The Seafront Tea Rooms (17 page)

‘I miss that,’ Jake said. ‘I really do.’

24

Sunday 21 September

Charlie parked up the pram by the window in the Seafront Tea Rooms. Tucked in with a pale yellow blanket and her bunny comforter, Gracie was fast asleep, breathing gently.

‘Are you meeting Kat and Séraphine today?’ Letty asked her.

‘Yes – they’re coming at two to fill me in on their trip to Whitby. I’m early. This little one needed some fresh air.’

‘Do you know how it went?’

‘Good, from what I can tell. They’ve written up the reviews already. Interesting stuff. Talking of interesting – I was looking through the scrapbook on your counter the other day. There are some wonderful things in there.’

‘This place has seen a lot, that’s true. I’m glad you had a look. Most of the people around here don’t give the history a second thought. They just assume we’ve always been here and always will be.’

‘I think it’s fascinating.’

‘I’ve got a couple more things, if you’d like to see them? While you wait for the others to arrive, and the baby’s sleeping?’

‘I’d love to take a look.’

Charlie took a seat at one of the tables, and Letty brought over the tea she’d ordered and a large cigar box. ‘It’s a bit of a muddle, but who knows, you might find something that you and Kat can use for inspiration.’

‘Thanks.’

Gracie stirred, and Charlie rocked the pram to get her back to sleep. With her free hand, she opened the box and looked through the papers and photos.

The first thing she came to was a menu. She couldn’t see a date on it, but it was pressed between letters dated from the late 1960s.

The sweets – now this was what she was really interested in:

Chocolate éclairs, cream sandwiches, almond tarts, buttercream, Battenberg squares… Viennese cakes. In all the years the tea room had been running, some things hadn’t changed.

‘What did you do to celebrate the centenary, Letty?’ Charlie asked out of the blue.

‘Nothing,’ Letty said. ‘That’s rather sad, isn’t it? It sort of passed me by. It was an awful year for the Seafront, to be honest. We started the year with a break-in, and then in February part of the roof came away. Euan and I were too focused on getting that sorted to think about a party. All in all, it didn’t seem the right time for a celebration.’

‘What a shame. It’s such a milestone.’

‘I suppose it would have been nice to mark it,’ Letty said, tilting her head as she considered it. ‘Too late now, though.’

Charlie immersed herself in the postcards and photos from the early days of the Seafront. She stayed like that for a while, ideas drifting through her head. She was nudged out of her daze by a man’s voice.

‘Hello there.’

Her eyes flicked up from the page and met Euan’s. A smile came to her lips as she saw him standing by her table. ‘Hey,’ she said.

‘How’s it going?’ His gaze drifted to the baby, who was now smiling and wide awake, her blue eyes button-round and bright. ‘I’m guessing this is the famous Gracie.’

‘The very same,’ Charlie said, putting the papers down and peering into the pram. ‘This is her. My youngest niece.’

‘She’s lovely.’

‘She is beautiful, isn’t she?’ Charlie said, carefully lifting Gracie out of the pram and holding her close. ‘I’m allowed to say that because she’s not mine.’ She smiled.

‘Ha, yes.’

‘How’s the work on the cinema going?’ Charlie asked.

‘Good, thanks. There’s a slight issue with one of the plans, but I reckon we’ve worked out a way to fix it.’

‘The buyers have got a real catch. That place is going to make an incredible restaurant.’

‘I think so,’ Euan said. ‘The venue is on everyone’s radar already, so there’ll be a lot of interest around it when it opens. I wish it were going to nicer people though – it’s one unreasonable demand after another with these buyers.’

‘Intense?’

‘Yes. Hence the scone break.’ Euan smiled. ‘What are you up to?’ He looked at the papers on her desk. ‘Research?’

‘Yes. And meeting some friends.’

‘Euan, have you got a minute?’ Letty called over from the kitchen. ‘Only the tap’s broken again.’

‘Yep, sure.’ He rolled his eyes playfully in Letty’s direction. ‘Duty calls.’

‘See you later,’ Charlie said. As he walked back into the kitchen, she found it difficult to look away.

‘We’re not late, are we?’ Kat said, pulling out a wooden chair and sitting down opposite Charlie. Séraphine sat down with them.

‘No, don’t worry, we said two,’ Charlie said. ‘I left the house early for a walk with Gracie. Luke’s come round today to talk to Pippa and I wanted to give them some space.’

‘So they’re talking?’ Kat asked. ‘That sounds positive.’

‘I think it’s a very good sign. Pippa called him yesterday and he agreed to come to talk things through. She apologised – which is quite a big deal. Pippa doesn’t back down easily. Fingers crossed, they’ll be able to work it all out today. The kids miss him terribly.’

Letty brought Kat and Séraphine their cups of tea. ‘Here you go, you two. Our blend of the day.’

‘Thanks, Letty,’ Séraphine said.

‘And I suppose you need to get back to your job soon,’ Kat said to Charlie.

‘Too right. My boss isn’t exactly thrilled with the situation. But I’ll try and fit in with whatever Pippa and Luke decide.’

Euan came out of the kitchen to get something from the counter, and waved over to Kat, who said hello back.

‘You know Euan?’ Charlie asked.

‘Yes.’ Kat shrugged. ‘Everyone knows Euan.’

‘In a good way, or a bad way?’ Charlie tilted her head, feigning disinterest.

‘Ha.’ Kat smiled. ‘In a good way. Why do you ask?’

‘No reason,’ Charlie said quickly.

‘Yeah, right,’ Kat laughed.

‘Anyway. Your trip,’ Charlie said, changing the subject. ‘I want to hear all about it.’

‘Were the reviews OK?’ Séraphine asked.

‘Yes, they were terrific,’ Charlie said. ‘I’ve made a few small changes, but nothing major. I’m happy with everything – thank you.’

She’d been pleasantly surprised when she read the reviews – they were far more concise and honest than the ones she usually had to deal with, even from experienced food writers. There was something about Kat’s voice that was instantly engaging and her vivid descriptions brought the tea rooms she’d visited to life. The only problem was, due to her own lack of input, there still weren’t enough of them.

‘So, are you on track now?’ Séraphine asked Charlie.

‘Almost. Nearly,’ Charlie said, biting her lip. Then she realised there was no point lying about it. ‘By which I mean, not at all.’

‘Do you want us to help with some more?’ Kat offered.

‘Would you? It would really help me out. I’d need them by the end of the week.’

‘Sure,’ Kat said. ‘That’s fine. All right with you, Séraphine?’ Séraphine nodded.

‘Phew, that’s such a relief,’ Charlie said. ‘I’m only getting snatches of time at the moment, and to be honest I feel horribly unfocused. A couple more reviews from you guys would make all the difference.’

‘Sure. We can do another trip,’ Séraphine said. ‘We still have a few places on our list.’

‘Excellent. Then it’s all coming together,’ Charlie said. ‘I’ve just been doing a little research. Look at these mementoes of Letty’s – they’re wonderful. Check out this old menu.’

Kat took it from her and read it. ‘How funny. Tongue? They served that?’

‘I know,’ Charlie laughed. ‘Gross, right? Letty’s certainly improved the menu.’

‘These photos are nice,’ Séraphine said. ‘Look at this picture of Letty and… Who’s that? I suppose it must be her husband.’

‘John,’ Kat said. ‘Euan’s dad. They’re not together any more.’

‘They look as if they were happy back then,’ Séraphine said. ‘I wonder what happened.’

‘I don’t know,’ Kat said. ‘She’s never talked about it as far as I know.’

Charlie pulled out a newspaper article that dated back to the middle of the Second World War. ‘There are so many stories about what the tea rooms went through. So much history here, and Letty’s family have been here since day one. Over a hundred years of serving tea.’

‘A hundred years?’ Séraphine said, her eyes widening.

‘Yes, it was a shame that we didn’t get a chance to celebrate,’ Kat said. ‘Letty had a run of bad luck that year and it put a damper on things.’

‘Are you sure it’s too late?’ Séraphine asked.

Charlie smiled. ‘What’s a year or two between friends?’

‘Maybe the three of us could do something for her?’ Séraphine said. ‘Throw a party?’

‘That’s a lovely idea,’ Kat said. ‘But you know Letty, she never wants a fuss.’

‘Maybe she doesn’t get a say in it,’ Charlie said, mischievously.

‘I like the way you’re thinking,’ Kat said. ‘A surprise party, here at the tea rooms. How are you two fixed the Saturday after next?’

‘It looks as if I’ve got a party to go to,’ Séraphine said, smiling.

‘Shhh,’ Pippa said with a smile, putting a finger to her lips. ‘Gracie just went down, and I swear her hearing is super-sensitive.’

‘I thought you were still up with the kids.’

‘No, they’re all in bed.’

‘How did it go today, with Luke?’ Charlie asked.

‘Not bad,’ Pippa said, tilting her head. ‘Better than I expected.’

‘Did Flo and Jacob realise you were meeting up?’

‘No. I didn’t mention it. It’d only confuse them, so as far as they’re concerned he’s still away on that business trip.’

‘Did you get to explain everything?’

‘Yes. And thank God he seems to believe that nothing ever happened between me and Will. He says he wished I could have said something to him earlier rather than reacting in the way that I did – and he’s right, of course.’

‘Where’s he staying?’

‘He’s still at a friend’s. He says he wants to spend another couple of nights away.’

‘And how are you feeling?’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Pippa said. ‘I miss him. More than I thought I would. I mean, honestly, what was I thinking?’

‘You’re allowed to find things hard every now and again.’

‘Perhaps. But I hurt him, Charlie. He still sees it as me trying to write him and the kids out of my life. He thinks that’s what I really want. But it isn’t. The thing is Gracie was a shock. For both of us. I thought if I could escape from it for a few minutes, I might be better able to handle real life. Adjust.’

‘Does he understand that?’

‘He’s beginning to. We didn’t fix anything, but it feels as if we’ve made a start. I’ve messed things up too much to fix in a day.’

‘Nothing is ever one person’s fault completely.’

‘Perhaps. But it was me that wrote the emails, wasn’t it?’

‘Is there anything Luke could’ve done – could do now – to help you? So that you’re not on your own with the kids so much?’

‘I don’t know.’ She furrowed her brow. ‘Not work weekends, I suppose.’ She shrugged. ‘But that won’t happen.’

‘How can you be so sure? Why don’t you try asking him?’

Pippa seemed to mull it over. ‘I suppose it’s worth a shot.’

That evening, Charlie looked through one of Pippa’s recipe books, deciding what she was going to bake for the centenary party, and reflecting on her day. The time with Kat and Séraphine had been a tonic. Since Sarah had moved to New York, she rarely got to socialise with her real friends, and while she and Sarah still talked on Skype, the time difference meant one of them was usually about to go out. Charlie didn’t open up easily – she never had. What was there to enjoy about being vulnerable? And yet she could feel it starting to happen with Kat and Séraphine. She felt relaxed in their company, safe.

As she flicked through the pages of cakes and muffins, she thought of the other encounter she’d had that day – with Euan. The buzz she’d felt at seeing him again. There’d been something between them. Or had she imagined it?

Kat’s name flashed up on her phone and she picked up.

‘Hey, Kat, how’s it going?’

‘Good, thanks,’ Kat answered brightly. ‘So, I’m calling about the party.’

‘Perfect timing,’ Charlie said. ‘Help me decide something. I’m torn between healthy date-and-raisin muffins and indulgent white chocolate and cranberry.’

‘Come on, that’s a no-brainer,’ Kat said.

‘That’s true.’ She flagged the white chocolate muffin page with a Post-it note. ‘Now, what was it you wanted to ask?’

‘I called Euan to tell him what we had planned.’

The mere mention of his name sent a tingle down Charlie’s spine. She berated herself – she was a grown woman, not a teenager, and she ought to act like one.

‘He’s going to sort the music,’ Kat continued, ‘and he also says he can get his hands on some discounted wine for us.’

‘That’s terrific.’

‘There’s just one thing…’

‘Oh?’

‘He’s asked me for your number. Said he wants to talk it all through with you,’ Kat said.

Charlie’s heart thudded in her chest. She hadn’t invented it. The connection she’d felt had been real.

‘What do you think?’ Kat asked, a smile in her voice. ‘Shall I pass it on?’

25

Tuesday 30 September

Dinner at mine tomorrow night?
Kat had texted Séraphine and Charlie.
Bring a dish, your party-planning skills, and a readiness to drink wine x

It had been a while since Kat had had visitors, and it showed. Leo’s toys were scattered around the living room, and in her bedroom clothes were strewn on every available surface. She put on music and began tidying things into their proper places, throwing away what she could as she went. There was an hour to go until the women arrived, and as they’d all agreed to bring a dish, it wouldn’t take her long to get her part of dinner ready. As she tidied, dusted and cleaned, she looked forward to the evening ahead. Being with Séraphine and Charlie was easy and relaxed; it was as if she’d known them far longer than a fortnight. It was good to have friends round again; that had been one of the first habits she’d let go when Leo arrived.