Page 50 of Right Place, Right Time
‘Sure, why not? Maybe it will help us relax so we can begin to think clearly.’
‘You’d better hope so. Otherwise that door is going to have to go back into hiding until we have some more clues.’
After Adam has insisted on cleaning himself up, we head out of Clockmaker Court and across to the pub where we both celebrated our birthdays back in February.
‘Seems quite apt, doesn’t it?’ I say as we head through the door.
‘What does?’ Adam asks, holding the door open for me.
‘The name of this pub – The Timekeeper – with what’s happening with the books and the clocks.’
‘Yeah, I guess it does. This is a bit busy tonight,’ Adam says, looking around the packed and unusually noisy bar.
‘Bank holiday, isn’t it, that’s why. There’s some more seating outside. Shall I see if there are any tables free?’
‘Why don’t you see if there’s any tables free?’ Adam says, obviously not hearing me above the chatter. ‘And I’ll get the drinks in. What would you like?’
‘I’ll have a lager, please.’
Adam nods. ‘Half or pint?’
I smile. ‘Half will be plenty, thanks.’
While Adam goes up to the bar, I head out of the back door to the little beer garden. On first glance there don’t seem to be any tables free, but then I spot Luca at one of them with a couple of people I don’t recognise.
‘Hey, Eve!’ Luca says, waving. ‘Over here.’
‘Hello.’ I walk over to him. ‘Great minds think alike.’
‘Are you here on your own, my darling?’ he asks.
‘No, Adam is trying to get served at the bar. It’s busy in there tonight.’
‘It is the beautiful weather this evening,bella! It’s brought everyone out again after the rain earlier. Do you wanna sit with us? Or would you prefer just the two of you?’ He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
‘Luca!’ I shake my head. ‘Joining you would be great if you don’t mind.’ I look at the other two people at the table.
‘Go for it,’ a man with an American accent says, pulling out a chair for me. ‘We’re about to head back to our hotel soon anyway. Early flight tomorrow.’
‘This is Annie and Ed, friends of mine from America,’ Luca says, introducing them. ‘This is my Eve. She owns one of the shops in Clockmaker Court.’
‘Oh, which one?’ Annie asks, also with an American twang to her voice.
‘The antique shop.’
‘I’ve been in! It’s wonderful – you have so many amazing things in there. You weren’t there when we visited, though – there was a young guy?’
‘Yes, that’s Barney; he works with me.’
Annie nods eagerly. ‘All the shops in that little court are so quaint. Like something time forgot.’
‘Yes, they are a bit.’
‘When Luca first sent me photos of his little clothes shop, I squealed, didn’t I, Luca?’
‘That’s what you said, darling,’ Luca says calmly.
‘I never thought I’d hear the end of it until I agreed to come here while on our holiday, to England,’ Ed says, rolling his eyes. ‘We must go and see Luca’s little shop, was all I got for at least a year!’
