‘How about this…?’ Sadie began. ‘If I can get someone to be in the kitchen with her all the time she can still go in? We’ll pretend she’s training whoever it is and, in a way, she will be.’
‘Who’s going to be in the kitchen with her?’ Henny asked. ‘You keep coming up with these bright ideas but you still haven’t said who you’re going to ask.’
‘I know,’ Sadie said, trying to keep her voice even despite the fact that her patience was wearing thin. ‘I told you I’m working on it.’
‘Well you’d better hurry up,’ her mother said.
Sadie gave an uncertain nod as she ran through a list of possibilities in her head. There was no shortage of names, the trouble was – for various reasons – they’d all said no before. But maybe if she could ask again, cherry-pick a little time from each, persuade them of the urgency of her request, just until she could figure out something more permanent… maybe she could make it work.
She got up from the table. ‘I know it’s not good timing but I really do have to get changed. I’ll mull it all over as I get ready.’
Henny took in a sharp, hissing breath of disapproval, but Graham and Ewan were silent. Sadie shrugged. What else could she do?
‘I’ll be back in a tick,’ she said as she rushed out of the room before anyone could pile any more guilt on her.
Chapter Fourteen
‘So, what are you going to do?’
Luke lifted his glass to take a drink of the mineral water he’d ordered so he could drive Sadie home as soon as she felt she needed to get back, and get her home quickly. She’d told him her predicament on the phone just before they’d been due to meet and he’d offered immediately, no questions asked, and they’d arranged to stay more local too rather than go further afield. She’d left home promising to come up with a solution to the staffing problem at the waffle house but she had absolutely no clue what that might be. She had about twelve hours to find out, and it had felt natural and easy to share her worries with Luke. She found herself telling him the whole story, perhaps more of it than she’d meant to and perhaps more than her parents would want her to. He’d been understanding and sympathetic and happy to listen, but he didn’t have any suggestions to offer. It wasn’t that Sadie had really expected him to – after all, he didn’t know the business and what it needed like she did – but she’d still harboured a little hope that he might come up with something she hadn’t thought of.
‘That’s just it,’ Sadie said. ‘I don’t see I have any real options. Every time I think of something I think of a reason why it wouldn’t work. I know Ewan said he and Kat would try to help but I don’t really think that’s going to work out.’
‘I’m sure you’ll come up with an answer. It’s a shame I can’t help.’
‘Ewan would have an actual aneurysm. And to be honest, he’s right about one thing – you don’t know the first thing about running a food business. If I’m honest I don’t know all that much but at least I have Gammy to guide me. Nobody else I know who might have time on their hands would know their way around the business either. I suppose they could work front of house and I could be in the kitchen, but then I’m afraid that my cooking would be so much worse than Gammy’s that everyone would be able to tell and we’d lose customers.’
‘I’m sure you couldn’t be that bad. Couldn’t your grandmother show you how to make things as well as she does?’
‘She has shown me a little over the years, but she just has a special talent, you know? And you can’t learn that, no matter how hard you try.’
‘Maybe you’re being a little hard on yourself there? It’s tempting to compare yourself unfavourably with someone who’s very, very good at something, but just because you may not be quite in their league doesn’t mean you’re necessarily bad at it.’
‘Trust me; I’m nowhere near Gammy’s league.’
‘And you couldn’t afford to employ someone on a temporary basis until you’ve got a better solution?’
‘There’s very little in the kitty to pay a decent wage. And anyway, I don’t really have a clue how long I’d need them for. Not many people would agree to work on those terms.’
He nodded thoughtfully and Sadie let out a long sigh. ‘My mum is right about one thing: I’m so stubborn about this stuff. I stand my ground and refuse to listen to reason and I wind up with egg on my face because my family turn out to be right. I guess it’s happened again, hasn’t it? If I can’t have Gammy working with me and I’ve got nobody else then it looks as if I won’t be able to open for business tomorrow after all. Or for the foreseeable future until I can sort something out. And if I can’t…’
‘It seems like a crying shame to me and a sure way to lose a lot of valuable custom.’
‘I know.’ Sadie’s gaze went to the bar of the Listing Ship. Vivien was on duty again, and though she’d given them a knowing look as they’d walked in, Sadie didn’t see the point in indulging her by addressing the fact that her gossiping had caused trouble between Sadie and Ewan. She wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing she cared and, when it came down to it, that was what people in Sea Salt Bay did. Someone did something and by the next day pretty much everyone knew about it. Vivien was never going to be any different and she certainly wasn’t ever going to keep her juicy tittle-tattle to herself. Crows crowed and sheep baaed, and the residents of Sea Salt Bay talked about all the other residents of Sea Salt Bay. It was just the way things were.
‘It seems to be the story of my life… watching good things slip away from me and being far too useless to do anything about it. Grand schemes that come to nothing…’
She probably sounded a bit whiny and a bit too sorry for herself, and so she stopped.
‘I don’t think you should write it off so quickly,’ Luke said.
‘I’m not; I’m just being realistic. There’s a long way to go for a solution and will there be any point in the end? If everyone is determined that the waffle house ought to be sold then what am I doing this for?’
‘You might have to delay your opening but I wouldn’t abandon the whole thing. You’re right about one aspect – it’s a far more attractive prospect as a going concern, especially with the reputation it has in the area and the volume of trade it could attract in a town like this. Someone would take your hand off for the chance to buy a business like that, something that’s already up and running with so much potential. In the right hands it could be a little goldmine.’
‘But those hands aren’t mine?’
‘I didn’t say that. They could be, but right now you don’t even seem certain of that yourself.’
‘You can see why that might be – I haven’t been very good at it so far.’
‘You’ve been dealt bad cards. You weren’t to know your grandma’s health would deteriorate in the way it has.’
‘That’s just it – I should have spotted it sooner. I guess I did really – we all did – but none of us wanted to admit it was happening.’ She forced a bright smile. ‘I’m sorry this is turning out to be such a terrible date. I thought coming out with you would help me to forget all that and we’d just have fun, but that hasn’t happened at all. I bet you wish you’d stayed at home with a tin of paint right now, done something useful with your time.’
‘No,’ he said, holding her in a warm gaze. ‘I don’t wish that at all.’
‘But it can’t be much fun with me.’
‘I think you’re gorgeous and intelligent and interesting company. And although I’m sympathetic to your plight and happy to lend an ear, there is an ulterior motive.’
‘What’s that?’
‘I get to sit and look at you and think about kissing you. Don’t imagine you have my undivided attention for a minute because those lips of yours are very distracting.’
Sadie laughed, tension draining from her in the warmth of his words.
‘Don’t laugh,’ he said, ‘I’m being serious. It actually makes me a terrible person and I do feel a bit guilty
about it.’
‘No,’ she said. ‘It doesn’t. I like it and thank you for making me feel better.’ She took a deep breath and sat up straighter. ‘I’ll write a note for the door of the waffle house explaining that we have to close for a few days and pop in there first thing to put it up. It’s all I can do. Hopefully it’ll mean people won’t think we’re gone for good and they might keep checking back to see if we’re open, so when we do – if we do – the customers will still be there.’
‘And does it mean you can stay out a bit later with me tonight?’ he asked with a mischievous smile. ‘As you don’t have to work tomorrow?’
‘As tempting as that is, I do still have to work tomorrow. I need to find a way out of this problem.’
‘But you could do that after an extra hour in bed?’
‘Well,’ she said, relaxing a little more still, ‘I suppose I might think more clearly on a fun night out and a bit more sleep.’
‘My thoughts exactly.’ He looked at her glass. ‘So how about we top up that gin and tonic and I try to take your mind off your troubles for a while?’
She leaned across the table to kiss him. She could have done so much more, and she wanted to, but there were people waiting at home to talk to her and things that still needed to be resolved.
‘I’d love that so much,’ she said. ‘But I really should get back after this one. I’m sorry… You’re not upset, are you?’
‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but I understand that you need this. Of course I’ll take you home. Just’ – he glanced at her glass again – ‘just don’t drink that one too quickly, eh? I’m not ready for the evening to be over just yet.’
* * *
Even though Sadie ought to have been tired, sleep didn’t come easily. Luke had dropped her off shortly after ten thirty, and though the passion of their first date had been evident again in their goodnight kiss, it had been gentler, more understanding and respectful this time. It was clear to him that she wasn’t in the mood for anything more (though she’d enjoyed his company and had appreciated the time out from complex family discussions) and that she had more important things going on.
That wasn’t to say that she hadn’t still been thinking of him, even as her parents had tried valiantly to pick up where they’d left off earlier that evening, and even as she’d tried very hard to concentrate on what they’d been saying. Scenes and snatches of the night spent sitting close to Luke in the snug of the Listing Ship came back to her though, filling her with a dreamy sort of longing for what the next evening and the one after that might promise. If she was very lucky, luckier than she felt she deserved, could this even be the second chance at something meaningful – even love? The second chance she’d begun to give up all hope of having? With all that racing around in her mind, she was finding it hard to make room for the more pressing matters that she knew she really had to get to grips with.
So she’d tossed and turned during the night, awake to hear an owl’s soft hooting and then another in reply, and then, as the sun crested the horizon, the chattering of gulls on nearby cliffs. Just after the sun had bled through her bedroom blind she got up, dressed quickly and headed down to the pier.
The town was still quiet and sleepy, and Sadie had often thought that there was something melancholy about the way it looked so early in the morning, as if the soul of it had departed the body for just a little while and had yet to return. It was sort of like a toddler still stirring from a long night’s sleep, content to slowly and silently greet the new day, blinking out at the world but still confused by it. Only later, when it had woken properly, would it be a happy whirlwind of manic activity, of noise and energy and fun, making everyone around it happy too.
At the door of the waffle house, Sadie poked the key in and shoved open the door. Once she was in, she locked it again. She didn’t put on the lights – there was enough daylight if she opened a couple of blinds, which she did before going through to Gammy’s little office to find paper and pens in the absence of a computer and printer. She could have printed a sign at home, but she’d forgotten to do it before she’d gone to bed the night before and this morning she was afraid that the noise would wake the house so, instead, she wrote a note in blue felt-tip.
Sea Salt Bay Waffle House will be closed until further notice. We apologise to all our loyal customers, but we will be back soon!
A little optimistic? Maybe, and Sadie was beginning to feel in her heart that it was a little white lie, not only to herself but also to the people of Sea Salt Bay. Maybe the waffle house would open again but, even if it did, she was beginning to see that it wouldn’t be in its current guise. In fact, she was more certain than ever that it simply couldn’t be.
When she’d hung the sign in the window she sat at a table for a minute, head in hands. She needed time to think in peace, without someone breathing down her neck, demanding immediate answers. But even now, her thoughts were muddled and her heart wasn’t really in it.
An unexpected yawn caught her. There was nothing else to do here – nothing with any kind of time pressure anyway. If her misfiring brain would let her, the most sensible thing would be to try to grab a couple of hours’ sleep back at home. Her parents would be on their way out to the boat by now to get it ready for the day. Gammy would likely be awake, though they’d explained to her the previous night that the waffle house wouldn’t be open the next day because Sadie was unable to help out and inventing some excuse that she didn’t feel well. It wouldn’t be a stretch to keep up that pretence because fatigue was making her feel quite unwell anyway. It meant that Gammy would probably find something to do in the house – she liked to make herself useful where she could – and hopefully, in the house, she couldn’t get into too much mischief. Sadie could set an alarm and she wouldn’t sleep for too long and then she’d be around to keep an eye on things for the rest of the day.
It was as she was leaving that she saw Luke, almost racing down the pier towards the waffle house. She locked the door and then turned to him, squinting in the now bright sunlight.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked. ‘Not that I’m not pleased to see you, but it’s early and—’
‘I was hoping to catch you; I need to talk.’
‘OK,’ Sadie began slowly, wondering what on earth would need such urgent attention. ‘I have a phone, you know.’
‘Yes,’ he said with a breathless laugh. ‘I know, but I can’t kiss you down the phone, can I?’
Sadie smiled and walked into his arms to claim what he’d promised. He smelt incredible and his lips were warm and responsive, and suddenly she didn’t feel quite so tired or despondent.
‘Is that all you’ve come for?’ she asked as they broke off.
‘Not really,’ he said, and for the first time since she’d started to date him he seemed a little anxious.
‘Then…’
‘I’ve had an idea.’
‘Oh. Well, is it something you can convey in small words? Because I’m very tired and right now I have a very short attention span.’
‘OK. So…’ He paused. ‘So, I was thinking… why don’t I buy the waffle house?’
Her forehead creased into a deep frown. ‘What?’
‘If I buy the waffle house, does that help you? I have some money spare to do it.’
‘And do what with it?’
‘Exactly what it’s doing now.’
‘Who’s going to run it?’
‘You. I thought that was what you wanted. You said—’
‘I do want that, but you buying it doesn’t change my predicament. I still don’t have anyone to run it with me and I can’t do it alone. Besides, why would you do something like that? You hardly know me; we might hate each other this time next week and then where would we be?’
‘That’s not going to happen.’
‘Even if it didn’t, the fact remains that I can’t afford to employ someone – I’d have to pay you back… Or will this be your business?’
> ‘It’d be yours. And I’d work with you – at first anyway. I can’t promise I’d be much good but you can teach me and it’d just be until you started to make enough money to hire help.’
‘You can’t work with me – you have enough of your own to do. And you’re not exactly the most popular person in town as far as my family are concerned – they’d never sell to you.’
‘But surely they’d see things differently if I was doing you all a favour? They surely can’t be that stubborn? And I do owe you big time, don’t forget.’
‘Oh, God, not the boat thing again. Isn’t anyone going to let that drop?’
‘Well then, I want to do it because I like you and I want to help.’
‘But, Luke… you don’t know the first thing about the business. I mean, I know you know about business in general but this is so different from property…’
‘You’re saying I can’t learn?’
‘Of course you can, but why would you want to? Don’t you have work of your own to be getting on with – an existing business that needs you?’
‘Well, yes, but—’
‘Then why make promises to me that you won’t be able to keep?’
‘I would keep them.’
‘You’d mean to but then something would happen. And I love that you want to help, I really do, but…’
‘I don’t understand…’
‘It’s another false start for me, isn’t it? You’ll decide in a few weeks that you don’t have the time to spare because your house isn’t finished as quickly as you need, or because people are asking you to build them an extension or whatever and you need to do it because you need to earn, and then you’ll leave me to it. And I’ll be exactly where I started, except with the possibility hanging over me that if you get bored or need cash you’d be able to sell the waffle house on without a bit of consultation.’ She shook her head. ‘Where would you even get that kind of money from, anyway?’
The Waffle House on the Pier: A gorgeous feel-good romantic comedy Page 20
