Page 99 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
“So,” Rose said, when Greta had disappeared. “I guess you’re still in as much shock as I am.”
I nodded.
“When you came running toward me to get your bag I just knew—I don’t know how, but…”
I nodded again. It was stupid, but I didn’t know what to say to her.
“Have you worked there a long time?” I asked, then immediately felt dumb. Of all the things I needed to know, that was definitely not one of them.
“Not too long, no—it’s just temporary really, until I find something better.”
“Oh.”
“So how about you, Scarlett, what do you do?”
“I work with my father,” I blurted out without thinking. “We have our own company.”
Rose stared at me for a few seconds. “That’s good,” she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. “How is your father?”
“He’s well.” God, I was going to have to think before speaking. One minute I don’t know what to say, and the next I’m blabbing about Dad.
“I’m glad to hear it. The company you mentioned, is it anything to do with popcorn, by any chance?”
“Yes it is, why?”
“Your father was always talking about setting up on his own, even when I knew him. I’m glad he finally got to do it. And you work with him?”
“Yes, we’re partners. Dad has the bigger share, but we both have the say-so about what goes on within the company.”
“Good. So you should do.”
Greta arrived at the table again. “Would either of you like something to eat?” she asked after she’d placed a mug of coffee on the table in front of Rose.
“Actually, I am rather hungry,” Rose said. “What about you, Scarlett?”
“Yes, OK.” I picked up the menu again. I fancied somethingsweet—the brandy, and then the sugary tea, still hadn’t been enough to stop my shakes. “I’ll have the hot apple pie, please.”
“Cream or ice cream?” Greta asked.
“I’d like ice cream, but only if it’s vanilla, please. And can I have it on the side, not on the pie itself? Otherwise, it just melts straight away,” I explained to Rose, who was looking at me with interest. “But if it’s not vanilla ice cream,” I said, turning to Greta again, “I’d rather just have cream, but only if it’s fresh cream, not that squirty sort from the can.”
“O…K…” Greta said, raising one eyebrow. “Apple pie with vanilla ice cream, but if we don’t have vanilla, you want cream, right?”
“Yes, but only if it’sfreshcream.”
“And it’s to be on the side, not on top?”
“The ice cream, yes.”
“What about the cream?”
“That’s OK on the pie, but only if it’s fresh.”
“What, the pie?”
“No, the cream.”
“Right…” Greta said slowly, rubbing her forehead. “What if we don’t have either vanilla ice cream or fresh cream?”
