The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [105]
‘No,’ answered Julia firmly. ‘You're perfect for the job and I just know it's the right thing. You'll be great.’
‘I've never taken on such a big commitment.’ Liv made a face. ‘I suppose it's about time, though. At least Dad'll be pleased.’
‘He'll be over the moon. We'll text him.’
They went out together and Liv climbed into her car and drove away. Some instinct made her pull over into a gateway and fish out her mobile: no signal. She drove on slowly, keeping one eye on her phone, and then stopped again as soon as the signal showed. She keyed Matt's number, waited. At the sound of his voice she was seized with a mixture of relief and excitement.
‘Well, I've finally done the deed,’ she told him. ‘I've given in my notice.’
‘That's fantastic.’ His voice was jubilant. ‘You won't regret it, Liv. I just know that this is going to be so good.’
She laughed at his delight. ‘It had better be. So what happens next?’
‘Champagne,’ he answered at once. ‘Soon. Where shall we meet?’
‘You tell me,’ she said. ‘Cornwall's crawling with emmets. Have you any ideas?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Actually, I have. Somewhere very special. I shall take you to Aqua. It's a restaurant owned by a friend of mine, Richard Smithson, down on the Welsh Back in Bristol and you haven't lived until you've tasted his Done to Death Duck. As a matter of fact, I'd like to talk to Richard. He's planning to open a second restaurant in Walcott Street in Bath. It's going to be called Aqua Italia. Rather like us calling our new project The Place Upstairs, isn't it? Richard might be able to give us a few ideas.’
‘Fine. But Bristol? Isn't that rather a long way to go for champagne?’
‘Not a bit. You'll love Richard. And it'll be fun driving back in the dark. I love driving in the dark, don't you? Lovely empty, quiet roads. I get my best ideas driving about in the car.’
‘So do I,’ she said, surprised. ‘OK. Let me know when Richard can fit us in.’
‘I will. And thanks, Liv. I can't tell you how very pleased I am.’
She switched off her phone. Filled with excitement and with new resolve she drove back to Penharrow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
2004
Julia went back into the house and ran upstairs to the loo. She was washing her hands when she heard the car: perhaps Liv had forgotten something. Frobisher barked and she dried her hands, combed her hair and went out on to the landing. Someone was moving about downstairs.
‘Hello. Is that you, Liv?’ she called as she came out. At the bottom of the stairs in the sitting-room she came face to face with Cat. ‘Oh, my God,’ she gasped.
‘Hello, Mrs Bodrugan.’ Cat smiled, easy and friendly, as if she were in the habit of wandering in without knocking. ‘Just thought I'd see if anyone was around. Andy said to send his love if I saw you. I called but you didn't answer and the back door was open so I came in. The dog barked but he didn't seem to object too much.’
She touched Frobisher lightly on the head but he was already turning away, going back to the kitchen. Julia's heart jumped and hammered. She hadn't seen Cat since the children's schooldays and it was as if time had swung backwards and Angela had walked in: thin as a pin, chic in black linen. Julia believed that she'd seen a ghost.
‘I didn't hear you,’ she said. ‘Well, I heard the car. I thought it was Liv coming back. Didn't you see her? You must have passed her.’
Cat's smile widened but she didn't answer and Julia felt inexplicably frightened. In her mind's eye she saw the bag still hanging on the chair in the kitchen; Cat had walked straight past it. She knew exactly why Cat had come and she swallowed in a suddenly dry throat whilst managing to smile.
‘You should have telephoned,’ she said. ‘You're looking very well. Would you like some coffee?’
‘Thanks.’ Cat followed Julia into the kitchen. ‘Mum said to say “Hi” if I saw you. I'm staying with her for a few days. When I said I was going over to Rock she said to drop in, just in case you were around, to say hello.’
Julia pushed the kettle on to the hot plate