Page 54 of Putting Down Roots
After a quick coffee and breakfast,I leave Anna and Luca in the kitchen and head out for a last check over everything. We’ve borrowed a small marquee from the village council for light refreshments for the few invited guests and press. The caterers are just arriving when I open the gates, and I wave them to the correct place. Ben and Keith have made some special cakes to celebrate, and Keith arrives to drop them off before returning to help Ben with the bakery before they close early. He promises he’ll see us later.
All too soon, it’s ten o’clock and people start arriving.
The next few hours go by in a whirl. I stay close to Luca, answering any questions he can’t answer about the plants—which aren’t many, as once the decision was made to open, he was in the garden a lot, helping, and asking questions himself.
He poses for a few press photos, but I try to stay out of them as much as possible. This is his day.
As the day wears on, I can see him relax. I guess being in front of people isn’t new to him, from the exhibitions he’s held.
The support from the village has been fantastic and I think most of them have turned out at some point. Darla declares she’s hosting a celebration party in The Arms that evening, and we promise to be there. I see Harlen, Ben, Keith, Len, Old Pete, and even Cole comes to say hello.
Later in the afternoon,I get a message that the caterers need help.
I check with Luca that he’ll be okay, and he nods his affirmation before I go to see what the problem is. The catering team have been extremely busy, and they’ve run out of water. I need to refill a couple of carriers up at the house.
CHAPTER 47
Luca
The day is going well.It’s not that much different from an exhibition, except that I’m explaining plants and garden design instead of my paintings. Jackson’s presence is solid, and I know I’m lucky to have him. He’s been helping if I forget something or don’t know it. Never intrusively, or by making me look ignorant. More than once I’ve murmured a thank you to him as we walk round. So I’m alright when he explains that he just needs to see to something with the caterers—everything’s been going smoothly and I feel at ease.
That is, until I see Claude in the throng of people.What is he doing here?
I finish answering the last question from a group and make my apologies, hoping to head over toward the marquee before he sees me.Too late.
“Luca darling,” he says, loud enough to turn heads, “My invite must have gotten lost in the post.”
I turn and face him.I can do this.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss.
“You know I’ve missed you?” Claude gives a grin and glances around. “Oooh, are you going to take me in the shrubbery?”
“You’re disgusting.”
Claude pouts. “You used to love my little jokes. What happened to you?”
“I grew up.” I flash back.
“I see you have,” Claude says icily.
“What is it you want, Claude?” I ask.
“Well, I’ve missed you and I came to see if we couldn’t make up. We always have before.”
“It’s been months and you haven’t once tried to get in touch, but now you come sniffing around just as my career is getting back on track? A career you ruined in the first place.”
“It was just one tiny review.”
“In the Sunday Times!”
“Nonsense.” He makes a shooing motion with his hand. “That’s all water under the bridge.”
What the fuck!
“Your review ruined my career.”
“Just a little lover’s tiff.”