The sunshine streamed through the gap in the curtains when Nell woke the next morning. She’d dozed in and out of sleep and she’d made the decision to tackle her mum after work tonight. She needed answers to the questions whirling around in her head.
By the time Nell arrived at the deli, it was already a hive of activity. Gilly was running through the ropes with Fern behind the shop counter. Nell couldn’t even bring herself to look at her mum, she just knew she needed to get through today before she tackled her. But whatever she’d discovered, she knew she was about to open a right can of worms.
‘All the speciality cheeses and pâté’s are in this counter, freshly baked crusty bread in the baskets, and drinks over in the chilled cabinet next to the fresh cream cakes,’ chimed Gilly happily.
‘How does anyone keep their weight under control working in a place like this? Everything looks so scrumptious.’ Fern hummed as she laid the freshly made sandwiches inside the counter.
‘They don’t,’ Gilly joked, ‘It’s impossible!’
They looked up to see Nell standing in the doorway.
‘Bea, Nell’s here,’ Fern squealed, taking Nell completely by surprise.
‘Good morning,’ grinned Gilly.
Nell’s face was solemn, ‘Morning,’ she said, forcing herself to be as polite as she could.
Gilly raised her eyebrows at her, ‘Has someone got out of bed the wrong side this morning?’
Nell didn’t answer.
Just at that second, Bea came trundling through the kitchen door, her face lifted into a smile as soon as she saw Nell.
‘Is something going on? You look like you are about to burst.’
‘Something is definitely going on!’ Bea had the biggest grin planted firmly on her face.
‘Oh God, don’t tell me they’ve got the scan wrong and you’re expecting triplets,’ joked Nell.
Bea raised her eyebrows.
‘OMG, am I right?’
‘Ha no! Thankfully!’
Nell rolled her eyes while Bea turned and grabbed a letter that was propped up on the front of the till. ‘Here, take a look.’ She thrust the letter into Nell’s hand, while Gilly and Fern hovered, grinning by her side.
Nell opened the envelope and quickly skimmed over the words, her eyes widened and her mood lifted a little, ‘Wow Bea! This is brilliant and extremely well deserved,’ Nell exclaimed. ‘I’m so proud of you, my clever friend.’
‘I know! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened it. ‘Beatrice Green, owner of The Melting Pot has been awarded Deli of the Year,’ she said, in a very posh voice.
Nell leant towards her best friend and planted a huge kiss on her cheek, ‘It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person!’
‘Aww thanks, shame we can’t have a glass of champers to celebrate.’
‘You can have sparkling water!’
‘Don’t I just live such a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle?’
Everyone laughed.
‘What happens next?’
‘Some sort of presentation, but in the meantime, chop chop, let’s get this deli open and back to work!’
‘Wins an award and she becomes all bossy!’ laughed Fern, teasing her sister.
‘You better believe it!’
‘Can I just say, while we are all gathered here, thank you all for making me feel so welcome.’
‘You don’t need to thank us,’ said Nell, making her way into the kitchen. ‘Can I hide out with you in here today, Bea?’
She gave Nell a knowing nod.
‘What’s up with you?’ asked Gilly touching her arm, ‘You seem a little tense.’
‘Nothing,’ replied Nell, giving her mum a stern look before turning and flouncing into the kitchen.
Bea walked out of the kitchen and both Gilly and Fern inhaled the delicious aroma of the freshly baked loaf. She popped a rustic breadboard on top of the counter and Gilly and Fern stared at the ripped-up chunks of crusty bread and the pot of extra-virgin olive oil.
‘That looks so good,’ murmured Fern, her tastebuds watering.
‘It’s not for you, it’s for the customers,’ smiled Bea, swiping Fern’s hand with a tea towel, ‘I’ve got my eyes on you two.’
‘Bea, can I just ask, is everything okay with Nell? She seems kind of het up?’ Gilly asked, her voice low.
‘I’ve not noticed,’ she replied, knowing that wasn’t strictly true.
Gilly watched Bea disappear back through the kitchen door. Maybe Nell was just tired, she did have a lot on her plate at the minute, she thought to herself.
‘Has she gone?’ chuckled Fern, dunking a piece of warm bread into the oil and popping it into her mouth.
‘Mmm, heaven,’ she uttered.
Suddenly, the kitchen door swung open and Bea stared at them both with her hands on her hips before wagging her finger at Fern.
Fern had guilt written all over her face.
‘No more. It’s for the customers not you!’
Fern giggled, catching the crumbs with her hand after Bea disappeared back inside the kitchen.
At that moment, the deli door opened and Gilly and Fern looked up and to meet Ed’s beaming smile. Sam was waiting patiently on the other side of the window, his tail thumping on the ground and his nose pressed to the glass watching Ed’s every move.
‘Good morning, lovely ladies, and where is she this morning? I’ve just been into the butcher’s and Alan’s just told me the news.’
‘Bea, you’ve got a visitor,’ shouted Gilly.
Two seconds later, Bea appeared, swiping the flour from her hands.
‘There she is, Miss Deli of the Year. Congratulations! Come here!’ Ed pecked a kiss to her cheek, ‘Well deserved.’
‘Aww thank you,’ she blushed at all the sudden praise.
‘Famous at last,’ Nell chipped in from around the kitchen door, ‘People will be coming from far and wide to sample the delights of The Melting Pot,’ she grinned, before disappearing back inside the kitchen.
‘I hope you’ll still have time to make your favourite boatyard man a sausage and egg muffin.’
‘Absolutely, our best customers will always get priority,’ Bea winked at Ed. ‘Is it your usual now?’
‘Oh go on … you’ve twisted my arm,’ he winked, leaning against the counter. ‘I may as well while I’m here.’
‘Fern …’
Fern swung her head towards Bea.
‘Ed is your very first customer and would like his usual.’
‘Which is?’ Fern flicked her eyes between all of them.
‘A sausage and egg muffin and a mug of coffee,’ Bea and Gilly sang in unison.
Fern’s eyes widened, ‘I’ve got a confession to make.’
‘Which is?’ Bea asked.
‘When I make coffee it looks like thick tar and I can’t believe that I’ve got to this age without knowing how to cook an egg,’ she confessed with a gulp.
Gilly’s face flickered with amusement and Bea gave a hearty laugh.
Fern felt a blush creep from her neck up to her ears and she remained silent.
‘I don’t think she’s joking,’ exclaimed Ed, trying to hide his smile by shoving a piece of crusty bread in his mouth from the top of the counter.
‘Really?’ asked Bea.
‘Really,’ answered Fern.
‘Well, there’s only one thing for it. Nell!’ Bea bellowed towards the kitchen.
Nell peered around the door, ‘Where’s the fire?’
‘Could you possibly teach Fern how to make a sausage and egg muffin?’
Nell looked between Bea and Fern in wonderment, ‘You’re winding me up, aren’t you?’
Everyone shook their head, even Ed.
‘You just can’t get the staff these days,’ joked Nell, ushering Fern into the kitchen, but not before she pinched another piece of crusty bread from the counter as soon as Bea’s back was turned. ‘Come on.’
‘How are you feeling, Ed?’ asked Gilly.
‘Fully recovered, but I have to say …’ Ed lowered his voice and looked towards the kitchen door, ‘And do not repeat this, but I’m missing him.’
‘Guy?’
Ed nodded, ‘Sam is excellent company around the yard but he doesn’t quite have the same banter.’
Gilly smiled, ‘Nell is like a bear with a sore head at the minute. I’m assuming she is missing him too.’
‘I’m sorry about all that business.’
‘You don’t need to apologise. It’s not your fault he’s gone back to Ireland.’
‘His wife isn’t a patch on Nell, you know.’
Gilly gave him a smile, just as Fern came bursting through the door with a huge beam on her face. She was carrying a wrapped-up muffin and a polystyrene cup of coffee.
‘One sausage and egg muffin and one coffee that actually looks like coffee.’ She handed them over the counter. ‘Made with my own fair hands,’ she said triumphantly.
‘Well, who’s a clever girl?’ teased Gilly.
Fern rolled her eyes at Gilly’s quip but took it in her stride, ‘Brown or red sauce?’
‘Brown please,’ Ed replied.
She passed over a couple of sachets as he grappled with the loose change in his pocket and paid before saluting and heading back towards the boatyard with Sam trotting at his side.
‘You’re getting the hang of this already, the customers love you!’
Fern smiled, ‘One customer!’
‘There’ll be plenty more.’
They both looked up to see an array of people walking down the wharf.
For the next forty minutes, Gilly and Fern served a steady stream of customers while Nell and Bea prepared the food in the kitchen for the customers at the tables.
‘I officially declare it’s tea-break time,’ said Bea, eventually placing a drink on to the counter for Gilly and Fern once there was a lull in customers. ‘How’s she doing?’ Bea turned towards Gilly.
‘Fern?… Like a duck to water.’
‘Excellent.’
‘Where’s Nell? She’s rarely appeared this morning.’ Gilly sipped her drink, giving a fleeting glance towards the kitchen door.
‘She’s coming now,’ answered Bea.
Nell appeared a couple of seconds later and walked straight past Gilly and stood in the deli window, looking out over the marina.
‘I’m going to catch five minutes in the sun; a little fresh air is needed,’ said Nell, over her shoulder, taking her mug of tea and sitting at the table outside. She knew she was acting abruptly, but the questions inside her were festering and she just needed to stay out of Gilly’s way until she had the chance to confront her later. Stretching out her legs, she tilted her face towards the sun and closed her eyes. She’d been on her feet all morning and was feeling a little tired, but thankfully, at the minute, it was just about manageable.
Nell sipped her tea and watched the boats chugging out of the marina. Then suddenly something caught her eye.
She squinted towards the opposite side of the marina. There standing on the boat, Much Ado About Nothing, was Lloyd Keaton.
Nell sat upright in the chair and stared at him. Her heart was thumping. What was he really doing here? ‘You okay?’ asked Gilly, standing on the towpath just outside the deli door. ‘You seem very standoffish today.’
‘I’m fine,’ answered Nell, closing her eyes and avoiding all eye contact with her mum, knowing everything was far from fine.
‘You don’t sound fine, if you don’t mind me saying.’ Even though Nell’s eyes were shut she could feel her mum watching her.
‘You would tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?’
Nell opened her eyes, and looked towards the shop. Fern and Bea were laughing inside. This wasn’t the best time to reveal what actually was bugging her. Nell sat up straight, took a deep breath and looked out over the water.
‘I’m just enjoying the sunshine.’
‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’
‘Little Rock Marina is always beautiful. And there’s Lloyd. Nice man. I’ll have to introduce you.’ Nell was testing the water. She carefully watched her mum’s reaction as she glanced over towards his boat, but she didn’t answer.
‘Do you think he’d come to the opening night of the Old Picture House once it’s up and running?’
Nell watched her mum’s reaction closely.
‘He’ll have probably moved on by then,’ answered Gilly.
‘Huh,’ Nell huffed under her breath but still loud enough for Gilly to hear.
‘What’s got into you today? Why are you being so snappy?’ Gilly glared at Nell, who didn’t answer.
‘Anyway, I’d best get back inside. I’m teaching Fern how to make bread next. She is missing some very basic life skills, that one.’
Nell watched her mum quickly disappear back inside before looking back towards Lloyd Keaton.
Whatever was going on, she was determined to find out the truth.