“I’m glad you see him that way. Well, I suppose there’s nothing more we can do until I have a word with Simon. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Thanks for showing me, I think it might pay for me to call my father again. See if he can shed any light on this. In the meantime, watch your back.” This is sounding like a spy movie.
“You too.”
Adam walked out to his car and gazed around the busy street. Nothing looked out of place but in all honesty, the chance of spotting somebody watching him was negligible if they knew what they were doing. From now on he was going to find any excuse to hang out at the café especially around closing time.
* * *
The strains of an Italian opera drifted through the dairy, soothing Lena as she started work on the dough for tonight’s pasta. She hollowed out a center in the mountain of flour on her counter, swirling patterns until the hole was big enough for her eggs. One by one she cracked them in, throwing the shells into the bin beside her. From her salt pig, she took a generous pinch of salt and added it, closing her eyes for a second as the music reached fever pitch.
A smile crossed her lips as the strains of the violin took up again and she began to bring the flour into the middle, mixing the eggs into the dry ingredients. Soon it turned into a doughy mess and this was the part she enjoyed the most. Tossing a coating of flour over her hands, she rolled the dough into a ball and started to roll and knead, keeping on track with the music.
By the time the music reached its crescendo and dropped to silence, Lena was ready to put the dough through her pasta machine. She knew Jeff, her favorite reviewer, had a soft spot for her pasta so it made sense to have something on the menu he would like. As much as she didn’t want to look as though she was competing with Cole, there was a little voice inside her that pushed for success. And she was listening to it, knowing it was well within her rights to aim for the best she could be. She owed it to herself as well as her family and every diner who had ever walked through her doors, not to be the down trodden washed up chef Cole wanted her to be.
The front door of the café was open, letting the sun warm the concrete entrance with the afternoon rays. She was in the cold room checking to see how many venison steaks she had for the evening when a hand reached out and touched her shoulder.
Lena squealed and dropped the pen and paper in her hand.
“Wow, Mum, chill.” Kyle looked at her, his expression one of concern. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
She wiped a hand across her hair, composing herself. God, relax, Lena. “Sorry.” Lena kissed her son before picking up her pen. “I was miles away and didn’t hear you come in.” That took years off my life.
“Who was that dude?”
Dude? She looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Kyle threw his school bag on the floor and glanced at the door. “He was standing just inside when I got off the bus. By the time I walked down here he was in his car and going up the road.”
“No idea. I never saw or heard him. Maybe he wanted to see what the place looked like before he made a booking.” Lena shrugged. “Guess he didn’t like what he saw.”
“I guess.”
“How was school?” Give me something else to think about. She took two bottles of sparkling water out of the fridge and handed one to her son.
“Good, I guess. I have the English assignment from hell.”
She gave him a warning look.
“It is. Just wait til you see it. Who the heck cares about Napoleon’s army anyway? We live in Australia. Fat lot of good it’s going to do me learning about that.” He looked at her from under his lashes. “Can I work for you tonight, please?”
“With an assignment looming? Nope. You know the rules, it’s a school night.”
“Yeah, but its Friday. I don’t have school tomorrow. And you have that guy coming. Please, Mum?”
Compromise, Lena, that’s the best way. “Make a deal with you. You do two hours on your assignment tomorrow and you can.” She leaned on the counter and waited for his answer. “No matter either way, cause I have help anyway and you know how important school is for you.”
He growled and kicked at the floor with his shoe. “Fine. You win.”
Lena ruffled his hair. Parent’s goal in life buddy. “Go home and have something to eat and chill for a bit. I don’t want you back here until at least five o’clock, okay?”
Kyle looked up and threw his arms around her neck. “You’re the best, Mum.” He kissed her cheek and picked up his bag, throwing it over his shoulder. Lena watched him walk out thinking she was the luckiest mother in the world.
She was just setting up her kitchen hand with his chores for the evening when Kyle came running back into the café, calling her name. “It’s Papa. There’s been an accident. You have to come.”
Chapter 24
Dread shot down her spine and she stood rooted to the spot. What did he just say? Focus. “Mum, we have to go. The hospital called Nona and she’s freaking out.” He pulled at her hand, breaking the trance she was in.
What to do first. “Kenny, please close up for me and call the girls, tell them not to come in. I’m sorry.” She ran from the café holding onto her son’s hand. Her mother was at the door, handbag and car keys in
