Chapter 34 #2
Her thoughts twisted and turned. Alcohol was a desperate addiction, though. For those who suffered, it took over their lives and they cared for little else. She put her mug down with a bang. It wasn’t possible. She refused to think it was Fabio.
And what of Simona and Eli? What would Simona’s motive be? She wasn’t short of money, had generously given up her own time, didn’t drink a great deal and ate even less. Besides, Livvy considered her a good friend now; she’d made the busy run-up to Christmas great fun.
It left Eli. Of all her team he was the one she felt she knew the least. He was mostly monosyllabic, crucified by shyness, then came across sullen.
It meant he didn’t always go down well with some customers but was efficient unless it was hectic when he got flustered.
And that was improving, along with his confidence.
The only time he seemed scared of his own shadow was when his family were in; he was especially wary of Gerry.
She’d never seen Eli drink while at work; like Stewie, he was another young person who was happier with a pint of cola or orange squash.
She couldn’t see him having the guts to work out he could take a measure and not put it through the till.
And she’d never seen him even mildly tipsy let alone drunk.
Livvy ground her teeth. This was all her own fault; she should have kept a closer eye on everyone. She let an enormous sigh escape.
‘Ooh, kitten, sounds as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Missing your Mark? Or is it that awful scene out there in the car park? Darling, I can’t believe it’s happened again.
How awful. There was a rather nice Scot getting into a new plate Range Rover out there.
He said bye-bye and Happy Christmas. I do rather like a man in a kilt.
’ Simona giggled. ‘Shame he was in a boring old suit.’
Livvy twisted round to see Simona come into the bar.
As she chattered nonsense, took off her fur hat, shook out her hair and went behind the bar to make herself a latte.
Livvy watched as she found the little black book and wrote down that she’d had one.
She never expected staff to pay for tea and coffee, or soft drinks within reason but expected them to record what they’d had.
Surely, if Simona automatically noted down a latte, she wouldn’t bother snaffling a shot for free – and she certainly wouldn’t touch tequila.
Simona sat in Pete’s chair and stretched her feet out to the wood burner. ‘Brr. Cold as murder out there. Now, sweetness, tell me all about it. What’s up, kitten? Can’t be just the vandalism, although awful as that may be. You look really forlorn.’
‘Oh, work stuff. You know.’
Simona pulled a face. ‘Grim. But come on, angel, let me take your mind off things, spill the goss about you and Mark.’
‘There’s nothing between me and Mark. No goss.’
Simona tapped the side of her nose. ‘Do pull the other one. A girl has eyes. I can see when the sparks are…’ she waved her hands around, desperately seeking for the right word and failing, ‘…sparking.’
‘We’re just friends, Simona.’ Livvy said it more forcefully than she meant but she couldn’t deal with this today.
‘Oh. Soz, darling. Didn’t mean to offend.’ Simona picked up her mug and hugged it to her.
‘No offence taken.’ Livvy rubbed an exhausted hand over her face. ‘Sorry, Simona. I didn’t mean to snap. It’s one of those days and I’m knackered.’
‘Well, I think it’s a damn shame. About you and Mark. There’s you, all glossy honey-blonde hair and endless legs and our luscious Mark. He’s terribly keen on you, you know.’
‘Is he?’ Livvy thought back over all the things he’d done for her since she’d taken over the pub. ‘He’s a very kind man. As I said, I think he’s just being a good friend.’
Simona snorted delicately. ‘Believe that if you will, my angel. I’d jump him like a shot. Good men are hard to come by, trust me.’ She sighed. ‘But maybe I’m simply jealous of you having a man hang off your every word.’
Livvy’s head reared up. She’d suspected Simona had feelings for Mark. And that it was mutual.
‘Don’t look at me like that, sweetness. Mark only has eyes for you. I gave up on that ship long ago.’ She shrugged her thin shoulders. ‘I mean, if he was offered up on a plate, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed–’
‘Simona!’
‘I know, darling. I’m awful, aren’t I? But you love me anyway, you simply can’t help it. If only our fabulous Fabio felt the same about me.’
‘Fabio?’
‘Don’t look so startled. I thought I’d rather made my feelings for that man clear.’
‘I always thought you were joking around, you know, flirting. I mean, you flirt with most men. Even Old Pete on occasion.’
Simona gave her silvery laugh. ‘I do love Pete. So deliciously and determinedly grumpy. Ah but Fabio. Hormones will out with that one. It’s just that I do rather like him, but he insists on remaining distant.
Comes in, cooks his divine food, and then off he goes back to Mummy.
He’s such an unknown, don’t you think? Such an enigma.
Do you think Mummy exists or do you think he has a wifelet and a whole brood of stunning, dark-eyed children secreted in some hovel in Honiton? ’
Livvy laughed, she couldn’t help it. ‘I’ve no idea. When I interviewed him he said his ill mother was what had brought him back here to the UK. I’ve no reason to disbelieve him.’
‘Really, haven’t you?’
Livvy looked at her. ‘I didn’t think I had.’ She glanced quickly to the door. It was firmly shut; they couldn’t be overheard. Taking a deep breath, she launched into an explanation of the problem Bernie had discovered.