Chapter 37
Hot strong tea with sugar – good for shock
S omeone had made Livvy a cup of tea which she clutched to her.
Angel was a heavy weight on her feet as they sat in front of the wood burner soaking up its comfort.
Michael Bublé crooned in the background about it being a cold December night and the team, with a few stragglers, were tidying up the paper streamers and discarded party hats.
It felt as if Christmas had been and gone, had been a tremendous disappointment, and with only the emptiness of the in-between days to come. Livvy struggled to remember it was still actually only Christmas Eve. So much had happened.
‘Well, that was quite the night, kitten.’ Simona was keeping her company, nursing her own mug of tea.
She gave her silvery laugh, but it came out high-pitched and brittle.
‘What a truly odious man. And there he was, dressed as Father Christmas too. Don’t think he’d recognise the Christmas spirit even if it jumped up and slapped him in the face like a wet haddock. ’
Livvy managed a weak giggle.
‘I mean, I only know the story from the Muppet Christmas Carol, and Scrooge was the baddie in that, but at least he came good in the end. Don’t think the same will ever be said of Jason Lemmon.’
‘Verity’s message in her church service was to forgive but I think it’ll be a long time before I even think about forgiving him.’ Livvy blew out a breath, beginning to feel more like herself.
‘Quite right too, sweetie. Don’t think the man deserves it.
And Verity would agree, she’s realistic like that.
’ Simona leaned forward. ‘Tell you what though, darling. What did demonstrate the meaning of Christmas was how much everyone was supporting you. They were backing you to the hilt tonight. When Mark ordered Jason to leave, he hesitated, took one look at the crowd and then legged it. He was lucky to get out alive.’
‘And that definitely wouldn’t have been very Christmassy.’
Simona tittered. ‘Hardly.’
‘Can’t say there’s been a dull moment since I took over The George. But, Simona, how can I thank you? Staking out the car park. It must have been freezing.’
Simona gave her trademark silvery giggle again, this time sounding more normal.
‘It was tonight, sweetie.’ She indicated her Marilyn Monroe dress.
‘I wasn’t quite dressed for sub-zero temperatures.
Have you seen the snow out there? It’s really coming down now.
Think we might have The Beast from the East Mark II after all. ’
‘It was brilliant what you and Mark did. I’m so grateful, Si, or I will be when this has all sunk in.’ Livvy shook her head. ‘I can’t believe the lengths Jason was prepared to go to.’
‘Lot of money at stake. Don’t get me wrong, kitten, I’m rather a fan of the filthy lucre myself but there are limits as to what I’ll do to get it.
’ Simona sipped her tea thoughtfully. ‘And in my opinion, I think he rather gets off tormenting folk. I expect he pulled wings off butterflies as a child. He’s the sort. Ugh!’
‘I just hope that’s the last we see of him.’ Livvy shuddered. ‘Hateful man.’
‘I don’t think we’ll see him in town again.
The good folk of Lullbury Bay may be, on the whole, an unsophisticated lot, but they’re loyal and on your side.
His line of business depends on networking.
Word will soon get round, darling. And, as I said to him, even if it doesn’t get as far as anything legal, it’ll affect his business and that’s where it’ll hit him where it hurts most.’
Livvy sucked in a breath. ‘And I’m sorry about, you know, what Fabio said. I had no idea that’s how he felt about me.’
‘Didn’t you, angel? It had crossed my mind. I often wondered how he felt about you, whether it went above and beyond how a chef should feel about his boss. The fabulous Fabio always seemed more authentic, somehow, when he was around you. The excitable Italian chef act wasn’t as quite to the fore.’
‘I’m not sure what I’m going to do about him.’ Livvy blew out a regretful sigh. ‘I mean, he’s gorgeous and, in anyone’s eyes, someone you–’
‘–wouldn’t kick out of bed,’ Simona finished.
‘Sorry. Didn’t mean to rub it in.’
‘You’re not, darling. I suggest you talk to the man. Thrash it all out, so to speak. And I’m not surprised you didn’t notice how he was around you. You’ve been so engrossed in your lovely Mark. No room for anyone else.’
‘And I need to apologise about that too.’ Livvy winced. ‘I spent the best part of this evening thinking really dreadful things about you. First, I thought you’d hit on Darrell and then I thought you’d been snogging in the car park with Mark like teenagers. I’m so sorry. I feel awful.’
‘Oh, darling,’ Simona roared. ‘Chance would be a fine thing. No one notices me when you’re around.
I think the entire male population of Lullbury Bay is in love with you.
And who can blame them? You might even be successful in turning me!
’ She blew a kiss with her still perfectly glossed lips to soften the words.
‘But onwards and upwards. I did like… I do like Fabio,’ she corrected herself.
‘But maybe it’s for the best. He’s far younger and it would only have been a flingette sort of thing.
Probably not what I need right now.’ She pulled a comical face.
‘But, then again, maybe I’ll chance upon a hot ski instructor in Klosters? ’
Livvy laughed. ‘I hope so.’
‘Although no one will ever replace my Terence.’ Simona lapsed into silence, her mouth working, trying to control the emotion.
‘I know.’ Livvy reached for her hand. ‘Come round tomorrow. Can’t promise any food but we can have a drink. I don’t want you to be on your own.’
Simona patted her hand, her eyes tearful. ‘I will, darling. Thank you.’
‘Oh my goodness,’ Livvy was suddenly aware of the mess. ‘I’d better help with the clearing up. Look at the state of this place!’
‘You stay there, sweetie. I’ll go.’ Simona gazed ruefully at her manicure. ‘I’ve managed to break a nail tonight, so it won’t matter about the others.’ Bending down to tickle Angel’s ears, she said, ‘Look after your mistress, darling doggie. She needs TLC.’
Livvy wasn’t alone long. Eli hovered, shifting his weight from foot to foot. ‘I wanted to say sorry,’ he said on a gulping breath.
Livvy looked up. His face still bore the lumpy, reddened marks of distress.
Even though Eli was heading to nineteen, he was still such a child.
‘Eli, I’m the one who’s sorry. I’ve been so preoccupied with everything I didn’t notice how unhappy you’ve been.
I knew Gerry and his lot were causing you problems, but I mistakenly thought you were handling them.
I should have checked up on you. Sit down here for a minute. ’
He perched on the very edge of the chair. Angel stretched. Going to him, she nuzzled into his hand until he gave in and scratched her ears. ‘I’ll pay you back what they owe.’
‘Oh, Eli, that won’t be necessary. I’m just thankful to have found what was causing the discrepancy. We’ve been so busy I just couldn’t understand how we weren’t making a bigger profit. My bad. I need to be more on top of things.’
‘No! You’re brilliant. It was my fault. I should never have given in to them.’
‘They’re playground bullies,’ Livvy said gently. ‘They know what to say to get what they want. And stupid too. I can’t believe Gerry confessed straight away about what Jason made him do. If I hadn’t been in shock I would have found it almost funny.’
Eli’s mouth twisted. ‘I suppose I’ll be getting the sack now.’
‘Do you want to carry on working here?’
He nodded violently. ‘I love it here. I mean I know I’ve got a lot to learn but I really like it. It’s well cool.’ His eyes strayed to Brittany who was laughing at something Simona said.
Livvy’s lips twitched. Eli would have to get a whole load more world weary before he tackled Brittany. ‘Then you can keep your job–’
‘Oh, Livvy, that’s so great!’
‘Hold on, before you get too excited, you have to promise me something.’
Eli nodded eagerly. ‘What?’
‘That, if you’re unsure about anyone, or someone makes you feel uncomfortable or puts pressure on you, you come straight to me. Understood?’
‘Understood. I promise you, Liv, I won’t let you down again. And it’s way cool, I mean, really good of you.’
‘Well, Verity the vicar drummed the message of forgiveness into me at the church service so I’m trying to put it into practice.’
Eli leaped up, went with an impulse and kissed her cheek, blushed furiously and went.
Livvy stared into the flames for a moment, bone-weary.
Eli made her feel old. Gathering what was left of her strength, she stood up.
That was the Eli problem sorted and she’d apologised and thanked Simona so that left one more person.
Collecting their discarded mugs, she went into the kitchen where, as expected, Fabio and Stewie were cleaning up.
Bay Radio played ‘Happy Xmas, War is Over’ softly in the background.
They really ought to update their playlist. The inconsequential thought came out of nowhere.
But it’s the season for cheesy Christmas songs and this one’s weirdly appropriate for a night like this.
She hoped whatever war Jason had waged on her was truly over.
‘Stewie, would you mind going into the bar and collecting some glasses? And shove the first lot in the washer, will you? Oh, and don’t forget to pick up your envelope with your Christmas tips. It’s behind the till.’
‘Sweet. Will do. Cheers, Livvy. Happy Christmas.’
‘Happy Christmas, Stewie, and thanks for all your hard work.’
She waited until he’d gone through to the bar. Outside, the car park was in blackness. The security lights came on, making her flinch, but it was only Karl putting the empties into the bottle recycling bank. The noise thundered through the tension as she faced Fabio. ‘Fabio?’ she began.
He put up his hands in defence. ‘No, let me start. I have much to say. I promise you, even though the intent was to sabotage the restaurant, over order stock, incorrectly charge, mess about with the invoices, that sort of thing–’
Livvy’s eyes widened. ‘I had no idea.’
‘I did nothing.’ Fabio stabbed the air. ‘Nothing. Niente. Not even right at the start.’ He agitated his head from side to side.
‘Well, I admit to a tiny bit of over-ordering at first, but I soon stopped that.’ He threw a cleaning cloth onto the aluminium prep surface.
‘Even though that man,’ he pointed an aggressive finger towards the bar, ‘harassed and bullied me, just as he has been doing to Mama. I couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t serve substandard food or send out service lukewarm or badly seasoned.
I have too much pride in what I do. In my art. ’
Livvy sank down onto a stool. Flailing for a response, she opened her mouth, but his torrent of words continued.
‘From the first, from the very first, when I cooked you that tasting menu, I knew I could make this place a success. I believed in you.’ This time the finger stabbed towards Livvy. ‘So I vowed I would never compromise my cooking or this restaurant. Never!’
‘I can’t believe Jason asked you to do all that,’ she murmured. ‘The man is despicable.’
Fabio’s response was to flick his thumb from his teeth, which Livvy was pretty sure was his definitive judgement on Jason Lemmon.
She could but wholly agree. ‘In which case, I must thank you for not bowing down to the bullying. You could have ruined The George all too easily. I’m so grateful, Fabio, you must believe that. ’
‘I did nothing. I cooked, I created, but I would never sabotage what we have here. I wouldn’t do that to you. I knew you had the vision for it. I knew The George would be superb. With my cooking and your vision.’
‘I’m not sure I agree with that.’ Livvy sighed. ‘The vision bit, I mean. I’ve spent the last three months agonising over exactly what I wanted to achieve with The George.’
‘You’re too close to it. It’s evolved organically.
’ He gave an Italian shrug. ‘You have somewhere people want to come to drink and socialise, a community base,’ Fabio’s voice was heated.
‘Even a thriving skittle alley, although I’m mystified by the appeal.
’ He paused, then added with emphasis, ‘And a restaurant everyone is talking about.’
‘And that’s down to you.’
Fabio ignored the comment, continuing passionately. ‘In three months you have achieved all of this! You’re too modest, you don’t believe in yourself enough. You don’t see yourself,’ he prodded his chest with a thumb, ‘how I see you.’
Livvy bit her lip. He was getting more Italian with every sentence. ‘Can I… Can I rely on you to stay? Do you want to continue here?’
‘Of course.’ Fabio looked surprised. ‘Unless you feel it’s not right. It’s true I have to earn back your trust, I appreciate that.’
‘I don’t think you ever lost it, Fabio,’ Livvy said softly. ‘You haven’t done anything wrong. I didn’t mean that though. Earlier on you said, you hinted you–’
‘I have feelings for you.’ He sucked in a great breath, staring down at the gleaming work surface.
A muscle in his cheek worked violently. ‘I fell for you when we drank cognac and renamed the pub. Yes, that long ago.’ He lifted his gaze to meet hers.
‘But I see how Mark looks at you. I see how you light up when he’s near.
I know when it’s hopeless. That there can never be a me and you. ’
For the second time Livvy was silenced. ‘Then how can you work here feeling like that?’
‘Because I’m a professional. And I think too much of you to leave you without a chef. Stewie will be good once he’s trained but he’s not anywhere near my standard yet.’
That ego again. Livvy felt a smile twitch about her lips. ‘You’ll stay then?’
Fabio nodded. ‘I’ll stay. Same as before. I’m here while my mama is sick.’ He sucked his teeth. ‘And when the worst happens, I’ll work out as much notice as you need to find a replacement. That is my promise. My word.’
The relief was enormous. ‘No one could replace you, Fab.’
‘This is true.’
‘What’s going to happen about your mum’s flat?’
‘She’s got tenant’s rights but doesn’t want to stay there knowing that man is around. Mark’s looking into finding her somewhere, maybe in an assisted care unit.’
‘He’s a good kind man.’
‘A good man, full stop. Don’t let him get away, Livvy.’
‘Trouble is, Fab, I think we’re destined to be just friends. I don’t think he feels any other way about me. I think Mark and me are friends. Nothing more.’