Page 122 of Cooking Up a Christmas Storm
Oh for goodness’ sake. Jodie stepped out of the shadows. She had Fiona’s attention straight away.
‘What are you doing here? You lied…’
‘So you heard about that then?’
‘I had a very informative chat with Adam Lowbridge. In the end. Nobody was very keen to tell me anything at all.’
‘Right.’ Jodie searched for the right words. What would Adam have told her? Not the industrial espionage part presumably, so what? That Jodie had tricked them and then moved on to McKenzie?
‘I do not have time for this. I’ve got a ceilidh starting in two hours and the band hasn’t turned up.’
Jodie could definitely have explained that if she’d been asked. The band had received a text earlier that morning telling them that due to storm damage to the estate the party venue had been moved.
‘So whatever you’re doing here, just tell me so I can get on.’
Sod it. Truth first. ‘Pavel’s here with me. We’re putting up signs to redirect your guests to Lowbridge for the Hogmanay party there.’
Fiona’s jaw dropped. ‘What?’
Pavel stepped aside to reveal the diversion sign behind him.
‘What?’
‘Yeah. I mean you stole half of them from us anyway. So it seemed fair.’
‘I did no such…’ Fiona stopped. ‘What do you mean “us”?’
So Adam definitely hadn’t told her the full story of Jodie’s employment at the McKenzie estate then.
‘I’m back working at Lowbridge.’
‘You never told me you’d worked there before.’
‘No. Sorry.’ Actually that was true. ‘I am sorry. Honestly.’ But Jodie’s conscience was not the matter at hand. ‘You did steal our guests though.’
‘Again, we didn’t.’ She paused. ‘Ididn’t.’
Jodie’s heart jumped a little. Was it possible? ‘You didn’t know?’
‘Of course not. There were some guests that Saira added to the bookings list. She said they were Mr McKenzie’s special guests.’
‘He didn’t say anything to you about them?’
‘He’s very busy. He doesn’t always tell me everything.’ There was something different about Fiona, a weariness that hadn’t been there before.
‘And you stole our band?’
‘Saira booked…’
‘Mr McKenzie’s special request?’ Jodie hazarded.
‘Yes.’
‘Well, isn’t Saira bending over backwards to keep Mr McKenzie happy.’
Fiona pursed her lips. ‘That’s uncalled for. John is…’ She didn’t finish the sentence.
‘Fi?’ Pavel’s voice was soft.
