Home For June

by Juliet Madison

  ‘I do indeed. Are we... still on?’

  Six weeks. She could do it. Well, she kinda had to now. And it would be a good way to give closure to the ‘thing’ with Luca after all these years... maybe he was meant to turn up in her life now, not for a second chance at romance, but for him to be the one to take over her house. It sounded like he needed to start something new after his mother’s death, and maybe being back here was a way for him to honour his parents’ memories and the life they tried to start here back then. It made sense. And helping him out with his business would also help him indirectly with the house, by making sure he gave the restaurant the best chance of success. And maybe, just maybe, after six weeks she’d finally be able to move on properly and lay her old feelings for him to rest.

  Yep, this was perfect.

  ‘Absolutely. When should we start?’ she asked.

  ‘Now?’

  ‘Now? You don’t want to waste any time do you.’

  ‘Uh-uh. I’m getting old you know, we’re not teenagers anymore. Time to get cookin’, good lookin’.’

  ‘Um, I think I’ll leave the cookin’ to you and I’ll do the plannin’.’

  ‘Of course. But I reckon I can get you into the kitchen. Help me work out the best menu to use.’

  ‘For sure, if you want to cook me expertly prepared meals, I’m happy to oblige.’

  ‘Well, yes, but I may just have to rope you into helping out. I’m sure you’re a bit of a good cook yourself. You might be able to add some input on what these locals like to eat.’

  ‘Hmm, we’ll see,’ she replied. ‘Anyway, I can meet with you in about an hour if that suits?’

  ‘Fabulous, my dear. Meet me at the premises so I can show you around. And let me know what to pay you and when.’

  ‘Sounds good. Once I’ve assessed the situation and discussed your requirements, I’ll write up a plan on Monday, then meet with you again soon after to go over it, then if you’re happy we’ll begin, or if you want changes I’ll rework the plan and we’ll go from there.’

  Luca was silent for a moment, and Hannah could practically see him smile through the phone.

  ‘I can hear your brain ticking away. This is going to be good. Thanks, Hannah Delannah.’

  ‘No problem, Luca Antonuca.’

  ***

  She arrived first, and squinted through the gaps of the mostly covered windows. Too dark to see much. She remembered the beauty salon had stairs to the top level, where they used to do their more luxurious pampering treatments, and had some kind of outdoor relaxation zone. She’d only been once, for a friend’s hens’ afternoon.

  Hannah tightened the collar on her jacket around her neck as a gusty wind rushed past in an icy flash. Winter was definitely here. Though it was never so cold in Tarrin’s Bay as to snow or need thermal underwear, unlike a visit to the Blue Mountains once for a wedding, when she had come underprepared and found herself sleeping with a few extra blanket layers weighing her down so much she could hardly roll over in bed.

  Another gust of wind approached her, Luca approaching along with it.

  ‘Hey there.’ He grinned.

  ‘Hey. Hi.’ She held out her hand, instinctively, as she always did when beginning a business meeting. Then she instinctively pulled it back, remembering it wasn’t needed. This was Luca she was dealing with. But he took her hand away from its hiding spot by her side, his skin warm despite the cold wind. Before she could give it a fifty per cent professional shake and a fifty per cent personal shake, he tapped her hand with his palm twice, then curved his hand around her thumb and tugged it down, his eyes catching hers.

  ‘What are you doing... oh my God, the handshake? The handshake?’

  He nodded, tapping her hand again with his palm, and her hand (instinctively) following his lead, forming a fist and lightly tapping his knuckles before opening her palm and holding it up for a high-five. Her head tipped back in a laugh as she remembered when they had made it up in high school, and how many attempts it had taken to get just right. ‘Just one fist tap, Hannah,’ he’d said, ‘any more and it’s overkill’. And she’d tried to add more and more movements, but it had gotten too complicated so they’d agreed on a quick and simple but unique handshake that they could do without thinking.

  ‘Twenty years later and still as fresh in my memory,’ he said. ‘The body doesn’t forget.’

  Neither does the heart, she thought.

  In truth she’d tried to take longer working out the handshake back then because she simply loved touching his hands. And also, it had just been plain fun.

  But now they had business to get down to, and fun would have to wait. She needed to focus so she could do the best job possible in the time she had available.

  ‘Well, before I forget why I’m here, let’s have a look at this future award-winning restaurant, shall we?’ She straightened her shoulders with a swift smile and gestured to the door.

  Luca unlocked it and held the door open for her.

  ‘Thanks.’ She walked inside. Stark white light brightened the bare walls as Luca flicked on the switch.

  ‘I want more atmospheric lighting than these bare globes,’ he said. ‘I was thinking some glass fittings with those old-fashioned Edison bulbs?’

  ‘Oh yes, they are quite popular. But we’ll get to that. There are bigger priorities first.’

  ‘Of course.’ His cheeks rounded with a smile. ‘Such as the kitchen, the reception, tables and seating arrangements, menu, staff, marketing.’ His hands made circles as he paced the room. ‘I could go on.’

  ‘You could, but I’ll work it all out bit by bit. No need to feel overwhelmed.’

  ‘Overwhelmed? Me?’

  She smiled. ‘You can’t keep still when you have a lot on your mind.’ She stated. He stopped moving at her observation, then resumed moving.

  ‘You’re right, my mind does have a few too many browser tabs open. Do you know how many browser tabs you can have open on a computer at any one time?’

  ‘No, how many?’

  ‘Don’t know.’ He shrugged. ‘Thought you might. I must find out, will google that later. And now I have another browser tab open.’

  She chuckled. ‘Let me put those browser tabs from your brain into my spreadsheet and let your operating system reboot.’

  He smiled. ‘Sounds good. I’m a good multitasker, in the kitchen at least, but all this planning has been doing my head in.’

  ‘Leave it to me, I love this stuff.’ She grinned and gave his arm a light punch. ‘And I get to tell you what to do. Ha-ha-ha-ha.’ She gave a fake evil laugh and rubbed her hands together.

  Luca responded with a real and non-evil laugh. ‘Enjoy it while you can, Han. It won’t last forever.’ He gave her a light punch back.

  Her light mood deepened on realising...

  Neither will this time with him.

  ‘Okay, well,’ she cleared her throat. ‘Show me around and then we’ll have a chat about your grand vision for this place.’ She withdrew her clipboard, and pressed the top of the pen with a perky pop. She wrote the date at the top of the paper and then held it poised in her hand.

  Luca led her into the rectangular kitchen, a combination of white walls and stainless steel. ‘As you can see, the kitchen basics are nearly complete. Just waiting on delivery of some extra equipment on Monday, then the kitchen people will continue the set-up and all should be complete by later that week.’

  ‘That’s been fast,’ she said.

  ‘It was the first thing I organised. Once the kitchen is done, I’ll feel like everything else is easier to organise.’

  She nodded, then stepped out of the kitchen and glanced at the staircase towards the back of the room. ‘Now, you have two levels, so will the top be reserved for functions only, or also dining?’

  ‘Dining when it’s not being used by a private function.’

  ‘And have you considered non-slip steps to help protect wait staff carrying food?’

  His eyebrows raised. �
�Nope, but good thinking, Ninety-Nine.’

  She gave a brief nod. ‘Just things popping into my mind.’ She gestured to the stairs. ‘Can we?’

  ‘Of course, after you.’ He held his arm out and she stepped onto the steps, vaguely conscious of him stepping behind her and hoping he wasn’t too close to her backside.

  When she reached the top of the L-shaped staircase, she blinked at the natural light flooding the room. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors were on the far wall, and as though drawn to a light at the end of a tunnel, she walked towards it. ‘Wow,’ she said.

  Luca unlocked and opened one of the doors, and they stepped out onto the large square balcony that overlooked the ocean, Lookout Point visible on the left. ‘This is my favourite part.’ His smile was contagious, hers grew and she could feel his excitement and gratitude at securing this place.

  Hannah loved her rural views, but there was nothing quite like the sight of the ever-flowing ocean.

  ‘You are one lucky chef.’

  ‘Sure am. Though I won’t get this view when I’m in the kitchen.’

  Filled with a sudden urge, Hannah got out her phone camera. She put down her clipboard and snapped a photo of the view. ‘There you go,’ she said, and a moment later his phone chimed. ‘Print it, frame it, put it in your kitchen.’

  ‘I like that idea.’ He looked at his phone. ‘Thanks.’

  She smiled, picking up her clipboard and turning around. ‘Okay, so tell me... what do you envisage as the end result here?’

  She pushed away the thoughts that asked the same question, but of her upcoming six weeks with him.

  ‘End result? You mean, how I want it to look, etcetera?’

  ‘Yes. And feel.’

  How would she feel after all this?

  How would he feel?

  ‘And how will this place be different from other restaurants? Give me a few sentences to describe your vision.’

  ‘Oh man, this is like a job interview.’ He shifted his stance and ran a hand through his hair. ‘Umm... Well, there’s nowhere in Tarrin’s Bay that’s got really classy fine dining, so I want the food to be world class, but not posh and too fancy, know what I mean?’

  She nodded.

  ‘I want the meals to be satisfying. Artistic and creative, but not skimpy on portion size. If my dad was here, I’d want to know that he could order an entrée and a main and be happy with that, whether or not he had dessert.’ He paced again. ‘But I don’t like wastage. So many places I’ve worked at throw out so much food, I can’t help but think of people in poorer countries with nothing, it makes me feel guilty. My parents worked hard to provide for us. So, sufficient, but not too much wastage.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ she nibbled the tip of the pen. ‘I understand, and I agree. What type of cuisine did you have in mind?’

  ‘I don’t want to be limited by a specific type. Everything is so defined these days... Chinese, Italian, Vietnamese, French... I mean, I could do traditional Romanian, or a mixture of modern Australian and European, but to be honest, I want a bit of everything. Multicultural.’ He shrugged. ‘I want there to be something for everyone, both culture-wise, and food preference-wise, and also with health considerations for those who like to be conscious of their choices or have allergies.’

  She gave a thumbs up, while still holding her pen, which looked plain weird, so she lowered it and looked at her paper. ‘And what about the overall feel, not just the food, but the atmosphere?’ She joined him in the pacing, but more slowly, walking from corner to corner, taking in the environment and wondering what it may look like six weeks from now. A few ideas formed shape in her mind already, but she wanted to let him express what he wanted first.

  ‘I want people to feel like it’s a really special place to go to, but also feel comfortable and relaxed.’ He stopped pacing and his eyes went a little distant. He took a seat on one of four plastic chairs that were in the corner, near a few cardboard boxes. He exhaled. ‘I want everyone to feel welcome, people from all walks of life. For every customer to feel as important as any other, like my parents made people feel.’ He clasped his hands together and rested his elbows on his knees.

  Hannah’s heart warmed. She sat on the chair next to him, placing the clipboard on another, and leaning slightly forwards, eager to hear more.

  ‘I want people’s eating experiences here to be memorable. And for them to want to come back again, and again. I want the place to feel new, but familiar. Clean and tidy but relaxed. Stylish but quirky. I want people to know they can come here after a long, hard week and relax with a delicious meal, or be here with friends and family for a fun and lively dinner to celebrate a special occasion. I want it to feel like...’

  ‘... Home,’ they both said softly at the same time.

  Luca’s gaze rose up from his hands to her eyes. Unblinkingly, his eyes widened, connecting with hers, as a clear and definite knowing emerged that he had perfectly encompassed what this restaurant was about.

  ‘Home,’ he repeated, his voice a bit louder, stronger, certain. ‘Home.’ A smile transformed his face into an expression of joy, and he stood suddenly. ‘Yes!’

  Hannah’s smile grew, as his hands flew up in the air.

  ‘That’s it! Oh my God, Hannah, you’re a genius.’ He moved towards her and his lips met her cheek in a fast but firm kiss. ‘That’s it. The name of the restaurant. Home.’

  She stood with a delighted laugh, and not just from the name being decided. ‘It’s perfect! But you said it too, it was pretty much your idea.’

  ‘Oh, then I’m a genius!’ He kissed the palm of his hand then patted his cheek with a chuckle. ‘It’s really hard to kiss oneself, you know.’

  ‘Then I’ll do it,’ she said, before her professional side kicked in and tried to resist. She stood on tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, now rosy from excitement and maybe her light hint of dusty-rose lipstick she only ever wore when on the job.

  His hand brushed accidentally against hers, and his little finger entwined itself with hers for just a second before he grasped her hand and kissed it too. ‘Thanks, Hannah. Ten minutes here and already things are starting to get better. You’re my good luck charm. Just like back in high school.’

  She lowered her gaze a bit and stepped back, but collided with the chair and lost her balance, her arms circling rapidly to try to regain it. ‘Oh!’

  He stepped forwards and his hands gripped her upper arms, holding her steady before she could fall backwards. ‘Whoa! I don’t have insurance yet, no accidents on the premises yet, please.’ He kept hold of her arms until she was still, then moved the chair to the side.

  ‘Yet?’ She chuckled. ‘Do you mean once you do have insurance you’ll be like, ‘Hey, Hannah, come on over and trip up the stairs! And while you’re here, there’s a spill in the kitchen you might slip on! And watch out for those loose nails on the floor!’?’

  He laughed. ‘I will have to pay for insurance, might as well make it worth my while.’ He winked, and she smiled warmly.

  To distract herself from the unexpected feelings simmering up in her chest, she picked up the clipboard and wrote ‘HOME’ at the top, with a swirly underline.

  ‘So it gets your tick of approval?’ he asked.

  She drew a large tick next to it. ‘Yep. It does.’

  ‘Name decided then. Phew! What a relief. Do you know how many names I’ve been going through in my head? I feel like one of my browser tabs has closed now.’

  ‘And with each one of yours closing, one of mine opens. But that’s good. Now we have something to work with.’ She needed to have a sense of the purpose of a place, or a product, or an event, before she could really work out the nitty-gritty details of what she had to do to make it successful. Home. A word she knew all too well, as she had only ever had one in her entire life. Unlike many other people who moved from home to home, never really knowing what it’s like to have that one special place where everything feels normal, balanced, comforting. She imagined Luca
had probably lived in quite a few different ‘homes’, and that no matter where he lived now, it would never be the same again without his parents’ presence. No wonder he felt the need to create a new home symbolically through his work.

  Hannah jotted down notes.

  ‘What are you writing?’

  ‘Uh-uh.’ She moved the clipboard away from his sight. ‘No peeking,’ she joked. ‘I will let you know in good time. But I will say that the ideas are flowing to me now.’ She wandered around the premises, as though walking through another realm, seeing things that weren’t really there but could be. ‘You could have a cosy couch over here,’ she said, pointing to the corner near the glass doors. ‘For people to have an intimate drink or dessert with a special someone.’ She walked closer to the balcony with the view. ‘And out here, a fire pit or chimenea, with cosy seating and cushions and small tables for groups to gather and bask in the starry night sky.’ She walked over to the top of the stairs... ‘And portraits hanging on the wall at different heights, like family portraits, as you go up or down the stairs.’

  She momentarily returned her awareness to the room and to Luca’s gaze, which was bright and curious and hungry for more. ‘Go on,’ he said, gesturing with his hand.

  ‘Menus with faded and torn edges, like old family photographs,’ she said. ‘And a photo wall, different from the portraits above the stairs... just one feature wall for photos of customers who’ve dined here. Those who want to have their photo taken and included can do so, like they are part of one big family. Like this is their second home.’

  ‘I love it, Hannah.’ He moved closer to her, his eyes scanning the surroundings as hers were doing, as though her vision was imprinting itself into the air and he could see it too. ‘It’s like you can read my mind. Or see it.’

  ‘The vision is everything,’ she said. ‘Start with the big picture and everything else will fall into place. With a few tweaks and strategic decisions along the way.’

  ‘I’m so excited. This is great.’ He held a hand to her lower back. ‘You’re great. And that company in Sydney is lucky to have you.’ He removed his hand, and despite the cold weather outside, and the lack of heating in the future restaurant as yet, she was as warm as though she was snuggled up in front of a cosy fireplace. She already felt at home here, even though it was cold and sparse and mostly empty. She was at home with the possibilities, the potential that would be realised, with knowing that things would evolve and develop as she helped him plan everything and get it set up.