Chapter 22
Craft made west country cider – subtle apple bouquet, sharp on the palate, effervescent
L ivvy floated through the rest of the evening, a silly grin on her face.
She really did enjoy being with Mark and was determined to take it at face value.
Yes, she was up to her eyeballs running a business, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t have a personal life.
Daisy had warned her about making sure she kept a work-life balance and that’s what she was going to do.
Humming along to ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ on the sound system, she approached the customer waiting at the bar. ‘Hi, Lucie, what can I get you?’ she said to Eli’s sister. She was in her mid-twenties at a guess, with hair dyed a fierce red.
‘Hi, Livvy. I thought I’d drop in and see how he’s getting on.’ She waved at Eli who was at the other end of the bar serving Jason.
Livvy said warmly, ‘Eli’s doing well, as you can see.’ They watched as he and Karl joked around at the glass washer. ‘What can I get you to drink?’
‘Cider please, a local one if poss. And a packet of salt and vinegar.’ Lucie leaned over the bar looking anxious. ‘And do you think I could have a word?’
‘Of course you can. Find a table and I’ll bring your drink over.
’ Livvy watched Lucie speculatively as she found a table well away from anyone else.
It was the table nearest the Christmas tree and most people avoided it claiming the sharp pine needles pricked.
Lucie sat down, the lights playing over her bright hair.
She still looked uneasy. Had she come to complain about Eli’s working conditions?
If so, there was no possible basis. Eli was paid more than the minimum wage, all his food was included and, where possible, shifts were negotiable.
Staff were looked after at The George. She poured half a cider, found the crisps and took them over to the table, along with a white wine for herself. ‘On the house,’ she said and sat down.
‘Ooh, thank you. It’s lovely in here.’ Lucie looked around appreciatively.
‘Eli said you’d done a good job, but you know what blokes are like, they don’t do the interior decorating deets.
I couldn’t take in much the last time as it was rammed and I only came in here once when it was The Runaways.
Had the atmosphere of a morgue. I love what you’ve done. It’s so much nicer.’
‘Well, I’m aiming for an atmosphere slightly more welcoming than a morgue.’
‘Soz.’ Lucie grinned. ‘I have a habit of speaking then thinking.’
‘Then I hope we’ll see you in here some more, maybe to eat? Our food’s really good, even though I say so myself.’
‘I’d love that.’ Lucie sipped her cider. ‘Eli waxes lyrical about your food. He pisses Mum off something rotten as he says she can’t cook anything like Fabio can.’
‘Oh dear. I’m sorry about that. It sounds as if Eli is happy working for me and certainly Karl says he’s a quick learner, even if he gets a bit flustered when we’re busy.
Oh, and we have to nag him to put his phone away but that’s teenagers for you.
’ Livvy took a measured sip of her wine, feeling it glide coolly down her throat.
It had been busy tonight, and this was the first chance she’d had to sit down.
‘Forgive me, what have you come to complain about?’
‘Complain?’ Lucie looked shocked. ‘I haven’t come to complain.
If anything, I’d like to thank you for giving Eli a chance.
He’s been a bit,’ she paused, choosing her words carefully, ‘ wild in the past. You and Tom Catesby up at the animal sanctuary are the only people who have shown any trust in him.’
Livvy nodded. ‘Tom gave Eli a good reference. Eli was quite upfront about what he’d done as a kid when we interviewed him.’
‘Oh. Good.’
‘It was joy-riding and vandalism, wasn’t it? A while ago now, though.’
Lucie nodded. ‘Mum was mortified about the whole thing. I mean, Eli’s growing up now, holding down two jobs, got a girlfriend – or did have, they’ve split up – but our family has a name in Lullbury Bay. We’re well known. It was awful for her.’
‘I can imagine. But, if Eli is sorting himself out – which I hope he is – why have you felt the need to check on him?’
‘Is Gerry coming in here to drink?’
‘Gerry? That’s your uncle, isn’t it?’
‘Technically a great uncle. He’s from the side of the family Mum and Dad don’t have anything to do with.’ Lucie bit her lip. ‘They’re not nice people. They don’t live in Lullbury Bay but come here to drink. They’ve already been banned from the other pubs in town.’
‘Thank you for the warning, then. I’ll make sure I keep an eye on Gerry and his gang.’ Livvy paused. ‘But why are you worried about Eli? You are, aren’t you?’
‘We are. Eli’s a basically good lad but he’s easily led. I don’t trust Gerry as far as I could throw him, and I worry he’ll be a bad influence on Eli.’
‘In what way?’
Lucie blew out a breath. ‘I don’t know. Anything.
’ She flapped her hands. ‘Everything. As I said, Gerry doesn’t have anything to do with our branch of the family and vice versa so they haven’t crossed paths until now but when Eli came home after his shift the other night and told Mum his Uncle Gerry had been in, well, we feared the worst.’
‘What can I do to help?’
‘I don’t know really. Keep an eye on what’s happening, make sure Gerry isn’t up to anything. We know he deals, is into petty crime. As I said, he’s not a nice bloke.’
Livvy took Lucie’s hand. ‘I promise I’ll keep a watch out and I’ll get Karl to do the same. Karl and Eli work together all the time and I’d trust Karl with my life. He’ll look out for Eli.’
‘Hey, sis, what you doing up here?’ Eli approached their table. ‘This all looks very cosy. What’s going on?’ He looked suspicious.
‘Just in time,’ Lucie said brightly. ‘Another round of drinks here, please. We’re discussing a Christmas Quiz. In aid of–’ she began to flounder.
‘The RNLI,’ Livvy supplied with a flourish. ‘What else.’
‘Yeah. What else.’ Eli snorted. ‘That’s all I ever hear from Luce and Jamie. RNLI.’
‘You’d better hope you never get into difficulties at sea, then, little bro,’ Lucie said, crisply.
‘Whatevs.’ Eli shrugged. ‘Same again?’
‘Best make mine an orange juice,’ Lucie added. ‘I’ve got the car.’
‘Good. I’ll bag a lift.’
Lucie raised an eyebrow. ‘Only if your manners improve.’
Eli sighed, rolled his eyes heavenwards. ‘Please can I have a lift home?’ he parroted.
‘You can.’ After he’d gone, Lucie turned to Livvy. ‘And you say you never have any problems with him?’
Livvy giggled. ‘Always says please and thank you to me but then I’m his boss.’ She grinned, leaning back into her chair. ‘Well, it looks as if The George is holding a quiz night.’
Lucie looked at her sheepishly. ‘I’ll get my Jamie on board to help.
That’s my husband. He’ll have a vested interest; he crews for the lifeboat here.
And I’ll get Jago and Honor along. Jago’s crew too.
Honor’s the deputy at the primary school so she’ll be up to her armpits in end of term stuff but tell her it’s Christmas and she’ll be here.
She’s obsessed with anything Christmas. She’s married to Jago. ’
‘Lucky Honor. I met Jago at the craft fayre. I bought a light catcher off him.’
‘God yeah, he’s gorg, isn’t he? All that dark curly hair. Very easy on the eye. Uncle Dave and Daisy and Rick will come too.’
‘Actually, it’s not getting people along to the quiz I’m worried about. It’s writing the damn thing.’
‘I’ll do that. Happy to be quiz master too. It’s the least I can do seeing as I landed you in it.’ Lucie grinned. ‘I love a chance to boss people about. Don’t stand for any nonsense, me.’
‘So I saw.’
‘You mean, with Eli? Older sister’s prerogative. Got to be some perks to being the firstborn.’
‘I wouldn’t know. Only child here.’ Livvy smiled, liking Lucie more and more.
She looked around but there was no sign of Eli with their drinks.
Seeing Mark come in she waved. ‘We may as well go up to the bar to get our drinks as your brother has disappeared. I was hoping he could tell me more about Tom’s animal sanctuary.
I’m hoping to get a pub dog.’ She stood up.
At the word dog, both Pete and Skip woke up. Pete wiped his mouth and grunted and Skip let out a low growl.
‘You getting a dog, Livvy?’ Pete said.
Nothing wrong with your hearing when you choose to listen to things you shouldn’t, Pete. ‘Maybe.’
‘Better make sure my Skip likes it.’
‘Absolutely.’ Livvy cast a humorous look towards Lucie. ‘I wouldn’t dream of introducing any animal Skip doesn’t approve of. Another pint, Pete?’
‘Ar. Don’t mind if I do.’
The women went to the bar. Livvy slipped behind it, pulled Pete’s cider and poured Lucie an orange juice. ‘Ah, Eli, there you are. Could you take this to Pete please?’
‘Only if I get paid danger money.’
‘Skip’s not that grumpy.’
Eli picked up the pint glass. ‘Wasn’t talking about the dog.’
Livvy suppressed a grin. ‘Hi, Mark. Usual?’
‘Yes please. Lunch made me thirsty.’ He shot her a conspiratorial grin.
‘What do you think about a quiz? A Christmas themed one.’
‘Excellent idea. Love a quiz.’
Eli rejoined them. ‘Pete says you’re thinking of getting a pub dog?’
‘One thing I’ve learned about this town,’ Livvy said, on an exasperated sigh. ‘You can’t breathe without everyone knowing how you do it.’ She handed over Mark’s beer.
He saluted her with it and then sipped. ‘It’s both the curse and blessing of living in a small town.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Eli said, feelingly.
Livvy experienced a flicker of compassion towards him. It must be rough to mess up when young, in a town where everyone knew what you’d done and had long memories about it. ‘Do you think Tom at the animal sanctuary might have a suitable dog?’ she asked him.
He leaned against the bar, thinking. ‘Not at the moment. Tom’s not keen on rehoming animals so close to Christmas, even if he had any dogs. He’s got lots of guinea pigs,’ he added, brightening.