Page 70 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
‘I’ll just finish me pint,’ Gerry slurred. He didn’t have time, his feet lifted off the ground as Karl took one arm and the newly arrived Darrell took the other.
‘You heard what Livvy said. You’re barred,’ Karl yelled. ‘We don’t want your sort in Lullbury Bay.’ To boos and applause, Gerry was ‘escorted’ out, his pals following on.
Livvy shook her head at Jason. ‘Why? Why would you do that?’
He raised one pale brow, shrugging carelessly. ‘Fun. Because I could. Because if word spread that you were serving obnoxious drunks other customers would stay away.’ He turned on Mark. ‘You’d better have firm evidence of all you’ve accused me of. You’ll be hearing from my solicitor first thing in the new year.’
Mark made a violent movement towards him but was blocked by Simona. ‘I’m not sure it’ll get that far, Jason sweetie,’ she said, gesturing to the room. ‘We have fifty or so witnesses to Gerry’s confession. As for the rest of it, we’ll hand over the evidence to the police and they’ll take it from there.’ She shrugged her thin shoulders. ‘And if it doesn’t reach court, I rather think it won’t matter. Your reputation in this town is shot, isn’t it, darling? I don’t think you’ll ever work in Lullbury Bay again.’
‘And the customers didn’t stay away, did they?’ Fabio suddenly spoke up. ‘We’ve been more or less solidly booked since we opened. People like what we do here, they like Livvy and the food and the welcome.’
‘We do!’ Austin yelled. ‘We liked the board games afternoon too.’ There were cheers.
‘The mince pies were delicious.’ This was from Aggie. ‘I had twelve.’
‘Oh, so our much-lauded chef speaks. Got anything else to add, Fabio, or should I say, Fred?’ Jason sneered. ‘About your role in my little scheme? I mean, after all, if we’re in the mood for confessions, we may as well have yours. Don’t you think your boss has a right to know who she employed?’
‘Fabio?’ Livvy turned to him. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
Fabio let loose a violent-sounding stream of Italian. ‘Bastardo.Si,I’ll come clean.’ He nodded urgently, then sucked in a breath, his nostrils flaring. He took Livvy’s hands. ‘It’s what I was trying to tell you earlier. Jason wants everyone evicted from the flats where my mama lives. It’s another of his redevelopment schemes. Only she’s refusing to leave. He said if I took this job, he’d hold off until she…’ he paused and swallowed, unable to say the words.
‘Oh, Fabio, that’s awful. But I don’t get it,’ Livvy was baffled. ‘I mean that’s a truly horrible, vile thing for him to say but–’ she let the sentence trail as understanding dawned. ‘You promised to sabotage the restaurant in return.’ Her eyes widened in shock and she felt her gorge rise. At her side, Angel sensed her distress and whimpered.
Fabio nodded hopelessly. ‘But, when it came to it, I couldn’t do it.’
‘Professional pride?’ Livvy couldn’t hide the derision. She didn’t believe him. She snatched her hands from his.
‘Of course. Livvy, I beg you to believe me. I couldn’t risk my reputation.’ He shrugged hopelessly. ‘I had ideas, made plans but I couldn’t see them through. I had my status as a chef to protect, yes, but it was more than that. Right from the start, Icame to admire what you were trying to do here.’ He looked at her from under thick dark lashes. ‘I came to admire… you.’
Livvy heard Simona give a little hiccough of distress.
‘Think it’s time you went, Jason,’ Mark said, hard steel in his voice. ‘Because if you don’t,’ at this he gazed speculatively at those behind him, the partygoers looked murderous, ‘I may not be able to guarantee your safety.’ Somehow Mark’s words, uttered with quiet warning, held more menace than if he’d yelled.
‘A lynch mob?’ Jason sneered.
Karl and Darrell took an arm each, ready to march him out, just as they had done with Gerry.
‘Get your hands off me,’ Jason bit out. ‘Or–’
‘Or what, Jason?’ Mark asked. ‘You’ll call the police? I think they’d be very interested in what we have to say.’
Muttering, Jason grabbed his Father Christmas coat and strode out. Karl and Darrell followed. The pub erupted into jeers and boos.
Livvy’s throat constricted with tears. It was too much. It was all too much. Her vision dimmed and she swayed. Vaguely aware of supporting hands leading her, she sank into a chair. In the distance she heard Brittany snap into action and say, ‘Party’s over, darlings. No more drama. Off you go. Time to go home. Oh look at the snow! Get home safe and Happy Christmas!’
CHAPTER 37
Hot strong tea with sugar – good for shock
Someone had made Livvy a cup of tea which she clutched to her. Angel was a heavy weight on her feet as they sat in front of the wood burner soaking up its comfort. Michael Bublé crooned in the background about it being a cold December night and the team, with a few stragglers, were tidying up the paper streamers and discarded party hats.
It felt as if Christmas had been and gone, had been a tremendous disappointment, and with only the emptiness of the in-between days to come. Livvy struggled to remember it was still actually only Christmas Eve. So much had happened.
‘Well, that was quite the night, kitten.’ Simona was keeping her company, nursing her own mug of tea. She gave her silvery laugh, but it came out high-pitched and brittle. ‘What a truly odious man. And there he was, dressed as Father Christmas too. Don’t think he’d recognise the Christmas spirit even if it jumped up and slapped him in the face like a wet haddock.’
Livvy managed a weak giggle.
‘I mean, I only know the story from the Muppet Christmas Carol, and Scrooge was the baddie in that, but at leasthecame good in the end. Don’t think the same will ever be said of Jason Lemmon.’
