‘No way am I ready for that.’
‘Good for you, go spread your wings first,’ she smiled, just as Tracy came outside to help an elderly guest with her suitcase before she could go on her way.
‘Don’t go putting ideas into her head,’ Tracy said after she’d waved the guest away.
Sandy rolled her eyes and went back inside now she’d finished watering the hanging basket and the window box filled with vibrant pinks and purples.
‘I wasn’t filling her head with silly ideas, I promise,’ said Melissa.
‘I’m kidding. Much as Heritage Cove is for me and I secretly harbour a wish that my kids will stay here while I grow old, I’m taking a leaf out of Barney’s book and they’ll get my blessing whatever they decide to do. Would you like to join me in the garden out back for some lunch? I can have Giles whip us up a chicken salad.’
‘That would be lovely.’ She could use a break from all the rushing around and they first went inside to escape the heat that at this time of the day made the parking area out front feel like it had been transported to the Mediterranean rather than being on the east coast of England.
In the kitchen Giles took their orders for salad, Tracy filled a jug with traditional lemonade and plenty of ice cubes, and they took it outside to the bistro-style table and chairs.
They’d only just sat down when Melissa excused herself to take a call from Jay. They’d only just spoken but he’d forgotten to remind her to go and check out her little cottage while she was here. He’d seen a stunning house for sale in the Loire Valley and when he fired the photographs her way she couldn’t disagree, it was beautiful, a real escape. But mentioning her cottage again, she knew she wasn’t feeling the same way about getting rid of it as she had when she first arrived in Heritage Cove. Talking with Jay earlier and again now also reminded her that she had a very different life outside the Cove with a faster pace and detachedness from somewhere like here, an existence that hung in the background like a safety net protecting her from all the uncertainty. Since getting back to the village the lines were becoming increasingly blurred and it was hard to think straight on some days. She found her feelings for Harvey swung between regret and longing some days and, on other days, hovered between frustration and a need to finally draw a line under everything that had happened.
Giles delivered the salads and cutlery to the table and Tracy poured two glasses of lemonade, handing one to Melissa.
‘This salad looks good,’ Melissa smiled. ‘Giles seems to be enjoying the catering side of the business.’
‘That he is.’
She tucked into a mouthful of chicken with cajun seasoning, juicy red peppers, peppery rocket mixed with crisp, fresh lettuce. ‘Compliments to the chef,’ she reiterated.
Tracy, cutlery in hand as she enjoyed her lunch, hadn’t missed a thing. ‘Was the phone call from your other half?’
‘It was, he’s missing me. I’m away for quite a while now I’m hanging around for longer.’
‘I’m sure he understands. It is Barney.’ Tracy obviously thought Melissa had shared a lot more about her life in Heritage Cove than she actually had. ‘Why don’t you invite him up here? I for one would love to meet this mysterious pilot of yours.’
Melissa wasn’t sure she wanted to share this part of her with Jay. She’d separated her new life in Berkshire and Heritage Cove successfully so far, and it worked. Jay knew she lost her parents, he understood she didn’t want to dwell on what had happened and he let her disappear into her own thoughts whenever she needed to. What he didn’t know was that when she’d left the Cove five years ago, she’d also left behind the man she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. By the time she and Jay became an item, she no longer wanted to look backwards, only forwards.
‘Talking of men…’ Tracy adjusted her chair so the sun wasn’t right in her eyes. ‘How’s Harvey coping with you being back and the two of you having to spend time together to organise the ball? I saw Barney today and he filled me in on everything. Thank goodness you both stepped in is all I can say.’
‘We had to, but it’s crazy busy trying to work out what was cancelled and what wasn’t, what still needs to be done.’
‘You still haven’t answered my question.’ Tracy speared a piece of tomato. She wasn’t going to let her get away with avoiding the focus on Harvey.
‘Awkward is probably the best description of how it is between us.’ She recapped on what they had to organise, what they’d already taken care of.
‘I can help you out when it comes to caterers.’ Tracy put her cutlery together now that she’d finished her salad and pulled out her phone. ‘I would suggest Giles but party catering isn’t his thing unless you’re really desperate. Let me send you a couple of contacts I have – try them, mention my name. I’ve used both of them before when the oven at the inn went on the blink just in time for a guest’s eightieth birthday event and then again the week after we had it fixed and were supposed to cook Sunday dinner for twenty-five people to celebrate owning the place for a year.’
‘That sounds like a nightmare.’
‘It was, let me tell you, never been so stressed.’ Melissa’s phone bleeped as the contacts appeared via text message on her phone. ‘Both of the caterers I’m putting you in touch with are wonderful, their food is top notch – book them in for a tasting if you can.’
‘I will do, and thank you.’ She pulled an awkward face and Tracy knew where her mind was going.
‘Go ahead, do it now, I need to take these empty plates inside and make sure I’m not needed in reception. I’ll be back.’
By the time Tracy returned Melissa had been in touch with both caterers. ‘One already has a booking, I’ve locked in the other on your recommendation and on the condition we get a tasting beforehand. I’ll sort something with Barney.’
‘Great, another thing ticked off the list, I’m relieved I could help.’ She clinked her glass against Melissa’s in a toast. ‘My parents used to talk about that ball all the time, you know. They loved putting on their finery and heading on over. Mum was always thrilled she still fitted into her gown and Dad bought himself a new suit for the occasion – his had seen much better days. They went every year until Mum died and Dad went into a home.’
‘It’s a shitty time losing a parent.’
‘The worst. But it’s the circle of life. I guess I’m lucky I had them both around for so long, they got to meet their grandchildren.’ She covered her face. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t think.’
