Chapter 3 #3
Gaby couldn’t miss the hint of alarm in the man’s voice. His problem wasn’t really any of her business but it was impossible to stay silent when she knew she might be able to help.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing,” Gaby said. “It sounds like you’ve got some sort of staffing crisis and a big hospitality event that you need someone to manage. Well, maybe I could pitch in?”
Both Mel and the man turned towards her, looking completely puzzled.
“I work in the hospitality industry,” Gaby explained.
“I manage hotel functions and corporate events of all shapes and sizes, from family parties to weddings, dances and balls, conferences and fairs and everything in between. My last job was in a large four-star hotel in Madrid where I worked for three months, and I can give you a quick rundown of my other contracts before that and the sorts of duties I’ve taken on. ”
Both Mel and her man were still staring at her in amazement and the lack of interruption kept Gaby talking.
“Right now, I’m on a break between jobs for a few weeks while I stay with my aunt and help her around the house while she recovers from knee surgery.
It sounds like you’re in a tight spot and need some help.
I can pitch in and manage either the wedding reception or the birthday party you mentioned, if you think that might be helpful. ”
Both Mel and the man stared at her for a long beat.
“Are you serious?” the man asked at last.
“Absolutely,” Gaby said, getting up from the table.
“Like I said, managing large hospitality events is my bread and butter and because I work short-term contracts to cover staffing absences I’m used to getting familiar with in-house systems and operations quickly.
I can give you the phone number of my last boss over in Madrid if you want to check me out. ”
Gaby pulled her phone out to find the number.
“Hang on,” the man said, giving her a curious look. “Did you say you’re staying here with your aunt who’s had surgery?”
The segue caught Gaby a little by surprise, but it stood to reason that the guy would want to quiz her on what she was telling him. “That’s right. Her name is Jill Young and she lives on Foxglove Street.”
The man’s odd expression collapsed into one of understanding.
“My aunt knows your aunt!” he said, his voice excited.
“I drove my Aunt Anita to the hospital to visit your aunt after the surgery. My aunt had surgery herself a few months ago and your aunt visited her while she was recovering, so she wanted to repay the gesture. I think they know each other through some sort of litter picking committee they both sit on.”
The serendipity of the encounter made Gaby smile. “Aunt Jill mentioned she was annoyed not to be able to take part in her committees until she was properly up and about again.”
“When I drove my Aunt Anita to the hospital to see your aunt, she said that her friend had a niece coming to stay with her during the recovery and that she worked in various hotels all over the world. As that’s our family business too, she was naturally interested and told me all about it afterwards when I drove her home. ”
“It’s a small world,” Gaby said with a laugh.
The man held out his hand. “I’m Harry Goodwin. I run the finance side of things in our family’s hospitality business.”
“It’s great to meet you, Harry,” Gaby said, shaking his hand. “I’m Gaby Leonard.”
“Listen, I’m used to stepping in and helping out from time to time around our businesses when we have a staffing shortage but I’ve never had to take charge of running an entire event before. To be honest, I’m terrified. Do you really think you could help us?”
“Absolutely. How big is the birthday party?”
“We’ve got sixty people coming for a celebration to mark an eightieth birthday.
It’s a full afternoon including canapes and champagne on arrival, a three-course lunch complete with a jazz quartet, followed by a special photo slide show the family put together and then speeches and a bespoke birthday cake served with more champagne.
They’ve even got a professional photographer coming to take pictures.
The client is a frequent guest at our hotels and it’s important this event goes smoothly.
To be honest, me being in charge of running it isn’t ideal, but everyone else in my family is already busy doing other things today that are just as important.
The manager who was supposed to be running the birthday party is stepping in to oversee the wedding instead, because we’ve got no other choice.
The staff on hand for the birthday party will do what they can, but me being in charge of running it is, well, let’s just say it’s sub-optimal. ”
“I understand and I can get up to speed quickly with the staffing team you have in place and familiarise myself with the schedule and requirements for the day. Well, if you’d like me to, that is.”
“I’d like that very much,” Harry said, relief flooding his face. “I can’t tell you how much of a relief this is. Are you sure you can spare the time?”
“I’m sure.” With her Aunt Jill managing better than expected, Gaby knew she’d be fine by herself for the afternoon, especially once she learned she’d be helping the family of one of her friends avoid a potential disaster in their hospitality business.
“We’ll need you to sign a contract for insurance purposes and we’d want to agree your fee before you start,” Harry said.
“Of course I’ll sign a contract, but don’t worry about paying me. I offered to help.”
“We won’t let you work for free.”
“Well, we can discuss that later. Right now, what matters is me getting to work so I’m ready for when the birthday event starts.”
She was glad when Harry Goodwin conceded the point with a nod.
When she offered to help, she had no expectation of payment and wasn’t about to start discussing a fee when time was of the essence.
She didn’t need the money. She simply wanted to help.
After hearing Harry discuss his predicament with Mel, she couldn’t have gone about the rest of her day knowing someone was struggling with a huge problem that she’d had the ability to ease.
“Thank you, Gaby,” Harry said, shaking her hand again. “You are literally saving my bacon.”
“I’m glad I can help. I need to drop this shopping back at my aunt’s house first and I also need to change my clothes. Do you have a uniform you’d like me to wear or will my standard dark grey trouser suit be okay?”
“Wear your suit, that sounds just fine,” Harry said. “My car is outside. How about I drive you to your aunt’s house to change and then I can take you to the Riverford Hotel?”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll stick around for the afternoon too,” he added. “I can probably be helpful as you learn the ropes and mucking in as a general dogsbody is a lot more appealing than having to run the whole show, considering I haven’t got a clue how to manage something like that.”
“We’ll figure it out and give your client a birthday party to remember,” Gaby said, wanting to reassure him that all would be well.
“Thank you,” Harry said. “This means a lot to me and my family.”
“Yes, thank you,” Mel said, surprising Gaby by pulling her into a hug. “It’s so nice of you to jump in and help when you don’t even know us.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Gaby dug into her bag for her purse. “How much do I owe you for the coffee and cake?”
“Nothing,” Mel said. “Consider it a thank you.”
“Absolutely not,” Gaby laughed, quickly adding up in her head the price of the coffee and cake she’d devoured plus the cost of the box of cakes Mel had put together for her to take away.
She pulled notes from her purse and left them on the table.
“I insist on paying. That was the best cake I’ve tasted in a long time. ”
“Let me help with your bags,” Harry said, already taking the heavy shopping from her while she pulled on her jacket. “I’m just parked out at the kerb.”
After brushing a quick kiss on Mel’s cheek, he left the café.
Gaby picked up the box of cakes she was taking home to her aunt and thanked Mel again for the delicious treats.
The pretty baker waved goodbye and returned to her spot behind the counter to serve the customers who’d arrived while the three of them had been chatting.
Gaby made her way to the door, her mind already turning to the afternoon of work that lay ahead.
When she stepped outside into the cobbled lane, she almost walked head-first into a man who was entering the café at the same moment she was leaving. She only just pulled the box of cakes she was carrying out of the way before she smacked them into his chest.
“God, I’m so sorry!” Gaby said.
“No problem,” the man said cheerfully, stepping aside to let her exit the tiled entranceway around the café door.
“I was distracted thinking about something and wasn’t paying attention and…
” Gaby’s apology trailed off as she looked again at the man she’d almost collided with.
He was tall and attractive, wearing a grey woollen coat and thick navy scarf that made the blue colour of his eyes pop.
A sweep of dark hair fell across his forehead and something about the way his gaze settled on her felt strangely familiar.
Gaby stared at the man as stunned recognition dawned.
“Peter?” she said, her voice almost a whisper.
Now it was his turn to stare. His eyes widened as he searched her face, a shocked smile lifting his lips.
“Gaby?” he asked.
She nodded, her voice lost for a moment as she drank him in.
The eighteen-year-old boy she remembered from that long ago summer had turned into an amazingly handsome man.
He’d grown taller and broader around the shoulders and looked elegantly smart in the overcoat and dark jeans he wore.
His eyes still danced when he smiled, just like they had all those years ago, and he suited the stubbly beard he now sported, which gave him a coolly distinguished air.
And she was still staring, she realised with a flush of embarrassment.