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‘Ohyes!Actually, it used to be a restaurant, but it closed down a couple of years ago now.Beforethat it was a school,’Daisysaid with enthusiasm. ‘Butyou’d have to askMumabout that as it’s before my time.Victorian,Ithink.School, that is, not my mum,’ she added hastily.Stopgabbling,Daisy, and concentrate.‘Thatwould work really well.It’sbeen lots of things, even a carpet showroom for a while but somehow nothing stuck there or was successful.Ihope it hasn’t got too knocked about?’
‘Fromthe online details it doesn’t look as if it has but obviously there would still be some work to do.Theoriginal features seem mostly intact.Itmakes sense you saying it was aVictorianschool.Themain hall is double height andIthink the fireplace might still be there.There’sa chimney but it’s covered up.Thereare some rudimentary loos which will have to be spruced up but at least the plumbing’s there.Mostexciting of all is the kitchen.’
‘Thekitchen?’
‘Musthave been put in for when it was a restaurant.It’sdated but the basics for a commercial kitchen are all there.It’svery exciting.That’sa major expense taken care of.’
‘Iwent once, ages ago.’Daisyfrowned as she thought back. ‘Ithad tried to be a nouveau cuisine sort of place.Tinyportions and enormous prices.Priceditself out of the market as the locals refused to spend money there and for some reason it didn’t appeal to the tourists.Seemto remember there being lots of offal and game on the menu.’Sheshuddered. ‘Notmy sort of thing.Ithad a beautiful parquet floor in the main room.Isthat still there?’
‘Hopeso.Underneathall the carpet.Sandedand polished, it’ll look fantastic.’
Daisynodded. ‘It’sa pretty building.VictorianGothicIthink they call it.Bitodd forLullburyBayas most of it’s medieval with a dollop ofRegencyon top.Themullioned windows are beautiful.’
‘Andit has that gorgeous front door with the hugest knocker and lockI’veever seen.’Rickpaused. ‘There’sonly one drawback.’
‘What’sthat?’
‘Parking.’
‘Oh,Iwouldn’t worry too much.Themain shoppers’ car park is just round the corner.There’san alleyway that connects it with the main street and it’s free after six.’
‘Ofcourse!Iremember now.Iused it myself on one of my first visits toLullbury.Thankyou.Localknowledge is always a godsend.’
‘Happyto oblige.Isuppose, with it being an old school, you’ll have the name sorted.’
‘SchoolDinners?’Hiseyes creased in humour. ‘Doesn’tquite work, does it?I’mhoping to offer something a little more sophisticated.’
‘No,’ she answered on a laugh. ‘Iwas thinking more along the lines ofTheOldSchoolKitchen.’
‘Daisy, you’re a genius!Ican have specials written up on a vintagechalkboard.’
‘Andwaitresses in sexy school uniforms?’
‘Well, maybeIwon’t go that far.’Hegrinned wickedly. ‘Althoughit might get the punters in.Therewas a franchise inLondonthat had that theme.WaitressesinStTrinian’suniforms and shepherd’s pie and apple pie and custard on the menu.’
‘Thatwoulddefinitelyget the punters in round here butI’mnot sure they’d be the ones you want to serve.’Daisygiggled.Hermood had dramatically improved.Maybeit had been the cathartic tears.Orperhaps some ofRick’senthusiasm was rubbing off on her.Hisenergy was certainly contagious.
‘AndIwouldn’t want to run anything so exploitative.’Heshook his head. ‘Notthe vibeIwant to go for at all.’
‘Doyou think you’ll go ahead with it?’
‘There’sa distinct chance.’Rickrubbed his hands together. ‘I’mseriously considering it, althoughIhave one or two people to speak to first.’Hepressed his lips together, almost talking to himself. ‘I’vegot all myWestCountrycontacts for suppliers.Mydiners would have the absolute best in local produce.It’sall so exciting!’Turningto her, he gave her a mile-wide smile. ‘Ofcourse, onceI’mup and running, you’ll do the flowers?Ona regular contract?’
‘I’dlove to.Seasonalones in giant jam jars, on solid sanded-down pine tables.Informalwith local herbs as greenery and with raffia bows to match the napkins.Lotsof earth colours, cream, green and taupe with seaside blue shot through.Understatedand subtle but warm and welcoming.’
‘Youreallyarea genius.Icould hug you!InfactIwill!’Rickpulled her to him and hugged the breath out of her. ‘IthinkI’llask you to be my style consultant.’
Fora delicious second, she allowed herself to be held.Itwas so good to be embraced by a man and feel his hard muscles, smell the heat through his shirt: warm skin and laundry powder.Shecould stay like this forever.
Rickreleased her.Hegave her a penetrating look. ‘Youwerecrying earlier,’ he said, in a dramatic change of tone. ‘I’msorry,Idon’t mean to pry butIwalked past you.Idon’t mean to intrude but are you all right?Visitinga grave?’
Soit had been him earlier.Daisyscrewed up her face. ‘Mydad’s.’
Hefrowned. ‘OhI’mso sorry.Ihad no idea.’
‘It’sokay.Hedied a long time ago.Iwas only sixteen.Justabout to begin at sixth-form college.’Shesniffed. ‘Itjust got to me today for some reason.It’scoming up to the anniversary of his death.Isuppose that’s what did it.’
Ricknodded. ‘Ithappens,’ he said simply. ‘It’shard to lose a parent, especially when they die young.’Slippingan arm back around her, he pulled her to him again.
