Another Glass of Champagne

by Jenny Kane

  ‘Very probably.’ Rob stepped back to examine the display. ‘Every time I think Jack has grown up, he goes and proves me wrong. I wish he could find someone to scratch whatever itch it is he has.’

  Phil grunted. ‘Do you think that’ll ever happen?’

  ‘No. Although I’d love to be proved wrong.’ Rob placed a pot of fake flowers in the corner of the window. ‘The chef thing was unexpected, mind.’

  ‘Kit said he used to be a good cook.’

  ‘Jack was always the one who did the big meals at uni. His roasts were a bit legendary, to be honest, but I had no idea he’d head in that direction job-wise.’

  ‘I’m not sure he did either.’ Phil laid one final book on the display. ‘The way he was talking over our takeaway the other night convinced me he’s happy, though. Seems Jack has finally found a passion that isn’t going to break anyone else’s heart.’

  Rob nodded. ‘Well that’s something at least. Let’s face it, Jack might be a great bloke, but there can’t be many members of the gay community left for him to sleep with in London.’

  Accepting a signal from Phil saying he was about to make tea, Rupert got up from his stall and went into the kitchen to collect his mug, returning just in time to hear his employers listing all Jack’s past dating disasters. He moaned inwardly. A small part of him had thought that getting to know Jack might be fun – might be what he needed to help him stop battling his internal demons – but on the other hand he didn’t like the idea of one-night stands, and never had. Whereas Jack seemed to thrive on them...

  Even though he’d decided that, for the sake of his mother, he’d stay single, that didn’t mean he didn’t want to work out who he was. He’d thought Jack could help, but by the sound of it the man was obviously someone to stay away from.

  Which was a shame, because ever since they’d met at Phil’s place, Rupert’s mind had drifted to thoughts of Jack far more frequently than was sensible.

  Megan’s conscience was keeping her awake at night. How could she possibly let Peggy and Scott down? They were so excited about securing the new premises for the next Pickwicks café, and had even discussed her going to view it so she could get a feel for her new place of employment – all without letting her get a word in edgeways.

  She and Nick had talked about little else over the weekend. And although she was excited at the prospect of having her first artist’s contract, she was in a dither.

  Patient as ever, Nick’s soft Irish tones had repeated the same phrases of encouragement. ‘Whichever job you choose, your wages will rise. The important thing is for you to be happy.’

  Kind though this was, Megan couldn’t help wishing that, every now and then, Nick would decide for her.

  That afternoon, as the lunchtime rush disappeared into the less hectic trade of late afternoon teas, and Peggy began flicking through a brochure of café equipment, she knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. With her palms sweating slightly, she went into the kitchen.

  ‘Do you have a minute, Scott?’

  Megan’s boss glanced up at her, thinking she seemed very pale. ‘You OK, sweetheart?’

  ‘I’ll get back to you on that in a minute.’

  ‘Ahhh.’ Scott put down the cloth he’d been cleaning his worktop with, washed his hands, and followed his chief waitress into the main café.

  ‘Peggy, can I have a quick word please?’ Megan, with Scott following behind her, checked that Helena could cope in the café on her own, and took a deep breath.

  ‘You OK, Megan?’ Peggy exchanged glances with her husband. ‘You look a bit shaky.’

  ‘I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you already, really. But I promised I wouldn’t say anything. And then – well, I haven’t known what to do.’

  Megan was speaking far faster than she intended to, and the professional edge she’d been determined to keep to her voice had already been nudged out by a hint of panic. ‘And of course, I’d already promised you two that I wouldn’t say anything about the new café, and then this happened, and I don’t know what to do because I could do with the extra money, but I don’t want to let you down because you’re my friends, and you’ve been so good to me, but now what with the art and everything...’

  Scott laid his large, slightly floury hand gently on Megan’s shoulder. ‘Hey, slow down! Now, take a second.’ Shooting a warning look at his wife, who was obviously ready to jump in with a comment before Megan had told the whole story, Scott said, ‘We are indeed your friends, which means you can tell us whatever it is without worrying. Come on, what’s the matter?’

  With an appreciative smile at Scott, Megan dived in. ‘You know Jack is back? Did you know he was opening a bistro?’

  Wary, Peggy exchanged another look with her husband. ‘I knew he’d been working as a chef. I didn’t know about that. Go on.’

  ‘Well, he’s offered me the job as front of house manager. It was only a day or so after your job offer, but I couldn’t tell him that because no one knows about Pickwicks number two, and I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about Jack’s venture, as he didn’t want to say anything about it for the same reasons as you haven’t told anyone.’

  ‘In case the rental deal falls through?’ Scott passed Megan a glass of water.

  ‘Yes. Although I think he is planning to buy rather than rent.’

  ‘He would.’ Peggy looked grim. ‘And I imagine you’re very tempted by Jack’s job offer. He’ll be able to pay you higher wages than we can, I have no doubt.’

  Megan swallowed, and nodded quietly. The anger she could see on Peggy’s face was justified, but made her feel awful. ‘I have a loyalty to Pickwicks, and I don’t want to let you down, but I need to earn enough so Nick and I can find a home of our own.’

  Scott smiled at her. ‘I know; and we do understand. You’ve been worth your weight in gold these last few years, but if the time has come for you to move on, then so be it. When do you have to tell Jack by?’

  ‘Next Monday. He’s invited me to visit the restaurant on Wednesday.’

  ‘You haven’t seen it yet?’

  ‘I don’t even know where it is, to be honest.’

  ‘So you might take one look at the place and decide you don’t want to work there anyway?’

  ‘Yes.’ Megan sighed. ‘I am completely torn. I hate this. I really hate it.’

  Peggy wrapped her waitress in her arms, cuddling her close. ‘It’s OK, Megan. I admit I’m furious, but not with you. Perhaps if we’d already made it public that Pickwicks was getting a second branch, Jack wouldn’t have thought it was OK to poach our staff. Still, he should know better.’

  ‘Scott?’ Megan peered up at her other employer. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I’m also annoyed at Jack, but not surprised. He’s always been a decent businessman, and he knows a good worker when he sees one. For him this won’t be poaching, but simply trying to get the best person for the job.’

  Megan gulped. ‘Do you want to withdraw your offer? I’d understand after I’ve been so disloyal.’

  ‘What are you talking about? You haven’t done anything wrong! You were put in an impossible position by both us and Jack. The choice is yours and yours alone.’ Scott gave her his dazzling smile. ‘You must do what’s right for you and you alone. If you go with Jack there’ll be no hard feelings. Obviously we would love you to front the new café, but we won’t be able to match Jack’s wages. We will be able to offer you more socialable hours than he can, though, and if you find out how much holiday he’s offering you, then I’m sure we can better it.’

  Megan looked from Peggy to Scott and sniffed back tears of gratitude. ‘You are so kind. Thank you both.’

  ‘Not at all. Whatever you decide we won’t think any less of you. And in the meantime, you could give Helena a hand?’ Peggy nodded towards a large group of pensioners who had just come through Pickwicks’ front door. ‘The poor girl is drowning in customers over there!’

  Chapter Fifteen
/>   Wednesday 15th June

  Jack read the text with mixed feelings.

  Don’t forget: dinner tonight – my place – with Kit and Phil. 7pm. DON’T BE LATE. Amy xx

  His intentions to visit Amy once more before the mini dinner party had dissolved, due to the necessary preparations for the opening of the restaurant, planning his forthcoming menus, and checking on Kit. With a sense of guilt caused not only by his neglect of Amy, but by the fact that he’d have to tell them everything about his new bistro soon – including its location – Jack sent a quick, positive reply as Megan honed into view.

  He had agreed to meet Megan at the end of the lane that divided Pickwicks from Richmond’s main street. He knew she thought he was being kind in escorting her from her place of work to the site of the new bistro. He wasn’t sure how she’d react when she realised he wasn’t being chivalrous as much as walking her across the road. He wouldn’t have been surprised if, when she saw how close to Pickwicks it was, she turned right round and walked away.

  ‘Hi, Megan, thanks for coming.’ Jack noticed she appeared a little uneasy. ‘You OK?’

  ‘I had to tell Peggy and Scott you’d offered me a job. I’m sorry, Jack. I had to.’

  Jack grimaced. ‘I understand. Do they know I know about their expansion plans as well?’

  ‘Not yet.’ Megan’s voice reflected how miserable she felt, ‘I feel like a double agent, and I can’t say I like the sensation very much.’

  ‘I’m sure. Well,’ Jack started to walk down the road, ‘anyway, let me show you the bistro, then if you like the place you can make a more informed decision.’

  ‘OK. Is it far away?’

  ‘Not far, no.’ Jack stopped walking and turned to face her. ‘When we get there, whatever your initial instincts, will you promise me you’ll give the place a proper look over? Even if you say no, I’d like your opinion as an experienced waitress and a potential diner.’

  Suspicious, Megan agreed as Jack began to move again, only to stop five steps further along the road.

  ‘Here?’ Her brow furrowed as she looked up at the building before them.

  ‘Here.’

  ‘My God, Jack! It’s on the bloody doorstep. Are you insane? Peggy will throttle you.’

  Megan stood in the doorway of the abandoned Italian restaurant. She was stunned. She’d assumed they’d be travelling at least one Tube stop away. They were only a few hundred metres from the café where she’d just hung up her apron. ‘Seriously? You aren’t joking?’

  ‘I’m not joking, and don’t worry. I can handle Peggy.’

  ‘You might be able to, but I can’t! How would I ever be able to look her in the face again if I was stealing customers from her?’

  Jack unlocked the front door and pushed it open, ‘I thought that might be your reaction but, and I mean no offense to the Pickwicks clientele by this, I am hoping to attract a rather different set of customers.’

  ‘Even so, I’m not sure I can...’

  ‘Why not come in and have a look anyway, and give me your opinion? I’d like to talk to you about your art as well.’

  Megan hated that she instantly loved the place. In her mind’s eye she could already see the restaurant buzzing with life. She could smell the food and, more pertinently, she could picture her art on the wall. Jack had been right; her style of work would suit the part-painted, part-exposed brickwork walls very well.

  Taking a step back, Jack said nothing, letting her explore by herself at her own pace. After a while, Megan came and sat down with him. ‘It’s perfect, Jack. I’d like to have been able to say I hate the place. That would have made my life a lot easier. But I don’t. If you get the menu right, then this place has the potential to do well.’

  ‘Thanks, that means a lot to me. However, I have a feeling there is a “but” hovering on the tip of your tongue.’

  ‘But ... I can’t take the job.’ Megan studied her clasped hands as they rested on the table. ‘If this place wasn’t so close to Pickwicks I’d have said yes. The job appeals. In fact, I would have loved it, but I can’t. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I was responsible for taking trade from Peggy.’

  ‘I won’t really do that, you know. I’ll be open afternoons and evenings, not mornings.’

  ‘But you’ll do lunches or afternoon teas, won’t you? I mean, you’d have to for the place to pay.’

  ‘I knew you’d see that I’ll have to do afternoon teas at least. That’s one of the reasons I wanted you to work for me. You know the trade.’ He held up his hand to stop Megan having to defend her decision. ‘However, I had a suspicion that once you knew I was so close by, you’d say no, and I respect you for that. Now then, let’s move on to more positive things. Your art. Walk this way.’

  Puzzled, Megan got up and followed Jack up the stairs to a small room at the back of the flat above the restaurant.

  ‘Would this room do you as a studio?’

  Megan’s jaw dropped open. ‘But...’

  ‘But nothing. I want you to do me six pieces of art. I know neither you nor Nick have the room for you to be able to work on them at home, and you don’t have the money to rent working space, so as I do have the space it makes sense for you to use it.’

  She was still struggling to decide how she was supposed to respond as Jack carried on talking, ‘There’s a large window, and the light in here is fairly good, but you’ll probably need to get a daylight bulb for the evening. The walls are already white, so that’s good. I was intending to pull up the carpet later on, so it won’t matter if that gets paint-spattered, and there’s plenty of room for an easel or a floor-standing canvas to be worked on in here. Would that do you? What do you think?’

  ‘Jack, I can’t. I appreciate the offer, but I can’t afford to rent a room this size.’

  ‘You misunderstand me; you won’t be paying rent. You’ll be painting me six amazing pictures for the walls downstairs, for which I will pay you half what they are worth in exchange for letting you use this studio space for free.’ He stopped talking and scribbled down a sum which seemed colossal to Megan. ‘What do you think? Will you do the pictures for me for this fee?’

  ‘But ... I turned the job down!’

  ‘What’s that got to do with anything? One wasn’t at the expense of the other. I know I have a bit of a reputation, Megan, but I’ve never been deliberately cruel.’

  She blushed. ‘Sorry, Jack, it’s just that people don’t make offers like that very often.’

  Jack smiled. ‘That is true – and I’m not being entirely benevolent. I want the pictures before I open.’

  ‘Which is when?’

  ‘Mid to end of August.’

  ‘Oh my God, Jack!’

  ‘Can you do it?’

  ‘I have no idea. I’d have to work non-stop after I’ve finished at the café, and at weekends.’

  ‘Do you want to give it a try then?’

  ‘Yes.’ A smile erupted across Megan’s face. ‘Yes please. Thank you so much.’

  Beaming back at her, Jack felt a glow of well-being rise in his chest. He may not have got the manager he’d hoped for, but seeing the happiness in Megan’s eyes at the prospect of being allowed to paint again was worth that disappointment.

  ‘Why don’t you go and give Peggy and Scott the good news, and tell them you’ll be running their new branch now?’

  Megan smiled at him. ‘I will. Thank you.’

  ‘Can I ask one favour though?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Don’t tell them where my place is yet. I’ll tell them myself, tomorrow. I don’t think it would be fair for you to take the brunt of Peggy’s ire.’

  ‘Thanks, Jack. I wasn’t looking forward to that bit of the conversation!’

  ‘I bet!’

  Megan felt lightheaded. ‘I haven’t dreamt this, have I? Have you really just given me the chance to paint again?

  ‘It means a lot to you, doesn’t it.’

  ‘It does.’ Megan pulled her phone
out of her bag, ready to call Nick with her news the second she left the restaurant. ‘Until I went to Izzie’s I hadn’t thought much about all the dreams I used to have about making a career out of painting and drawing. Just working enough to pay the rent was a big enough task.’

  ‘But now you want more?’

  ‘Yes.’ She frowned. ‘Do you think that’s greedy?’

  Jack laughed. ‘To have dreams and go for them? Of course not. That, Megan, is what life is all about.’

  ‘Like you and this restaurant.’

  ‘Quite.’ Jack paused as he looked about him. ‘Believe it or not, I would rather this place had been further away from Pickwicks. I didn’t decide to set up here so I could cause trouble. It really is the ideal place for what I want to do in the price bracket I can afford, and it provides me with a home as well.’

  ‘I can see that.’ Megan ran a hand across the rustic walls. ‘It isn’t going to be easy persuading Peggy though. Just when they have enough of a steady income to go for a second branch, you come along and provide even more competition.’

  ‘I know.’ Jack made a face. ‘I bet Kit and Amy will have a few choice words for me as well.’

  ‘I’d put money on it!’

  Chapter Sixteen

  Friday 17thJune

  Amy sat down with a sigh so loud it even took her by surprise. Surely she shouldn’t be this tired? It hadn’t been a particularly challenging day at work, but even the short steps up to her office seemed to take her breath away these days.

  ‘If I’m like this now, what on earth will I be like by mid-August?’

  Placing her hands on her bump, she kicked a pile of newspapers off the coffee table and put her feet up, closing her eyes. She knew she was insane to have invited friends around for food after a day at work, but she wanted to host one last dinner party before she got too big to move, or before the house was overtaken by child safety equipment and she could no longer get to the fridge.

  Plus there was always the outside chance that Jack would get itchy feet and disappear again. Amy wanted to get all her close friends and their partners together quickly, in case Jack screwed someone else he shouldn’t and did another midnight flit.