knew it wouldn’t be a waste of time, so I put my head down and did the work, I learned about writing a business plan, managing finances, competitors, research and marketing. What I wasn’t overly sure about was that I wanted to work towards owning a restaurant. I’d been in the environment, seen the stress, and I wasn’t convinced I was cut out for it. It seemed one giant leap too far.’
She listened as he told her all about a joint hen and stag do in Bruges that had been a whole lot of fun but had also made him start to wonder about the alternatives to becoming a chef and having a restaurant.
‘I began to think smaller – greasy spoon, a sandwich shop, even a food truck, which appealed because of the freedom of going around festivals or funfairs. But I kept thinking about the waffles and the workshop I’d taken part in when we were in Bruges and that was the idea that really struck a chord with me.
‘And now you have The Little Waffle Shack.’ She smiled, looking around. ‘The idea went from a boozy weekend to all of this. You must be thrilled with the way it’s looking.’
‘I sure am. And I’ve gone into this prepared – with my eyes wide open, if you like.’
‘The only way to be in business.’
‘Cheers to that.’ He lifted his empty bottle to hers. ‘Wine would be better for a toast but these will have to do for now.’
Lucy was about to ask him more about the life he’d had away from Heritage Cove, see if their friendship was already as solid as she felt it was, when there was a knock at the door to the shack.
Daniel groaned but not when he saw his mum peering in through the window. ‘Only she can get away with being so nosy,’ he grinned to Lucy. ‘Anyone else and I’d tell them to bugger off,’ he added before he went to answer the door.
Lucy wondered whether he meant he’d get rid of other people because the business wasn’t open or because he wanted to spend time with just her. She really hoped it was the latter. And it gave her even more impetus to end this sham with Julian in the new year. It wasn’t right and it kept her tethered to him indefinitely, which wasn’t exactly the clean break she’d been looking for.
‘What are you doing wandering around in the dark?’ Daniel asked Carol after he ushered her inside, out of the cold.
‘I’ve come to see the tree, of course. You know I like to see it lots in December, to be out with other people in the village getting excited about Christmas coming.’ She leaned around his form to see he had company. ‘Hello, Lucy, good to see you.’
‘Good to see you too,’ she smiled, leaving the table and coming over to chat. ‘The tree is beautiful, isn’t it?’ she confirmed, both of them looking out of the window, across the green space to the impressive marking of another Christmas in Heritage Cove.
‘Do I smell waffles?’ Carol asked.
Daniel winked at Lucy. ‘Your cold has obviously gone, Mum. And, yes, you do. Lucy has been helping me test out some flavour combinations.’
‘Rather you than me, Lucy. Who knows what he’s already done to my waistline? Thank goodness he’s found someone else to taste-test.’
‘Did you see the light on?’ Daniel asked.
‘Of course I did – I don’t often lurk around empty shacks. And I’d knocked on the door to your place; you weren’t there so it was either the pub or here.’
Lucy took her coat from the back of a chair and pulled it on, dismissing Carol’s concerns she’d interrupted. ‘No, it’s fine. I should be off home. I still haven’t written my Christmas cards and it’s on my to-do list for tonight. Every year I try to do them on December 1st and I don’t think I’ve ever succeeded. Thanks for the waffles,’ she smiled over at Daniel.
He towered over his mum and when his gaze met hers, told her, ‘Anytime.’
She left them to it. As well as Daniel being cautious over sharing too much about himself with anyone else, she knew family tension for the Luddingtons ran high and she didn’t much fancy getting in the middle of it, especially when she saw Harvey by the tree. Something told her that Carol may well have engineered this meeting of the brothers and she had to hand it to the woman