The Wife's Choice by Emma Davies

Author:Emma Davies [Emma Davies]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838886110
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-08-03T18:30:00+00:00

14

Esme looks as though she doesn’t know whether she wants to jump up and down with excitement or run and hide. One single mistake is all it would take. A dish over-seasoned, a sauce burned, a plate of food dropped and The Green Room’s opening night will be a disaster.

The press are due to arrive at any moment, and the rest of the guests in half an hour, so for now there are just the five of us standing in the kitchen. Where Sam is, I have no idea.

Nancy looks amazing – confident and assured – but then she’s the only one out of all of us who is used to events like these. Used to working a room with press and reporters, columnists and fellow chefs, even the odd celebrity. It’s not going to be quite as high-profile an event as it would be for The Green Room in London, but for Esme and Theo it may as well be. It’s their first taste of being under the spotlight.

‘And whatever else happens,’ says Nancy, ‘I want everyone to enjoy themselves.’

‘Easy for you to say,’ remarks Theo, sliding a look at Esme, who rolls her eyes.

‘Well of course it is,’ she counters. ‘We all know what we’re doing. And I have the best team there is: professional, committed and, above all, extremely talented. There’s nothing to go wrong.’ She winks. ‘Besides, tonight is a showcase event, so we’re well ahead of the game. And, as you know, preparation is everything and we are very well prepared.’

My eye is drawn to the counter tops where rows and rows of plates are laid out. The guests are all being served the same set course so everything that can be done in advance has been and the menu has been specifically chosen with this in mind.

Nancy checks her watch. ‘Right, I must go through, ready to meet and greet.’ She straightens her dress, breathing deeply. ‘Do I look all right?’

‘Gorgeous,’ answers Esme, turning to me. ‘And so do you, Mum.’ Her face is alight with happiness and my heart swells a little more. If only Hugh shared her sentiment. He’s only just stopped sulking, but he’s here and, as I glance at his smiling face, at least prepared to make an effort.

He looks around the kitchen. It’s the first time he’s even been to the restaurant. ‘So, you’re all prepared then,’ he says. ‘Everything under control?’

Esme nods, biting her lip a little now that Nancy has gone. ‘As we’ll ever be,’ she says. ‘Although maybe you should ask me that in half an hour…’ Her eyes flick to the huge clock on the wall. ‘Actually…’

I nod. ‘Yes, we should let you get on,’ I say. ‘You can’t begin to get yourselves organised if we’re hanging around.’ I touch a hand to Hugh’s sleeve. ‘Come on, let’s go and get a drink and leave them to it.’

Hugh follows me out into the main restaurant where there are already quite a few people gathered. I’d

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