Page 60 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
‘Oh, yes. It’s the only way forward these days.’
‘I totally agree. I’d like to offer as much organic produce as I can when we open up the new tea room. I’ve been thinking about offering some organic produce as part of our gift shop, too – you know, like a small farm shop?’
‘I do indeed,’ Les says, his eyes lighting up. ‘I’d be more than happy to provide some samples for you, if you were thinking of sourcing the food locally.’
‘I wouldn’t consider doing anything less,’ I tell him, smiling. I pull one of the new business cards I’ve had printed from my bag. ‘Here,’ I say, passing it to Les, ‘give me a call over the weekend and we can talk business. In fact, if you know of anyone who grows organic fruit and vegetables, too, then perhaps you can ask them to call me as well.’ I give him a second card.
Les looks at the cards and nods his head. ‘I’ll certainly do that. Sorry about before,’ he says apologetically.
‘Already forgotten,’ I say, smiling.
‘I didn’t bring you down here to pass out business cards,’ Tom says, pushing his way back through the crowd with our drinks. ‘This is supposed to be relaxation on a Friday night.’
‘Ah, you hush, young Tom,’ Les says. ‘If the lady wants to do a bit of business in her local, then I’m not going to complain. I’ll speak with you soon then, miss,’ he says, lifting his half-empty pint of beer at me. ‘And I’ll leave you to yourrelaxation!’
‘Me too,’ Bill says. He puts his empty glass down on a nearby table. ‘Nature calls!’
‘See you Monday, Bill,’ I call as he makes his way in the direction of the toilets.
Tom grins and passes me my drink while both Les and Bill disappear into the throng of people. ‘I see you’ve already made some new friends, then?’
‘Hardly. I already know Bill, and Les is hopefully going to supply us with organic meat for the castle.’
‘But what about the suppliers we already have?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘The ones Dorothy uses to supply the food she cooks our dinners with.’
‘That’s different. This is for larger consumption and retail purposes. That would be counted as domestic use.’
‘You have an answer for everything, don’t you?’ Tom says, grinning at me.
‘No. I just know what I want, that’s all.’
Tom raises his eyebrows at me. ‘Oh, really . . . ’
I take a sip of my drink. ‘Gosh, that’s strong!’
‘Double,’ Tom says matter-of-factly. ‘Saves going up to the bar again so soon. It’s manic in here tonight.’
‘I hope you’re not trying to get me drunk?’ I say, eyeing up my glass.
‘Now why would I want to do that?’ Tom asks innocently. ‘You are my boss, after all.’
‘Hmm . . . Pay rise?’ I ask, playing him at his own game.
‘That could be one reason, I suppose.’
‘Hello, Tom,’ a soft voice interrupts us. ‘How are you?’
‘Molly! Hi,’ Tom says to a pretty brunette. ‘I’m very well, thank you – and yourself?’
‘Always better for seeing you, you know that.’
Goodness, Tom’s like a bright lantern beaming out into the darkness of Chesterford. But as opposed to attracting moths and other insects, the females of the village all seem to be drawn to him, fluttering their eyelashes instead of their wings.
‘This is Amelia,’ Tom says, turning back to me as I smile to myself at my analogy. ‘She runs the castle now.’
