Page 133 of Deep Blue Sea

ys kind to me, and I screwed him over.’

In more ways than one, thought Rachel.

‘That’s why I’m talking to you,’ said Susie. ‘Because I think he deserves justice. Elizabeth is dangerous. She got away with stitching her brother up. I hate to think what else she might be able to get away with.’

47

‘So finally, this is what’s on the menu for Saturday,’ said Dot, perching her glasses on the end of her nose to read from her scrawled notebook.

Diana put down the pile of blue and white gingham tablecloths and sat down to listen. They had been working non-stop all afternoon and she was glad that Dot had suggested a breather.

‘Quiche. Two types. The classic Lorraine and a petit pois, tomato and asparagus.’

‘Petit pois. Get you, going all fancy,’ teased Diana as she sipped a glass of water.

‘We’ve got a leek and potato soup and bread from that supplier you recommended in London.’

‘Poilâne,’ said Diana, almost tasting the delicious sourdough from one of her favourite ever bakeries.

‘Never heard of it, but if you say it’s good then I believe you. Then we’ve got the main event. The cake,’ she said, making a dramatic drum-roll noise. ‘I’m doing a classic sponge but tarting it up with lavender cream and some edible flower petals. I’m calling it the Diana cake – sweet and lovely – and I’m not taking no for an answer.’

‘In which case, I’m honoured.’

‘We’ve got Ron’s date and walnut loaf, plus his flourless chocolate cake, using that chocolate you also recommended.’

‘Valrhona,’ said Diana, thrilled that Dot had taken some of her suggestions on board. She herself was not a chef or a baker – far from it – but she had eaten in enough fancy restaurants, met enough chefs to know that even simple food could be elevated to something special by using the very best ingredients.

‘I’m also doing a batch of his macaroons, in raspberry, pistachio and coconut.’

‘Great – I’ve got just the boxes for those,’ said Diana, holding up a lilac cardboard container which she thought would look lovely wrapped with white satin ribbon.

‘And not forgetting the courgette and ginger cake, of course. Gosh, do you think that’s enough?’

‘Dot, it’s plenty.’

‘But what if it’s too much?’

‘Do stop panicking.’

‘I wish we’d never told anyone we were relaunching the café on the day of the fair. I feel under pressure. I’ve got no extra staff – just Bet, who helps out at the weekend – so if it is busy we’re stuffed and if no one comes it’s just going to be embarrassing.’

‘Charlie finishes school tomorrow, so I’m going to rope him in. And Mrs Bills is a wizard in the kitchen. And if no one does turn up, then we can lock the door and eat a lot of cake.’

Dot grinned, then wiped her forehead with a tea towel. ‘I’m going to finish up in here. It’ll be a long day tomorrow. Whatever was I thinking of, letting you rope me in to all this?’

‘It’s good for you,’ said Diana softly.

‘Good for both of us.’

Diana watched her leave and smiled. Dot had become an unexpected but treasured friend in a very short space of time. Diana had thought she wouldn’t care if the café was a success or not, since it had only started off as a distraction. But now she didn’t want it to fail, didn’t want to let Dot down.

She draped a blue and white cloth over every table and went to fetch a box that had arrived by courier that morning. At Diana’s request, an interior designer friend had sourced two dozen beautiful old medicine bottles at Lots Road antique auction and had them delivered. She filled the bottles half up with water and arranged a small bunch of freesias in each, tying the necks with pieces of distressed string.

Other bits of work had also been done in the last week, to her specification. The wooden floors had been freshly sanded, and the shutters had been fixed and painted the soft sage green that always reminded her of the Ile de Ré. Mr Bills and some friends had brought down an old dresser from Somerfold. The interior of the café was still a long way from where she would ideally like it to be, but for now it was shabby-chic and cosy.

It was almost nine o’clock and the sun was beginning to fade in the sky. She switched all the lights off and lit a row of candles on the dresser. The place looked beautiful, she admitted to herself. She hoped Adam was going to like it as much as she did.

Her tote bag had been stuffed under the counter. She fetched it and pulled out a bottle of champagne, stashing it in the fridge to chill. She felt a little guilty that she had not cracked it open with Dot that evening, but she wanted to share the moment with someone else. With him.