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9
Holly’s phone vibrated on the kitchen counter and she fought the urge to instantly check what the message said. She and Jen had been messaging all evening. It certainly helped break up the hours of deliveries, and the blonde was quite funny, truth be told.
‘Can I do anything else to help?’ Holly asked Mum as she got the plates from the cupboard, placing cutlery on top.
‘No, no. Just set the table and then we’ll be good to go.’
It wouldn’t take long to get everything ready, but Holly took her time, making sure everything was just right. It was nice to eat at the table. Before coming home she couldn’t remember the last time she’d done it, bar Christmas. She and Shona had had opposite schedules, and any time meals were shared it was usually from the comfort of the sofa as they watched TV.
Holly took a seat, knowing better than to get in Mum’s way while she was dishing up.
It wasn’t long before Dad joined them. ‘I thought I smelled something nice,’ he said, taking his seat.
‘Quiche from the shop. Lorraine for us and cheese and onion for Holly.’
‘Sales go well today?’ Holly asked, her mind still on her phone, dying to see what Jen had to say. She’d look after tea: now it was time to focus on her parents. ‘I’ve never delivered so many hampers!’
‘The power of the weekend. Not to mention your amazing publicity.’
Mum shook her head, the smile on her face growing wider by the second. ‘It’s all people spoke about today. You’re a wee star.’
‘Have you heard from her?’ Dad asked, stabbing at a potato with his fork.
Holly felt heat blush her cheeks. ‘We’ve been texting.’
Mum let out a squeal. ‘Sorry, I know you don’t want to date, but it’s fun. And nice to see you making friends.’
‘It’s been good, yeah.’ Holly relented.
‘And are you …’ Dad paused, weighing up his options. ‘Are you happier to be back now?’
‘I don’t think I ever said I wasn’t happy to be back.’
‘No. But we know you didn’t want to leave London.’
Holly gulped, her mouth suddenly dry. ‘It wasn’t that I didn’t want to leave. It was more the circumstances that brought it all to an end.’
Her parents nodded. Mum nibbled at her quiche, before picking at the bacon as she spoke. ‘As long as you’re happy, we’re happy.’
‘I’m not going back, if that’s what you’re worried about. Plenty of bars here. I can get a job no bother.’
‘Is that what you want, though?’ Dad asked. They’d never had such a candid conversation face to face, and emotion welled inside her.
‘No, of course not.’ The lump in her throat grew, but it was now or never to say the truth. She just hadn’t expected the words to come out over a handmade tart. She focused on the potatoes as she pushed them around the plate and prayed her voice would remain steady. ‘It’s my birthday in two days and I can’t help but feel the last decade has been nothing but a string of failures. I’m sorry.’
Her parents chorused their objections. Dad gripped her hand. ‘You’re not a failure.’
Holly shook her head. ‘I didn’t achieve one thing I set out to do.’
‘That doesn’t mean you failed, sweetie,’ Mum reassured her, giving her thigh a squeeze. ‘We didn’t open the deli until your dad got signed off with high blood pressure. Things change. Sometimes plans don’t work out how you thought they would. It doesn’t make you a failure.’
‘That’s different, though. You both had successful careers. I moved away with Shona to become an illustrator and make a life for myself. Instead, I worked in bar after bar, working myself to the bone and into a heap of debt. Only to be dumped and lose my job.’
Dad nodded, dissecting what she’d said. ‘Okay, so the last few years haven’t worked out how you hoped. But if it means anything, we don’t think you’re a failure.’
Holly let out a breathy sigh. It meant a lot, but it didn’t change the emptiness she felt inside. It was like watching someone else’s life from the outside. She cleared her throat, proud that she’d made it this far without cracking. This wasn’t how she thought the night was going to play out. ‘Thank you. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.’
‘Course we’re going to worry, love. We’re your parents.’ Mum squeezed her leg again.
‘I’m good. Honestly. And I’m really enjoying doing the deliveries.’
‘Well, I’m glad you’ve got plenty to keep you going. I’ve had to turn the sound off on my phone – the website keeps getting orders. It’s crazy!’
‘Do you really think it’s because I did the Lovefest date?’
‘Absolutely,’ mum replied with gusto. ‘Everyone is dying to know what’s going on. It’s got Taylor’s Deli on the map.’
Holly nodded, a smile forcing its way out. ‘I’ll have to try and give them more to talk about, then.’
