Another Glass of Champagne

by Jenny Kane

  Megan, knowing this was her cue, got up and with a nod to Nick, who silently dashed upstairs, cleared her throat and said, ‘I would like you all to join me in wishing my dear friend and co-boss, Peggy, a very happy fifty-fifth birthday for two days’ time.’

  Reappearing, Nick passed a carefully wrapped gift to a laughing Peggy.

  ‘Should I save this until the day before I open it?’

  The cries of ‘Open it now!’ echoed so loudly around the table that Amy glanced anxiously at the baby monitor, half expecting Poppy to wake up.

  As Peggy ripped open the paper with the enthusiasm of someone a tenth her age, Megan said, ‘This is from Scott, not me.’

  Lifting the canvas up, Peggy was speechless as she saw an image of herself and Scott looking straight back at her; forever smiling in pencil and pastel.

  ‘Do you like it?’ Megan asked nervously. Peggy’s unaccustomed silence was unnerving her.

  ‘Oh, yes!’ Peggy turned the picture around so all her friends could see it. ‘I love it! Scott, did you really commission this?’

  ‘I did. Megan has done an exceptional job.’

  ‘I absolutely love it.’ Peggy didn’t know who to hug first, her husband or her friend, so she put the picture down and grabbed them both at once, while Jack, mindful of the fact that Craig would be in the kitchen plating up the desserts, pulled the gathering back to order.

  ‘We have one more announcement before pudding!’ Jack gestured to Thomas and Helena, who both blushed as they got to their feet.

  Helena, who even smiled at Rupert, as she stood with her twin brother, said, ‘Today we got our A level results. Thomas and I have got into the universities we wanted! I’m off to Bath, and Thomas is going to Exeter, heaven help them!’

  Digging his sister playfully in the ribs, Thomas shouted, over the ‘Well dones’ of the adults, ‘I got two As and a B, while my clever clogs sister here got three As!’

  Jack joined in the applause, and was about to say something else, when Rupert called out, ‘Oh, forget all the speeches, Jack, we want to try your dessert!’

  To calls of ‘Too right,’ and ‘Pudding, pudding, pudding!’ Thomas, Helena, and Teresa dashed into the kitchen to collect Jack’s special final course.

  ‘Time to put us out of our misery, Jack,’ Rob called across the table, ‘what is this dessert you’ve been keeping secret?’

  Peggy laughed. ‘It’s a bit special! I’ve been looking forward to having it again since I had my last mouthful at the critics’ launch.’

  Jack smiled. ‘OK, OK, you’ve been patient for long enough. I hope you all like it! If you don’t, please say and I’ll dig you out some of my homemade apple pie and custard instead.’

  ‘Oh for heaven’s sake, Jack,’ Phil shook his head, ‘what is it?’

  But Jack didn’t have to answer, for Teresa and the twins were back, their arms full of plates of dark chocolate chilli mousse with luscious homemade vanilla ice cream.

  As the cries of ‘delicious’ and ‘that was unbelievable’ died away, and the last pudding dish was cleared from the table, Phil, Rob, and Nick pushed the tables to the side of the restaurant. Rupert turned up the music that had been faintly playing in the background, picked up the closest bottle of champagne and began to top up any empty glasses.

  Paul, who had been up to check on Poppy, returned to the party with his daughter in his arms, clearly ready for her next meal.

  Amy automatically sat down, and put her arms out to take her daughter, when Paul said, ‘Why don’t I have a try?’

  ‘Oh, yes!’ Amy smiled, ‘Jack, could we have a jug of water to warm a bottle?’

  ‘Bottle? Yes! Oh, can I feed her?’

  Paul laughed, ‘I knew you’d say that, and you can later, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to do this one. It’s her very first bottle after all.’

  ‘Of course.’ Jack got up to fetch the hot water, before remembering something his sister had once told him, ‘Amy, I know you’ll want to see if Poppy will take your milk from a bottle, but if you’re nearby she may not do it.’

  Amy frowned. ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Susan told me that her two would only take bottles if they couldn’t see her, as they preferred milk direct from source – if you see what I mean!’

  Amy’s mum, who had also spotted the bottle being taken from the bag, agreed. ‘Jack is quite right, sweetheart. Poppy will sense your milk, and chances are you’ll leak like hell while she’s drinking the bottle if you’re too near.’

  ‘Ugh, really?’

  ‘I’m afraid so.’

  Partly reluctant, partly relieved that she could sit down in peace, Amy and Jack went to join Kit and her family over the other side of the restaurant just as Megan passed the freshly warmed bottle of milk to Paul.

  ‘I hope she takes it.’ Amy welcomed the large coffee Rupert presented to her.

  Jack smiled, ‘I’m she will. Now why don’t you have some of these with your coffee?’

  ‘You remembered!’Amy laughed as he magically produced a packet of chocolate digestives. ‘Not quite chocolate biscuits and champagne, but close!’

  ‘Coffee, champagne, same thing to you, isn’t it!’ Jack winked. ‘Hmmm, I wonder if Poppy would rather have a drop of coffee than milk? She is your daughter after all!’

  Amy stuck her tongue out playfully. ‘She may turn out to be a tea drinker like her father!’

  Jack laughed. ‘Can’t see it myself.’

  Helena shook her head. ‘Did we take coffee from the bottle then, Mum? You drink even more of the stuff than Amy does.’

  Thomas screwed up his nose, ‘I bet you did. That’ll be why I can’t stand the stuff.’

  Kit shook her head. ‘I never did understand you, Thomas!’

  ‘You’ll be glad to be shot of the pair of us.’

  Kit held her hands out to her children. ‘I’m going to miss you like you wouldn’t believe.’

  ‘Even all the washing?’

  ‘Even that.’

  ‘Cool!’ Thomas and Helena exchanged a high five. ‘We were chatting about that. We reckon it’ll be easier for us to save all the dirty washing and bring it home once a month for you. Cheaper than the laundrette.’

  Kit rolled her eyes at her children as Rupert joined them, and they watched Paul feed a happy Poppy.

  Rupert slipped his hand into Jack’s. ‘I want one.’ He kept his gaze fixed straight ahead of him. ‘How about you?’

  Jack’s eyes widened as he saw the direction of his boyfriend’s line of sight lay on Poppy. A smile hit every part of his face, warming his heart as he saw the tiny mutual nods of approval from Kit and Amy as he softly asked Rupert, ‘You want to try and adopt one day?’

  ‘I’d love to.’

  ‘But that means we’d have to get married and stuff?’

  ‘Yes.’ Rupert turned to face Jack. ‘What do you think about that idea? One day, I mean.’

  Jack opened his mouth to reply, but as he was about to speak, Paul arrived with a full-bellied Poppy, and deposited her in Jack’s open arms. ‘I don’t suppose you fancy taking on some godfather duties and having a go at burping her while I get a drink?’

  Holding Poppy close, rubbing her back soothingly, Jack whispered, ‘Yes, Rupert. Yes, I think that’s a very good idea.’

  Epilogue

  Jack hadn’t said much for the rest of the evening; instead he’d quietly observed his friends enjoying themselves while his mind raced, desperate for the moment when he could talk to Rupert alone.

  Now, the party over, sat on the edge of the bed, his heart hammered in his chest as he watched Rupert change out of his suit into old clothes so he could help tidy up. Almost too scared to ask what he desperately needed to know, Jack said, ‘Did you mean it? What you said downstairs about adopting and stuff?’

  Pulling a polo shirt over his head, Rupert smiled. ‘All of it.’

  Exhaling a rush of tension, Jack was about to declare his happiness when Rupert put a finger to his
boyfriend’s lips and fished a carrier bag from under the bed.

  Taking out the two newspapers that had been hidden inside, Rupert threw them on the bed. Jack frowned at them for a split second before he realised what he was looking at. ‘Is it in both of them?’

  Rupert’s eyes shone. ‘Read them.’

  Jack found his hands were shaking, ‘Should I have a strong coffee first? Have you read them already?’

  ‘Megan had them hidden behind the bar for me, so I skimmed them while I was fetching the champagne earlier.’ Sitting next to Jack, Rupert turned each paper to their dedicated Food and Drink pages for him. ‘Just read them. Then I’ll get us some coffee.’

  Jack’s pulse suddenly thumped very loud in his ears as he picked up the Metro.

  Not quite sure he could trust what he was reading as he digested each word of the lead article, he glanced at Rupert, whose grin widened. Passing Jack the local paper, he said, ‘Keep reading. The Metro review is great, but this one is even better.’

  Jack scanned the proffered page. ‘This is staggering! “Despite this being the opening evening at Richmond’s brand new eatery, The Olive Branch – a friendly bistro on the High Street – is already running like a well-oiled machine. Courteous service, an excellent choice of food and wine, and a pleasant ambience paved the way to an evening of beautifully presented flavoursome food...”’

  ‘The word is spreading. Can you imagine how great the later reviews will be if the early ones are this good?’ Rupert kissed his stunned boyfriend’s cheek. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you gobsmacked before. Surely you knew you’d done well at the opening? Even my father liked the food, although I doubt he’ll ever admit it.’

  Jack raised his eyebrows. ‘You don’t say! All that we need now is for you to win that photography competition, and all our dreams will have come true!’

  ‘We’ll have to wait and see about that, won’t we,’ Rupert laughed. ‘Although getting to the final is more than I could have hoped for. I’m sure there must be other dreams we could make come true first!’

  ‘Like me getting to see you wearing a pair of jeans?’ Jack winked.

  Shaking his head, Rupert smiled as he walked to the bedroom door. ‘Not a chance! So, future husband of mine, do I fetch us a cup of The Olive Branch’s finest coffee to celebrate with, or is it time for another glass of champagne?’

  The End

  The Another Cup of... series

  Jenny Kane

  For more information about Jenny Kane

  and other Accent Press titles

  please visit

  www.accentpress.co.uk

  Jenny Kane

  Abi’s House

  Newly widowed at barely thirty, Abi Carter is desperate to escape the Stepford Wives lifestyle that Luke, her late husband, had been so keen for her to live.

  Abi decides to fulfil a lifelong dream. As a child on holiday in a Cornwall she fell in love with a cottage – the prophetically named Abbey’s House. Now she is going to see if she can find the place again, relive the happy memories ... maybe even buy a place of her own nearby?

  On impulse Abi sets off to Cornwall, where a chance meeting in a village pub brings new friends Beth and Max into her life. Beth, like Abi, has a life-changing decision to make. Max, Beth’s best mate, soon helps Abi track down the house of her dreams ... but things aren’t quite that simple. There’s the complicated life Abi left behind, including her late husband’s brother, Simon – a man with more than friendship on his mind ...

  Will Abi’s house remain a dream, or will the bricks and mortar become a reality?

  Kristen Bailey

  Souper Mum

  Monday morning can’t get any worse for harassed mum-of-four Jools Campbell when, after a frantic school run, she’s cornered in the supermarket by pompous celebrity chef Tommy McCoy, who starts criticising the contents of her trolley. Apparently the fact that she doesn’t make her own bread or buy organic is tantamount to child abuse. In a hurry and short of patience, she berates McCoy for judging her when she hasn’t the time or the money to feed her family in line with his elitist ideals.

  Unbeknownst to Jools, her rant has been filmed and immediately goes viral on YouTube, making her a reluctant celebrity overnight. With McCoy determined to discredit her by delving into her personal life, Jools decides it’s time to fight her corner in the name of all the fraught mums out there who are fed up with being made to feel bad by food snobs like him. Armed with some fish fingers and her limited cooking repertoire, Jools must negotiate the unfamiliar world of celebrity while staying true to her instincts as a mum.

  Copyright © Jenny Kane 2016

  ISBN 9781783759538

  The right of Jenny Kane to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers: Accent Press Ltd, Ty Cynon House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN

  All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.