“Your call. So long as it’s easy to mass produce and plate up, make what you like. I’ll need the menu in about a week though so I can get it printed off and use it for advertising. Three courses if you can manage it, and be prepared for a heap of people dying to try your food, especially after winning that award. I was so proud of you, by the way. Pete tried to get us tickets to come and see you, but they sold out before we even knew about it.”
“Aww. Really? You’re so sweet.” Memories of that night flittered through her brain. Winning the award had been great. Getting drunk and the sex afterwards wasn’t high on her must remember list of highlights. Moving on. “So, when will I have final figures of how many I’m cooking for?”
“We have a P&C meeting the week after next. That’s when we’ll decide the cut off numbers so we can print the tickets. Once they’re all sold out, that’s it. I doubt it will take long to offload them this year. You don’t realize what a great draw card you are for the school.”
“Sure.”
“Look, admit it, you’re going to enjoy this. I’ll do anything I can to help too, just holler and I’m there.”
I will, just you wait. “Okay, cool. Well, I’d better get home and get the brain into gear then. It was good to see you again, Gail. I’ve missed you while I’ve been living on the coast.” She stood up and reached for her best friend. You have no idea how much.
Gail wrapped her arms around Lena, squeezing hard. “I’m so glad you decided to move back here too. You and Kyle need to be close to family and friends, and we’ve always said growing up in the country was the best thing that ever happened to us.”
Pity I didn’t stay here, but I wouldn’t have my boy and that makes all the crap worth while. “Yeah, we did. Well, I’m here now, so I’d best make the most of it.” She pulled away and grabbed her handbag. “I’ll get Papa to drop off some fresh zeppole in the morning for you and I have another mud cake at home too if you need it. We didn’t even cut it last night, the gelati was more than enough for everyone.”
“I’ll take it.”
“Knew you would. Later girlfriend.” Lena skipped down the stairs from the café to her car, her heart lighter today than it had been for the last month.
Chapter 8
Lena left the café and headed out on the road toward home. She had the time to appreciate the beautiful countryside now her nerves had settled and the pain wasn’t quite so raw and fresh in her mind. Visitors were driving into the honey farm and she made a note to look at how much was in the pantry before her next visit into town. The winding country roads gave her time to think about what she’d just signed up for.
Gail was right, she did better when she was wrist deep in a bowl of dough. Cooking was in her blood and there was no getting away from it. Lena knew she would do something along the lines of catering again, it was just knowing how far she wanted to take it that was troubling her. But she decided that decision could wait until after the school fundraiser. That was going to take a fair amount of her time over the next four weeks.
Indicating for the car behind her, she slowed and turned into Hidden Lane, driving off the bitumen onto the dirt road she was so familiar with. This turn was the signal to drop off all of her worries and leave them behind. At least that had always been the point when she could. Now they seemed to hang on and follow her down the road, ready to tap her on the shoulder lest she forget they were there.
Lena slowed as she came to the dairy farm. The property had always been beautifully kept and that hadn’t changed when Adam took over. The long driveway to the old timber home was lined with a white fence and tall poplars that were just starting to change color and drop their leaves. The stock yard came into view and she slowed even more, looking for a glimpse of his new delivery of deer. Kyle had said they were down the back so the ones she could see just past the trees were probably the original stock.
When Lena came to the dairy building itself, she pulled over and stopped the car. The old stone and timber building was set back from the road with plenty of room out the front for parking. Her mind already ticking over with ideas. Just a quick peek.
The dappled sunlight played over the stones, softened with years of wind and rain lashing against them. Lena crossed the road and touched her fingers to the wall. It was warm under her fingertips and a small jolt of anticipation flickered over her skin. An old rambling rose had taken control of the wooden fence on either side of the building spraying small bursts of deep red against the stark backdrop of grey stone and weathered beams.
The heavy wooden door was set to one side with dust covered small panes of glass up high enough that she could see through if she stood on tip toe. Lena gripped the door handle, turning it with ease. She pushed it open and stood looking inside as the dust motes flew through the air in the shaft of sunlight she’d let inside the building. From what her parents had said, she knew the building had been unused for almost a year. The animals were sold off prior to Adam buying the farm. The rich organic odor reminiscent of cows met her as she stepped inside. The liquid brown eyes of the pedigree milking
