The Lemon Tree Café

by Cathy Bramley

  ‘Fine.’ Lia sighed, looking down at her hands. ‘Just an idea.’

  I bit my lip; I’d forgotten how sensitive she was at the moment.

  ‘Ooh, Alec, I’ve had three customers in the shop today talking about your Dolly Parton act. How did you do it?’ Lucas asked, poking his tongue into the cream on his hot chocolate. ‘Because, if you don’t mind me saying, you’re very manly.’

  Tyson nodded in agreement and Dad puffed out his chest.

  ‘Ah. You have to locate your inner diva and work it, work it, work it.’

  I did a double take as Dad put both hands on the counter. And twerked.

  The two younger men stared at him in awe.

  ‘Your inner diva,’ Lucas marvelled. ‘OMG. I’m not sure I could ever do that.’

  I could feel Juliet shaking with silent laughter.

  ‘Anyway, Lucas,’ I said, attempting to keep my voice straight, ‘when’s the plumber coming to mend your loo?’

  He took a deep breath and fanned his face.

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with my plumbing. There’s a giant bumblebee stuck in there. This big.’ He pointed at his plate. ‘I can’t possibly go back in until it’s gone.’

  ‘I’m sure,’ said Dad, his lips twitching mischievously, ‘that with some thought, Lucas, you will indeed find your inner diva. I’ll be in the conservatory phoning my agent if anyone needs me.’

  He picked up his beef tea and walked off.

  ‘I’m having beef tea next time,’ Tyson murmured, watching Dad retreat. ‘Lucas, I don’t mind bees. I’ll come and rescue it.’

  Lucas’s hand fluttered to his throat. ‘Rescue it? I’m the one who needs rescuing. But thanks. I accept.’

  Tyson asked to borrow a jar of honey in case the bee needed sustenance and the two of them set off back to the gift shop.

  ‘I think that might be the start of a beautiful friendship,’ said Juliet, folding her arms. ‘Now, Lia, can I finally get in that kitchen? I’m hours behind with the baking and I’ve got the WI ladies in later; they always want lemon drizzle cake.’

  ‘Ooh!’ Lia’s eyes widened. ‘Rosie, you should take a cake round to Gabe’s tonight for Noah.’

  I raised an eyebrow. ‘You remember that much, then?’

  Her cheeks flushed. ‘I remember right up until I lost that drinking game with the Cossack dancers. It’s a little hazy from then on.’

  ‘Gabe? I don’t know a Gabe.’ Juliet looked put out; she prided herself on knowing everyone in the village. ‘Or a Noah.’

  ‘You mean you haven’t heard? Tell her about your hot date!’ said Lia.

  ‘You’ve got a date?’ Juliet’s jaw dropped.

  ‘It’s not a date.’ I explained that I’d bumped into a friend of a friend last night and he’d invited me to go round tonight to look at the night sky from the deck of his houseboat.

  ‘Well, hen,’ she said, patting my arm, ‘at least it gets you out of the house. Beggars can’t be choosers at your age.’

  ‘Gee, thanks for the pep talk.’

  ‘I’ll do you a cake for your date, providing …’ Juliet assembled a chopping board, sharp knife and basket of lemons and pushed them in my direction, ‘… you peel all these.’

  I opened my mouth to repeat that it wasn’t a date, but it would be nice to take a fresh cake with me; I was sure Noah would appreciate it so I thanked her instead. She disappeared into the kitchen to start mixing cake batter and I picked up the knife and began to peel the first lemon.

  Clementine stood up and started jingling her car keys, ready to make a move, and Nonna chivvied her to the counter.

  ‘You not eating, I see that,’ Nonna was telling her. ‘You bag of bones these days. I make up goody bag for you.’

  Clementine rested her elbows on the counter and dropped her head in her hands, while Nonna began filling plastic tubs with portions of food.

  ‘Stick a couple of thousand quid in the bag while you’re at it,’ she said. ‘That might bring my appetite back.’

  ‘Oh, cara,’ Nonna tutted. ‘I so sorry you have problems with business.’

  ‘If there’s anything I can do to help – some marketing or something,’ I said, ‘just say.’

  ‘Kind of you, dear.’ Clementine gave me a tight smile. ‘But I’m going to have to sell up and I think Clarrie knew it. The garden centre has been struggling for a while. Every time we got a letter from the bank about the overdraft, he used to roll up his sleeves and say, “Dig yourself out of this one, Clarence Fearnley.”’

  She heaved a big sigh. ‘I might put that on his headstone.’

  ‘I am very lucky woman,’ Nonna said wistfully. ‘I never had a man telling me how to run café, and now I have my clever granddaughter to take over.’

  ‘And a second granddaughter who can cook,’ said Lia pointedly, pushing a small bowl of her soup towards Nonna.

  Nonna patted her hand kindly.

  ‘Don’t look now,’ Clementine muttered under her breath, ‘but there’s some serious eye candy at two o’clock.’

  Lia and I checked our watches, Nonna looked at the jar of sweets on the counter.

  ‘You lot are useless.’ Clementine jerked her head to the other side of the café. ‘Over there.’

  We all turned at the same time, completely indiscreetly, to see Clementine’s eye candy and there was Gabe helping Noah out of his jacket. How they had managed to get in without us hearing the bell or noticing them was a mystery. Noah pointed to the toy corner and jumped up and down. Gabe caught us all staring at him and raised a hand.

  ‘Gabe! Welcome to the Lemon Tree Café,’ I said. ‘Hi, Noah.’

  Noah smiled shyly before running to play with the toys and Gabe approached the counter. I made the introductions to Nonna and Clementine who both flirted shamelessly and he ordered some drinks and a cookie for Noah from Lia to take away.

  ‘Excuse me for eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help overhearing about your troubles. I’m so sorry for your loss,’ said Gabe to Clementine. ‘I’m an ex-solicitor, if I can help at all, reading over paperwork for you, looking at your lease … I’d be only too happy to help. Also, I know what it’s like to lose a partner. Things can get a little overwhelming.’

  It was the perfect thing to say and not a hint of bereavement Tourette’s. Clementine swallowed hard and managed to nod. I handed her a tissue. At that moment Juliet popped her head out from the kitchen.

  ‘Solicitor?’ She stared at me. Clearly Gabe wasn’t the only one who’d been eavesdropping. ‘I expected one of those new-age scruffs with grass seeds in their hair, living on lentils.’

  Ground, swallow me up …

  ‘I don’t know why!’ I said, hoping no one noticed my pink cheeks.

  Gabe’s eyes sparkled. ‘I suppose this jumper has seen better days.’

  ‘No, you look great!’ I protested, glancing too late at his attire, which looked like it had been attacked by a plague of giant moths.

  ‘Ahem.’

  We all turned as Dad, who’d presumably finished talking to his agent, tapped Gabe on the shoulder.

  ‘I’m Alec Featherstone, lecturer in philosophy at Derby University. And you must be Gabe, the fellow my daughter was talking about last night,’ he said with a sniff.

  ‘That would be his other daughter, Gabe. Not me. I haven’t mentioned you at all,’ I said, wishing my entire family would disappear.

  ‘May I ask why a solicitor chooses to live on a narrowboat?’ Dad raised both of his eyebrows.

  Gabe’s grey eyes twinkled and he looked down at the floor briefly before answering. ‘The same reason that a lecturer chooses to dress up as Dolly Parton on his nights off, I guess.’ He shrugged. ‘Because I can.’

  Dad went red, opened his mouth and then shut it again. I hadn’t seen him so flustered since the time he bumped into Hugh Bonneville near the London Eye and mistook him for Colin Firth. He hadn’t missed an episode of Downton Abbey since.

  ‘And as I was saying to Mrs Fearnley,’ Gabe
paused to smile at Clementine who smiled coyly back, ‘I’m an ex-solicitor; I renovate furniture these days.’

  ‘I see,’ said Dad stiffly. ‘A joiner.’

  ‘French polisher, actually,’ Gabe said amiably. He scanned the café. ‘You have some lovely pieces here, Signora Carloni.’

  ‘Thank you. Lot of people like shaggy sheep.’ Nonna patted her hair and batted her eyelashes.

  Gabe’s eyes widened.

  ‘My grandmother means shabby chic,’ I said, smiling at him.

  ‘That what I say.’ Nonna flicked her cloth at me.

  ‘Local lad, are you?’ Dad asked.

  ‘When you live on a boat, home can be anywhere,’ said Gabe. ‘It’s the thing I love most about it, the freedom. But I’m Nottingham born and bred.’

  ‘Which team do you support, Nottingham Forest or Notts County?’ Dad asked, narrowing his eyes.

  Lia and I exchanged looks. Nottingham Forest and Derby County fans were sworn enemies.

  ‘Neither.’ Gabe ruffled a hand through his sandy wavy hair. ‘But I enjoy watching a live game now and again. And my son Noah loves football.’

  ‘Really?’ Dad clapped a hand on his shoulder. ‘As luck would have it I have a spare ticket for the Derby match tomorrow. Come with me, I insist, it will give us a chance to get to know each other. I can sort one out for the boy too.’

  ‘Thanks, Mr Featherstone.’ Gabe looked genuinely touched. ‘We’d love to. Noah has never been to a proper match.’

  Dad beamed at him. ‘Call me Alec.’

  The two men made some rough arrangements to meet tomorrow. Dad bid us all farewell and this time shook Gabe’s hand heartily. Lia slid Gabe’s drinks and a cookie in a bag across the counter and Gabe paid her and called Noah to let him know they were going.

  ‘You’re well in there.’ I smiled. ‘You’ve made my dad’s day.’

  ‘Despite being a lowly boat-dwelling joiner,’ he said.

  ‘Ignore him,’ I said, ‘he’s like that with all my boyfriends.’

  Gabe raised an eyebrow.

  ‘Not that you’re a boyfriend,’ I stammered. Was it getting warm in here or was it just me? ‘And when I say all I don’t mean—’

  Gabe grinned at me, waiting for me to wedge the rest of my foot in my mouth.

  ‘Rosanna, what you think about getting your friend to do work on our tables?’ said Nonna. ‘You always say they too scruffy.’ She held the sweetie jar out for Noah who took one politely.

  Gabe’s eyes lit up. He looked at me and I nodded, relieved to change the subject.

  ‘And the dresser,’ I said.

  ‘That would be great,’ he said. ‘I’ve got workshop space sorted at the Riverside Hotel, I can start straight away.’

  ‘And I might take you up on that offer of help with the paperwork too,’ said Clementine, not to be outdone.

  ‘Looks like you’re going to be busy,’ I said, pleased we could all help him get settled in so quickly.

  ‘Talking of busy,’ said Gabe, reaching a hand out to Noah, ‘I’ve got some packing cases to collect from the courier’s depot. But are you still on for tonight?’

  I nodded, conscious of everyone looking at us. Noah scooted over and tapped my leg. ‘Dad says Katy Perry is foxy. Are you foxy?’

  Gabe’s eyes met mine and my heart jolted. Lia sniggered, Gabe groaned and Nonna whispered, ‘Who is Katy Perry?’ to Clementine.

  ‘Well, I er …’ I laughed awkwardly.

  ‘Annnd we’re out of here,’ Gabe said, opening the door. Sorry, he mouthed over his shoulder.

  ‘See you later, I’m looking forward to it,’ I said, waving them off.

  I really was, I thought, as I watched man and boy cross the village green and climb into a tatty white van.

  Lia pressed a hand to her heart. ‘How cute are they?’

  ‘Nice lad,’ Juliet agreed. She tapped the chopping board. ‘Now hurry up with those lemons.’

  I picked up the knife and began to peel.

  ‘It reminds me of the folklore about peeling lemons,’ said Clementine.

  ‘Here we go again,’ Juliet muttered.

  Nonna elbowed her sharply and she retreated to the kitchen.

  ‘Folklore says,’ said Clementine in a low mysterious voice that made us all lean in, ‘that if you can cut the peel from a lemon in one strip, you’ll meet a new love within the period of the moon.’

  ‘Oh my GOD!’ Lia clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘Gabe could be it: your new love. It’s obvious. Today’s a new moon, Noah told us that, remember?’ She looked at me, wide-eyed. ‘Gabe walked in while we were discussing it and you’re going stargazing with him tonight.’

  ‘You don’t believe in all that, do you?’ I said, feeling myself go hot.

  Lia just opened her eyes even wider. ‘Got to be worth a shot.’

  I had one more lemon left. Everyone stared at my hands. How utterly ridiculous.

  ‘Oh all right,’ I tutted.

  I picked up the lemon, my knife poised.

  ‘Everyone quiet,’ Clementine ordered.

  I held my breath as I peeled the lemon, carefully sliding the blade under the yellow skin without cutting off the white pith. Round and round the knife went, the yellow spiral growing longer and longer and heavier and heavier. Lia squeaked and I could feel tension radiating off all of them.

  ‘She nearly there,’ Nonna hissed. ‘Come on, Rosanna!’

  The lemon was almost entirely white now but as the knife reached the sticky-out bit at the bottom it slipped and cut through the peel. The strip collapsed to the chopping board in a heap. For a moment nobody spoke.

  ‘As Juliet says, it’s just a load of hocus-pocus,’ said Clementine, patting my arm awkwardly.

  ‘Aye, never mind,’ said Juliet, scooping the pile of lemon peel into a pan. ‘When life hands you lemons—’

  ‘Yeah, yeah,’ I sighed, feeling unaccountably disappointed, ‘make cake.’

  Chapter 12

  The sun had already set when I headed out of the village on foot to Gabe’s boat, but the clear sky still held an orangey glow and the air was fresh and cold. A few tables were occupied outside the Riverside Hotel, and lights and music spilled from the bar out on to the terrace. I carried on along the tow path to the jetty where the narrowboats were moored.

  ‘Hello,’ I called, spotting Gabe on deck.

  He was unpacking the contents of a cardboard box, one of several heaped up and taking up most of the space.

  ‘Welcome aboard The Neptune,’ he said, holding out a hand to help me climb across. ‘Our first visitor in Barnaby.’

  ‘Thank you. I’ve heard all about it from Verity. But it’s my first time on a narrowboat.’

  I wobbled a bit as I stepped on to the deck and I gripped his hand for balance. There wasn’t much space and my nose was almost touching his jumper. He bent to kiss my cheek and I caught the scent of his aftershave: ruggedly masculine with a hint of leather and wood. I had the urge to bury my nose in his neck and sniff to my heart’s content. I’d been single for too long, clearly.

  ‘Sorry. Narrow being the operative word on here at the moment.’ He nodded towards the boxes. ‘A delivery courtesy of my mother.’

  I glanced at the boxes labelled with words like: ‘Gabe work suits’, ‘Mimi books’, ‘G&M wedding’ …

  ‘She’s been storing stuff since Mimi died and now she’s decided she hasn’t got room for it any more.’

  I looked at the tower of boxes and then through the cabin doors into a tiny galley kitchen. ‘What are you going to do with it all?’

  ‘No idea.’ He scratched his head. ‘There’s more inside, Noah is sifting through it like a prospector panning for gold. Come on in, I’ll give you the tour.’

  ‘Cake as requested,’ I said, holding out a bag, ‘and wine.’

  ‘You can come again.’ He grinned and gestured towards the cabin door. ‘After you.’

  We walked into the kitchen and through the living area. Gabe pointe
d out all the mod cons, albeit in miniature, the curtains he’d sewed himself, Noah’s artwork Blu-Tacked on to the door of the larder and a photo of him and Noah at Verity’s cookery school.

  ‘Which reminds me,’ I frowned, ‘it’s odd that Verity didn’t mention you were coming to Barnaby.’

  ‘Ah.’ Gabe looked sheepish. ‘I haven’t told her yet. I love Verity to bits, but she and my mum won’t be happy until they’ve organized my life and married me off. Mum is currently sulking because I didn’t move back home with her; hence returning my stuff. I haven’t plucked up the courage to break the news to Verity yet. She wanted me to move to Plumberry.’

  ‘I’ll have to tell her I’ve seen you,’ I said, ‘or she’ll never speak to me again.’

  He pulled a resigned face. ‘I’ll ring her tonight. Promise. OK, onwards with the tour. The smallest master suite ever,’ he said with a grin, opening a narrow door.

  A double bed filled most of the space, a shelf above the bed held a single picture frame containing a wedding photograph, and a box, marked ‘Gabe’s books’, sat in the corner.

  ‘But big enough,’ I said earnestly.

  ‘Oh yes,’ he said. ‘Big enough.’

  We both blushed. Gabe looked at his feet.

  ‘So. You’re a big reader?’ I said, changing the subject swiftly.

  ‘Yes, I am,’ he said with a gush of relief. ‘Once Noah’s asleep I tend to go to bed early and read. The walls are so thin that the TV would wake him. Although, on nice nights I sometimes go mad and sit on deck with a beer. Rock ’n’ roll, hey?’

  My heart squeezed for him; it sounded quite a lonely life.

  ‘It sounds good to me,’ I said, smiling up at him as he closed the door and opened the next one, which led to a shower room.

  ‘What does, an early night?’

  I punched him playfully and decided not to answer that one. Although an early night with Gabe … I could see definite benefits to that. I’d been too busy over the last month to think about men, but now, in close proximity to one, my hormones were waking up very quickly. I gave myself a shake; this was Gabe, a friend, not someone whose heart I could play fast and loose with. Besides, Verity would kill me. Gabe was not ‘fun fling’ material. Not at all.