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‘Sí. I like thingshot!’ Another giggle in Finn’s direction.
I crush my lips together so I don’t laugh at her over-the-top performance for Finn’s benefit. I don’t blame the girl though – she’s doing her level best to get his attention but he’s busy studying his lap as if he’s worried Donatella is about to throw herself in it. Which I’m convinced there’s a chance she might.
Flirtations aside, Fuoco has a chic Mediterranean vibe, as if we’ve been suddenly transported to a contemporary eatery in Europe. ‘How did the big change go with the locals?’ I’m keen to know how this traditional town reacts to such a thing, because this is what I’m planning to do with the library. Make changes that might divide them.
She gesticulates as she says, ‘Oh, you’d have thought I’d turned it into a tattoo parlour or something, the way they went on about the renovations.They warned me I was losing the Italian charm, and once it was gone I’d never be able to get it back. But seriously, Elodie—’ she finally turns in my direction and Finn’s shoulders relax ‘—the placeneededan overhaul. The once-red vinyl booths were outdated, faded to orange and ripped. They needed to go not only because they were an assault on the eyes, but because they were ancient and impossible to clean. We reordered the space so we could fit smaller tables, so couples could also have an intimate dinner, rather than the long banquet tables we had in the middle before. Times have changed. No one eats with twenty family members anymore. Sure, we’ll have parties every now and then but most of our reservations are for couples or families of four. These improvements were so overdue but the locals have shown their disapproval by not eating here anymore.’
‘You’re kidding?’ My jaw drops. Why wouldn’t a business owner be able to make updates without worrying that they’re going to offend locals and lose their patronage? It doesn’t make any sense.
‘Change is so alien to most here. Talk about stuck in the past. So not only have I made these changes against their wishes but I’ve also broken my papa’s heart. I promised him things would improve but it turns out I’ve made a grave error. He warned me not to do it, but I really believed in myself and the vision.’ Just like that, her earlier verve evaporates and the light in her eyes dulls.
Part of me deflates. This doesn’t bode well for the library changes either. Are people really stuck that far in the past here, or is it that there just haven’t been enough changes for them to embrace? Whatever the reason, I feel sympathetic towards Donatella’s plight.She only wanted the best for the family business and it’s backfired on her. A sudden idea lands. ‘Finn, youhaveto put Fuoco on the map like you did with Chez Jacques!’
Donatella’s eyes widen and she claps her hands together. ‘Could you, Finn?’
‘I could try?’ Finn makes an awkward face as though he doesn’t really believe in himself.
Donatella’s confidence returns. ‘I’d make it worth your while,’ she purrs. She actuallypurrsand this time my laughter gets the better of me.
I give him a reassuring smile. ‘You can do it, Finn! You’re great at promoting businesses you care about. Look what you did for Mary and Jacques. You could easily do the same for Donatella, and she’d be a dream to photograph …’ My Astor background comes into play, and in my mind’s eye I picture the layout of such an article with the fire licking the top of the oven as Donatella brandishes a piping-hot, freshly made pizza and stares sultrily at the camera.
Finn scrunches up his nose. For a reporter he doesn’t handle the spotlight of a lusty Italian goddess very well. ‘Sure, sure, I can do a restaurant review. Perhaps Elodie and I can come back in a professional capacity and we’ll get photographs of the dishes for the paper?’
‘Sí, sí!I’ll make sure we have everything perfect.’
How else can we help until then? For a place situated on the high street, it’s sad to see there’s more staff than customers, especially on hump day when I know the working week tends to catch up to people and they look for ways to relax, including getting take-away or eating out. So far, there hasn’t even been any food couriers in to pick up orders. Maybe I’m used to London where practically every establishment has drivers waiting to take orders all over the city.
Could Donatella be a future ‘book’ too? She’s definitely got the pizazz for it and from what I can gather she’s got an interesting background. Perhaps if she sees the experiment herself she might be intrigued. While we have the perfect four ‘books’ to begin with, I need to be thinking long term in case this initiative does take off. ‘Donatella, we’re hosting a big event at the library soon in the hopes of attracting new members. Would Fuoco consider catering it for us? I’m working with a budget, so it doesn’t need to be fancy, just good honest Italian food.’
She gives me a wide smile. ‘Sí!We could provide antipasto platters … a grazing table like we have in summers in Italy.’
‘Sounds delicious.’
‘Let me show you! Are you happy for me to select tonight’s dishes so you can try them all?’
‘More than happy.’
Donatella shrieks and rushes off to the kitchen. Now my only problem is, finding the funds for catering, but as long as the rent on my cottage is paid, I can use the remainder of my salary that week. There must be more items around the library I can sell to help make ends meet. The old computers wouldn’t fetch much, besides we need them until there are funds for newer models. There must be superfluous things that can fetch a few extra pounds. I haven’t checked out the basement yet, so I make a mental note to investigate. I’ve put it off so far because it’s dark and dingy and creeps me right out.
‘You have a way with people,’ Finn says surveying me. ‘Some women might have been offended the way she had her back to you.But it didn’t bother you in the slightest, did it? And then you managed to turn it all around. How do you do that?’
‘Ah, how can I be mad when she’s got a crush on you? I’m sure she’s one of many. In fact, I quite enjoyed watching you squirm. It must be hard to be the hottest ticket in town.’
He throws his head back and laughs. ‘That’s aslightexaggeration.’
I cock my head. ‘Really? Your phone buzzes off the hook with women’s names popping up like fireworks, yet you don’t answer. Every woman we meet, no matter their age, swoons in your presence yet you don’t react. In fact, you look like you want to disappear.’
Finn plays with his napkin. ‘Well, I wouldn’t go that far. I’m still a novelty here, despite living in Willow Grove for ages now, so it boils down to that. If I lived anywhere else, I wouldn’t get a second glance.’
I find that hard to believe. For all our catch-ups, I know virtually nothing about Finn. I know where his office is and that’s about it. ‘Why did you choose to move to Willow Grove?’
‘You’re a bookworm, Elodie. Surely you felt the same when you walked into town and it looked like a scene from a fairy tale. It just felt right; it felt like magic could happen in a town like this. A fresh start, a new beginning, and taking a chance on what might be.’
‘I did feel the same, actually – I used to go to Hamersley boarding school when I was a child. We had monthly excursions to Willow Grove and that’s when I fell in love with the idea of being a librarian. Before Agnes took over, there was a lovely librarian who made me believe in the magic of books and that has never waned.’
His eyebrows knit. ‘You went to boarding school?’
That must seem strange to Finn so I’m quick to downplay it. ‘Yes, my parents went to boarding school there and were convinced it shaped children into the right kind of people – that’s what they believe at any rate. I believe we were more like an assembly line of robots, until lights out when all hell broke loose.’ I laugh. ‘While we were away my parents worked hard on their professional lives. They can be kind of aloof, at times.’
