Page 10 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
‘No.’ She sighed. ‘The truth is, I’m over the hill andunemployed as of a month ago. Turns out it’s not a great combination.’
‘What happened?’
‘Oh…nothing worth talking about.’ She turned with her twobottles of wine clinking in a brown bag and started towards the door. Andbecause I was leaving anyway, I followed in her wake. I thought she might justleave the shop and walk away. But she stopped at the door. ‘I was – um – maderedundant,’ she said, staring down at the pavement.
‘Oh, I’m sorry. That must have been hard. So is the wine todrown your sorrows?’
She glanced at the bag. ‘Oh. No, no. I’ve got a couple offriends coming round tonight.’ She smiled up at me, and in a bemusing change ofsubject, asked, ‘You don’t know anyone who needs an accountant, do you?’
I looked at her. And I laughed at the ridiculous coincidenceof it. Because an accountant was probably the very thing Ididneed –two months ago, when I started the business…
She frowned. ‘Accountants aren’tthatamusing, arethey? I mean, I thought we were meant to be the most boring people in theworld.’
‘You? Boring? You seem to me like theleastyawn-inducingperson in the world!’
‘Why, thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.’ Shetwisted her mouth ruefully. ‘So why doyouneed a bar of chocolate thatenormous?’
Sighing, I explained about my cash flow problem and mydoomed business.
She thought for a moment, then she said, ‘So when you tookthe booking from Rosie and Daniel, did you request a payment up front?’
‘Erm, no. Was I supposed to?’
‘Well, that’s the usual way of doing things.’ She shrugged.‘In simple terms, if you’d asked for a deposit, you’d have the cash to pay forthe food.’
‘Oh. I really didn’t think I could do that. Ask for paymentin advance.’ My mind was reeling at this discovery. But Flo must know. She wasan accountant.
‘It’s…not too late to ask them.’ She looked at mespeculatively.
‘What, now? Two days before the wedding?’
‘Well, it’s either that or you’ll have to cancel. If yougive them the choice, I think I know which option they’ll go for.’
I nodded my head slowly. ‘The trouble is, I’ve wasted toomuch time. I’ll need to work day and night now to get everything done.’
‘No staff?’
I shook my head.
‘Well…I happen to know someone who’s desperate for a job.And she loves cooking as well.’
‘You?’
She nodded, grinning. ‘When the kids were growing up, JamieOliver was my best friend.’
I stared at her, thinking rapidly.
Flo shrugged. ‘I’m happy to help with the wedding feast.I’ll peel vegetables. Stir the soup. Whatever you need.’ She delved in her bag.‘Tell you what, here’s my card. Just cross out the bit that says accountant.’
I took the card she held out, my mind whirling. She’d givenme so much to think about. And she’d saved my bacon, in all likelihood.
I smiled at her. ‘I’m Jenny,’ I said. ‘And I’d love somehelp with this wedding.’
*****
When I got back to the house, I did what Flo hadsuggested. I phoned Rosie and Daniel to request a deposit. I was dreadingmaking the call, but Rosie, who answered, didn’t think it was in the least bitodd. In fact, she said they’d wondered if I’d simply forgotten to ask for apart-payment when they made the booking. She transferred the money straightaway, and first thing next morning, I went out and bought everything I needed.
I called Flo and she came round to help. And everything wasgoing well, until Rosie called to check I’d be able to cater for the twovegetarians who’d be attending the wedding.
