Page 68 of Love in Tune

‘Went down a storm at lunchtime.’

‘I’m not surprised. I don’t think they’ve eaten soup that didn’t come out of a tin in the last five years.’

Honey grabbed a spoon and sat down along from Hal at the counter.

‘You met Lucille, then,’ she said, blowing on her spoon before eating it. ‘Jesus, this is gorgeous!’

She didn’t miss the pride that slid over Hal’s features before he shut it down. ‘It’s just soup.’

‘Yeah, and Brad Pitt is just a man. Not all men are born equal.’

Hal mulled on that. ‘Just eat it.’

Honey was more than happy to do as she was told, and took the chance to properly observe Hal outside of his comfort zone for the first time since she’d met him. He hadn’t strayed far from the stool, but all the same he looked more at home than he had when she’d left him this morning.

‘Yeah, I met Lucille,’ Hal said. ‘Classy lady. She speaks highly of you.’

‘She speaks highly of everyone,’ Honey smiled, warmed by Hal’s admiration of Lucille. ‘Thank you for sorting out Old Don’s party too. Where did you get that cake?’

Hal shrugged. ‘I know people.’

It was no doubt one hell of an understatement, but she knew enough not to expect further elaboration.

‘There’s enough food and soup for everyone to have dinner tonight,’ he said. ‘And we’ve worked out the menu for the next few days.’ He stopped and pushed his bowl away. ‘Steve asked if I’ll come back tomorrow.’

Honey’s spoon stilled halfway to her mouth. ‘And will you?’

Hal ran a hand over his stubble. ‘I’ll think about it.’

Gathering both of their bowls and sliding them into the dishwasher, she turned to leave.

‘I better get back. Billy’s holding the fort, he’ll probably be giving the stock away in exchange for kisses.’

Hal rewarded her with a half smile, one of those that did odd things to her synapses.

‘Sounds like a fair deal to me,’ he said softly. ‘Don’t forget me at home time, Honeysuckle.’

‘I’ll try not to,’ she said, swinging out of the kitchen. Forget him. As if.

Billy was waiting for her when she got back to the shop and, contrary to her concerns, he’d made a magnificent job of holding the fort.

‘We need to talk about the campaign, Honey,’ he said as he placed a china cup and saucer of tea down in front of her ten minutes later. ‘I’m afraid Mimi and Lucille’s fisticuffs has rather put us in a tricky spot.’

Honey couldn’t help but smile at Billy’s choice of phrase, but she knew he was right. Christopher must be rubbing his hands together over at the home; they’d played right into his hands by fighting amongst themselves.

‘Who called the ambulance?’ she said.

Billy glanced out of the window. ‘The finger has to point towards the establishment,’ he said, anarchic, looking down his nose towards the home.

Honey didn’t doubt it. ‘What did he say in his speech?’

‘He mentioned the wordsregrettableandsenilea few times, and then I threw my shoe at him.’

‘Did you really?’

‘I most certainly did, darling.’ Billy waved his red suede, thick crepe-soled shoe in the air. ‘I think he has a suggestion of a black eye.’

Honey sipped her tea thoughtfully.

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