Olive took her Segway inside the Gin Shack. In theory, as she was going out to a drinking establishment, she shouldn’t be taking it as she would never drink and drive. But wine was totally not her thing. She appreciated why people liked it and it wasn’t that she was a snob for gin or anything like that. It had just never been something she enjoyed. She found it tangy and got drunk far too quickly, and it wasn’t a refreshing treat in the same way gin was. So, she wouldn’t be drinking tonight, other than a swig. She’d leave the rest to everyone else.
‘Hello?’ Olive said, once it was safely tucked away.
There was no one in the bar area and it was strange to be here on a Tuesday with no customers in the place.
‘Be there in a minute, Mum. Go and find somewhere to sit.’ Richard’s voice echoed from the kitchen.
Olive opted to sit in the snug. Even though she’d decided not to walk here, she was worn out from doing nothing. It was perhaps the ridiculous walk she’d taken with Veronica this morning. That would have worn anyone out.
‘Sorry, Mum, it’s nothing fancy. I figured we wouldn’t want anything too heavy so I’ve made eggs Benedict.’ Richard placed two plates on the coffee-style table in the snug.
The food looked like perfection. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d had something so simple and tasty. All the food at Oakley West was of a great standard, but never anything like this. Only dishes that were doable on an industrial scale. ‘Thank you for this,’ Olive said, rather touched by her son cooking for her when her living situation meant he no longer had to.
‘My pleasure. I wanted to speak to you anyway.’
‘Oh, did you?’ Olive didn’t say any more for fear of giving away her excitement.
‘Yes, I’ve been thinking.’
‘Blimey. Are you feeling okay?’ Olive was trying to remain lighthearted, but really it was to cover her nerves. It was all very well hoping Richard was going to tell her about Skylar, but really it could be anything.
‘Yes, more than okay. I think I’ve spent a few too many years focusing on things that aren’t very important in the grand scheme of things. I’ve been too busy fighting other people’s battles to worry about my own.’
Olive placed her food on her lap (she really should have picked an ordinary table) and started to cut into her eggs Benedict. ‘Go on,’ she said, not wanting to angle the conversation in any particular direction other than what her son wanted to tell her.
‘I’ve been thinking that I want to move back home. Being here has brought a certain sense of harmony to my life that I haven’t felt for years. I used to hate being here as a teenager and couldn’t wait to leave, but perhaps that was more to do with not having processed the past.’
Olive finished chewing on her mouthful of food. ‘What’s changed, do you think?’ She wasn’t fishing for any information, just genuinely interested in knowing.
‘Lots of things, I guess. I think us making our peace over Dad and Jane has gone a long way to helping. I don’t feel like we walk on eggshells around each other like we used to.’
Richard was right. They’d spent far too much of their lives unable to speak about the past, to the point where it had suffocated their present. That had changed now. They enjoyed each other’s company without unspoken words taking their ability to engage away. ‘I’m really glad you came to take over from Tony. I think it’s really helped us at a time when it was needed. But if you wanted to stay, what would you do? Tony will be back to work in the New Year.’
There was a possibility Richard would be able to stay on and do bar work. But the pay wouldn’t be a patch on what his company earned him now. And unlike before, Olive couldn’t offer him his old room to stay in. Currently Richard was living in the hotel part of the Gin Shack, but that might not be possible as a longer-term arrangement, although she was sure Tony would be happy to have Richard continue staying there for as long as needed.
‘I know I can’t be manager here once Tony returns. I need to speak to him and find out if he’d be happy for me to stay here a bit longer. It’ll take a while as I’ll need to sell my flat and my share in the partnership, but once that’s done, I’d like to settle down here again.’
‘That will be wonderful.’ Olive was truly delighted her son was planning on moving back on a permanent basis. She’d got used to him being about over the past few months and she knew that, however much she wanted Tony to recover enough to get back to work, she also didn’t want it to mean the end of her son’s stint behind the bar. Because it wasn’t just the stint behind the bar ending, but the extra time they’d had together as well. Richard’s decision to stay, in whatever capacity he was planning, was a great improvement on her having to say goodbye to him as the big smoke swallowed most of his time again.
‘I think it’s Tony’s fault really.’
‘What’s he been up to now?’
‘Nothing directly. It’s just I’ve been watching from afar the things that have happened to him. First up, he turned a forced career change into something amazing. He’s set up a business he’s really passionate about and he’s been doing what he loves, and I’ve ended up loving it as well. Far more than I ever imagined I would.’
Olive ate another mouthful of food. She really wanted to ask what other reasons, but she knew she was grasping at answers that might not even exist.
‘It was Tony’s heart attack that really made me question what I was doing with my life, though. He’s only a few years older than me. I’ve not reached a point in time when I’m ready to keel over, but my lifestyle is far more stressful and unhealthy than Tony’s. That could easily be me in a few years, steering myself into an early grave.’
Olive grabbed Richard’s hand. It was a rush of sentiment that had swept over her. It was the combination of how very close Tony had been to death and how she didn’t ever want to imagine Richard in that situation. Outliving one child had been hard enough, but she’d had Richard to concentrate on back then. She’d had to find a way to survive for his sake. She wasn’t sure how she’d cope if it were to happen a second time. ‘We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that isn’t the case.’ It was a bit morbid to say out loud that she wanted to be the one to die first, but she was pretty sure Richard would know that’s what she meant.
‘Don’t worry, Mum. Being here has given me enough time to think about what I want out of life. Whatever drive I used to have for my business left at the point it became so successful, it no longer needed me. I’m heading for my fifties now. I think it’s about time I chose a quieter pace of life, and there’s no better place to do that than here at home.’
‘I couldn’t agree more. I think that’s why I’m still doing so well. Home to me became my little hut on the beach. Maybe it’s the sea air, but there’s nothing better than spending time down there and feeling at one with the world.’
‘I’d love to have a beach hut.’
‘You’ll have to get your own. I love you to the moon and back, but that space has become mine. I don’t think I’d be very good at sharing.’
‘Don’t worry, Mother. I’m not about to cramp your style, although I do have a business idea I’d like your approval for.’
Olive’s ears perked up. Children didn’t often seek their parents’ approval for anything, so the fact Richard was meant it was something interesting. She really did have to stop the wedding bells ringing in her head at every given opportunity. ‘Why would you ever need my approval?’
‘Well, I wouldn’t want to go ahead and start looking into it as a possibility without talking to you first?’
“Yes, of course I approve of you dating Skylar” flashed through Olive’s head, but she didn’t know anything about that. And this might not be anything to do with that. He was talking about business. ‘What is it?’
‘Ever since the Gin Shack has opened, my knowledge of gin has improved greatly. There are all sorts of things I didn’t know or understand and there’s one thing that’s really lacking locally.’
‘What?’ If Richard said a wine bar she might just have to punch him.
‘There’s not a distillery anywhere in the area. I’d need to find some premises, but I’ve chatted to Tony and he’d be happy for the Gin Shack brand to start producing its own gin.’
‘Seriously?’ Olive felt her eyes bulge in wonderment. ‘That would be awesome.’ It wasn’t a word she used very often, but there was something so fantastic about the thought, it was the only word she had to describe the idea.
‘I was hoping you’d approve.’
‘I’m just hoping you’ll be happy for me to put some ideas forward. There’s some flavours I’d love to see on the market that aren’t out there yet.’ Olive was sure the craft gin market was only at the beginning and there was so many avenues it could venture down. It would be lovely if they were able to do trials of some of the different ideas she had.
‘I’m relying on it. Between you and the rest of the Gin Shack crew I don’t think we’ll be short of ideas for what to produce. There’s a lot to sort out before we get to that stage, though. It will be at least a year or so before everything’s in place and that’s if I manage to find somewhere suitable.’
‘Okay. I’ll hold off on getting too excited, but I might have to keep a folder of ideas ready for you. And won’t it be great for the weekends if our Christmas one proves to be a success.’ If there was ever a way to complete the quest to find the perfect G&T, having her son open a distillery would be one way to guarantee she would get exactly the taste she was hoping to find. ‘What if you aren’t able to open one? What would you do then?’
‘I’d find another project. I’m really hopeful it will be a possibility, though.’
Olive really hoped it would be as well. What a buzz that would be. All the times she’d searched for a particular type of gin and discovered it wasn’t in existence. Now there would be every possibility they could get on and make it themselves. ‘I blooming well hope so as well.’
‘Right, we’d better get moving if we’re going to get to this opening at the same time as everyone else.’
It wouldn’t hurt to be there a bit late. There was nothing fashionable in being too early. They’d both finished and despite Olive offering to tidy up, Richard was the perfect host and did it all. It was a good job really. It had been so long since Olive had done any washing-up there was a possibility she might have forgotten how.
Olive had a quick check in the bathroom mirror to make sure she was presentable. She hadn’t tried too hard and was, of course, wearing a Christmas jumper. This one was dressier with lots of gold sequins in the shape of a snowman, and no bells. Perfect for a bar opening.
As she was leaving she caught herself with a smile in the mirror. One of those truly happy smiles that ran all the way to her eyes. It was a look that couldn’t be bought. That diamonds and pearls couldn’t produce. Instead it was produced by a lifetime of investing in her son in the best way she knew how and knowing she’d done a good job and was reaping the rewards.
‘Ready?’ Richard said, as she joined him again in the bar.
‘When you are,’ Olive confirmed, getting her Segway ready for her own taxi service.
It was weird to be leaving their bar behind with no one in it. It was normally so busy, but word of mouth and some notices meant everyone knew that, tonight, the Gin Shack was closed to help celebrate the opening of Bottoms Up wine bar.
‘Oh, and Skylar and I are dating, but you knew that.’ Richard let it slip as they were crossing the Royal Esplanade road.
‘What?’ Olive said, nearly stopping her vehicle in a dangerous place at her son breaking the news she’d been longing to hear.
‘I figured Tony would have said something by now. Are you okay with it?’
They reached the safety of the pavement and Olive was ready to clip him round the ears. ‘Of course I’m bloody okay with it. Why didn’t you tell me before now?’
‘I don’t know. I didn’t want to say anything before we were both happy to. Skylar wanted us to say something tonight and I wanted to wait till she was about, but I have an inkling you caught on a while ago.’
Olive pulled her best innocent face. Secrets didn’t stay secrets when there was such a close-knit community around them. ‘I knew nothing.’
‘Pull the other one, Mother. So, you’re okay with it?’
‘Of course, I couldn’t be happier. It’s just…’ Olive didn’t want to put a dampener on the thing she’d absolutely been bursting to hear about and wanting to happen. ‘Make sure you’re moving here because you want to, not because of anything that’s going on with you and Skylar.’
The worst thing he could do was make the move because he was hoping he and Skylar would work out, only for it not to end up that way. If he was doing it for him, though, then it was the right thing to do.
‘Westbrook is my home. It’s where my soul belongs.’
Olive was able to echo that sentiment easily. And there was a great peace in knowing that her son considered home to be the same place as she did.
Now all she had to do was suppress the smile that had gone from contended to idiotically wide at the news that not only was her son staying, he was also dating the girl Olive already considered as a daughter. She just hadn’t realised that until now, and she hoped for all their sakes it worked out.
Because, in her excitement, she’d never considered what would happen if it all went wrong.
Chapter Eighteen
Olive didn’t get to go and give Skylar a hug like she’d hoped. It was odd. In the past when she’d met one of Richard’s girlfriends, it had always been a bit of a serious affair where they’d come for Sunday dinner or she’d met them up in London and gone for dinner in some posh restaurant. The longest relationship he’d had, in his late thirties, had lasted about six years, but ended when they realised they didn’t want the same things. Olive had guessed one of them had wanted children and the other hadn’t, but she’d never probed too deeply into the exact ins and outs. She’d figured Richard would tell her what he wanted to, and if the potted version was all she was ever going to get, then she had to be happy with that.
So, it was kind of strange not to have a formal introduction, involving an awkward dinner where Olive tried to suss the new person in her son’s life out. In this case, Skylar was her friend. In fact, Olive was the reason they’d met in the first place. And, thinking back, Richard hadn’t given up walking around in a shirt and tie at every opportunity back then. They’d very nearly been polar opposites, so it was an unexpected pairing in many ways, but Olive had noticed how they’d been there for each other, and now that friendship had blossomed into something more.
It turned out the bar was so busy, they couldn’t locate Skylar at all. Instead, Olive went in search of Veronica and Randy while Richard chatted to some of the Gin Shack regulars.
Navigating the space wasn’t particularly easy. There wasn’t the roominess they enjoyed at the Gin Shack. The indoor seating area had only been small in the old café as most of their trade had been seasonal and the majority of the seating had always been along the promenade. Now, instead of the seated tables they used to have, there were smaller circular tables higher up, with what could only be described as perching stools. They certainly weren’t for people like her. They were for taller, trendier people. The bar itself was where the deep-fat fryers used to be, so it looked like takeaway fish and chips were definitely off the menu.
The walls were covered in burgundy or silver and they had done a good job of making the most of the space, but it lacked a sense of being inviting. Whereas the Gin Shack managed to appeal to all ages, Olive figured they were going for the younger spectrum of the market, possibly having not researched the actual age of the population in the area.
Olive found Randy and Veronica holed up in a corner, up on bar-stools that made them look like they were struggling to stay upright. Perhaps the Bottoms Up title was more apt than it should be. If they really were as uncomfortable as they looked,
she couldn’t imagine any of the Oakley West residents visiting here very often. None of them were very well known for wanting to stand up for long periods of time. It would seem the seating didn’t extend to comfort.
Veronica flagged her over, having managed to secure a spare stool for Olive. Considering there wasn’t much happening in the newly opened bar apart from people trying to find a square inch of space, even though it looked like she might need to do a run up and jump, sitting down seemed like a good call.
As she thought, getting onto the seat was the most unceremonious thing she’d ever done. She wasn’t tall enough to just slide onto it casually. Instead, she had to place one foot on the rung of the stool, and then, placing one hand on the table and one on the stool, bunk herself up. But of course it wasn’t that simple. It took three attempts and a lot of huffing and puffing and the pity of a few surrounding youngsters to get up there. And even then, when all that was done, her legs were so short she wasn’t able to place her feet on the rung of the stool to keep her position secure.
‘Being tall really does have its advantages, doesn’t it?’ Randy was obviously trying to hide his laughter.
‘Don’t you start. Otherwise I’ll go through the advantages of being shorter with you at some point.’ There was the option of elbowing him in the nuts if he really did annoy her, although she’d never stooped to that and hopefully wasn’t about to start. ‘What’s going on then?’
There really wasn’t very much going on. Not that Olive was an expert on what bar openings should be like, but she imagined they should have some nibbles out and maybe some wines to sample. Even some music would improve the atmosphere, but for now it seemed to be just a room full of people.
Near to the entrance she spotted Richard and Skylar standing together. It gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling inside to know that what she’d suspected was true. They were a perfectly not perfect couple. A mismatch that actually worked. At least she hoped so.
Christmas at the Gin Shack Page 12
