can change our return ferry
booking?” Doona asked.
“If not, we can always just drive down to
Heysham and stay in a hotel there,” Bessie suggested.
The waiters were busily refilling wine
glasses and serving the next course. Doona took a bite of chicken in a white wine sauce and sighed. “We can’t leave,” she said. “The food is too good.”
Bessie laughed. “The rest of the holiday will probably
feel quite dull after tonight’s excitement,” she said.
“I certainly hope so,” Doona said
emphatically.
The rest of the evening went more
smoothly. Various courses were
served as the wine flowed continually. By the time the puddings were being distributed, Bessie was feeling very
full and rather sleepy.
“I think I ate too much,” she said as she
finished the last bite of her crème caramel.
“I know I ate too much,” Doona replied. “And I drank too much as well, but at
least I haven’t thought about Charles for at least five minutes.” She giggled. “Oooops, I just thought about him,” she
told Bessie.
“I do hope you aren’t thinking fondly of
him,” Bessie said.
“No, I was thinking about stabbing him with
this spoon,” Doona said, holding up her spoon.
“I’m not sure you could do much damage with
a spoon.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m mad enough to kill him
with a spoon,” Doona countered.
“If I could have everyone’s attention,” Mai
said loudly from the centre of the room. “I want everyone to meet Nathan Beck, our chef. He’s responsible for all of the gorgeous
food you’ve enjoyed tonight.”
Mai gestured towards the thirty-something man
who was standing beside her. His
long dirty-blond hair was tied in a ponytail down his back. He smiled vaguely at the tables full of
people who were applauding politely. When the applause stopped, Mai nudged him.
“Oh, um, well, thank you for coming. I hoped you enjoyed the meal and I hope
to see all of you back again during your stay,” he said. He glanced around, then focussed his gaze on one of the waitresses.
“And, of course, my thanks to all the hardworking
wait staff, especially my beautiful wife, Monique.”
Bessie watched the pretty brunette blush
brightly.
“Yes, well, of course, everyone has worked
hard tonight,” Mai said, sounding annoyed. “Anyway, thanks again to Nathan.”
The guests clapped again, with somewhat less
enthusiasm. That seemed to mark the
end of the evening. Guests began to
gather up jackets and handbags and depart back to their cabins and cottages.
Bessie looked at Doona. “Ready to head back to our temporary home?”
she asked her.
“That’s probably a good idea,” Doona
replied. “If I stay here I might
just tell Charles a few things.”
“We should definitely go, then,” Bessie
said.
The pair stood up and picked up their
bags. They were nearly to the door
when Mai caught up to them.
“I do hope you enjoyed your evening,” she
said brightly.
“The food was delicious,” Bessie replied.
“And the entertainment was definitely
interesting,” Doona added dryly.
“Ms. Howe was a bit overwrought,” Mai
said. “She and her husband have
been having difficulties.”
“I’m sure her affair with Charles hasn’t
helped,” Doona shot back.
Mai flushed. “I don’t know anything about that,” she
said.
“I know far too much about that,” Doona told
her. “But what did Charles tell you
about me?”
“Oh, but, that is, I mean,” she looked
confused. “He said, but, well, I
don’t think, I mean, maybe I should let you get back to your accommodation. Do ring me if you need anything.”
The girl hurried away before Doona could do
anything more than shake her head. “What has Charles been telling them about me?” she demanded of Bessie.
“I’m sure I don’t know,” Bessie
replied. “And I’m also sure that
Mai isn’t going to tell you.”
“We’re here for a
booking?” Doona asked.
“If not, we can always just drive down to
Heysham and stay in a hotel there,” Bessie suggested.
The waiters were busily refilling wine
glasses and serving the next course. Doona took a bite of chicken in a white wine sauce and sighed. “We can’t leave,” she said. “The food is too good.”
Bessie laughed. “The rest of the holiday will probably
feel quite dull after tonight’s excitement,” she said.
“I certainly hope so,” Doona said
emphatically.
The rest of the evening went more
smoothly. Various courses were
served as the wine flowed continually. By the time the puddings were being distributed, Bessie was feeling very
full and rather sleepy.
“I think I ate too much,” she said as she
finished the last bite of her crème caramel.
“I know I ate too much,” Doona replied. “And I drank too much as well, but at
least I haven’t thought about Charles for at least five minutes.” She giggled. “Oooops, I just thought about him,” she
told Bessie.
“I do hope you aren’t thinking fondly of
him,” Bessie said.
“No, I was thinking about stabbing him with
this spoon,” Doona said, holding up her spoon.
“I’m not sure you could do much damage with
a spoon.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m mad enough to kill him
with a spoon,” Doona countered.
“If I could have everyone’s attention,” Mai
said loudly from the centre of the room. “I want everyone to meet Nathan Beck, our chef. He’s responsible for all of the gorgeous
food you’ve enjoyed tonight.”
Mai gestured towards the thirty-something man
who was standing beside her. His
long dirty-blond hair was tied in a ponytail down his back. He smiled vaguely at the tables full of
people who were applauding politely. When the applause stopped, Mai nudged him.
“Oh, um, well, thank you for coming. I hoped you enjoyed the meal and I hope
to see all of you back again during your stay,” he said. He glanced around, then focussed his gaze on one of the waitresses.
“And, of course, my thanks to all the hardworking
wait staff, especially my beautiful wife, Monique.”
Bessie watched the pretty brunette blush
brightly.
“Yes, well, of course, everyone has worked
hard tonight,” Mai said, sounding annoyed. “Anyway, thanks again to Nathan.”
The guests clapped again, with somewhat less
enthusiasm. That seemed to mark the
end of the evening. Guests began to
gather up jackets and handbags and depart back to their cabins and cottages.
Bessie looked at Doona. “Ready to head back to our temporary home?”
she asked her.
“That’s probably a good idea,” Doona
replied. “If I stay here I might
just tell Charles a few things.”
“We should definitely go, then,” Bessie
said.
The pair stood up and picked up their
bags. They were nearly to the door
when Mai caught up to them.
“I do hope you enjoyed your evening,” she
said brightly.
“The food was delicious,” Bessie replied.
“And the entertainment was definitely
interesting,” Doona added dryly.
“Ms. Howe was a bit overwrought,” Mai
said. “She and her husband have
been having difficulties.”
“I’m sure her affair with Charles hasn’t
helped,” Doona shot back.
Mai flushed. “I don’t know anything about that,” she
said.
“I know far too much about that,” Doona told
her. “But what did Charles tell you
about me?”
“Oh, but, that is, I mean,” she looked
confused. “He said, but, well, I
don’t think, I mean, maybe I should let you get back to your accommodation. Do ring me if you need anything.”
The girl hurried away before Doona could do
anything more than shake her head. “What has Charles been telling them about me?” she demanded of Bessie.
“I’m sure I don’t know,” Bessie
replied. “And I’m also sure that
Mai isn’t going to tell you.”
“We’re here for a
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