The Summer Seaside Kitchen Page 7

  Flora straightened up and looked at him with narrowed eyes, not wanting to let her sudden relief show too much. She had enough annoying males patronising her around here; she certainly didn’t need another one.

  She shrugged.

  ‘If you like,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, if I like. If I like. Well, that’s very gracious of you.’

  He looked outside.

  ‘We’ll wait till the sheeting rain stops, I think. No point in giving us all hypothermia.’

  He glanced over to where the children were gently patting the dog. Bramble had finally settled and was stretched out, his breathing slowing. He looked like he was going to sleep. Flora’s brow furrowed.

  ‘He’ll be all right,’ said Charlie. ‘Looks more like a bad sprain than a break; it hasn’t swollen. He’s just falling asleep, don’t worry.’

  ‘I knew that,’ said Flora. There was a silence. Flora knew she was behaving badly towards someone who was clearly trying to help her, but somehow her bad mood today was infecting everything and she didn’t know how to get out of it.

  They sat staring at the rain.

  ‘So, what, you do Outward Adventures for children in howling storms?’ said Flora eventually, when it became clear that Charlie was perfectly happy with silence for as long as it took for the rain to stop.

  He shrugged. ‘Weather’s all part of it, isn’t it? We’ll put our tents up in here if it doesn’t let up, although I’d rather we were outside. Can’t light a fire in here.’

  ‘Isn’t it a bit miserable?’

  ‘You think we should all be in five-star hotels?’

  ‘For holidays, I would think so.’

  Charlie shook his head. They were well out of earshot of the children, who were still being unusually quiet.

  ‘Neh. Not for these ones.’

  ‘Who are they?’ said Flora. They looked like such mites, some of them.

  Charlie shrugged. ‘They’ve all got a parent in prison. At least one. This is a chance for them to get away from everything… well. A lot of them have all sorts going on. There’s a charity that sends them to us.’

  Flora was incredibly taken aback.

  ‘Oh,’ she said quietly. ‘I didn’t realise.’

  ‘Why should you?’ said Charlie. ‘They’re just kids.’

  Flora blinked.

  ‘They look like they’ve had it tough.’

  ‘Some of them, aye. Very tough. A few nights under canvas, even if it is raining, isn’t the worst thing. This is their first night. Wait till you see them in a few days. You won’t recognise them. They’re not sure what’s going on yet.’ He smiled. ‘Once we get the fire lit, things warm up.’

  ‘Is it just you?’

  ‘Oh no, I’ve got a partner. She’s gone down to get extra waterproofs. Normally I’d send the kids to help, but I don’t want anyone with bronchitis.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Flora, wondering who this saint was out in the rain getting waterproofs for underprivileged children when she herself had been having a temper tantrum about nobody liking her dinner. ‘I’m Flora, by the way.’

  ‘Charlie.’ He reintroduced himself. ‘Nice to meet you.’

  They shook hands again. His hand was rough and weathered, and large, like the rest of him. There was something solid about him. She could see if you were a child far from home, you’d trust him straightaway.

  ‘So how come you get to be the one sheltering in the cave?’

  Charlie shrugged

  ‘We take turns. Plus, this is a lads’ session. They need a bit of time with a chap. They tend not to see very many.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ said Flora.

  ‘Ah. A lot of them have no dad at home. Female teachers, female social workers; sometimes the first time they come in contact with a man is through the police service. Or a gang.’

  He got up then and headed back to see what the children were doing with the dog. Quickly he sent two of them out to gather branches, and when they came back, wet and giggly, he showed them how to make a makeshift field stretcher, using a tarpaulin from his backpack and giving them all pieces of rope to practise knots on. In no time, they’d rigged up something entirely passable; now the only challenge was getting Bramble onto it. Finally relaxed, he had fallen asleep licking his paw.

  Charlie opened up his first aid kit.

  ‘What are you doing?’ said Flora.

  ‘Trying to work out the right dose of ibuprofen for a dog. He is quite fat, you know.’

  ‘You said,’ said Flora. She frowned. ‘You do this all the time?’

  ‘Oh no. We take lots of management dickheads too, don’t worry. Helps us afford to have this lot.’

  Flora smiled. Charlie peered outside.

  ‘I think it’s clearing up.’

  ‘It is not clearing up!’

  ‘Anything that isn’t stair rods is still fighting weather, I reckon.’

  He turned round to the group of lads.

  ‘Who’s hard enough?’

  The boys all cheered.

  ‘Who reckons they can get the dog down the hill to the vet’s?’

  ‘ME! Me, sir! Let me! I’ll do it!’

  ‘Don’t let him do it, he’ll drop the bloody dog like he dropped his sandwiches!’

  ‘I didn’t drop my sandwiches!’

  The group collapsed in laughter at some hapless freckled soul up the front, who had turned bright pink.

  ‘Settle down,’ said Charlie in a voice that brooked no argument. ‘Right, lad, what’s your name again?’

  ‘Ethan,’ whispered the boy. He had a drawn look, and shadows under his eyes that didn’t belong in one so young.

  ‘Did they taste all right, those sandwiches?’

  ‘Yeah, if you like mud!’ shouted someone.

  ‘Oi!’ said Charlie. ‘Enough!’

  He bent down to the little fellow.

  ‘Look,’ he said. ‘It’s going to get dark soon. This animal is injured and we have to rescue him. It’ll be wet and heavy and difficult.’

  He paused.

  ‘Can you help me?’

  The boy nodded fiercely.

  Charlie knelt by the dog’s head with a couple of ibuprofen.

  ‘He won’t eat those,’ said Flora, who had long memories of her mother attempting to worm Bramble.

  ‘He will in this,’ said Charlie, crushing them into a Kendal mint cake. Sure enough, Bramble snoozily opened a bloodshot eye and lazily licked up the treat without even noticing.

  ‘That’ll help him out. Okay, lads.’

  Charlie pointed out a few others to help Ethan – none, Flora noticed, of the ones who’d made fun of him – and the chosen group moved carefully to line the stretcher.

  ‘Come on,’ said Charlie, and he and Flora knelt down to roll the dog on to the tarpaulin.

  ‘This dog is —’

  ‘Too fat. Yes, you said,’ said Flora. ‘Thanks once again, Captain Do-Gooder.’

  He eyed her up.

  ‘That’s a new one. Normally people are generally quite grateful when I help them out up a mountain.’

  ‘Are they?’ said Flora, who was cold and hungry and thoroughly ungrateful. She thought about it. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Don’t mention it,’ said Charlie drily.

  Bramble scuffled a little on the stretcher, but Flora soothed him. Charlie took off his belt, and Flora watched in astonishment as he put it gently round Bramble’s rotund middle to attach him to the stretcher.

  The rain was definitely moving on now, and it was possible to see down the mountain to the little harbour nestled in its embrace; the fields that led almost down to the dunes; the water chopping up in the firth.

  ‘Time to go,’ said Charlie. ‘Right, boys. On my count, lift gently and slowly…’

  Just as the boys were readying themselves, a shadow fell across the cave entrance. Flora blinked. There stood a large woman – not fat, just a presence; a suggestion of broad shoulders and a strong chin. Her waterproof hood was pulled and kno
tted tight around her head; a stray drop of water was hanging off her nose.

  ‘All done,’ she announced cheerily. ‘Tomorrow you’ll all be helping, rain or shine. We’re only taking pity on you because it’s your first day. And it’s nearly time for mud rounders!’

  The boys cheered. The woman blinked as she caught sight of Flora.

  ‘Who are you?’ she said. ‘We don’t have any parental accompaniment, I think we made that quite clear.’

  ‘Oh no, I’m —’

  ‘And if you’re an inspector, we need two weeks’ notice in writing, not that it would matter when you turn up, because our standards of service are perfect.’

  Flora blinked again.

  ‘No, I’m —’

  ‘She’s just a daft lassie whose dog’s hurt its paw,’ said Charlie. ‘Look at her shoes.’

  The woman did so, and burst out laughing.

  ‘Oh, right,’ she said. ‘Are you helping out?’ Her tone changed when she talked to Charlie or the boys.

  ‘Yes, Jan!’ they shouted.

  ‘Well, that’s great,’ she said. ‘You head down the mountain, then come straight back up; we have a lot of sausages to eat!’

  She didn’t look at Flora again.

  Chapter Twelve

  The boys were, Flora had to admit, incredibly helpful and careful as they threaded the stretcher down the trickier parts until they once more reached the dirt path. Bramble obviously realised they were trying to do right by him, as he didn’t thrash about too much, and didn’t seem to mind the belt. Flora gently skritched his ears when she could and whispered sweet nothings, mostly about sanctimonious Outward Adventures teachers who thought they knew everything. Her wet shoes squelched on the path.

  As they approached the farm, she yelled to Fintan, who was crossing the path to feed the chickens, and he waved back and came towards her.

  ‘What the hell happened to Bramble?’ he said, his expression concerned. ‘What did you do to him, Flora?’

  ‘I didn’t do anything to him!’ said Flora indignantly. ‘He tried to climb a waterfall, despite being the dog equivalent of seventy-five years old! He’s an idiot!’

  Fintan looked at Charlie, slightly bashfully, Flora noticed.

  ‘Hi, Charlie,’ he said. ‘Sorry about this. What did my sister do?’

  ‘She’s your sister?’ said Charlie. ‘God. You look nothing alike.’

  ‘I’m right here,’ said Flora.

  ‘Thank God you were up there,’ said Fintan. ‘Did she really wander up in sandshoes? Poor Bramble.’

  ‘I think it’s just a sprain,’ said Charlie. ‘He’ll probably be right as rain in the morning.’

  The boys had gently laid the stretcher down.

  ‘Thanks, lads,’ said Fintan. ‘Do you want a…?’

  ‘A what?’ said Flora.

  Fintan’s face creased.

  ‘Oh,’ he said quietly. ‘I was going to say “a piece of cake”, but we don’t have any.’

  There were very few days when there hadn’t been a fruit cake standing underneath its covering, waiting for passing guests. The boys looked up expectantly.

  ‘There’s a packet of Hobnobs in my room,’ said Flora reluctantly. She’d been hiding them to keep them out of her brothers’ clutches; she still didn’t trust them. ‘Hang on.’

  ‘No worries,’ said Charlie. ‘We’ve got a nutritious supper up the mountain for them. They live off sugar as it is.’

  ‘Awww,’ said one of the boys, but even as he said it, Flora could see he was missing a tooth.

  ‘Okay then.’

  ‘Want a cup of tea? Or a wee dram?’ said Fintan.

  ‘Not while I’m working,’ said Charlie. ‘No, I’d better get these guys back up the hill. It’s getting pretty late.’

  ‘It is,’ said Fintan.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Flora. The men nodded.

  ‘Bye now,’ said Charlie, but he was talking to Bramble. He patted the dog gently, then he and the boys turned and headed back up the mountain through the softly falling twilight rain.

  ‘You calmed down from your little paddy then?’ said Fintan.

  Back in the kitchen, everything was still a complete tip; nothing was washed up, and food was congealing on plates and in saucepans. Flora looked at it and closed her eyes briefly. She put Bramble in his bed next to the range, where, exhausted from his ordeal, he immediately fell asleep. Then she headed off to her bedroom.

  Fintan shouted after her.

  ‘If you were looking for those Hobnobs, me and Hamish ate them.’

  ‘I like Hobnobs,’ said Hamish. ‘Buy more Hobnobs, Flora.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘How is this your job, though?’ Lorna groaned the next day. ‘You sit around and get paid for literally absolutely nothing.’

  ‘I’m waiting for the client,’ said Flora. ‘I’m at his beck and call. And at the moment it’s all beck and no call.’

  ‘Can you get this coffee on expenses?’

  ‘I can,’ said Flora, looking down at the Harbour’s Rest’s offering in disgust. ‘I don’t think I will, though. Out of respect to the concept of coffee.’

  She looked around.

  ‘Does Colton Rogers ever come in here?’

  Lorna snorted. ‘Seriously, I don’t think he’s here at all. Nobody sees him.’

  Old Maggie, who was a stalwart of Mure’s social scene and sat on the town council, leaned over.

  ‘He sucks money out of this community,’ she sniffed, ‘and gives nothing back. He takes all our beauty and our natural advantages… and he spends no money here.’

  Lorna glanced at Flora, who shook her head fiercely. She didn’t want Maggie to know Colton was her client.

  ‘He’s like the invisible man,’ said Lorna. ‘You’d think he’d pop in for a pint.’

  ‘I don’t think Americans do that,’ said Flora. ‘I think they just like wheatgrass shots.’

  Maggie blinked.

  ‘Well,’ she said.

  She leaned over again.

  ‘It’s good to see you back, dearie. For the summer?’

  ‘Um, no, just… just popping in,’ said Flora.

  ‘Your dad will be pleased.’

  ‘You’d think,’ said Flora mournfully.

  ‘Oh well,’ said Lorna, wary of Flora getting morose again. ‘We’re happy to see you.’

  ‘Quite right,’ said Maggie. ‘And will you be dancing again? I’m sure Mrs —’

  ‘No,’ said Flora shortly.

  Maggie and Lorna exchanged looks.

  ‘Hello!’ a loud voice called from the door.

  The girls turned around. Standing there was a large, hearty-looking woman Flora didn’t recognise at first.

  ‘LORNA!’ the woman boomed.

  ‘Jan,’ said Lorna, with none of her normal bouncy friendliness. Flora realised it was the woman from the hill in the rain. ‘How are things?’

  ‘Not bad, not bad.’

  Lorna looked rather dejected, Flora thought.

  ‘Jan, have you met Flora?’

  ‘No,’ said Jan.

  ‘Actually, hi, we met yesterday?’ said Flora tentatively.

  The woman squinted.

  ‘Oh YES!’ she bellowed. ‘You’re the sulky one! Can you believe she marched up the fell without any proper shoes?’

  ‘Well, she’s lived on it for nearly thirty years,’ said Lorna mildly. ‘I think she’s probably allowed.’

  ‘Would have died if we hadn’t found her.’

  ‘I so wouldn’t have,’ said Flora crossly.

  ‘Those mountains are dangerous.’

  ‘Yes, I know that, thanks, seeing as I was born and bred here.’

  Jan sniffed.

  ‘Really? Because you look like a city-dweller to me.’

  ‘Oh thanks,’ said Flora, then was annoyed because she’d taken it as a compliment.

  ‘Are you having a good trip?’ said Lorna quickly.

  ‘Well, obviously we have huge respons
ibilities to our less fortunate friends,’ boomed Jan. ‘Which of course is why we were thinking… have you thought any more about taking some of the children on at the school?’

  ‘I’ve explained before,’ said Lorna. ‘We’d be absolutely delighted to have any of your children. But they need to live here. Their parents or guardians need to apply.’

  ‘They can’t!’ said Jan. ‘They don’t have the capability!’

  ‘Well, how can I take them, then? Be reasonable. I can’t run a boarding school.’

  ‘It would do them the world of good.’

  ‘I’m sure it would. But Scotland doesn’t have state boarding, and even if it did, we don’t have the facilities, and even if we did, we can’t find the staff…’

  Lorna was looking increasingly dismayed.

  ‘Jan, any time you want to bring them over for a week in term-time, we’d be more than happy to welcome them.’

  ‘They need more than that,’ said Jan.

  ‘I’m sure they do,’ said Lorna. ‘I’m just sorry we’re not able to provide it.’

  ‘Another door slammed in their faces,’ said Jan, and left with an aggrieved sniff.

  ‘She seems mean,’ said Flora.

  ‘Oh, she’s all right,’ said Lorna. ‘Runs Outward Adventures for underprivileged children. Thinks it gives her the right to bully everyone who doesn’t do that.’

  ‘I know, I met her other half.’

  ‘Charlie? He’s all right. And pretty hot for a Wester. Jan just feels that anyone who isn’t trying to save the world all the time is morally lacking.’

  ‘That must get tiresome.’

  ‘She’s good at what she does, though.’

  ‘Maybe I should get her to take the boys,’ said Flora gloomily. ‘Teach them how to look after themselves for a few days.’

  ‘Are you making the tea again?’

  Flora sighed.

  ‘If I don’t do it, nobody does,’ she said. ‘They just eat sausages every night. They’re all going to die of coronary artery disease. So. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it, though.’