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notes.’

      ‘You won’t regret it. I tried to make them myself but nothing tops their version.’

      ‘Are you a good cook, then?’

      ‘Er, not bad, I suppose. The kitchen’s my favourite room in the house.’

      ‘Yes? What sort of things do you make?’

      I smile, wondering if he’s just being polite. But I don’t think he is. He sounds genuinely interested.

      ‘Everything, but Italian food is my speciality.’

      ‘Can you make pasta from scratch? And tiramisu?’

      ‘I can. Actually, I’m making tiramisu for a special dinner party,’ I say, deciding on the spot that this is what I’ll make for Mrs Morelli’s dessert.

      ‘My mouth’s watering. This sounds like it’s far more than just a hobby, if you don’t mind me saying. Are you a chef?’

      His question stops me in my tracks. I’m not a chef. But if Erin has her way, I’ll certainly be cooking for a living. The pints of prosecco I’ve drunk make me bold. I take a deep breath. ‘Actually, I’m a caterer, specialising in Italian food. I do private dinner parties.’

      My heart gives an odd little thump. Just saying those words makes me feel like a different person. More confident and self-assured, somehow.

      ‘Sounds amazing. Are you working tonight?’

      ‘Er, no, not tonight.’ Suddenly I feel like a fraud. I’m very glad Jed Turner can’t see the burning heat creeping into my face. ‘My – um – next engagement is on Saturday.’ Why am I trying to impress a man I don’t even know?

      ‘Looking forward to it?’

      ‘Yes! At least, I think so.’

      He laughs. ‘You don’t sound sure.’

      ‘I’m just a bit nervous, that’s all,’ I confess. ‘The woman I’m cooking for was born in Italy.’

      ‘Ah, so there’s that extra pressure to deliver genuine Italian flavours,’ he murmurs, hitting the nail right on the head.

      ‘Absolutely!’

      ‘Well, you sound very passionate when you talk about cooking and that’s a great sign. I’m sure you’ll impress on Saturday.’

      ‘Thank you.’ My face flushes even redder with pleasure.

      ‘I’ll keep your number,’ he chuckles. ‘Just in case I ever have an Italian-food emergency. I live over the border in West Sussex, but an emergency is an emergency.’

      ‘Especially if Italian food is involved.’

      ‘Well, exactly. Getting spaghetti hoops out of the can without a decent tin opener can be a real challenge for a bloke like me.’

      ‘I just happen to have a range of excellent can openers.’

      ‘I’ll bear that in mind, Poppy.’

      There’s a brief pause and I rack my brains for something to say. It’s been such fun talking to Jed Turner …

      ‘So are you going to call Clemmy?’ The question escapes before I can stop myself. I close my eyes, feeling like a right idiot.

      ‘Er, yes. I definitely will.’

      ‘I hope she accepts your invitation after all this palaver.’

      He laughs. ‘I have a feeling she will. She’s a lovely girl. Cute and adorably accident-prone. She just needs to believe in herself a bit more.’

      ‘Oh?’ It sounds like he likes Clemmy a lot.

      ‘Yeah. She was bullied at school for having blazing red hair and being on the plump side, and these things stick.’

      ‘Kids can be horrible. Does she live in Surrey as well?’

      ‘Yes. She doesn’t have a car so she can meet me off the London train in Easingwold and I’ll whisk her over to join the gang at Westbury Edge.’

      My heart snags.

       Westbury Edge?

      I swallow hard. An image of the lake in the tiny hamlet of Westbury Edge flashes into my head, with the little whitewashed cottage on its shores mirrored perfectly in the glasslike surface of the water. It’s eighteen years since I was last in that cottage – but it’s burned on my brain as if it all happened only a week ago …

      ‘Poppy? Are you still there?’ Jed Turner asks.

      ‘Yes! Sorry, the connection’s not great,’ I say, crossing my fingers and hoping he doesn’t think I’m completely weird. ‘You – er – work in London, then?’

      ‘Yes. It’s been crazy lately, but I’m leaving at lunchtime on the nineteenth of December. So, come hell or high water, I’ll be on that two p.m. train heading home for the Christmas holidays!’

      ‘Sounds good.’ My legs are still shaking from hearing the name Westbury Edge after all this time. I grasp the arm of a chair and sit down.

      ‘It’ll just be great to relax. But what about you? This is probably the busiest time of year for a caterer?’

      ‘Er, usually. But this year, it’s not too busy at all.’ I’m actually not lying!

      ‘Good. Well … I hope you have a very merry Christmas.’

      ‘Thank you. And I hope you make the two p.m. train.’

      He laughs. ‘You bet your life I will! Bye, Poppy. Good luck on Saturday.’

      *

      Erin is practically as thrilled as I am at the prospect of my first proper catering job, and I love her for that. But bearing in mind his aversion to financial risk, I’m not quite so sure what Harrison’s reaction will be.

      I’ll have to reassure him that it’s just a one-off, and I’m not going to do anything rash like hand in my notice at the hotel.

      I might have been feeling all bold and daring with Erin the other night, fuelled by pints of prosecco, but in the cold light of day, I’m realising that my dream of becoming a full-time self-employed caterer is likely to remain just that. A lovely fantasy.

      When I finally break the news to Harrison about Saturday night, I’m really surprised at his response.

      ‘Good for you.’ He pats me enthusiastically on the back. ‘Really well done, Puss.’

      ‘Thank you.’ I smile happily, cheeks flushing.

      He beams at me. ‘It’s worked out very nicely.’

      ‘Oh?’

      ‘Yes. I’ve actually been invited to a meeting of grid enthusiasts on Saturday night.’

      I arrange my face into a pleased expression, which I hope hides my bafflement. ‘Gosh. That’s wonderful.’

      He nods cheerfully. ‘They’re the Drain Cover Enthusiasts, Southern Division, to give them their exact title. If you’re going to be out, I’ll tell them I can be there.’

      ‘That’s great! Gosh, I never realised there were enough – er – drain-cover enthusiasts to make up a whole division.’

      ‘Ah, yes. Well, you’d be surprised!’ he calls as he disappears upstairs.

       Chapter 7

      The day of the dinner party dawns, and I’m so busy running through my lists and doing the prep with Erin as my right-hand woman that I barely have time to be nervous.

      I

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