Page 36 of Summer at the Château
Pixie registered the wary note in Justine’s voice. ‘I wanted to apologise for the pizza debacle the other evening. My fault entirely. I should have checked with you first. I guess you’ve seen my nephew building a state-of-the-art pizza oven out there? I’m planning on firing it up tomorrow evening if you’d like to bring Ferdie to join us? About six o’clock so he’s not too late for bed.’ She braced herself for a curt refusal of the invitation as Justine looked at her without speaking for several seconds.
‘Thank you. He’d like that.’
At Justine’s words, Pixie realised she’d been holding her breath. ’Good. See you then.’
Pixie turned and walked away before Justine could see how emotional the acceptance had made her feel. Tomorrow evening she was determined to try and get to know both Ferdie and Justine better.
24
The next day, Pixie was busy putting finishing touches to all the guest rooms and making sure the château was looking its best, ready for everyone’s arrival the following day. Beds were all made, water and glasses on the bedside tables, some bedside reading in Gus and Sarah’s room and Annabel’s, towels, soap and shampoo in the bathrooms, lots of soft toys on Mimi’s bed. Tomorrow morning she’d cut some roses from the garden and put them in vases on the dressing tables.
After lunch, she and Charlie drove to the largest supermarket in Carhaix, where she told him to buy whatever ingredients he needed or wanted to cook with.
‘I warn you, I love French supermarkets. You’ll regret letting me loose in here,’ he said.
Pixie laughed. ‘Just this once, go mad. We’ve got a brand new fridge-freezer to fill and you’ve got eight mouths to feed every day for the next couple of weeks. Need to remember, though, children tend to prefer plain food.’
By the time they’d bought bottles of wine and champagne and were stood in line for the checkout, they’d filled two trollies to the brim.
Pixie whispered to Charlie. ‘I’m glad we’re not behind us. This is going to take ages.’
Pixie unloaded the car back at the château, while Charlie disappeared to fire up the pizza oven, leaving Gwen to help Pixie put everything away. The larder shelves were all but groaning with the weight of food placed on them and the drawers of the new fridge-freezer were stuffed full. Gwen had already organised plates, serviettes, cutlery and glasses out on the terrace table.
Once he was happy with the pizza oven fire, Charlie started preparing the pizzas. ‘Three big ones should do it for tonight’ he said, rolling out the dough he’d bought from the supermarket bakery. ‘Next time, I will make my own dough.’
Once the dough was rolled, Charlie began to grate cheese, drained the mozzarella and some olives before slicing some pepperoni and tomatoes. He smeared tomato paste over the three rounds of dough and started to layer everything on top.
‘Time for a pizza party,’ he said and Pixie and Gwen helped him carry them outside.
Justine and Ferdie were on their way over from the cottage and, as soon as he saw them, Ferdie ran ahead.
‘I love pizza,’ he said to Charlie. ‘I can eat loads.’
‘I’d better get cooking then,’ and Charlie pushed the first large pizza into the oven.
‘Ferdie, would you like a glass of lemonade?’ Gwen asked.
‘Please.’
‘Justine, glass of wine? What about you, Charlie – beer or wine?’
‘Wine please, Grandma,’ Charlie said.
‘You’re too big to have a grandma,’ Ferdie said. ‘You’ve got to be little to have one. I’ve got one, she’s called Brigitte, but I call her Gangan, not grandma.’
Everyone laughed and Charlie stooped down to talk to Ferdie. ‘If you’re lucky, you never get too big to have a grandma. They boss you about however old you get, but they always love you.’
Ferdie nodded seriously. ‘It’s like having two bossy mummies.’
‘And this bossy mummy is saying that’s enough, drink your lemonade.’ Justine gave him a look that brooked no argument.
Ferdie glanced at Charlie, a look on his face that clearly said, ‘see what I mean?’ before taking a sip or two of his drink.
‘I’ve just realised – I haven’t introduced you two,’ Pixie said. ‘How rude of me. Charlie this is Justine. Justine, meet my nephew Charlie – he’s staying with us for a while. I think Ferdie has made a splendid job of introducing himself.’ And Pixie smiled at Justine.
‘I think he’s almost four going on fourteen sometimes with the things he comes out with,’ Justine replied, shaking her head.
‘When is his birthday?’ Charlie asked.
