Page 57 of Cooking Up a Christmas Storm
Jodie shook her head. Obviously she was going to be a huge disappointment to Anna but in this specific instance it was, at least, not her fault. Of course she didn’t know Elton John. But that was OK, because the real Gemma didn’t know Elton John either. This wasn’t her screw-up.
‘So, putting Elton John to one side…’ she started.
‘Anna did say they’d be happy with Kylie,’ Darcy added.
‘Putting Elton and Kylie to one side, what’s the deal with the lights switch-on?’
Bella shrugged. ‘Don’t ask me. I’ve only been here since the summer.’
‘What?’ It was only November now, and yet Bella was so entirely at home here. ‘You seem like you’ve been here forever.’
‘Really?’ Bella smiled. ‘I don’t know. I never thought I was one for settling in one place but then I came here and…’ She checked on the lasagne in the oven. ‘Five more minutes. And, well I don’t know, it felt like home.’
A little bit of Bella’s glow seemed to be transferring to Jodie. Maybe she could pull off the same thing. If Hogmanay went OK, then who was to say she couldn’t cut it as Lowbridge’s events manager? The little community here seemed to be big enough, in its own weird way, to envelop anyone who washed in. Maybe she could forget the idea of moving on after a couple of months.
‘Oh, while I remember,’ said Darcy, ‘Veronica’s still on at me about sorting out your payroll. We do need your NI number ASAP.’
And that was why she couldn’t just be Gemma forever. Jodie fought the rising need to crumble into a panic. ‘I’m so sorry. I don’t have any payslips. It was all digital at my last place.’ Was that plausible?
Darcy nodded. ‘And your laptop died?’
Jodie almost laughed. That one lie about the broken laptop saved her again. ‘Yeah. I know it’s a bit irregular but I don’t suppose you could just give me cash for the first month, could you?’
Darcy glanced at Bella who nodded. ‘So long as we’ve got a record so we can get it all right and legal as soon as.’
‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’ Bullet dodged, for the moment at least.
Bella opened up her laptop while they ate. ‘We’re up to twenty-five bookings for New Year, and three emails enquiring when accommodation booking will open.’ She grinned at Jodie. ‘Are we ready to go with that?’
‘I just need to sort out some pictures. In the next few days though.’ Pavel had told her that if she could stall the accommodation bookings just a little bit, he’d have at least one room finished in time for her to take photos for the booking page, with the rest ready for Hogmanay itself, which would allow them to charge indoor-accommodation prices rather than glorified camping. By which time, Bella and Adam’s inevitable objections that he shouldn’t and mustn’t complete any more work without payment – payment they couldn’t afford – would be too late to make a difference.
Jodie wandered back to the Dower House after dinner full of good food with a pleasing red-wine glow. For the first time since she arrived she felt strong enough to pull her own personal tablet, not the laptop Bella had lent her, from the bottom of her bag and open her email. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting to see. For weeks she’d refreshed her email obsessively, waiting for Gemma to reply or make contact somehow. It was almost a shock to realise that she’d barely thought of doing that since she arrived in Lowbridge.
She swiped away sales emails and promotions and then stopped. Finally, halfway down the second page, there was a name she recognised. Not Gemma. She opened the email.
Hello Tiger,
I hope you’re all right. I tried to phone the flat and your mobileand then I even emailed your Gemma, but I didn’t get anything back thereeither. I hope you’re all right. We know how highly you thought of her.I don’t want to worry your mum but if she knew you’d gone AWOL she’dhave the police round in a heartbeat.
Let us know you’re OK. And know that your mum would love it if youcould make it home for Christmas.
Lots of love
Dad x
Jodie’s parents had always been lovely to Gemma, but somehow over the time they were together, things between Jodie and her mum and dad had got a little distant. Nothing had happened, nothing she could put her finger on at least. It was as though Jodie could sense her mum and dad’s nervousness about the relationship. And worse than that, she shared it. Gemma was the best thing that had ever come into Jodie’s life. They all knew she could only mess it up.
She clicked reply.
Hi,
Sorry – I’m fine. Been very busy with new job in Scotland! I’m fine.No drama. No need to worry. Definitely no need to worry Mum.
Work is so full-on though, I don’t think I’ll make Christmas but I’mwell.
Don’t worry,
Jodie xx
