathing, ‘You’re dreamy,’ up at him.
Simona showered salt on her chips, watching Fabio disappear into the kitchen and giggling. ‘Now, he’s far too gorg to hide away. What a dreamboat. If he can cook as well as he looks, I may well have to move in.’
Livvy’s tummy rumbled. Picking up her turkey and cranberry roll and not able to wait, she bit into it with relish. ‘I had exactly the same thought. And, oh yes, he can cook,’ she added, spearing a chip.
Simona picked up a chip too. ‘British fries,’ she said, going slightly cross-eyed with greed.
‘How I’ve missed you.’ She bit it in half and ate it, leaving the remainder on the plate.
‘Oh my, oh my. I’ve never had anything so wonderful in my mouth.
’ She sniggered. ‘And I’m not about to let you in on just what I’ve had in my mouth.
I really don’t know you well enough yet. ’
Livvy snorted a laugh. She was beginning to like Simona.
The woman gave Livvy a steely look from narrowed eyes.
‘So, if I spill the beans all about myself, my darling, will you reciprocate and tell me why you were having dinner with the divine Mark? Don’t you just adore him?
That dark red hair is to die for.’ She broke off a fragment of bread and popped it in her mouth, chewing delicately.
‘It wasn’t really dinner,’ Livvy protested.
‘Well, it was but not in the sense you mean. I asked him to join me in trying Fabio’s tasting menu, as part of Fab’s interview.
’ She pulled a face. ‘I didn’t relish eating on my own.
And he helped me reccie the competition when we ate at The Old School Kitchen.
’ She paused and took a sip of wine. ‘That was dinner, I suppose.’
‘Oh yes. Marvellous place.’
‘It was a thank-you for taking me to the auction where I was able to bid on the furniture for this place.’
‘The auction house in Bridport?’
Livvy nodded.
‘You two have been spending some time together,’ Simona said slyly.
‘Not in the way you mean. We’re just friends.’ Again, Livvy wondered about the relationship between Mark and Simona. ‘He’s been very kind.’
‘Kindest man I know.’ Simona opened up her baguette and slipped out a sliver of smoked salmon. ‘Delish,’ she declared. ‘Absolutely delish.’
‘So, what about you?’ Livvy asked, not sure if the delish was aimed at the food, or at Mark. She dipped one of Fabio’s fabulous chips into his home-made ketchup. ‘Are you on your own in that gorgeous big house?’
‘Me?’ Simona made a face. ‘I’m a widow, darling. Rich as Croesus but all alone in the world.’
‘Oh I’m sorry,’ Livvy said, aghast. ‘That was so crass of me.’
For a second, the fun-loving mask slipped from Simona’s face.
She reached over and patted Livvy’s hand.
‘Don’t be absurd, darling. How could you possibly know?
’ She pushed away her plate of food, hardly touched, and picked up her wine glass.
Sipping thoughtfully, she added, ‘I married Terence when I was twenty-four. He was thirty years older and, despite what all the gossip mongers said, it was a love match. I loved him with all my heart.’ She stared into her glass and swirled the remaining wine around.
‘We had twenty blissful years together but then he died. I have plenty of money, a rather nice car, a house in Italy and a pied-à-terre in London, and my lovely Georgian pile next door but I’d swap it all in a heartbeat if I could bring back my lovely Terence, even for a second.
’ She frowned fiercely and Livvy saw she was trying not to cry.
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Well, there you are.’ Simona shrugged herself back into flippant mode.
‘And if you ever dare to feel the teeniest bit sorry for me again, I might have to never talk to you.’ Once more, she patted Livvy’s hand.
‘And that would be an awful shame as I would rather like us to become friends. It would be so cosy to have a girly neighbour.’
Livvy thought of the cavernous spaces below her in the pub when she was in bed and how lonely it made her feel. She wasn’t sure how much she had in common with Simona but it would be good to have a friend next door. ‘Then there’s only one thing to say,’ she said solemnly.
‘My, why so dour?’ Simona giggled. ‘What’s that, kitten?’
‘Fabio does a mean sticky marmalade pudding.’
‘Oh, sweetie,’ Simona cried, fluttering her eyelashes and putting her hand to her heart. ‘Who could resist?’
‘Clotted cream?’
‘Oh, clotted cream,’ Simona breathed in ecstasy. ‘Can I share your pud, though? The only way I can maintain this svelte figure of mine is not to eat. It’s utter torture, darling. I shall require the merest soupcon. ’
‘I think that can be arranged. I’ll see what I can do,’ Livvy answered, liking the woman’s honesty, and went into the kitchen.