Page 52 of Be More Capybara

HELEN

‘Considering a new career in catering?’ Helen asked as she sat down at the table in the bookshop cafe.

Nigel put the cookbook he’d been flicking through back on the shelf. ‘No, I’m cooking Mother’s Day lunch.’

‘Wow! For the whole Farnham clan?’

‘Just me and Mum. Everyone else is away doing other things. I’m not looking forward to it.’

‘You always used to be an excellent cook. I loved your spaghetti carbonara.’

‘Used to be. I haven’t cooked in years. Madison was quite territorial about her kitchen unless she was getting a private chef in, in which case they could do what they liked.’

The more Helen learnt about Nigel’s home life, the more she wondered why he’d stuck it for so long. But he’d started talking about it in the past tense. A good sign that he was moving on, because, from what she could gather, Madison wasn’t budging on her plans to divorce him. ‘What’s on the menu?’

‘I haven’t decided yet. She loves a roast so I could do one of those.’

‘Bit over the top when there’s just the two of you. If you’re cooking your first meal for years, I’d keep it simple. Steak, a sauce, chips, broccoli or peas. Something like that.’

He looked like he was giving the idea serious consideration. ‘Steak’s a good shout. I’m not sure about chips though.’

‘You could do something fancier on the potato front. Gratin Dauphinois is not too tricky and looks like you’ve made an effort. Then roast the broccoli with garlic and chilli flakes to make it more interesting.’

‘It’s starting to sound complicated. I’ll need a practice run.’

‘Won’t that spoil the surprise?’

‘Possibly. I don’t think Mum’s got any plans to go away between now and next Sunday.’

‘You could cook it at my house?’

He grinned. ‘And you get a free dinner?’

‘I’m not as stupid as I look.’

38

HELEN

Helen smiled as she opened her front door. ‘On time as always.’

‘Chef Nigel doesn’t like to keep his clients waiting,’ Nigel said as he walked in and headed for the kitchen. ‘I’ve worked out the schedule. We need to do the potatoes first.’

‘We?’ she grinned as she followed him.

He put a big shopping bag on the kitchen table. ‘I meant me.’

‘I was teasing. I’ll happily help.’

‘No. I’ll do it all. I need to get the timings right. You put your feet up while I slave over a hot stove.’

She laughed. ‘I wish! Between your brother’s treehouses and the London project I’m finishing off, I’ve been working flat out all day, and I’ve still got a load of things to do. I’ll bring my laptop in here just in case you need any advice.’

‘To make sure I’m not trashing your kitchen?’

‘No, I’m not Madison.’

He looked uncomfortable. You shouldn’t have said that. ‘You have free rein. I’ll only say something if you ask.’