She grins. ‘Because I knew you would react like this, and I don’t want payment. What are friends for?’
I smile at her, feeling quite emotional.
‘So … you don’t fancy Jake?’ I ask a minute later, thinking of the surprise new hairdo and glancing at her brand-new top and dark red lipstick. Paloma never used to wear lipstick – just a slick of gloss when it was a really special occasion. But these days, she looks groomed.
She doesn’t even deign to answer my question.
The disgusted look on her face says it all …
Chapter 36
The day of the café launch arrives. And the heat is on.
Quite literally, as it happens.
The newscasters are making a huge deal of the fact that it’s set to be the hottest day of the year. This bodes well for entertaining the fifty guests due to arrive at six o’clock.
As The Treehouse Café seats a maximum of thirty-two people at eight tables, it’s our plan to serve the refreshments in the garden, allowing people to mingle, then take small groups up to view the interior of the treehouse.
Summer heat waves always make me nervous because I associate them with thunderstorms, but thankfully, when I check the local forecast, there’s no sign of a break in the perfect weather. So we should be fine for our al fresco celebrations later on.
Betty and Doreen arrive at mine at eight and we all set to, making the meringues for the summer berry Pavlovas we’ll be serving at the opening ceremony later. I’ve never made a Pavlova before, but Doreen convinced Betty and me that it would be a real show-stopper, served with a glass of the Prosecco from the crates of bottles we carted back from the supermarket in Betty’s car the other night.
By ten, the nest-like meringues are out of the oven and cooled down, and we’ve filled them with a mouth-watering mix of strawberries, raspberries and whipped cream.
‘They’re going to wilt in this weather,’ worries Betty.
I frown. Jake is organising last-minute snagging in the treehouse today, so the fridge there isn’t in operation yet. ‘Let’s put them in the fridge over at the old café?’ I suggest.
We cover them with cake domes and carry them carefully over there. Luckily, the fridge is just large enough to accommodate all eight. The old café is closed today while we prepare for tonight – and get ready for The Treehouse Café’s first official day of business tomorrow!
Betty and Doreen go off to the hairdresser’s for a spot of pampering, leaving me with my list of jobs still to do before tonight. I check the fridge to count the Pavlovas, hoping we’ve made enough. It’s a relief to get the baking out of the way. I can check it off my list, along with the fizz that’s now chilling in my own fridge back at the house. I’ve bought in a supply of pretty paper plates for tonight and hired glasses from the local off-licence …
Then I remember something. Cake forks! We don’t have enough.
Why didn’t I think of it before? Damn, it means a trip into town to buy forks that match the ones we already have. My heart sinks. That’s going to use up valuable time – especially since I don’t have a car to get there myself. I’ll have to wait till Betty comes back and see if she can whiz me into town …
A car draws up outside and a door slams.
Instantly, my foolish heart is hoping it’s Theo, come to wish me luck for tonight.
When Jason walks in, it’s silly, I know, but I feel like crying with disappointment.
I paste on a smile. There’s no chance for me with Theo. I know that. But it would really help if my mind could stop the eternal wishful thinking and get with the programme …
Jason’s smile seems a little strained. ‘Just came to wish you well for tonight.’
‘Aw, thank you. That’s so lovely of you!’
‘All organised?’
‘Yes. Well, no, actually. I forgot to buy cake forks.’ I laugh. ‘You haven’t got any, have you?’
He grins. ‘Sorry, no.’
‘Can I get you a coffee while you’re here? A piece of fruitcake? The fridge is full of summer fruit Pavlovas but they’re for tonight, I’m afraid. I’m just hoping they don’t melt before then.’ I’m aware I’m babbling, but it’s been on my mind that I need to let Jason down gently, and I guess the time to do it has arrived. There’s no point having dinner with him if I’m in love with Theo. The last thing I want to do is lead Jason on.
But he turns down the offer of coffee, saying he needs to get back.
‘Off to work?’ I ask.
He shakes his head slowly, looking at me with a strange expression on his face.
‘Is something wrong?’
He gazes down at the floor, hands in his pockets, and when he eventually looks up, his eyes are suspiciously shiny.
‘Jason?’ I stare at him in alarm.
He sighs and takes a step towards me. ‘I don’t know how to say this, Twi. It’s been so great having you back in Hart’s End. I’ve missed you and I really meant what I said about us getting back together. But …’ He tails off miserably.
‘But what?’
He shrugs. ‘Lucy’s moving back in.’
‘Oh.’ I stare at him, the wind taken right out of my sails. ‘You’re back together, then? Gosh, well, that’s … great!’
The expression on his face indicates he feels it’s the opposite of great. ‘She said she apologised to you. I told her she had to, otherwise there was no chance we could get back together.’
Ah, so that was the reason for the little performance of hers on the high street!
‘What made you … reconsider?’ I ask carefully.
He sighs and flops into a nearby chair. ‘Look, I know you probably think I’m mad, but – well, she came over to see me saying she’s been missing me terribly. I decided I owed us both a second chance to make the relationship work.’
I nod slowly. ‘So will you be moving into that big new house Lucy was
