Page 115 of For Love or Money
‘Yeah, I’m fine, thanks,’ she said, trying to shake herself out of her trance. She felt so hollow.
‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’ His eyes were wide with concern.
‘Just some bad news,’ she said, putting her phone on the table as she sat opposite him.
‘Oh?’
‘Yeah, that was ... an old friend of mine. His father just died.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. You were fond of him?’
‘What?’
‘Your friend’s father?’
‘Oh.’ She smiled crookedly. ‘Not really. He wasn’t a very nice man.’
‘Oh.’ Rafe looked confused.
‘Hereallydidn’t like me. Always had it in for me, in fact. But he was a big part of my childhood, I guess.’
‘Right.’ Rafe still looked baffled – understandably.
‘And he wasn’talwaysawful to me. I remember one day – I must have been about seven. It snowed, and he took me and my—my friend tobogganing. I fell on the ice and split my ear open, and he bought me a packet of Maltesers.’ Her eyes welled up at the memory, and she blinked away tears.
‘He bought you a packet of sweets? Big deal!’
She gave him a small smile. ‘My childhood wasn’t very happy,’ she said, shrugging. ‘I guess it makes the little things stand out.’ Besides thatwasa big deal for her father. She knew it was pathetic that she was still touched by such a small act of kindness, but she couldn’t help it.
That day was her best memory of her father. Dan’s too. They talked about it sometimes – the fun, playful side of him that they’d fleetingly glimpsed as they hurtled down the snowy hillside together, squealing with delight. He’d made them the sled that morning from an old crate, and he’d laughed with them as they tumbled in the snow, cheering when they made it to the bottom of the hill without falling off. They always wondered where that affectionate, indulgent man had been up to that point; where he’d disappeared to again afterwards.
‘So, are you going to the funeral?’ Rafe asked.
‘No. I’m not that close to the family anymore.’
There was a charged silence between them, and Rafe was looking at her strangely. She’d said too much, she thought – somehow without really saying anything, she’d said too much.
‘Well, I’d better go and get ready,’ she said, getting up. ‘Lesley will be here soon. There are cakes to be eaten.’
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ Rafe narrowed his eyes at her.
‘Yeah. I’m fine. I’ll see you later.’
38
Lesley groaned with pleasure through a mouthful of vegan chocolate cake. ‘Oh my God!’ she said when she’d swallowed. ‘Sorry you have to see my sex face at this hour of the day, but this is amazing!’
Stella laughed as she licked lavender icing off her fingers. ‘It’s really good, isn’t it?’
‘I think this is the one! And I mean that in the truest sense. Honestly, I’d marry this cake.’
‘It’s so beautiful too.’ Stella sighed.
Lesley looked at the picture in the big book of cakes on the table in front of them. It was stunning – four tiers of dark chocolate sponge, decorated with delicate lavender piping, the whole topped with fresh roses. It was all vegan anyway, but Emma, the baker, had assured Stella she was happy to tweak any aspect of the recipe or decoration to her specifications.
‘Well, that’s another job done, then?’ Lesley asked, picking up her tablet.
Stella nodded. ‘It seems like an obscene amount to spend on a cake, though, doesn’t it?’
