Page 25 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘How many do you think I should have?’
‘I’d keep that simple too – in the beginning, at least. No more than three options, and I’d say make one of them vegan. When you know where you are with reliable volunteers and cashflow, you might be able to branch out. But even then I wouldn’t go mad. The main aim is not cordon bleu, right? The important thing is to bring people together and feed them a good hearty meal, so there’s no need to get too fussy.’
Eden nodded. ‘I should have come to you straight away – you seem to have it all worked out.’
‘To be perfectly honest, it’s an idea that’s crossed my mind more than once, but I’ve always been too busy to do much about it. I had thought of having a few one-off events here at the pub in the same vein. But the pub’s always too busy, and my biggest problem has been finding a time to do it when I wouldn’t be losing a lot of money. It’s all very well being community-minded, but if you go bankrupt in the process, you’re in no position to help anyone, are you?’
‘So I suppose there’s no way we can do it here in the dining room then?’
‘No.’
‘I thought that, but…’
‘It was worth asking anyway.’ He smiled. ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but much as I’d like to say yes, it’s simply not an option.’
‘So she asked, and she still didn’t get,’ Livia put in.
Ralph chuckled. ‘Livia, you know I would if I could, but even your big brown eyes aren’t going to get round me this time. It’s not practical. From what I’ve seen of it, your scout hut might be a good place to start. I should warn you, though, I’ve heard the land might be going up for sale. If that happens, I don’t know what you’ll do.’
‘It might be up for sale for ages,’ Eden said, dipping into her property knowledge. ‘Lots of plots are, especially when they’re a bit off the beaten track. It’s not like we’re in a prime bit of London or anything.’
‘True, but I don’t know what it being up for sale means for the scout hut either. You might not be able to use it.’
‘Won’t it stay in use until the land is sold?’ Livia asked. ‘Where are the scouts going to meet?’
Ralph rubbed at his beard. ‘That’s something you’ll have to ask them if you decide the hut’s your place. I think it’s goteverything you need, so if you can get it, it’s as good as anywhere, but…’
‘There’s only one way to find out, I suppose,’ Eden said. And even though she was still doubtful, she was beginning to form a plan, and that had to be a little bit exciting.
CHAPTER NINE
Eden and Livia spent the rest of the shift discussing her plan in between customers. By the end of it, Eden was sure Livia was more excited than she was. Every suggestion came with the caveat that she wouldn’t be able to spare much time but then became an enthusiastic proposal that always involved quite a lot of this time she didn’t have. And when the same people came in for their leftovers as they had during Eden’s first shift, Livia went with them to the kitchens, questioning them as they walked, and came back to Eden with their suggestions too – and the news that every one of them was thrilled at the idea of the café. They almost all promised to donate what time they had to helping out, even young Liam, which surprised Eden most of all. Growing up, all the teenage boys she’d known wouldn’t have been seen dead somewhere like that, let alone volunteer their services.
The following morning, she phoned the number she’d taken from the sign outside the scout hut to be told that she could only have it three days a week because there were meetings on the other days, and the land was being put up for sale and they didn’t yet know what that would mean for the building. However, they’d promised that while they could help, they would, andEden decided to take the offer. Three days a week wasn’t what she’d wanted, but it was a start, and she couldn’t help but recall Ralph’s warning that she ought to pace herself. With that in mind, perhaps three days a week was for the best. The man she’d spoken to told her she could go down there at the end of the next scout meeting to have a look around and see about access, but that wasn’t for another couple of days. Until then, she’d spend her time trying to put a plan together.
Buzzing with thoughts of the next step, she began a text to Livia but then paused halfway through. There was too much to say and she wanted opinions. Livia would be busy working at her mum’s ice-cream parlour and so wouldn’t have time for back-and-forth texts. No, the best thing would be to go down at lunchtime and see if she could spare half an hour to chat again. Eden was aware she ran the risk that Livia might start to groan every time she caught sight of her sitting on the parlour chairs waiting, but she hoped that wouldn’t be for a while yet. She was also aware that Livia had many other claims on her time, but she was fast beginning to see her as a valuable ally.
‘Hello! You’ve just missed Livia. Hang on for me a tick, though.’
Livia’s mum, Julia, gave Eden a warm smile. Eden had always felt Julia was a bit suspicious of her up until now. There hadn’t been any concrete evidence of this, only a vague feeling, but today she seemed more welcoming than she had since Eden’s arrival in the bay. Perhaps Livia had told her all about Eden’s plans – it seemed a fair assumption – and perhaps Julia approved.
For once, the queue was small and it only took Julia ten minutes to clear it so she could get back to Eden.
‘Your sewing is ready,’ she said as she slurped at a cup of tea she’d picked up from a shelf at the back of the kiosk. ‘I couldbring it down here for you to collect or give it to Livia when you’re next on shift at the pub together – whatever suits you.’
‘Wow, that was quick.’
‘I always think it’s better to get things out of the way as soon as you can – you never know what other little jobs are going to crop up. It doesn’t do to be behind before you’ve even begun.’
‘My mum used to say that to me all the time, especially where homework was concerned. I never listened to her…’
Eden tried not to let a sudden sadness at the thought of her mum take over, but perhaps Julia saw it anyway.
‘She used to say that? Is she…?’
‘She died,’ Eden said. ‘A month ago.’
‘Oh, my love, I’m so sorry to hear that. She can’t have been very old.’
