Chapter 27
Beer – an alcoholic beverage produced by the brewing and fermentation of malted barley and other cereal crops. Lullbury Bay Micro Brewery’s Good Elf is a strong, dark beer with sweet top notes and a bitter chocolatey finish.
‘ J ust as well we let folk have a table in the restaurant,’ Karl said, drying a glass with a tea towel and holding it to the light for inspection. ‘Quiz is fully booked. There was even a waiting list.’
It was Sunday and the night of the Christmas Quiz. Karl and Livvy were in the bar doing some last-minute tweaking and it most definitely felt like the calm before the storm.
‘Do you think Lucie will cope with the mike?’ she asked, as she distributed the picture quiz sheets around tables. They’d had to rig up a sound system to make everything heard through into the restaurant and bar where all tables were booked for teams of six.
‘No worries there. Got a voice like a foghorn when she wants. She’ll sort them out and, if there are any problems, she can come in the bar and repeat the questions.’
‘She’s done a great job writing the questions.’
‘She has.’
‘And everyone’s rallied round with the raffle prizes.
Not sure if Brittany used thumb screws or her natural charm but we’ve got some amazing things to give away.
’ Livvy ticked them off using her fingers.
‘Christmas wreaths and greenery from Daisy, a meal at the Old School Kitchen, a bundle of children’s books from Bee’s Books, a bottomless brunch at The Station House and, can you believe it, Christmas lunch at The Henville in Berecombe. I want to win that one for myself.’
‘You’re not alone there, my lovely. Scoreboard set up?’
Livvy nodded. ‘Mark’s in charge. He’s the numbers man.’
‘Marking team ready?’
‘Darrell, Dave Wiscombe, and Austin and his wife Aggie.’
Karl hooked the glass onto the rack above him and picked up another to polish. ‘Uh-oh. Aggie’s like Lucie. Don’t take no prisoners. Shame Pete’s missing it.’
Livvy grimaced. ‘Think it might be too hectic for him and certainly for Skip. Same is true for Angel. I’ve put her in her bed in my room. Apparently, Pete and Skip are having a quiet night down at The Old Harbour.’
‘Lucky Claude.’ Karl grinned.
‘And Stewie’s in charge of the kitchen. Light snacks only tonight: sausages wrapped in bacon, brie and cranberry mini tarts, filled turkey and gravy Yorkshire puddings and deep fried halloumi fingers with a sweet chilli dip.
Oh, and mince pies and clotted cream, or Christmas pudding ice cream if anyone fancies dessert. ’
‘Cracking. Fabio not coming?’
‘Not his scene I imagine, and it is his night off. Eli and Brittany will be manning the bar, along with you and my good self, so that should be covered. It’ll be rammed before it starts and, in the interval, but should be fairly steady trade during the actual quiz. Think we’re all set.’
‘Got your fancy dress sorted?’
‘Yeah, Karl.’ Livvy gave him an old-fashioned look. ‘I don’t normally go around dressed as an elf.’ She pirouetted, showing off her green miniskirt and stripey red tights. ‘I’ve a hat to go with this lot too.’
He chuckled. ‘Very fetching on you. You should show your legs off more often.’ He caught her look. ‘I’m not allowed to say things like that, am I?’
She went behind the bar, took his arm and hugged it. ‘Not really but from you I’ll take it as the compliment it was meant.’
He looked relieved. ‘Jen, the wife, is always on at me for being not PC.’ He began polishing another glass. ‘So, what are your parents doing tonight?’
‘Think Mum’s staying in her room watching TV, but Dad might come down and join in.’
‘Been a bit of a trial, having them around?’
Livvy sighed. ‘It’s such a busy time, Karl, that’s the issue, and they demand entertainment, especially my mother. I packed them off to the Henville for Sunday lunch today. That kept them busy for a few hours.’
‘Nice.’
‘Think Mum appreciated the luxury. Simona went along. Those two have forged a rather worrying alliance.’ Livvy rested her hands on her velvet-covered hips and contemplated her bar. ‘Right. Think we’re ready.’
An hour later, the bar was five deep in assorted Father Christmases, reindeer and the odd penguin.
Karl was cool and unflustered, Brittany quelled anyone getting impatient with a withering look and Eli was just about coping.
Livvy, returning from showing a group dressed as Telly Tubbies to their quiz table in the restaurant, saw that Gerry and his entourage had turned up.
They weren’t in the requested fancy dress and didn’t look as if they were taking part in the quiz, so she assumed they were in to drink.
Eli looked uncomfortable; he was trying to deal with them, but the group was already getting rowdy.
To her relief, her father had appeared and was making his way over to lend a hand.
Against the soundtrack of ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ blasting out, as Eli had, once again, cranked up the volume, her father yelled across, ‘This is good fun, Liv. Just like the old days when I had my first bar. Just love the Christmas madness.’ He adjusted his Santa hat and began pulling pints of lager for Gerry’s mob.
Diving behind the bar herself, she took an order for three mulled wines, a pint of cider, a gin and tonic and a pint of Santa’s Sauce Ale.
Putting them on a tray, she asked, ‘Contactless?’ and handed the machine to the man waiting.
‘Oh, Jason. I didn’t recognise you. Great fancy dress. Very Johnny Depp.’
He raised a sardonic brow from under his Captain Jack Sparrow hat. ‘Expressing my inner pirate. Just hope I don’t have to make anyone walk the plank tonight.’ He leaned closer. ‘I have to express surprise at seeing Gerry Wiscombe in here. Is he the sort of customer you want to attract?’
She gave him a thin smile. She was beginning to dislike Jason intensely. Pompous didn’t gel with lookalike Jack Sparrow sexy eyeliner. ‘I’m keeping an eye on them. Enjoy your night and good luck with the quiz. Now, who’s next? Hi, Daisy. What can I get you? Great fairy costume!’
Risking a glance across to her father, she could see he was in his element.
However, an argument was breaking out between a blustering, red-faced Gerry and one of his friends.
Livvy winced. It would be awkward if she had to eject them but if they caused any trouble she’d have no choice.
Keeping a wary eye out, she decided to let Eli handle it.
He didn’t have an awful lot of confidence, and she didn’t want to undermine him in front of his family.
‘Darling, what a crush!’ Simona, dressed as Jessica Rabbit in a slinky red number appeared, wriggling her way through. ‘Good to see the old place busy though. Ooh, I see you have the delectable silver fox helping you out.’
Livvy laughed. ‘My dad?’
‘I can see where you get your good looks from, darling. He’s a honey! You look swamped, sweetie. Want a hand?’
Livvy blinked. ‘You want to serve behind the bar?’
Simona pushed a perfectly manicured hand through her immaculate peek-a-boo wig. ‘Don’t let this glossy appearance deceive you, kitten. I worked in many a bar and club before I married Terence. I’m sure it can’t have changed all that much. And I take it the prices are all on the till?’
‘Yes. I–’
‘Oh go on. It would be fun.’
‘Be my guest. Actually, that would be brilliant. I could concentrate on getting the teams to their tables, everyone seems to want to stay in this crush at the bar for some reason and Brittany’s just popped into the kitchen to give Stewie a hand. Ask Karl or Dad if you need any help.’
Simona gave a ridiculously camp wink. ‘I shall make sure I ask Brian, don’t you worry.
’ She clapped her hands together in glee and lifted the bar hatch.
Turning to a group of three men dressed from top to toe in red and white stripes, she said, ‘Hello, my darlings. What wonderful candy canes you make. What can I get you all? Pints of our craft ale or some of our home-made mulled wine. It’s absolutely delish on a cold night like tonight. ’
Livvy watched her for a second and grinned.
She would do fine. She turned to attempt to usher a quiz team, all dressed as Scrooge, to their table.
‘Hello there. What’s your team name? What the Dickens.
Great name. You’re over here on this table.
Follow me, I’ll get you seated and then get you some drinks. Yes, it is a crush at the bar!’
Things calmed down once the quiz actually began.
Lucie proved an excellent quiz master and everyone was charmed by the brass band turning up at the halfway point to play carols.
Jonquil had volunteered with a collection bucket for the RNLI and was making her way round the tables.
People were giving generously, possibly as Jonquil was employing her very own ‘special’ brand of charm.
To the accompaniment of the band thumping out ‘I Saw Three Ships’, Livvy carried two platters groaning with food to Daisy and Rick’s table.
She said hello to Jan, Daisy’s mum, and her boyfriend Colin and then headed back to the kitchen.
The snacking plates were proving popular.
As she did so she became aware of raised voices coming from Gerry’s group.
Going over, she asked brightly, ‘Everything all right, gents? Having a good evening? Love the tinsel crowns. Very Christmassy.’
‘We’d have a better night if Eli would serve us what we asked for,’ Gerry slurred.
Livvy faced Eli. He looked miserable. ‘Is there a problem Eli?’
‘No, Livvy.’
Once again, she wondered if Gerry was making life difficult for him in some way.
She looked at the group of men. There were seven of them, all sweating and drunk.
They’d only been in the pub for an hour so it was puzzling how they’d become inebriated so quickly.
She caught sight of a shot glass. Ah, so it had been pints and chasers.
‘Well, tell you what, chaps, we’ll make this pint your last and then you can get home to your families.
You don’t want to sit through the rest of the quiz if you’re not taking part. I mean, how boring would that be?’
They started to look militant.
‘How about, to show you how much we appreciate your loyal custom, I’ll get you a couple of plates of snacks. No charge. Get you in the mood for Christmas. And your first pint the next time you’re in will be on the house.’
The group’s grumblings turned to appreciative cheers. Gerry swayed a little, slopping his beer onto the stone flags. ‘You’re a game girl, babe.’
‘I am indeed. But I’ll hold you to a promise that after this one you’ll go home. I won’t serve you anymore tonight.’ She smiled. ‘More than my licence is worth.’
Gerry saluted her with his glass.
She squeezed behind the bar and whispered into Eli’s ear. ‘I’ll get them their food, hopefully it’ll mop up a bit of alcohol but don’t serve them anymore. If they start getting stroppy, get backup from Dad.’
He nodded, looking relieved.
‘Back with their food in a mo and then we’ll gently encourage them out. Before the rest of the quiz gets going. Okay?’
‘Thanks, Livvy.’
She patted him on the shoulder. ‘No problem.’ She just hoped the strategy would work.
It was either that or bring her father in; he had a lifetime’s experience of dealing with difficult customers.
She didn’t want to do that though. It wasn’t just Eli’s self-confidence that would be undermined if that happened.