Page 64 of A Recipe for Love
‘Hi mate, how’s it going?’
‘Erm… you know. Tough.’
‘Look, I’m really sorry to call but Carsons are getting nervy about the plans for their…’ Ravi paused and Adam could picture him scouring a set of notes or plans. ‘Their innovatively planted garden atrium.’
Adam knew the project. A new set of high-end offices designed to have planting inside running up the centre of the building.
‘Danny came to the meeting with me but…’ Adam knew what was coming. ‘He’s not you.’
Danny had worked for Adam and Ravi since their first big project. He was a brilliant landscaper, but he wasn’t much of a talker.
‘They’re asking for an emergency meeting with both of us. Like, if you really can’t, I do understand.’ There was a strain in Ravi’s voice.
‘Do you think they’ll pull out if I’m not there?’
‘Honestly, yeah. They liked your vision for it. Not seeing you in person is making them anxious.’ Ravi paused again. ‘And we’re not booking new work with you away so it’d be a big gap in the calendar. Without this to tide us over we’re pretty screwed.’
‘When’s the meeting?’
‘Day after tomorrow.’
Not a lot of time, but the thought of getting back to Edinburgh was a relief, not a stress. ‘Fine. I’ll come over tomorrow. I’ll ring you when I’m home and we can have a planning session in the evening?’
‘Brilliant. Thank you mate. I hate to ask, you know, in the circumstances.’
‘It’s fine. I’ll be there.’
He hung up the phone.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Ravi needs me in Edinburgh.’
‘Do you want me to come with you?’
Of course he did. Him and Bella in Edinburgh was what he’d been dreaming of when they were busy falling in love in Spain. Now the idea of her there felt like the world was taunting him with hints of a life he would never have. ‘It’ll be mostly work,’ he said.
‘I’d like to see your place in Edinburgh, but I’m probably more use here.’
More use than he was, certainly.
‘I’ll miss you though,’ she pointed out. ‘And you need a break.’
He shook his head. ‘No time.’ Probably there would be time if he could get his head around half of the things his grandmother was trying to show him at anything above a snail’s pace.
‘One evening before you go. There’s a pub in the village, right?’
‘Yeah, but—’
‘Then I’m taking you for a drink.’
‘You don’t have to.’
‘I want to. You and me painting the town red.’
Adam’s horror at the thought of a debauched night at the Mucky Duck must have shown on his face.
Bella grinned. ‘All right then. We’ll paint the village a very pale pink.’
