Page 37 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
Craft made west country cider – subtle apple bouquet, sharp on the palate, effervescent
Livvy floated through the rest of the evening, a silly grin on her face. She really did enjoy being with Mark and was determined to take it at face value. Yes, she was up to her eyeballs running a business, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t have a personal life. Daisy had warned her about making sure she kept a work-life balance and that’s what she was going to do.
Humming along to ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ on the sound system, she approached the customer waiting at the bar. ‘Hi, Lucie, what can I get you?’ she said to Eli’s sister. She was in her mid-twenties at a guess, with hair dyed a fierce red.
‘Hi, Livvy. I thought I’d drop in and see how he’s getting on.’ She waved at Eli who was at the other end of the bar serving Jason.
Livvy said warmly, ‘Eli’s doing well, as you can see.’ They watched as he and Karl joked around at the glass washer. ‘What can I get you to drink?’
‘Cider please, a local one if poss. And a packet of salt and vinegar.’ Lucie leaned over the bar looking anxious. ‘And do you think I could have a word?’
‘Of course you can. Find a table and I’ll bring your drink over.’ Livvy watched Lucie speculatively as she found a table well away from anyone else. It was the table nearest the Christmas tree and most people avoided it claiming the sharp pine needles pricked. Lucie sat down, the lights playing over her bright hair. She still looked uneasy. Had she come to complain about Eli’s working conditions? If so, there was no possible basis. Eli was paid more than the minimum wage, all his food was included and, where possible, shifts were negotiable. Staff were looked after at The George. She poured half a cider, found the crisps and took them over to the table, along with a white wine for herself. ‘On the house,’ she said and sat down.
‘Ooh, thank you. It’s lovely in here.’ Lucie looked around appreciatively. ‘Eli said you’d done a good job, but you know what blokes are like, they don’t do the interior decorating deets. I couldn’t take in much the last time as it was rammed and I only came in here once when it was The Runaways. Had the atmosphere of a morgue. I love what you’ve done. It’s so much nicer.’
‘Well, I’m aiming for an atmosphere slightly more welcoming than a morgue.’
‘Soz.’ Lucie grinned. ‘I have a habit of speaking then thinking.’
‘Then I hope we’ll see you in here some more, maybe to eat? Our food’s really good, even though I say so myself.’
‘I’d love that.’ Lucie sipped her cider. ‘Eli waxes lyrical about your food. He pisses Mum off something rotten as he says she can’t cook anything like Fabio can.’
‘Oh dear. I’m sorry about that. It sounds as if Eli is happy working for me and certainly Karl says he’s a quick learner, even if he gets a bit flustered when we’re busy. Oh, and we have to nag him to put his phone away but that’s teenagers for you.’ Livvy took a measured sip of her wine, feeling it glide coolly down her throat. It had been busy tonight, and this was the first chance she’d had to sit down. ‘Forgive me, what have you come to complain about?’
‘Complain?’ Lucie looked shocked. ‘I haven’t come to complain. If anything, I’d like to thank you for giving Eli a chance. He’s been a bit,’ she paused, choosing her words carefully, ‘wildin the past. You and Tom Catesby up at the animal sanctuary are the only people who have shown any trust in him.’
Livvy nodded. ‘Tom gave Eli a good reference. Eli was quite upfront about what he’d done as a kid when we interviewed him.’
‘Oh. Good.’
‘It was joy-riding and vandalism, wasn’t it? A while ago now, though.’
Lucie nodded. ‘Mum was mortified about the whole thing. I mean, Eli’s growing up now, holding down two jobs, got a girlfriend – or did have, they’ve split up – but our family has a name in Lullbury Bay. We’re well known. It was awful for her.’
‘I can imagine. But, if Eli is sorting himself out – which I hope he is – why have you felt the need to check on him?’
‘Is Gerry coming in here to drink?’
‘Gerry? That’s your uncle, isn’t it?’
‘Technically a great uncle. He’s from the side of the family Mum and Dad don’t have anything to do with.’ Lucie bit herlip. ‘They’re not nice people. They don’t live in Lullbury Bay but come here to drink. They’ve already been banned from the other pubs in town.’
‘Thank you for the warning, then. I’ll make sure I keep an eye on Gerry and his gang.’ Livvy paused. ‘But why are you worried about Eli? You are, aren’t you?’
‘We are. Eli’s a basically good lad but he’s easily led. I don’t trust Gerry as far as I could throw him, and I worry he’ll be a bad influence on Eli.’
‘In what way?’
Lucie blew out a breath. ‘I don’t know. Anything.’ She flapped her hands. ‘Everything. As I said, Gerry doesn’t have anything to do with our branch of the family and vice versa so they haven’t crossed paths until now but when Eli came home after his shift the other night and told Mum his Uncle Gerry had been in, well, we feared the worst.’
‘What can I do to help?’
‘I don’t know really. Keep an eye on what’s happening, make sure Gerry isn’t up to anything. We know he deals, is into petty crime. As I said, he’s not a nice bloke.’
Livvy took Lucie’s hand. ‘I promise I’ll keep a watch out and I’ll get Karl to do the same. Karl and Eli work together all the time and I’d trust Karl with my life. He’ll look out for Eli.’
‘Hey, sis, what you doing up here?’ Eli approached their table. ‘This all looks very cosy. What’s going on?’ He looked suspicious.
