Page 30 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

‘Thanks for helping out tonight.’ Liz sat down and eased her shoes off her feet. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you.’

‘No problem,’ Emma replied. ‘It wasn’t as though I was doing anything else.

’ She finished making a cup of coffee for herself and a fruit tea for Liz, brought them over to the table and sat down next to her friend.

‘How are you, by the way? I haven’t had chance to ask.

If you don’t mind me saying, you look shattered. ’

‘I am a bit,’ Liz said. ‘It’s been a busy few weeks, especially as Jay has been tied up with the competition.’

‘Hm, not exactly great timing for you, is it?’

‘Not really,’ Liz said. ‘But it can’t be helped. And to be honest, I didn’t think pregnancy would be as tiring as it’s turning out to be.’ She paused. ‘Emma, I want to say sorry again about pretending I had a virus.’

‘It’s okay. I understand why you wanted to keep it a secret, especially with Alex’s history. How is he?’

‘He was worried at first, naturally, and very protective of me, but I’m hoping that will start to ease now that I’m a bit further down the line.’

‘I’m sure it will, but try not to overdo it in the meantime. And if you need any help, give me a shout. I’ll be there for you if I can.’

‘That’s kind of you.’

‘Jay spoke to me about your offer of the front-of-house role when you go on maternity leave. I do appreciate you thinking of me and a few weeks earlier I might have jumped at the chance. But I really want to learn about the hotel business, and now that I’ve got a new line manager I’m going to get the training I need. ’

‘I completely understand. When I spoke to Jay about it, I didn’t realise how much things had changed. You would always be my first choice, but you have to decide what’s best for you. How’s it going, anyway?’

Emma smiled. ‘It’s intense and, after everything thing that’s happened with Heather, I do feel like I’m being scrutinised. But I love it. I’m learning so much, so, yes, it’s going well.’

‘I’m really pleased,’ Liz said. ‘I know what it’s like to be bullied and it puts such a strain on you.’

‘It did, yes, but hopefully that’s all in the past now.’

‘And how is Jay? I’ve barely seen him. How did he get on yesterday?’

Emma shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Sorry?’

‘Last night, I was waiting for him to phone me when the competition was over, but I didn’t hear from him. He didn’t come in until I was asleep and then I was out first thing this morning.’

‘And you haven’t been in touch today?’

‘Nope. I suppose I could have phoned him in my break, but, if I’m honest, I’m a little bit disappointed in him, so I’m waiting for him to make the first move.’ She sighed. ‘I could be in for a long wait, though.’

‘Oh, Em, I’m sorry. I thought the pair of you were getting on much better now.’

‘We were. But this competition and the people he’s met there are all-consuming. It’s not so bad in between the rounds — in fact, we had a lovely weekend the other week — but when he’s in the throes of it, it’s like I don’t exist.’

‘It must be very difficult. For both of you.’

‘I know. I’m trying to be supportive and I really want him to do well, but, even though we’ve spoken about it, it just feels like he’s shutting me out.’

‘I don’t know what to say, Em, except try to be patient. Maybe when he’s not in full-on competition mode, explain to him how you feel.’

‘I will. And in the meantime I’m just trying to concentrate on work.’

‘That’s a good plan. I’m sure everything will change when the competition’s over and then you’ll get the old Jay back.’

‘I hope so,’ Emma said.

When she got home, Jay was sitting on the sofa with a beer in his hand and his feet up on the coffee table. Strewn all around him were recipe books.

‘Hiya,’ he said as she walked through the door. ‘Where’ve you been? I thought it was your night off tonight.’

‘It was. I texted you to say that Liz had asked me to serve at a function as one of the girls had let her down.’

‘Oh, right.’ He frowned. ‘I don’t think I got that message.’ He leaned over to the table and picked up his phone. ‘Oh, yes, here it is. I’ve had a really busy day, I’ve been trying to come up with some ideas for some new dishes in case I get through to the next round.’

‘Do you think you will? How did you get on yesterday? You didn’t bother to let me know.’

A moment of guilt flashed across his face. ‘Ah, yes, well, after the competition finished—’

‘Don’t tell me, you went for a drink with your fellow competitors.’

‘We did, later, yes, but it’s more complicated than that.’

‘Go on then, tell me.’

‘One of the other chefs, Chloe, well, she was attacked by Louis in the changing room. Rav and I were around just after it happened, so we stayed with her while she reported it to the judges and then to the police.’

Emma dropped her hands from her hips, immediately contrite.

‘Oh! How horrible for her. Is she okay?’

‘Yes, Louis was no match for her. She kneed him in the nuts.’

‘Well, I’m glad that she was able to defend herself and that she reported it straight away. And I’m sorry for being angry with you, but I didn’t know. You didn’t tell me.’

He got up and gave her a hug. ‘I’m the one who’s sorry, I should have phoned you to let you know what was going on, I just got caught in everything. This competition seems to be taking over my life.’

‘Our lives.’ Emma felt whatever energy she had left drain from her. ‘Look, Jay, I’m shattered. I’ve done a full shift at the hotel today, as well as Liz’s function, and I’m on early tomorrow. I think I’ll just head to bed.’

‘Sure.’ He kissed her gently on the lips. ‘I’ll be in in a bit.’

Emma drifted into sleep long before Jay came to join her.

* * *

Jay trembled as he stood with the other chefs, waiting to find out which of them would proceed to the next stage. He prayed he wouldn’t be among the ones going home. His fingers were crossed so tightly behind his back that he wondered if he’d ever be able to uncross them.

Angela and Philip walked into the room. Rav, who was standing next to Jay, nudged him. ‘Here we go, buddy. Good luck,’ he whispered.

‘And to you,’ Jay replied.

‘Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,’ Angela said. ‘Today is a big day for you all as we announce who is going through to the next stage of the competition.’

‘But before we go any further,’ Philip said, ‘We have another announcement to make. Unfortunately, Louis can no longer be here as he...’ Philip paused. ‘Has other commitments.’

Jay, Rav and Chloe glanced at each other knowingly.

Earlier Chloe had told him that Louis had been charged with assault.

At first Louis had tried to deny it and claimed that it had been Chloe who had assaulted him, but the evidence on Chloe’s phone had proved that he was the aggressor, so in the end he’d pleaded guilty.

‘So from now on, you’ll have to put up with just Angela and myself.’

The competitors laughed nervously before Angela took over. ‘I’m afraid only eight of you will be lucky enough to go through to the next stage. It’s been a really tough decision and you certainly haven’t made it easy for us — you are all excellent chefs.’

‘Now, to those of you we have selected,’ Philip said.

Jay listened anxiously as both Rav and Chloe’s names were called out.

He smiled at them, pleased that they were on the list, but an anxious knot formed in his stomach as he realised he might not be joining them.

And then he heard his name and his breath rushed out in a whoosh of relief.

Rav clapped him on the back and Chloe grinned at him.

The three of them were going to stay together for the time being and Jay couldn’t have been more delighted.

They watched sympathetically as the four people who hadn’t been selected shuffled out of the kitchen, their disappointment plain for all to see.

‘Congratulations to all of you,’ Angela said.

‘But now the hard work really starts. Next week there will be a series of tests across the week. You’ll be split into two groups of four.

The first task is to demonstrate your ability for mass catering — providing lunch for the staff at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

After that you’ll be going head-to-head with the starters and fish dishes you have already cooked for us, and finally it will be the same with mains and desserts.

You will be scored on each task and the chefs with the highest points for each course will be going through to the banquet. ’

Philip smiled. ‘I know that’s a lot of information to take in again.

But we are striving for perfection here.

Now, I’m going to let you know who you are going to be in groups with and after that you’ll have one hour to decide on a menu for the first task.

We’ll give you the remit and the number of dishes we want for each course.

Then you’ll need to put together a list of ingredients for us to put your orders through.

Make sure you don’t miss anything off the list because what isn’t ordered today won’t be available to cook with on the day. Right, now, here are the groups.’

Jay was relieved to hear that both Chloe and Rav were on his team, along with a young Chinese chef, Chen, who fused his Chinese heritage with modern British cooking. He knew they’d work well together and that would make things much easier in the long run.

The two groups sat either side of the kitchen as they planned what they would cook.

‘I think I’d like to have a go at the fish course,’ Chloe said.

‘With my training I can add a classic French twist to regional ingredients.’ They all agreed and settled on Chen doing the starter, Rav the main and Jay the dessert.

Each of them then went through the ingredients for each dish, checking with each other to make sure that nothing was missing from the list. It was going to be a long week, but, after that, they’d all know who’d be cooking at the banquet.

The ultimate winner wouldn’t be decided until the day of the banquet, but after the heats were over it would be a relief to get back to work and concentrate on real life until the big day. If he got through, that was.