Page 74 of Broken Beyond Repair

“You’ll want to open that,” Sydney said knowingly.

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

She pushed the open button despite her assistant’s refusal to inform her who she was letting on to her estate. Within a few minutes, the doorbell rang.

“Alex. There’s someone at the door.”

“Can’t you get it?” Alex cried lazily from the sofa.

“No. It’s for you.”

A puzzled Alex sloped off the sofa and into the hall as Sydney flicked her head at Beatrice, encouraging her to follow. Intrigue pulled her up on to her boot in seconds.

“What are you up to, Sydney?”

Alex was opening the door as they reached the hall. He partially collapsed in disbelief at the figure at the door.

“Hi. You must be Alex.”

Beatrice recognised that voice.

“Your mum asked me to come and spend some time teaching you some cooking skills.”

“Oh my God, Chef Anthony! I can’t believe it’s you. I’ve watched all your shows.”

“I should think so too. Where else would anyone learn to cook? Am I coming in, or are we barbecuing?”

Alex opened the door wide. “Sorry.”

“I didn’t know you knew Anthony,” Beatrice whispered to Sydney.

“I used to work for him until he moved his TV show to the States. I happened to notice he was in your black book, and he happens to owe me a favour.”

“Anthony owes you a favour?”

“Yes.” Sydney pretended to zip her lips together.

Despite her desperation to know what Sydney had done to be owed a favour by one of the biggest celebrity chefs on the planet, Beatrice knew that was a sign not to dig further… for now.

Anthony sidled up to Beatrice and slipped a kiss onto her cheek. “Beatrice. As soon as Syd called me and said who she was working for, I knew she’d need help.”

Beatrice pursed her lips at his comment. “Thank you, Anthony. Always nice to see you.”

He turned to Sydney and scooped her up so her legs were off the ground before dropping her back down with a kiss on the cheek. “Syd! The car is full of shopping, would you mind?” Anthony dangled his car key off his finger.

“Just like old times,” Sydney smirked as she took them. “Still got the Lambo?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t sell my baby, would I? Now come on, Alex, show me to the kitchen and we can get started. We’ve got a lot to get through. I hope everyone is ready for a gourmet lunch. I have a flight home this evening, so I can’t stick around any longer. But we’ll pull an afternoon tea together for the ladies, eh, Alex?”

Beatrice’s stomach rumbled at the thought as she followed Alex and Anthony through to the kitchen with a smile.

“Look what my mum bought me.” Alex grabbed his knives from the sofa and displayed them on the kitchen island.

“Impressive. Now let’s see how you use them.”

Alex was in his element in his chef’s jacket, making macarons and scones. The only time he took his eyes off Anthony’s hands was to pay attention to his own hands. As the morning rolled on, Alex pulled together a lunch of Thai prawn curry under close instruction, serving it to them all at the table. Anthony and Sydney reminisced about their time together as they ate. It was clear the chef respected Sydney — everyone respected her.