Page 72 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘I don’t. I make enough to keep it going.’
‘Oh. That’s…’
Surprising? Eden could imagine why he might be grasping for the right reaction. She’d have been grasping too.
‘Well done,’ is all he managed. ‘That’s a wonderful thing to do. When you say you started it…?’
‘When I began working in the pub, I realised there were a lot of people here who struggle for the basics, and I thought I could help. I get a ton of support from the locals. I started it, but honestly I don’t do that much running of it. There are people here way better at that than me.’
‘I’m sure you’re just being modest. I’d like to come and see it, if I may. Not right away, of course, but perhaps when you’re ready for a visit.’
Eden smiled. ‘I’d like that, Dad.’
If it was still open after the next few weeks, of course. Eden knew only too well there were no guarantees of that.
‘For now,’ he continued, ‘tell me about it. I’m interested to know how it works.’
Eden’s smile grew, despite her misgivings. She began to tell her dad all about her café, so glad she’d finally picked up the phone.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
‘Here he is!’ Bilbo turned to the door, Eden following suit to see Cam walk in. He gave everyone a stiff nod and strode up to Eden.
‘Hi,’ she said.
‘Hi. Where do you want me?’
She didn’t know why she’d expected anything different, considering what had happened the last time they’d been together, but his coldness still shocked her. He hadn’t even acknowledged Bilbo, and for the last few café sittings, they’d been like some unlikely buddy movie pairing.
‘Everything all right there?’ Bilbo called over.
Cam turned to him and smiled, but there was courtesy in it and nothing more. ‘Yes. Are you all right?’
‘I can’t grumble,’ Bilbo said.
‘Good.’ Cam turned back to Eden, leaving poor Bilbo looking confused.
Eden would have to talk to him later and try to make him see that it wasn’t his fault Cam had reverted to the miserly presence they’d endured the first time he’d come to volunteer. And she’d have to do that without revealing any of the truth – easier said than done.
‘Well?’ he asked tersely. Or was that just in Eden’s imagination? She was oversensitive, given the events of the past couple of days, even she couldn’t deny that. Perhaps there was nothing in it at all.
‘Could you make a start on washing the potatoes?’
‘It would be my pleasure,’ he said, spinning round to go to the store cupboard. Oversensitive or not, there was no mistaking the sarcasm in his tone this time. Eden could only be thankful that she had Livia back with her, grateful for that much moral support.
‘What’s up with him?’ Livia asked in a low voice as he strode off.
Eden gave her a pained look. ‘I’m not sure you want to know.’
‘I absolutely do want to know, even more since you’ve dangled that carrot in front of me.’
‘Later,’ Eden said as she saw him return, dragging a sack to the sink.
‘A drink up at the Dolphin when we’ve finished?’
‘Just us?’
‘If you like,’ Livia said. ‘But I can’t do much about it if anyone else wants to come.’
