‘I know which is probably why I then asked him if he’d like to come and see my vegetables.’
‘You’re kidding me? Nice line!’ Juliette replied grinning.
‘Nope. It gets worse, too. It’s cringeworthy, Jools.’
Juliette was now creasing up laughing as she sat on her balcony and sipped on her coffee.
‘As we left I crouched down in Sallie and Ben’s garden and stroked an asparagus.’
‘What? Oh dear! You’re absolutely nuts with your plants! But stroking an asparagus? That’s weird even for you. Haha!’
‘I know. Unfortunately having a few drinks brought my deep love of my plants to the fore. I was rambling on about asparagus patches and all sorts.’
‘So he dropped you off at the back gate?’
‘He did.’
‘Did he come in for, you know, a coffee or anything?’ Juliette asked.
‘He might have done.’
‘Yeehaw! And then what happened?’
‘We had a cup of tea and then he went home.’
‘That was it? There’s not a juicy bit at the end?’
‘Nope,’ Lottie said, shaking her head.
‘I don’t believe you, Lottie! There is a sparkle in your eye. I absolutely can tell that something happened by the look on your face.’
‘Nothing happened at all, Jools. Honestly.’ Lottie giggled.
‘Hmm. So, are you seeing him again?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘Don’t worry. I’m sure if Pretty Beach has anything to do with it you’ll be seeing him again.’
Lottie laughed. ‘Hmm. You’re probably right.’
‘Anyhoo, the actual reason I was calling. I wasn’t really trying to get all the gossip on your love life. I have the afternoon free to help you with Secret Evenings so I’ll be able to help with the set-up, not just the waitressing.’
‘Thank you. That’s a real weight off my mind. I’m so grateful you’re even helping in the evening. Are you sure you don’t mind doing the waitressing?’
‘Of course not. Who brought me dinners and fed my family when I had Maggie?’
‘Ahh, that was nothing. Thank you so much for doing it. Once it all gets going I’ll have to find some staff, but for now, it’s so good to have someone I can trust.’
‘Are you all ready for it, then?’
‘As much as I can be. I have lists of lists for the prep and diagrams for the set-up and Dimitri is dealing with all the admin stuff. There’s not a whole lot more I can do until the days leading up to it. Most of it will be prepped and ready to go on the day. It’s all had to be worked out to suit the cottage kitchen.’
‘And it’s fully booked now?’
‘No. Not quite. We’ve two spots left. I was going to give them out for free. What do you think?’
‘I wouldn’t bother. If you’ve got eighteen done and paid for I’d keep it at that. Not bad for a first go if you ask me. Eighteen is enough to get word-of-mouth going, too.’
‘I know. I just have to hope it all goes well on the night.’
‘You’ll be fine. I can’t wait to see you power through it and it take off.’
Chapter 30
Lottie examined a beautiful white pebble as she walked all the way along the beach on the tide line of seashells making its way to the end at Seashells Cottages. Whoever had named old Suntanned Pete’s holiday accommodation had not been wrong. There were so many white shells of all shapes and sizes she’d had to keep bending down and picking them up, and now both her pockets were full.
As she walked along with the sea breeze in her hair, she thought about her venture. Thank goodness for the Pretty Beach community rallying behind her and her new business. If she could get a few Secret Evenings functions a month, she would be able to knock the idea of a part-time job somewhere like Seashells Cottages on the head. Not that she would have minded working for Suntanned Pete - more that she very much wanted to be her own boss.
Lottie strolled along thinking about the underground restaurant - it seemed that everyone had been right about the idea and it taking off. The first night was already nearly booked out, they were half full for the bookshop evening, and bookings for the third function were slowly trickling in too. And the location really was secret for the third event. So secret that Lottie and Dimitri didn’t yet know where it was going to be held.
Lottie took off her jacket and tied it around her waist. The weather was warming up and it wouldn’t be long before Pretty Beach would be welcoming tourists. She wondered what that would do, if anything, for Secret Evenings.
As she reached the end of the beach, she turned around at Seashells Cottages and started to make her way back across the sand. Just as she was walking up to the road through the side of the Marina Club, she bumped straight into Holly and Xian who were getting out of Holly’s car in the car park. As Holly helped Xian from the passenger side she saw Lottie dusting the sand off her feet.
‘Yoohoo! Lottie! How are you? How was the sea air down there?’ Holly called out and waved.
‘Hi!’ Lottie replied as she approached Holly’s car.
‘Been for a nice walk on the beach?’
‘Yep. It’s a lovely day - starting to warm up. It won’t be long and the beach will be packed. I thought I would get out of the house and get some fresh sea air. Clear my mind, as it were.’
‘I meant to say to you the other day when we were at the bookshop but it totally slipped my mind. How’d you get on after the housewarming?’ Holly asked with wide eyes and jumping from one foot to the other in anticipation of Lottie’s answer.
‘I had a lovely time! It went very well thank you, Holly,’ Lottie said, smiling and looking Holly right in the eye.
‘You got home okay, did you?’
‘Yes, I did. I got home very safely, thank you,’ Lottie said mock seriously.
‘Yes, I heard that you did,’ Holly nodded and tried to raise her eyebrows.
‘Ahh, yes I bet you did. Dimitri told me he saw you in the Marina Club and filled you in,’ Lottie answered.
‘I did see Dimitri, but it wasn’t him who told me that you were safe...’ Holly cackled, throwing her head back.
‘Hmm, interesting,’ Lottie said, not giving anything away about what had happened with her and Connor.
‘A certain tall man with blue eyes may or may not have come into the bakery the next morning.’
‘Ha! You’re hilarious, Holly. You really are the fountain of all information.’
‘The same tall, blue-eyed man might have asked a few pertinent questions about Secret Evenings.’
‘Oh, really?’
‘Yes, indeed. So you two got on really well, did you not?’
‘We did. You know me though, Holly. No men in my life etcetera. We all know how that ended last time.’
Xian nodded her head gravely. ‘Yes. That wasn’t great. We all saw you though the other night. Hearts in your eyes there were. It was like watching an old black and white movie from home.’
‘Thanks, Xian, but I’m fine on my own. There won’t be any romance for now, I don’t think.’
‘Oh no, you’re not fine on your own, young lady, and don’t you believe it my friend. You deserve someone coming along and treating you like a princess. You really do,’ Xian stated and took a swig from her tiny hip flask. ‘And from what we know of Connor you won’t go too wrong there.’
Lottie just smiled and didn’t reply.
‘So, you’re seeing him again, are you?’ Holly asked.
‘For me to know and for you to find out, Holly... though knowing you two I presume you’ll know about it before I do.’ Lottie giggled.
Holly looked at Xian and cackled.
‘I think the Pretty Beach grapevine has already started work on it, Lottie. Mark my words.’
Lottie smiled. ‘Has it? Excellent. I really hope it works its magic nice and quickly.’
Chapter 31
Lottie walked along through the area of Pretty Beach ref
erred to by the locals as Mermaids after bumping into Holly and Xian, and checking the progress in all the Pretty Beach gardens she knew and loved. Roy Johnson from the council had some spectacular flowers lining both of his front garden beds and a lady on the corner of Fisherman’s Passage had hanging baskets that were already rivalling Lottie’s.
She peered up at the contents of the hanging baskets and thought more about her conversation with Holly. Was she really not interested in seeing Connor? If he did so happen to want to see her again would she say no? Her heart flip-flopped simply thinking about it. Whatever it was that Connor had in spades it was different to the other men that had come into her life since Charlie had passed away. Not that there were many anyway, but this was different. The ‘being dipped in shimmering gold’ feeling when she was around Connor was extremely pleasant, to say the least, and something she wouldn’t mind tapping into again.
What was she hoping was going to happen? That he would ask her out on a date? It would be very strange to go out with a man on a date. She wouldn't even know where to start. Though she hadn’t done too badly with the kiss. Oh god. What about other stuff? It didn’t even bear thinking about. It had been that long. She wasn’t even sure if it was still working.
So, no, maybe not after all. She was far too nervous and out of practice to go out on a date. She wouldn't even know what to do or what to say. Romantic notions of running off into the sunset with Connor Bally were just that. Romantic notions. Even if he did follow up on the kiss with something the chances are that it would all go hopelessly wrong anyway. So what was the point?
Lottie walked along admiring the pretty pastel colours of Pretty Beach as she approached the Old Town. Pretty Beach was warming up, shaking off its winter coat. Lovely bunting was strung from one side of the High Street to the other, the baskets on the old-fashioned street lamps had been refreshed, the gift shop’s door was open and it was bustling - all the familiar signs that the season had started.
Lottie made her way up Strawberry Hill, along the back lane, and unlocked the back gate to her house. Walking over to the outbuildings she peered in through the windows of the first building. Now that Secret Evenings had begun in earnest, she was seeing the whole area with different eyes. If the place could be renovated without them spending too much money, it would give them a dedicated space for themed events to run alongside the pop-up secret locations. An area where they could really start to expand everything they’d talked about and the freedom for her to cook and cater exactly as she liked. The potential was nearly endless.
She squinted in at the old whitewashed walls, the beautiful ceilings, the old timber floors. It would be a lot of work but it would also give her an established area to work from. If they could get functions a couple of times a week she would be over the moon. She would be doing what she loved and calling it work, and all from her own backyard. And the reason why it had all started in the first place - she would be able to keep the house.
Lottie stood by the door of the building and looked further over to the other side of the garden and the lawn, and her mind began to wander as to what functions could be held there too. Her hard work on the grass over the years had paid off. They could potentially employ her as a groundsman at Wimbledon, it was that good. The lush green grass looked back at her, almost willing her to hold a lovely little garden party, a pretty afternoon tea.
Some kind of tent, marquee or outdoor canopy would work. Admittedly, it would need to be a very fancy tent, but an evening next to the orchard as the sun went down, the sound of the sea in the distance, hundreds of party lights strung through the top. It would potentially give them another secret location. Indeed, a whole other avenue for more themes and a completely different clientele.
Lottie pulled the hidden spare key for the outbuildings from under a loose tile, opened the door, and looked around. They’d already spent a few afternoons working on the buildings. Anything that shouldn’t have been there had been removed, the vast amount of cobwebs had been brushed down, the floor swept and the inside of the windows had been washed and polished. Sallie had mentioned to her that she was welcome to use Ben’s industrial vacuum which apparently worked wonders anywhere and everywhere it went. That would be her next job for the next spare hour she had. Once the place was vacuumed and mopped she was sure it would begin to shine.
Lottie hadn’t really appreciated the outbuildings before. When she had first viewed the house with Charlie years earlier, there had been some vague talk about doing them up, renovating them into flats and selling them off at the end of the garden. That had never come to light, and when Charlie had passed away the outbuildings were the last thing on Lottie’s mind. She could barely keep the main house and the greenhouses going let alone the tumbledown buildings at the back.
She walked through the second smaller building, up a small, narrow timber set of stairs up into the rooms in the eaves. Three large old-fashioned metal dormer windows protruded from the roof on the right and as she pushed open the latch on one of them and wiped off the dirt with a tissue from her pocket she gasped. She had completely forgotten that from up there at the higher end of the garden the sea was clearly visible. Not only could it be heard crashing onto the beach the horizon looked amazing as it met the ocean in the distance. The eaves had hidden Secret Evenings written all over them.
She stood there with the fresh sea breeze on her face and smiled. It really did feel as if her life was looking up with the new business. She hadn’t heard anything from Connor Bally, but that wasn’t the end of the world. She’d been on her own since Charlie had died, so the Connor thing going nowhere was nothing new.
As Lottie stood there looking out to sea her brain going nineteen to the dozen about everything on her plate what Lottie didn’t know was that a card with Connor’s name, phone number, and message about what had happened in the garden after the housewarming party, had been pushed under the front door and had slipped unseen under the mat.
Chapter 32
After a whole day in the outbuildings with Dimitri cleaning, washing, scrubbing, and scouring, Lottie had woken up the next day feeling exhausted. Unfortunately, there was no rest for the wicked, and with dates looming for more functions, the bookshop still to sort, and Dimitri planning further dates for months down the line Lottie was spending every waking moment either planning menus, organising china, cleaning up the outbuildings, or gardening. It was like a mad rush against time to get everything sorted. The Pretty Beach juggernaut had started the success of Secret Evenings and they had no choice but to run with it if they wanted it to continue.
Lottie had another full day ahead with Sam Millson, the electrician, arriving to sort out the wiring and she was off to the seaplane shed to pick up the industrial vacuum from Ben. She cleared off the kitchen table and the Aga, finished loading the dishwasher, sprayed the worktops with disinfectant, wiped them down, and looked around and planned her day and then sent a quick text to Sallie.
Just confirming it’s still okay to get the vacuum today?
Yep. You must be psychic. I just reminded Ben about it. I’ve just watched him walk over there to his workshop and he’ll be there all day.
Thanks. Sweet. I’m going to pop there now and then get going on it.
You’ll be amazed by the stuff that thing picks up. It did wonders for me.
I hope so. I’m running out of time for just about everything with the Boat House cottage date getting nearer and nearer.
You’ll be fine. I don’t need to tell you. Plan. Plan. Plan.
You don’t. Hahaha. I have an actual list of my plans now. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Trust me. It’s a good thing. Something will go wrong and if you’ve planned everything you can you’ll be able to take the knock.
I love how you know that too. Cheers Sallie. xx
No probs. Speak later. xx
Lottie made her way over to the Boat House and then indicated left and into the driveway of Ben Chalmers Seaplanes.
What a world. A seaplane jetty out onto the water with the Boat House next door. It was an amazing setting for the start of her new business. She counted her lucky stars that people like Sallie were willing to share the goodness of Pretty Beach.
She got out of the car, shut the door, and walked down the side of the seaplane shed. Ben was standing in the doorway chatting to two young lads who worked for him with a cup of tea in his hand.
‘Morning, Lottie, how are you?’
‘Good morning, Ben. I’m good. Tired but good.’
‘Well, as long as it’s a good tired. A new business does that for you, you know.’
‘Tell me about it. I’m exhausted and it hasn’t even really started yet. Not the real stressful bit.’
‘You’ll be grand. It’s a fabulous idea. It’s a shame we’ll be in London that night.’
‘I hope so. I hear you have a super-duper vacuum that is going to scoop up loads of my worries.’
‘I do indeed.’
‘It’s so kind of you. I’m very grateful. Thank you.’
‘No worries. I’ll expect some of your home-cooked dinners when the baby is born in return.’
‘You’re on.’
‘Cup of tea?’
‘I’d love a quick one, yes please.’
Ben led Lottie through the workshop where a huge pile of diving equipment was piled up by the door of the kitchen. ‘Oops, excuse all this, just step over it.’
‘I didn’t know you did diving as well.’
‘I don’t. It’s Connor’s. You know Connor Bally, don’t you? He was at the housewarming.’
Lottie did a double-take at Ben’s face. Unless he was an extremely good actor and very good at hiding things, he wasn’t fishing for information. Not that she was going to let on anything to him anyway. And most definitely not about the kiss.
Lottie smiled at Ben and thought that unlike some in Pretty Beach, Ben Seaplane Chalmers was probably not quite as interested in her dalliance with Connor as other people, namely Holly and the grapevine in Pretty Beach.
Secret Evenings in Pretty Beach Page 11
