A Taste of Home

by Heidi Swain

  ‘Funnily enough, she didn’t,’ I said with a wry smile. ‘But Nonna did.’

  ‘What a woman,’ he wistfully said.

  ‘I heard you talking late last night.’

  ‘I hope we didn’t keep you awake?’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘You didn’t.’

  If anything, the sound of their voices drifting up the stairs had been a comfort. Much like when I was little and used to listen to the Rossi babble from below in the kitchen, not that the murmur had helped me nod off last night, but then nothing would.

  ‘She told me so much about your mother,’ Grandad carried on, sounding a little choked. ‘And the woman she became.’

  I daresay Nonna could tell him things that not even I knew.

  ‘It was all rather a surprise,’ he said, with a watery smile, ‘but a good one.’

  ‘I told you she was different to the tempestuous teen you had to try and cope with, didn’t I?’

  ‘That you did,’ he said, turning back to the stove. ‘And Marta and I are going to keep in touch, so I daresay I’ll hear more about her soon.’

  ‘I’m sure you will,’ I smiled, thinking how wonderful it was to hear Nonna’s name on Grandad’s lips, even with his Fenland accent.

  Rather than pile my plate high, he added only a little of everything to tempt me and as I slowly worked my way through it, I began to feel better.

  ‘So,’ said Grandad, tucking into a succulent Skylark sausage, ‘what’s on the itinerary ahead of the grand launch?’

  I had told Grandad of Jake’s plans to sign a contract with another venue and he had apologised for not agreeing to my idea straightaway and giving me the chance to get in first. Consequently, he was now as mindful as I was as to how much was riding on the evening’s success.

  ‘Actually,’ I said, looking down my list which hadn’t been more than a couple inches from my side all week, ‘thanks to Eliot’s help yesterday, there’s nowhere near as much to do now as I had expected. It’s all finishing touches in the barn and simple makes in the kitchen.’

  The few tasks still to be completed, such as dipping the strawberries in chocolate, were thankfully stress free and repetitive, real nerve soothers.

  ‘He’s a good lad,’ nodded Grandad. ‘And it was a pleasure to see you both getting on so well yesterday, even if you did gang up on me a bit. I had a feeling the pair of you would shake down well.’

  We might have shaken down even better if he hadn’t mentioned Anthony, but there was no point dwelling on that now. Eliot and I were still trying to keep a lid on things, so it was most likely for the best that he thought I’d got romantic ambitions elsewhere, even if I had denied them when he’d asked.

  ‘So,’ said Grandad, pushing away his empty plate, ‘what do you want me to do this morning? Stay out of the way or get stuck in?’

  ‘You can help me make the chocolate dipped strawberries if you like.’

  ‘They sound wonderful.’

  ‘And they taste amazing,’ I proudly said. ‘I’m going to go and pick the biggest and the best and then we’ll get started.’

  I’d found excellent quality bars of milk, white and plain chocolate in the Wynbridge deli and I made each sauce separately, letting the glossy, melted mixture cool a little so it thickened slightly before we dipped the strawberries.

  ‘Oh no,’ Grandad tutted, on more than one occasion, quickly popping the chocolate heavy berry into his mouth before I had time to check it. ‘That one was dipped too deep.’

  ‘I’m really not sure you should be in charge of quality control,’ I told him, looking at his chocolate stained lips.

  Between us we decided the dark ones were our favourite. The bitterness of the chocolate balanced the sweetness of the strawberries perfectly, but the ones I’d added a light sprinkling of sea salt to were very good too.

  Once they had all completely cooled, I applied a drizzle and put them in the fridge. The dark and milk chocolate berries had a white drizzle and the white ones a milk or dark. It took a while but I was delighted with the results, and the additional smears of chocolate across Grandad’s face were proof enough that he was happy too.

  ‘I’m not sure they count as one of your five a day,’ he said, taking the sheet of damp kitchen towel I offered him, ‘but they should.’

  ‘They’re not exactly cutting edge in cooking either,’ I pointed out, ‘but they are delicious and I think they’ll be a nice way to end the evening.’

  ‘Definitely,’ he agreed. ‘Perhaps with a lovely glass of champagne.’

  I’d rather gone off champagne. My last two experiences with it hadn’t been much cause for celebration.

  ‘Maybe,’ I said, wondering if third time really might be a charm.

  After lunch, I cut the flowers – a mix of Nanna’s roses, peonies and frothy Alchemilla mollis – and arranged them in the glass jars along the hessian runners. With a tea light in a jar in-between, and the simple place settings laid out, the tables looked lovely. Simple and rustic but with an elegant twist. No one would ever need know there were cheap and basic pasting tables underneath. They weren’t going to be a long-term solution, but for kicking things off, they were ideal.

  ‘Mason jars as promised,’ said Louise when she turned up a little later. ‘And hopefully they’ll be fully charged by the end of the day, thanks to the upturn in the weather.’

  As well as the jars, she also had two large terracotta tubs filled with bedding plants in the back of her car. They were a riot of bright orange and purple petunias, red geraniums and frothy blue lobelia which trailed artfully over the sides.

  ‘I saw them for sale on the market and thought they might look nice either side of the door,’ she said, as I helped her manoeuvre them into place. ‘Consider them my contribution to the evening.’

  ‘They’re beautiful,’ I said, giving her the hug she usually managed to get in first. ‘They’re the perfect welcome to the barn. Thank you so much.’

  ‘You’re more than welcome,’ she said. She looked well pleased by my reaction. ‘And I’ll be back later to help carry the food from the house.’

  Once she’d gone, I thought about the logistics of using the farm kitchen as a holding area for future events. It would be fine in the short-term, as would letting people pop into the house to use the loo, but the sooner we got the building work done the better. Assuming the club proved popular of course.

  If it was all systems go by the end of the year, I hoped the money I had squirrelled away would be enough to cover what needed doing. My ‘saving for things as I went along’ philosophy was much like my Brown ancestors’, but then, if what I had wasn’t enough and borrowing was the only way to move things forward then needs must.

  Chapter 24

  ‘I can hear a car!’ Grandad called from his room to mine, when I was getting changed.

  My fingers fumbled to do up the final button on the floral-patterned tea dress which, out of the few things I had in my wardrobe, seemed to fit the evening best. Teamed with my old but comfy Converse All Star plimsolls, the ensemble felt pretty but practical.

  ‘But it’s too early!’ I called back as I swept my hair into a ponytail.

  ‘I know, do you want me to go and see who it is?’

  ‘No,’ I said, taking one last look in the mirror, ‘I’m dressed, so I’ll go. Given the time, I’m pretty certain it won’t be any of the guests.’

  But it was.

  ‘Anthony,’ I said, rushing into the kitchen and finding him already there. ‘You’re very early.’

  The sight of him caused a rush of both relief and exasperation. Relief because I would now have the chance to set him straight about Eliot, but exasperation because it really was ridiculously early.

  ‘I know,’ he said, moving away from the dresser and presenting me with a huge bouquet which he had somehow hidden behind his back, ‘but I wanted to give you these and wish you luck before everyone else arrived.’

  ‘They’re lovely,’ I said, taking the cellophane
-wrapped bunch. ‘Thank you so much. I’ll pop them in a jug for now and unwrap them later, when I’ve got a bit more time.’

  ‘I knew you’d like them,’ he said, pulling out a chair and making himself at home.

  ‘I do,’ I said, trying to sound grateful, even though the gaudy, tortured bunch wasn’t my cup of tea at all, ‘and actually I’m pleased you’re early, because although I haven’t got time to sit with you, I do want to talk to you. Just give me a minute.’

  I ran back upstairs to tell Grandad who had arrived and that we were going for a walk. He looked about as impressed as he had the day he found out it was Anthony who had taken me out to dinner.

  ‘Have you got time for a walk?’ he frowned, looking at the clock next to his bed. ‘I know Judd’s early but you still have things to do.’

  ‘It’ll be fine,’ I reassured him. ‘It will help settle my nerves.’

  I didn’t specify what the nerves were about and just let him assume the obvious.

  ‘All right,’ he said. ‘I’ll listen out for anyone else.’

  I quickly kissed him on the cheek and went back downstairs to whisk Anthony away.

  ‘It’s about Eliot,’ I said, the second we were out of earshot of the house.

  ‘Oh yes,’ he keenly said, linking his arm through mine. ‘What have you found out?’

  ‘Nothing,’ I said, disentangling myself and turning to face him. ‘Absolutely nothing.’

  ‘I can’t say I’m all that surprised,’ he sighed. ‘He’s probably too clever to leave any hint…’

  ‘No,’ I said, cutting him off. ‘I don’t think it’s because he’s too clever to be the sneak you’re suggesting, it’s because there’s nothing to find. You did warn me, that what you’d heard was all supposition, didn’t you?’

  ‘I did,’ he hesitantly agreed.

  ‘And that’s exactly what it is,’ I forthrightly said.

  The look Anthony gave me as he shook his head was extremely patronising.

  ‘He’s done quite a job on you, hasn’t he?’ he mockingly said.

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I flushed, instantly riled.

  ‘Never mind.’

  ‘Look,’ I said. ‘Whoever was spreading those rumours has got things completely wrong. Eliot’s no conman, in fact he’s probably the best friend Grandad’s got and even if he did go off the rails when he was younger, he’s certainly made amends for it since.’

  ‘You seem very keen on the senior citizens’ saviour all of a sudden,’ Anthony laughed.

  ‘Not in the way that you’re insinuating.’

  ‘Well, that’s all right then.’

  I didn’t ask why.

  ‘Eliot’s a friend,’ I said, meeting Anthony’s gaze and hoping the truth wasn’t written all over my face. ‘A good one and a trusted one.’

  I knew beyond any reasonable doubt that I was in love with Eliot but I wasn’t going to admit it, especially not to Anthony. All I was interested in achieving, was getting through the evening without him mucking things up.

  ‘Well,’ Anthony said, letting out a long breath. ‘I’m relieved to be proved wrong and if I hear any more about it, I’ll be sure to set the gossip-monger straight.’

  I wasn’t sure I believed he would, because I was beginning to think that the only person spreading the gossip, that I hadn’t even heard so much of a hint of, was him. That said, I supposed, as long as he kept his mouth shut that would be the end of it.

  ‘Fliss!’ I heard Grandad call. ‘Come on. It’s almost time!’

  I hoped Anthony really was going to suit his actions to his words and I rushed back to the barn to make the final few adjustments. Our early arrival spent the whole time getting under my feet and didn’t offer to help once.

  ‘Why don’t you move your car?’ Grandad suggested when he realised I was getting wound up. ‘In fact, I’ll show you where you need to park it, Anthony and then you can stand at the gate and direct everyone else as they arrive.’

  The look of disapproval on Anthony’s face soon restored my humour.

  ‘That’s a great idea, Grandad,’ I grinned as he took Anthony off.

  There was an influx of cars just before seven and everyone congregated on the drive. I wanted to let them all into the barn at the same time so I could gauge their collective response. The only people missing were Eliot and Bec. Louise explained that Eliot had finished work and the pair had just had to rush off somewhere.

  ‘They won’t be long,’ she reassured me. ‘They’ll definitely be here before you want to start serving the food, but I’m here to help if needs be so don’t worry.’

  I felt rather disappointed, because I’d wanted to have the pair of them with me when I opened the doors, but I couldn’t leave everyone standing about. So, before my nerves got the better of me, I took in the eager faces of my new friends, noting that they’d all dressed up for the occasion and were carrying bags bulging with bottles and blankets.

  ‘Evening everyone,’ I said, pulling in a breath. ‘Thank you all so much for coming tonight. I know that you were as keen as I was when I explained about the secret supper club plans in the pub last week.’

  ‘Hear, hear!’ quipped Jemma and everyone laughed.

  ‘But,’ I said, trying not to look at Amber and Jake, ‘what I want to find out is whether that was alcohol fuelled enthusiasm,’ everyone laughed again, ‘or if you really think I’m on to something.’

  The group quietened.

  ‘What you’ll experience inside the barn tonight is just a small taste, no pun intended, of what I envisage the whole could eventually be and I’d really appreciate any feedback you’d be willing to offer. I want to hear the good and the bad, but more than that, I want you to enjoy your evening.’

  With that, I pulled open the doors and led everyone inside. The collective gasp and excited chatter which followed me in released the air I’d been holding in my lungs, and I just knew that I’d made an impression and a good one. Whatever the Skylark duo decided, I’d given it my best shot.

  ‘Sorry,’ said Bec, as she rushed in a few minutes later. ‘We missed it didn’t we? Your opening speech. Oh wow!’ she then added, stopping in her tracks and looking around. ‘This is amazing.’

  I was delighted that she thought so.

  ‘That seems to be the general consensus,’ I agreed, happily looking around as my guests acquainted themselves with the space, admired the decorations and listened to Grandad waxing lyrical about his collection. ‘And don’t worry, I didn’t really give a speech.’

  ‘So much for Bill not wanting to make an announcement of his own,’ said Eliot, who smelt incredible and looked gorgeous in an open necked dark shirt and jeans.

  ‘I know, right?’ I laughed, glancing over to where he had Jake, Ben and Lizzie hanging on his every word as they passed around an eel trap.

  ‘Oh god,’ Eliot then muttered. ‘Is that Anthony Judd?’

  Bec followed his gaze and I looked too. Anthony and Jemma’s husband Tom, were deep in conversation at the back of the barn next to the table which was laden down with the drinks everyone had brought along.

  ‘What’s he doing here?’ Eliot frowned. ‘He was a total prick at school and rumour has it, he’s not changed much.’

  More rumours, although I had to admit this one had the potential to carry more merit than the alleged one about Eliot ever had.

  ‘That’s who Fliss went out to dinner with,’ Bec informed him. ‘He’s Mr Helpful. I didn’t realise you knew him and I certainly don’t remember him from your year at school.’

  ‘What?’ Eliot gasped. ‘He’s the boyfriend Bill told me about?’

  Grandad obviously hadn’t provided a name.

  ‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ I said again. ‘And we only went out once.’

  ‘Have I put my foot in it?’ asked Bec.

  ‘No,’ Eliot and I said together.

  ‘I’ll go and get the music sorted,’ he then added, striding off.

  Bec tried
to stop him, but he was out of reach before she’d realised he was going.

  I left Eliot to it and while Bec and Louise lit the many tea lights, I played the hostess and gratefully soaked up the abundant praise and enthusiasm. I did my best to shrug off Eliot’s reaction to finding Anthony ensconced and tried not to hone in on Jake and Amber. Undue pressure wouldn’t help the supper club’s cause and besides, left to their own devices, they looked happy enough.

  ‘Have you got a sec?’ Eliot asked, once he’d set the music playing and had apparently recovered his temper. Outwardly, at least. ‘Bec has something for you.’

  His words reminded me that I had something for her too. I would have to tell her about Marco as soon as I got the chance.

  ‘This is why we were late,’ she said, presenting me with a bottle of pink coloured liquid. It was quite small and it didn’t have a label. ‘It’s from the owner of Brambles,’ she added, eyeing it greedily. ‘One of a very limited trial run. Eliot told him about your plans for this place and he wanted to give you this.’

  ‘We had to go and pick it up.’

  ‘So, it’s more a gift from both of you,’ I began to say, but Eliot cut me off.

  Now he knew I’d been out with Anthony, he didn’t seem to want to give me anything.

  ‘It’s strawberry gin,’ he said. ‘Their first ever batch. Jack wanted to call in himself, but he’s running a private tasting session tonight. He asked us to tell you that he’d like to talk to you about a potential collaboration event, combining Fenview fruit with his drinks.’

  ‘Oh wow,’ I gasped. ‘That’s amazing. Thank you both so much.’

  Bec was smiling, clearly delighted to have found me more business, but Eliot looked down in the dumps. I didn’t know what to say to make him feel better. With the evening in full swing it was hardly the time or the place to come clean and explain properly about what I’d been up to. I had thought I was going to get away without revealing any of it, but apparently not. It would just have to wait for now and in the meantime, I’d try and keep him and Anthony apart.