Page 59 of Chocolate Cake for Breakfast
It’s all about my story on the Swan Hotel website. It’sbecome a talking point, apparently, and people are desperate to know how thetale will end... whether it will be a happy ending for myhero and heroine!
I laugh incredulously. ‘It says here it even trended onTwitter the other day, although how on earth that happened, I’ve no idea.’
‘Maybe you should sign up to Twitter and find out,’ suggestsDad.
I frown. ‘I’m an Instagram girl, Dad.’
‘I know, but... this is all reallyexciting.’
Reading on, feeling quite dazed, I find a quote from Katrinasaying that my story is ‘brilliant and everyone should read it’. She adds, ‘Ican’t wait to find out how it ends.’
‘This is just weird. And amazing,’ I conclude, flopping onthe sofa and reading the story over again. ‘It’s such great publicity for the CelestialCafe.’
‘When does it open?’
‘Week after next.’
‘Have you finished the story yet?’
‘No, so I’d better get a move on!’
*****
‘Have you seen the story in the paper?’ asks Katrina whenshe phones that afternoon. ‘I couldn’t believe it.’
‘Me neither. So did a journalist contact you to get thestory?’
‘He phoned the hotel wanting to speak to you, and when herealised you were on holiday, he asked to speak to someone who knew you well,and that was me. I hope you don’t mind me saying all those things about you?’
‘No, of course not. You said only very complimentary thingsabout me.’
‘Phew! That’s good. I was worried me and my big mouth hadgone a step too far.’
I laugh. ‘Honestly, it’s fine.’
‘Actually, Martha...’ She hesitates. ‘Thereason I’m phoning is because the journalist – Billy Bostwick, he’s called –would like to interview you personally. So I said I’d phone you to check it’ssomething you want to do.’
‘Oh. Right. Does he want to come here, then?’
‘Well, no. That’s the thing. He’d like to interview you inthe Celestial Cafe. Talk about that hotly-anticipated ending to your story.Take some photos of the place where it’s set, that kind of thing.’
‘But the café’s not finished yet, is it?’
‘Actually, it pretty much is. I saw it yesterday. Honestly,I couldn’t believe it. It’s amazing.’
‘So... is this something the manager’shappy for me to do?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Right. Well, when does this Bobby Bostwick want to meet?’
‘Um... tonight.’
‘Tonight?’ I squeak. ‘But... if I’m goingto be in the paper, I need to find something nice to wear.’
‘I’m sure you’ll manage. What about that lovely greeny-bluedress you wore for your interview?’
‘You saw me that day?’
