Page 65 of Slow Burn Summer

He finished his beer, dropping his aviators from the top of his head down over his eyes. “I was glad of the distraction to be honest. What do you do to mark the birthday of someone when they’re not here anymore?”

Kate’s father had always kept his daughters at a distance; his passing when she’d just turned thirty had been joltingly sad, but not out of the blue, and in truth they’d seen very little of each other since her marriage. He probably wouldn’t have been able to pick Alice out in her class photo.

“Well, we could do something to celebrate Jojo?” she said.

She could see him frowning behind his sunglasses. “What kind of thing?”

“What would you have done if he was here?”

Charlie huffed. “He’d have booked a table at the most expensive place he could think of and ordered the best champagne on the list, and then made a scene when I insisted on paying for it, even though we both knew I was always going to.”

She nodded, finding the scene easy to envisage.

“Right, so let’s do that. I just happen to have booked us the balcony table at this super-cool secret restaurant overlooking the river. I hear the chef does a mean rare steak.”

He laughed softly, looking out across the street, and she picked up the wine list from the table and caught the waiter’s eye.

“Could we have a bottle of this to go, please?” She skimmed her finger down the menu to the more expensive of the two champagne choices at the bottom.

The waiter nodded his approval. “Celebrating something special?”

“Someone special,” she said.

“Thank you, Kate,” Charlie said, scrubbing his hand over his jaw.

“Let me get this,” she said, reaching for her bag.

“No chance,” he said, opening his wallet.

“Oh, I absolutely insist,” she said, louder than intended as she summoned her inner Jojo.

He caught her eye and laughed softly, onto her.

“My treat,” he said, handing his card to the waiter when he reappeared with the champagne and the bill.

Kate gathered her things together, ready to get back to the cool interior of the apartment and prepare a dinner fit for the inimitable Jojo Francisco.

35

Kate cast an eye overthe table for two she’d laid on the balcony. A simple white cloth and a creamy pillar candle, silverware and stem glasses, plus some napkins and fine white crockery she’d found in the sideboard. She was quite pleased with the overall effect. The spectacular view helped, of course, a living work of art with the slow appearance of pink and orange streaks across the golden evening sky.

Charlie emerged fresh from the shower, his hair still damp, casual in jeans and a faded band T-shirt that highlighted his tan.

“I feel as if I should have checked the dress code, this place looks fancier than I remember,” he said, casting his eye over the table, and then over Kate. She’d changed into a strapless black sundress with a simple gold locket Alice had given her a couple of birthdays ago, although she was barefoot with her hair tied back in a ponytail.

“Have you made a reservation, sir? It’s terribly exclusive here,” she said. She was relieved to have been able to flip into cooking mode. Taking care of Charlie had pulled her out of wallowing and given her something different to focus on, for a few hours at least.

“I think my friend made the booking,” he said.

She nodded. “Can I take her name?”

“It’s Kate,” he said. “No surname.”

She smiled. “Ah yes, I think she’s here already. She ordered a glass of champagne a little while ago, but I don’t think anyone remembered to deliver it.”

“Can’t get the staff.” He shook his head as he headed for the fridge.

He twisted the cork out with a practiced hand and poured the first glass. “For you.”

---