Chapter 34 #2
“I did; none of the names mean anything to me,” said Teddy. “What do I do?” he went on. “Sell up and move? I don’t want to.
Why the dirty tricks? Why do they feel the need to drive me out to set up themselves?”
“Because it’s run by people who aren’t as business savvy as they think they are and they see you as competition that has to
be eliminated when really you could, at a push, coexist because your clientele base, with some crossover, of course, is quite
different. I was thinking you could ask your customers when they leave to give you a positive review online and if they do,
they can have a free dessert or coffee the next time they come for a meal.”
“Is that ethical?” asked Teddy.
“Well, it’s a sort of bribery, yes, but you do need more good reviews.
It’s a negative age and people are more likely to publicly complain than praise.
You’d just be asking politely if they’d take the time to do that for you if they’ve had a nice meal.
Most people won’t have thought about doing it and they’ll make the effort once you tell them it would help your business.
You’re not exactly forcing anyone, just rewarding some kindness. ”
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
“Ciaoissimo as a company is obviously not community-minded, which will do them harm with locals but not so much with holidaymakers.
They seem to be throwing investment at it at the moment, like a hobby... a racehorse venture, but if it doesn’t start earning
its money back soon, either it’ll fold or they’ll get someone in to turn it around. That’s when they might up their game and
become your real direct competition.”
“And then it’s goodbye, Teddy.”
“You never say never; there’s always hope.” Sabrina remembered someone very special telling her so at times when she’d doubted
they’d ever be able to rescue a failing business.
They sat on the bench long past the point when they’d eaten the last of their cones, just enjoying the sunshine and people
watching. A little girl in a frilly swimming costume and a pink hat was attempting to make a sandcastle but spilled every
shovel of sand before it reached her bucket. Sabrina wondered if she’d ever taken Linnet to the beach, and she tried to force
her brain to bring just one memory of that forward, but there was nothing. Sometimes walking round and round in her head got
tiring. She could have closed her eyes and gone to sleep in the sun and hoped that the seagulls that featured in her memories
and her dreams would take pity on her and bring her some clues about her other life on their wings.
She felt at peace here, soaking up the warmth and the seaside sounds and the easy company of this man at her side. She hoped the day would kick against the clock, force its hands to brake so she could rest longer in this lovely solid oasis where everything felt certain and uncomplicated.
But time had rules to abide by, the sun began to drop, and Teddy fetched two coffees from the kiosk where he’d bought the
ice creams.
“I think George has a thing for your mum,” said Sabrina. “Did you know?”
“Everyone knows but my mother,” replied Teddy.
“You should tell her.”
“And have George lording it over me as my stepdad?” Teddy gave her a look of horror, but she knew he was only pretending.
“She’s been without your dad a lot of years, and she’s still a young woman.”
Teddy hadn’t thought about his mum being lonely. She had her friends and her volunteering up at the hospital, and she was
always busy. But then, he was always busy, and that disguised his own loneliness. He felt slightly ashamed that he hadn’t
thought of that parallel before and recognized the similar void in his mother’s life.
“His jokes are great. Kids would love them. You should let him out of the back to do his table magic occasionally. You won’t
get that at Ciaoissimo.”
“He won’t have time; he’ll be too busy doing takeaway pizzas.” Teddy smiled again and realized he’d smiled so much today that
his face had begun to ache. Muscles he hadn’t overused for a long time.
“George lost his wife when he was just a young man; no children,” Teddy told her. “He likes to garden when he’s not working.
We get all our herbs from him and a lot of vegetables. Mum likes to garden too.” Now that he was thinking about it, he realized
that Marielle and George had quite a few things in common. They both liked the theater, the cinema, sunny holidays, days away,
museums, eating out. He’d always thought it was funny how George behaved around his mum; he hadn’t really considered that
real, serious feelings might be involved. Maybe he needed to look outside his restaurant occasionally. It was his everything
and if he lost it, he’d have nothing.
Sabrina polished off her coffee then put her socks and boots on. They’d end up back in the charity shop, for sure. She was reluctant to stand up in them, expecting the discomfort to kick in straightaway.
“Here, take my arm,” Teddy said, crooking it for her. It felt sure and strong under her hand. She was almost glad her boots
were uncomfortable enough to force her pace to be slow as they walked back to the car so she could squeeze some extra time
with him out of the day.
“Are you okay?” Teddy asked her.
“I’m so sorry about this,” she replied.
“I could give you a piggyback.”
“I’d break your spine.” She chuckled.
He didn’t mind that they were taking an age to get to the car. He couldn’t recall the last time before today that he hadn’t
rushed or darted or strode anywhere. It was nice to stroll with someone on his arm, someone at his side.
They drove home the longer, scenic way. Teddy tried to convince himself he’d chosen the route because it would be quieter,
but it wasn’t that at all. He was a teenage boy again, stringing out an enjoyable time for as long as he could. The day had
not turned out as he’d expected it to; it had been much better, and he had learned more about himself than he had a rival
restaurant. He felt a downturn in his spirits on seeing the “Welcome to Shoresend” sign.
He braked outside the door to Little Moon.
“Sabrina, thank you for today,” he said.
“It’s a pleasure.” She turned to him, smiling again, and he knew she felt it too, that the air in the car felt suddenly as
thick as honey. Something had grown between them today, like a small shoot poking out of its seed but then wondering where
to go next. He felt his blood gain pace inside him.
Sabrina’s hand crept slowly to the door handle, giving him the opportunity to say more before she got out. Then he opened
his mouth and did say more.
“Obviously I’ll pay you for today. You were working after all; I do recognize that.” If he’d wanted to kill whatever was warming the air between them, he’d just done it. Stone dead.
“Oh, thank you, that’s... great then.” She opened the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” She hopped out too quickly for
him to say that he’d had a really lovely time with her, lean across and kiss her cheek, because he had wanted to do that,
to let his lips have contact with her.
She was aware that he was watching her until she was safely inside, and she tried not to walk as if her boots had a vendetta
against her feet. She unlocked the door, went quickly in, and heard him drive off, and she was glad that he had.
Oh God, she was lucky she hadn’t made a fool of herself, read too much into the ease they’d shared. She’d picked up on something
that wasn’t there, her intuition evidently not as tuned as it was in a work environment. She thought back, hoping not to find
something she’d said that came across as inappropriate. But then again, said a kind voice, he wasn’t exactly champing at the
bit to get home either. But then again , said her own voice, he was a good man and he probably thought that it was due recompense for her business analytical services
to take her for an ice cream and a coffee at the seaside. There was nothing more in it than that. What else could there be?