stomach slumped with the thought that he’d obviously felt he couldn’t talk to her about it - after all, they’d been so close, hadn’t they?
Suddenly the ring tone from her mobile startled her and she saw his name on the screen – at the sound of his first hello she could feel her insides tingle. They chatted at first and he asked about Lisa and Sarah and then went on to tell her about the plight he was in.
“And to cap it all, there’s a food critic due in two days’ time to do an article in The Telegraph about the royal wedding banquet I’m planning. Jack reckons it’s make-or-break time…”
She could hear the anxiety and exhaustion in his voice and her heart melted. “But it’s hardly your fault he was in a car accident,” she said comfortingly.
“I know, but that’s not the way he sees it,” he stressed. “As head chef I’m in charge and supposed to be able to cope with any eventuality. And trust me, I’ve rung every agency in London - there’s just no one available…”
She jibed. “Er, you haven’t tried my culinary business? I know a great home economist, called Chrissie, who is looking for the odd day’s work and, I know I’m not a trained chef but I can cook and would willingly come to help on the day the critic is visiting. Well, that’s if you want me to?”
She heard his sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line.
“You would?” he croaked. “Jeez, Kate, after everything that’s happened between us you would still come to help me?”
She could imagine the look on his face and how his eyes would have softened when he tilted his head to one side. He was the type of man that would never ask for help outright but he was also a man of integrity and she could hear the appreciation and respect in his voice.
Now she knew it was best to lighten the mood. “Well, you would do it for me, wouldn’t you?” she teased. “And, I haven’t told you how much I’m charging you, yet!”
He blundered, “Anything, name your price and I know Jack will pay it.”
They teased each other light-heartedly and laughed together while they agreed a price and arranged the hours she could do on Friday. She gave him Chrissie’s mobile number and asked him to email the recipes over to her for the fish starters and main courses so she could look over them before getting there.
Her hand was trembling when she clicked her mobile off and the reality of what she’d just done started to sink in. Her stomach was doing treble somersaults at the thought of seeing him again! It’s not a date though, she reminded herself because she knew she would be working hard, but couldn’t stop longing for Friday – she simply couldn’t wait.
That night Sarah had asked her and Lisa for dinner and as soon as she walked into Sarah’s kitchen she knew by the look on her face that this was it. This was the start of a life Sarah had been dreaming for - she looked totally different already. The happiness seemed to shine from her body and to say her eyes were sparkling was an understatement.
“It’s official,” Lisa said lounging on the settee. “Sarah’s in lurve…”
Katie offered to help with dinner but was shooed away and flopped down next to Lisa who was making the gesticulation of someone vomiting.
“OK. Here’s the deal,” Lisa said. “You can have thirty minutes to tell us all about the wonderful Simon but only thirty minutes and not a second longer.”
Sarah giggled like a schoolgirl. “It won’t take that long,” she said, “I’ve only known him one day and four hours of one night.”
“Oh no,” Katie teased, “we’ve got the time counted already.”
Sarah placed a pot of beef curry and a large bowl of rice in the centre of the table and both Katie and Lisa scrambled to their feet and sat down at the table. Sarah told them everything about him, what they’d talked about, how he’d made her feel, how he was probably the best kisser she’s ever known and how he seemed to want all the same things she did.
“And he’s sent three texts today already and I just can’t wait to see him tomorrow night,” she bubbled with excitement.
“Enough!” Lisa yelled. “You’ve had well over your time and there’s only so much slush I can cope with in one night.” But all three