Page 10 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘Not at the moment. I mean, I did, I had…well, I’m taking some time out so I can be here. I was hoping to get something to do here. Just need to get myself organised.’
‘Oh, well, if you wanted something just here and there, I bet Ralph would snap your hand off. I know it’s a bit menial and you probably don’t?—’
‘It’d be nice. The job I’ve just left was really stressful, and mostly I was miserable there, so actually I think it would be nice to do something more…’
Mindless, Eden thought, something where she could just switch off and forget who she was and why she was here, a chance to reinvent herself. But she wasn’t sure saying all this was a good idea.
‘I mean,’ she continued, ‘I do have a bit of money saved, but I think that will probably get used up on the cottage…well, the point is that I don’t think it would be a good idea to rely on savings all the time. I probably ought to think about earning some money – six months is a long time to keep dipping into that pot.’
‘Sounds sensible to me. I’ll put a word in with Ralph if you like. If you come up later, you could talk to him yourself and see what you think. He’s lovely to work for, and the regulars are great. You’d be surprised what a good night you can have just working.’
While Eden was grateful, she was confused. Livia didn’t know the first thing about her – why would she want to help like this? Why would she put in a word at the pub for a woman she’d only met the day before? It was lovely, but in the fast-paced, stressful job for a high-end property developer that Eden had just left, someone like Livia would have been eaten alive. She didn’t know whether to be charmed by her trust and opennessor alarmed. But in the spirit of embracing her new start, she decided not to let it worry her. If everyone in Sea Glass Bay was going to be this welcoming, perhaps the happiness she was craving was in reach. And even if it wasn’t, she’d be surrounded by nice people, and perhaps that in itself would be enough.
‘What time should I be there?’
Livia stood and scooped up her glass. ‘Um…I don’t know. Whenever you feel like it. If you want to talk to Ralph about work, I’d say earlier is better, before he gets busy. But if you’re just wanting a few drinks, then come whenever you like.’
‘I will, thank you. And I think I would like to see Ralph about some work – as long as he can cope with an incompetent out-of-towner. I’ve never worked a bar before.’
‘You’ll soon pick it up. The regulars will lecture you on how to pull their pints so you won’t have much choice!’ She laughed lightly. ‘I’ll tell him you’ll be coming. What’s your name, by the way, I don’t think…’
‘Eden. Eden Sherwood.’
‘Oh, like Robin Hood. I’ll definitely remember that! See you later then, Eden.’
As Livia went back to the parlour, Eden watched as Livia’s mum gestured at Eden and seemed to be asking Livia about her. Why did she suddenly feel anxious again? Like somehow the older, more experienced woman would see right through Eden in an instant, would see exactly who she was, would catch her out as someone with a black secret who shouldn’t be trusted. But as she watched, Livia looked across and gave her a bright smile, so warm, so genuine, that suddenly Eden didn’t want to be that person with that past. For a taste of this new friendship, this new start, for the trust Livia seemed to be placing in her already, she was going to do her best to be worthy of it.
CHAPTER FOUR
It had taken far too long to decide what to wear. Eden was used to having to go the extra mile in her appearance. Her circle of friends back in London had been good fun, but she was under no illusions about how superficial those relationships had been – in fact, she’d been as guilty of that as they were. It was all about image, about fitting in, about wearing the right brands and being seen at the right places. It was part and parcel of the life she’d built there. It was a world she was trying to leave behind, but she still didn’t really know how to.
And so, while her instinct was to dress the way she’d always dress for a night out, in a way that showed a successful woman, she realised that this was no longer the version of herself she wanted to present to the world. Not here in Sea Glass Bay, and certainly not going to the local pub in the hopes of getting a job behind the bar. She’d changed her outfit half a dozen times, alternately dressing up and feeling it was too much and then dressing down to worry it wasn’t enough.
In the end, she’d settled on the dress that little Nancy had been so enamoured of, reasoning that if Nancy had been taken enough to say so, it was probably something that spoke of the real her.
As she pulled a comb through freshly washed hair that was still a salon shade of blonde, she noticed the phone she’d tossed onto the bed vibrating with an incoming call. Her sister, Caitlin.
As she’d done all the times since she’d arrived in the bay, Eden watched for a moment, letting it ring out, afraid to pick up, not knowing what to say even if she did pluck up the courage.
Once it had stopped, she sniffed back her tears, put the radio on and tried not to think about it.
The wind had picked up since Eden had sat outside the ice-cream parlour with Livia, and the hair she’d carefully combed and smoothed was tangled and wild by the time she’d left the clifftop path. Eden did her best to tidy it before she got to the pub but eventually gave it up as a bad job.
As the pub came into view, she paused and drew in a deep breath. It looked welcoming enough: a rose-covered arbour shading a wide front door, yellow bulbs strung across the tables and chairs that dotted a pretty beer garden. She could see from the outside that it had changed since her dad had taken her there, but she supposed that was to be expected, even if it was a little disappointing. The dark wood of the bar that used to be visible from the sash windows had been painted a parchment colour so that it was far brighter and more modern, and chalkboards hung on the walls announcing food specials or drinks offers. The lights of the garden were new, as were the patio heaters hanging from outside walls. The signage had been repainted too – gone was the old-master-style seascape with a dolphin leaping from the waves that had once hung outside, to be replaced with something brighter and more cartoonish – a grinning dolphin standing on its tail and beckoning the customer in. Eden’s dad would have something to say about this as a sign of progress, and she guessed it wouldn’t becomplimentary. She wondered what her mum might have said, and the thought made her immediately sad, so she tried to banish it.
Inside, the air was humid. Most of the tables were already full, but there were a couple next to the bar still available. Eden wondered whether it would be better to sit at one of those or simply stand at the bar. If she stood at the bar, would it seem as if she expected Livia to talk to her all night, even if she was busy? But if she sat at a table, would that give the impression she didn’t want anyone to talk to her at all?
‘Eden!’
Eden looked round to see Livia bringing in a large bottle of rum. She set it on the bar and waved her over.
‘I wasn’t sure if you were coming or not. I did mention to Ralph that you might. Hang on…’
She turned to a row of optics and slotted the new bottle of rum into one of them. When she seemed satisfied it was plumbed in, she turned to Eden again.
‘Sorry, just had to get that in – Elsie’s due in at eight, and she always wants a rum and cola, and it has to be that rum.’
‘That’s all right;, I don’t want to stop you working.’
