Page 53 of Things We Need to Say
‘She definitely did.’
‘So why hasn’t Alex told me, then?’
‘As you say, he’s probably trying to protect you. Maybe he thought it was just another of Tia’s passing fixations and it would all blow over.’
‘Maybe,’ Liz said, getting up from her chair. ‘All the same, it would have been good to have been forewarned about that little ambush. I’ll have to have a word with him tonight. Try to find out what this is really all about. I’m going to make a cup of tea. Do you want one?’
‘Please.’ As Liz put the kettle on, Jay went over to the hob and lit the gas to reheat the sauce. As he did so, Liz turned to face him. ‘So what’s this new dish you’re planning for our menu?’
Jay blushed. ‘Ah. When I told Tia it was for the function menu, I wasn’t exactly telling the truth. It’s a dish I’m experimenting with for the competition.’
Liz burst out laughing. ‘It’s a good job you managed to think on your feet. If you’d told her what you were really doing, she’d have blown a gasket.’
Liz noticed that Jay had started to look around the room nervously. ‘What’s the matter?’
Jay frowned. ‘You’ll probably think I’m letting my imagination run away with me, but I’m starting to wonder if she’s planted hidden cameras or had us bugged. Maybe she’s sat in her office listening to every word we’re saying.’
‘I hate to say it, Jay, but that’s not actually as daft as it sounds.’
‘You’re not mad at me, then?’
‘Of course I’m not. I do think we need to take this seriously, though. But first things first — what is this dish you’re creating?’
‘Well, the brief is a fish dish so I’m working on a poshed-up version of fish and chips. But not fish in batter. So I’m going to do pan-fried white fish of some variety. I thought about doing a champagne velouté sauce with it, but Nan suggested a sparkling white wine from Kent to make it more of a regional dish.’
‘Good old Nan. How is she?’
‘She’s great. As usual. I hope you don’t mind, but I told her about the baby and she said to give you her congratulations. I will warn you, though, she’s getting her knitting needles out.’
‘Oh, how lovely.’ Liz added a splash of milk to the tea. ‘I do like hand-knitted baby clothes.’
‘Do you? I thought you’d be more into designer these days.’
‘Jay! You forget that I come from good old-fashioned farming stock. Mind you, I can’t imagine Mum knitting anything, but Ruth, my stepmum, is a dab hand with the knitting needles, so you’d better warn your nan she’ll have competition.’
Jay chuckled. ‘I will. That will really spur her on.’
‘So is that the sauce, then?’ Liz nodded to the pan Jay was stirring.
‘It is. There’s something missing from it, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.’
‘Let me have a taste.’
Jay picked up a clean teaspoon, dipped it in the sauce and handed it to her. When she tasted it, she frowned. ‘Yes, I see what you mean. It’s got quite a good depth of flavour, but I think it’s missing a little bit of acidity to cut through it. Would a splash of lemon juice help?’
Jay immediately cut a fresh lemon in half, squeezed some into the sauce, stirred and re-tasted. ‘Bloody hell, Liz, you’re a genius. Why didn’t I think of that?’
Liz smiled and said, ‘Let me try it again.’
He handed her another spoon and she nodded as she let it roll around her tongue. ‘Yes, much better. But I was also wondering what fish stock you used?’
‘Just the standard one we often use.’
‘Could you make it fresh? That way you might be able to create even more depth of flavour.’
‘Mm, probably not in the time allowed.’
‘And you couldn’t make it yourself beforehand and take it in with you as a pre-prepared stock?’
