Chapter 26
Elodie thought that Dilan’s idea was actually a good one. She ran it past Marty, who seemed to think it was fine too, so she posted something on her social media channels and hoped for the best.
‘Are you okay?’ was harder to respond to. Was she okay? Not really. But was she okay with Mal? Definitely.
She thought about the way he held her and the taste and texture of his skin. Oh, she was definitely okay with Mal. She loved that she’d fallen asleep and he had just taken it in his stride. She could see a future with this man. It had been a long time since she’d had any reason for optimism.
It was a pity she had met him at the point when her business was most in peril. She didn’t dare check her social media on her phone again, so she went downstairs to get herself a sandwich.
Her parents were sitting together in the kitchen. They looked up when she entered. Something in their expression worried her. She hadn’t seen that look on their faces since she told them she was starting a baking business.
‘What?’ she said.
‘We were sent this.’ Dad held up his phone, as though it were a grenade. On it, on a loop, was the video of Elodie getting splattered with a hamburger. Her heart sank.
‘Oh. That.’
‘What is this, Elodie? This clowning around?’
Suddenly her limbs felt heavy. She did not need this right now.
‘It’s not,’ she said. ‘At the wedding yesterday, there was an accident. Someone got thrown into my cake before the bride and groom got to cut it and there was a food fight and … that is me trying to stop the bride’s dress from being ruined.’ How many times was she going to have to explain this in the weeks ahead?
There was a heavy silence from her parents, who looked at each other.
Her mother made a little ‘mmm’ noise, a precursor to a lecture, usually. Elodie braced herself.
‘Darling,’ said her mother. ‘You know we believe in you following your dreams.’
‘And we have been supporting you all this time,’ Dad added.
‘But don’t you think it’s time you stopped this baking nonsense and got a real job?’
Elodie sighed. ‘This is a real job.’
‘Not when you’re not even breaking even.’
‘I—’
‘I know it seems romantic to run a bakery and you have talent in that regard,’ Dad said. ‘But realistically, you don’t pay yourself a proper wage. You live with us, so you don’t have to pay rent. That’s not breaking even, Elodie. That’s just kidding yourself.’
That was a blow. She couldn’t defend herself because she knew he was right. She had given herself three years to break even. She was running out of time. She was working all the hours of the day with no measurable success.
‘And this,’ said her father, pointing contemptuously at the phone. ‘This is just embarrassing.’
‘I can make this work,’ she said. She still had two months. She had to believe that it was possible to do this. ‘I just need more time.’
Her father sighed. ‘We’ve been humouring you for these past few years, but really, Elodie. You need to grow up.’
It was the tired-parent tone of voice that got her, like she was a little girl and they were indulging her whims about horse riding lessons or something. ‘Humouring me?’ she said.
They both looked at her with their superior faces on, as though they were explaining a point which was a fact and she just had to get her head around it. They had looked like that the first time she’d failed Maths. Not angry, but disappointed. To her horror she felt tears threaten again.
‘Darling,’ said Mum. ‘Dreams are wonderful and we’re glad you have one, but a dream without a plan … isn’t likely to succeed.’
That was so damn patronising that she tamped down the encroaching tears. ‘I have a plan,’ she said. ‘And I’m getting orders. Things will—’
Her father gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Elodie,’ he said. ‘Things will not improve. Your lease for the unit comes to an end next year. I suggest you wind the business up at that time.’
‘No.’
‘I am the guarantor on your lease,’ he reminded her. ‘I will not be your guarantor from now on.’
‘Give me time. I’ll prove to you that I can make this work.’ Her voice shook. This was humiliating.
‘Fine. We’re going to have to start charging you rent. If you want to realistically make a go of things you’re going to have to get used to real life conditions.’
‘If I’m paying rent,’ Elodie snapped back, ‘I may as well move out and live somewhere where people don’t criticise me all the time.’
Her mother started to protest, but she saw the shutters go down in her father’s eyes. She got her mulishness from him. ‘Fine,’ he said. ‘Do that.’