Page 56 of Cooking Up a Christmas Storm
Pavel was barely suppressing a laugh. ‘My family’s Polish, but I was born here. So was Mum actually. My great-granddad was a pilot in World War Two and afterwards he brought his wife over and they stayed. She got pregnant in Poland so my granddad always said he was a proper Pole cos he started off over there. And he used to go back to visit grandparents and cousins and stuff. Near Warsaw.’
‘What about you?’
Pavel shook his head. ‘Never been.’
‘Aren’t you interested? It’s part of your,’ she shrugged, ‘heritage?’
Did Pavel’s jaw tense a little before he answered? ‘I think I’ve got enough to concentrate on right here.’
Jodie waved her cooking buddy off at the end of the class and was instantly thinking about all the things she still needed to do. The ballroom remained uncleared. Tickets were selling but they needed to sell more. The Hogmanay menu still changed every time Bella thought about it. She had a band, she reminded herself. One thing was done.
Darcy was already pouring the wine when Jodie came back into the kitchen. She handed Jodie a glass. ‘Come on. Enough work for today.’
She ought to refuse. She ought to insist that she still had things to do. She gratefully accepted the wine.
‘I saw Anna and Nina in the village today,’ Darcy told her. ‘They want a meeting with you about the Christmas light switch-on.’
Jodie tried to keep the panic off her face. ‘When is it?’
‘Depends which of them you ask.’
Bella filled her own glass with apple juice and pulled a face. ‘This is not going to be fun for nine months.’
‘Sorry, hon.’ Darcy sipped her own drink. ‘Do you want us to hold off in solidarity?’
‘Don’t be silly. Just try to pretend you’re not enjoying it too much.’
Darcy turned her attention back to Jodie. ‘I should warn you. I think expectations are quite high for the lights switch-on. They’re very excited about having a professional events planner.’
‘How high?’ Jodie’s panic level was rapidly rising.
‘They were talking about getting a special guest.’
‘Like someone to dress as Santa and give out sweets?’ Jodie asked.
‘Erm…’ Darcy didn’t meet her gaze. ‘Anna mentioned Elton John.’
Bella spluttered out her apple juice.
‘They think Elton John is going to come to Lowbridge to turn on the Christmas lights?’
‘It might be my fault,’ Darcy whispered down towards the floor.
‘How?’
‘Anna was being a bit, you know, how she can be about some professional coming in and taking over, so I might have talked you up a bit. Just to get her onside. And while doing that I might have said that you have lots of great contacts.’ She looked up. ‘I’m so sorry. I never said Elton John. I promise.’
‘OK.’
‘You don’t know Elton John, do you?’
‘No.’
‘I’m so sorry.’
Jodie knew she ought to be furious but actually she let out a tiny giggle, and then another, and then it grew into a full, deep belly chuckle.
‘You’re not mad with me?’
