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Paige’s phone went off, and although she grabbed it, she didn’t look, she knew from the sinking feeling who it was trying to contact her again.
‘I’ve got this, boss, if you need to take it,’ Belle said, nodding to Paige’s hand where her phone continued to ring.
Paige nodded and moved towards the stairs that separated the bar from her apartment. Sitting on the bottom step she looked at the phone screen. The ringing stopped and then before Paige could even take a breather it started up again. Paige stared at it, still unable to actually do anything but recall the last time they’d spoken. It had been about seven years ago. Her mother claimed she wanted to reconnect, to get to know her daughter as an adult. It hadn’t been true though. She’d wanted a favour, and no doubt did again.
Her phone finally stopped ringing.
‘You could speak to her, you know?’ Paige would have jumped but she already sensed Connie at the top of the stairs.
‘I can’t, you know that. It’s not even a big deal. It’s water under the bridge. She got bored of me once, she’ll do it again.’
‘Book, come on, you know that was never the case. And I happen to think I didn’t do too badly.’
Paige turned around to look up the stairs. ‘You’re amazing, Gran, you know that.’
‘I do know that. But do you know something?’ Paige waited. ‘I wasn’t talking about speaking to your mum.’
Paige stood up. ‘I’ve got to get back to the bar.’
Connie sighed, the concern evident on her face, but Paige was already gone.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Melanie
‘So, what do I have to do?’ Alfie asked from the back of the car, school uniform still on and pen ink all over his hands.
‘You just have to look at some pictures and pick the one you like best,’ Melanie replied, her voice high and sing-song in a way that she knew placated Alfie but also meant she could hide the stress that she was actually feeling. And she was feeling stressed. The health inspection had taken place there and then on the Sunday right when they were at their busiest. Dan, the head chef had nearly walked out. They’d had to turn some walk-ins away not having the staff on hand or full use of the kitchen. And now they were still waiting on their results, not knowing whether or not they would be shut down for absolutely no reason at all.
On the face of it, Melanie knew she ought not worry, their kitchen was clean, well-organised and documented; complied with all the codes. Dan and Louisa consistently worked hard to make sure that was the case. But a surprise inspection did not make for a chilled-out Melanie. Or indeed Louisa, and when Louisa heard about it, she came to the conclusion that someone was trying to set them up, the same someone behind the bad reviews. Melanie was forced to admit she’d been wondering the same, but if she started thinking that someone had a vendetta against them, then she should probably give up the idea of sleep altogether. Nevertheless, an emergency staff meeting had been called this morning, everyone was updated and reminded on the rules, and it was fair to say, staff morale was low.
Alfie had been saying something in the back of the car and Melanie immediately felt guilty for tuning him out. Good Lord she was tired.
Pulling into her parking spot at Lulu, Alfie cheered.
‘I like your work, Auntie Mel. I like all the flowers.’
‘I know, but that’s not where we’re going today. We’re going to Paige’s bar.’
‘Ohhh.’ Alfie jumped up and down in his seat which was less than helpful when she was trying to get him out of it.
‘Come on dude, help me out, we’re late enough as it is.’
Alfie wrapped his little arms around her neck and Melanie breathed in. She loved Alfie more than anything, and so of course the guilt worsened.
‘Here’s the plan — hold my hand, it’s busy, so you and Paige and a few others are going to look at some amazing paintings, and you’re going to all pick your top three favourites. Oh, and you’ll get some little stickers to put on the ones you think are best.’
So long as Paige got the stickers that is. But in fairness Paige hadn’t ticked off a single thing on the list that hadn’t been done well, and in some cases, better than Melanie had ever envisioned.
‘That’s good, ’cos I get a sticker at school if I’m good.’
Melanie nodded as they continued to stroll down the road towards Barbarella. ‘You might get a sticker if you’re good today too.’
She saw Alfie grin. ‘Will there be food too? I’m hungry.’
‘I’m sure we can find you something.’
Melanie grimaced. Why the hell hadn’t she thought to bring a snack? It was rule number one with kids.
