Page 82 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
Both Eden and Livia looked around to see Julia, arms folded across her chest, grinning at them.
‘We’re not your hired help, you know,’ she continued. ‘Poor Levi and Nancy are like child labour here, doing all the work. Let’s get moving!’
Livia turned to Eden as she made a move towards the van. ‘Call him!’ she said sternly. ‘That’s all I’m saying. Stop trying to guess what’s in his head and call him!’
Eden gave a wan smile. It might have made perfect sense to Livia, but it wasn’t so simple. She couldn’t deny she’d missed Cam since he’d gone, but it seemed theirs were two worlds that should never have collided. He’d gone back to a life she’drenounced, and perhaps it was for the best that he hadn’t been in contact since.
What she hadn’t told Livia was that she’d emailed him at work and invited him to today’s event, and that he hadn’t replied. She wasn’t sure why she’d kept this to herself, but perhaps it was because she felt foolish for ever believing there was something between them. As she’d told Livia, on reflection, she’d decided it had all been down to the heat of the moment, the drama they’d both fixated on, a situation that had become charged beyond reason because they’d both wanted to win so badly, and that charge had somehow turned into lust. That had to be it. Maybe it hadn’t been quite so simple for Eden, but it seemed that was exactly how it had been for Cam.
When they got to the beach two hours later, every bit of food and equipment collected up, most of their helpers with their own contributions were already there waiting for them. Eden shot a glance of misgiving at Livia and swore under her breath. She ought to have been there to greet them. It wasn’t the best start to the day.
Livia seemed to read her thoughts. ‘Stop stressing. Nobody is bothered about us being a bit late but you. You don’t have to be superwoman all the time, you know.’
‘We’re more than a bit late.’
Livia folded her arms and shot Eden a wry sideways glance. ‘Were you like this in your old job?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘All I can say is God help the people you worked with if you were.’
Livia was right: nobody seemed to be too concerned with their lateness. In fact, everyone seemed more than pleased to see them, eager to get things underway. Some had already setout blankets and chairs on the sand. Ralph had taken time off to bring a huge grill down and was currently trying to get it lit while one of his kitchen staff was pricking mounds of sausages ready to go onto it. At the sight of him, Levi raced over.
‘Are you cooking sausages, Ralph?’
‘Oh,’ Ralph said, with such dry weariness it was all Eden could do not to burst out laughing. ‘It’s you. The sausage fiend. If I’d have known you were coming I’d have hidden them.’ Levi giggled, and then Ralph broke into a grin. ‘Of course we’re having sausages, Levi. As if we could invite you to a party without any.’
Levi thrust his fist into the air. ‘Yes!’
He then set up camp on the sand close to the grill, watching as they prepared the food.
‘Three guesses what menu item he’s most excited about,’ Julia said as she swished past Eden and Livia with tubs of potato salad balanced in her arms. She was followed by Nancy, who cradled a single cheesecake with such love that Eden had to laugh again. They headed for a collection of tables that had been set up on the sand.
‘I think we’ve figured out what Nancy is most excited about too.’
Livia looked across and smiled. ‘If she could have put her name on that, she would have done.’
Eden gazed around at the activity and took a deep breath. The breeze drifting across the beach had that peculiar tang of salt that somehow calmed the soul, and that was how Eden felt. She’d been stressed on arrival, annoyed that her schedule was out, but now she was here amongst friends in the most beautiful place in the world, she was happy. Livia and Julia were right: nobody cared if things didn’t run to plan. The important thing was they were here, celebrating their community and the life of a man who’d meant so much to them. The important thingwas they were together. Eden might have some residual anxiety about the arrival of her sister and dad, but even that wasn’t strong enough to diminish this moment of contentment.
‘Bilbo would have loved this…’
Eden spun round to see his friend, Mavis. Bilbo’s great-grandson, Liam, was supporting her as she walked. Even during the short time Eden had known Mavis, she seemed to have become so much frailer. Perhaps it was because, since Bilbo’s death, she’d stopped going to the tea dances they’d done together. The notion that some of the people she’d grown so attached to might not be here for much longer made Eden melancholy, but she tried to shake that feeling as she smiled brightly at the old lady.
‘I think you’re right.’ She looked at Liam. ‘How are you?’
‘All right,’ Liam said.
‘And your family? They’re all coping?’
Liam gave a vague shrug. He’d always been shy, difficult to engage in conversation, but it was clear he’d adored his great-grandfather, and he was a sweet young man with a good heart. He’d helped out at the community café since the beginning, which was a lot more than many boys of his age would have done. ‘They’re coming down in a bit.’
‘That’s good,’ Eden said. ‘I haven’t seen them since the funeral. I’ve been wondering how they’re getting on.’
‘Is there anything you’d like me to do?’ Mavis asked.
Eden cast around for something that wouldn’t be too taxing. The truth was they could probably manage without Mavis’s help, but she realised that Mavis wanted to feel useful.
‘Perhaps ask at the tables. I think Julia mentioned someone pairing up cutlery in napkins so they’re ready for people to pick up. And we need some bins setting up for the rubbish too.’
