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‘It’s beautiful. I’ve never tasted anything like this! It’s so good.’
‘Thank you. I picked up some Toulouse sausages and cooked them in a red wine and honey reduction, then threw in some root vegetables at the last minute. The mash is truffle, garlic and Camembert. It works?’
‘Oh, it seriously works! Did you have the same thing?’
‘Yes, but I feel it still needs a little bite. Maybe some pink peppercorns?’
‘I don’t think it needs anything. You cook like this all the time?’
‘Experimentally? I suppose.’ She shrugs, embarrassed.
‘Wow.’
It doesn’t take me long to finish the bowl. As soon as I put my cutlery down, she begins to clear the place she set.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Clearing.’
‘No, you’re not. You cooked, I don’t expect you to clear up. I can do that.’
‘It’s okay. It’ll only take me—’
I stand up. She needs to relax. ‘Ariella, I’m clearing up.’
I reach out to still her hands, but she moves them away a little too quickly.
‘Okay.’ She backs down and moves out of the kitchen.
‘While I’ve got you, I’m trying to organise a bachelor party in the South of France. A bit of gambling, maybe take a boat out and have some steak?’
‘Sounds like you want the Cannes to Monaco stretch.’
‘Can you recommend some cool places? It’ll just be for three blokes.’
‘I can put together an itinerary and some prices too, if you want? We get agents’ rates at work, so as long as you’re going we can do it fairly inexpensively.’
‘You don’t mind?’
‘I know that part of the world and our partners there really well. I can throw it together and email you in a couple of days.’
‘That’s fab, thanks.’
‘You’re welcome.’
‘And thanks for dinner.’
‘Glad you liked it. Goodnight.’
She goes quietly to her room and closes the door. I dive into the fridge to see if there is any more. None. Damn. I get another beer and I notice five little orange ramekins with the same branding stamped on them, covered with cling film. They are all filled with mashed potatoes, with different stickers on them, ranging from plain butter and Himalayan salt to fennel and spring onion.
I could certainly get used to living with someone who likes to cook, but I can’t help but feel that something was off about dinner tonight. There was something a little uncomfortable about the whole experience. I can’t put my finger on it, so I let it go.
SEVEN
ARIELLA
The last three weeks have been torturous. Just when I thought the pain was receding, a more intense wave would hit.
