Chapter Ten

P icking up her knife and fork, Robyn cut through a roast potato before savouring the perfectly cooked and seasoned potato. This, getting lunch at the pub, had been a great idea of Elsie’s. She hadn’t had a roast in months. There never seemed much point in making one for herself. Before her flatmate got with her current partner, Robyn would make one for the both of them but now, well, she was either out at his or ordering takeaways, so Robyn only enjoyed one every once in a while when Cathy invited her over to hers.

But this... She took another bite. This was delicious. So much better than anything she could even dream of cooking. As she savoured the flavours, Robyn glanced around the pub. The tables were packed full of people, most enjoying the pub’s Christmas menu and eating a roast too by the looks of it. People laughed and chattered away whilst an open fire at one end of the pub roared and emitted a welcome warmth.

She’d been lucky to get a place at the bar. And she didn’t mind sitting at the bar. She quite enjoyed overhearing snippets of conversations between punters and the landlord, Gerald.

‘How is it?’ Gerald nodded towards her as he picked up a cloth and began wiping spilt lager from the highly polished wooden bar.

Swallowing, she grinned. ‘Delicious. The best roast I’ve had in a very long time.’

‘Fantastic. That’s what I like to hear.’ He grinned. ‘I’ll be sure to pass your compliments onto the chef. I’d drag him out here, but he’s dealing with a drinks delivery at the moment.’

‘Please do.’ She stabbed a carrot with her fork. ‘Is it always this busy?’

‘Ah, not usually.’ Gerald tapped his finger against a menu standing upright in front of the tap handles. ‘Special Christmas menu came in last week, so we’re booked out pretty much all day every day. That, and it being a Saturday, people are getting together with friends and family before Christmas.’

‘Ah, family Christmas dinners.’ Glancing behind, Robyn rolled her eyes. ‘So, your pub is filled with people pretending to enjoy each other’s company then?’

Gerald looked out across the pub. ‘What do you mean? They look perfectly happy. In fact, I can’t see a grumpy face between them.’

‘Just that. That’s what everyone does, isn’t it? Put on a face outside the home.’ She swivelled around on her bar stool. ‘I can guarantee that not one of these families would be smiling and laughing like they are now if they were at home.’

Shaking his head, Gerald tutted, a look only just shy of laughter dancing in his eyes. ‘You’re one cynical person.’

Robyn shrugged. She rarely felt as though she could say stuff like this to random strangers, but Gerald had an air about him that suggested he was more than used to people unpacking their thoughts to him. Besides, she was right. It wasn’t just her family who had always put on a show of closeness and happiness in public. ‘Am I though?’

Leaning his back against the shelving unit behind the bar, he crossed his arms. ‘What do you think they’re hiding?’

‘Umm, not necessarily hiding anything, just that they’re not so friendly with each other and not so happy at home.’ Turning to him, she stabbed her fork in the direction of a young family eating their puddings on a table in the corner. ‘Take this family, for example. Do you really think they smile at each over a plate of food at home? Or more likely do you think that one of them slams a plate of food on the table as soon as the other one walks in from work, or maybe they pass silently in the hallway, one going to work and one coming home. Or maybe they’re so tired all the time because the two angelic kids don’t sleep and so they bicker constantly.’

Gerald raised one eyebrow. ‘You don’t think happiness is real, then?’

She stabbed a potato with her fork, cutting it up and flinching as the knife squealed across the plate. ‘I’m not saying they’re never happy, just that people hide things. A bit like on social media, people only put the happy photos.’

‘True. But it’s not all fake.’

‘True love is.’ She shoved the potato in her mouth. Maybe she shouldn’t have started this conversation with him. He didn’t seem ready to realise the truth. Although, how about his family? His wife and any children if he had them? Were they happy?

‘Fake?’ Gerald pushed himself away from the shelving unit. ‘We’ll have to rectify this belief.’

Shaking her head, she laughed. She was certain she was right. The hours she’d spent listening to her parents argue and bicker were enough to convince her she was right. She’d lived through it. Yes, Cathy seemed happy with her husband, but there were always exceptions to any rule.

‘Hey, Gerald. All done. All the ciders you ordered are in the cellar.’ Jasper’s unmistakable voice could be heard above the general chatter and laughter in the pub and, by the sounds of it, he was fast approaching the bar.

Rounding her shoulders, Robyn kept her eyes on her food as Jasper came to stand next to her. He hadn’t noticed it was her. She swallowed the piece of potato, her mouth suddenly feeling dry.

‘Thanks very much, lad.’ Stepping forward, Gerald shook his hand just as Richie, Debbie’s partner, walked through from the kitchen holding a bowl full of chips, which he passed across to Richie.

‘Here you go, mate. Extra cheesy as promised.’ Richie set the bowl on the bar which a clunk.

‘Cheers.’ Slipping onto the stool next to Robyn, Jasper pulled the bowl of steaming cheesy chips towards him.

‘Oh, hi, Robyn.’

Lifting her head gingerly, Robyn smiled across the bar towards Richie. She hadn’t realised he worked here. ‘Hi, I didn’t realise you were working here. Thanks again for helping me the other day.’

‘No problem. Did you find the dog’s owner?’ Richie smiled.

‘Uh, yes, it’s Jasper’s dog.’ She used her thumb to point to Jasper who, having finally realised who he was now sitting next to, was following their exchange.

‘You helped find Dasher?’ Jasper frowned.

‘Yes, mate. I grabbed his lead as he ran past me down the hill.’ Richie glanced at the clock hanging on the wall behind the bar. ‘Right, I’d better get back to the kitchen before something burns.’

‘Of course. Well, thank you for your help. I appreciate it.’ Jasper nodded to him.

He’d said thank you to Richie, and yet what had he said to her? He’d blamed her for the dog running off in the first place, that’s what. She laughed, a low hollow sound escaping her throat before she slapped her hand over her mouth.

‘I beg your pardon?’ Jasper swivelled on his bar stool to look at her.

‘Oh, nothing.’ She swallowed. She wouldn’t let him get to her, not again. She just wanted to enjoy the rest of her roast dinner before she scarpered as far away from him as possible.

Jasper pushed away the bowl of chips. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll leave you to enjoy your dinner.’

Snapping her head up, she frowned. ‘Well, that’s just daft, isn’t it? Not to mention rude! Richie has just prepared those chips for you and, what? You’re just going to leave them because I happen to be here.’

‘No, I...’

‘We’re both adults. I’m sure we can agree to just eat and ignore each other.’ She scowled. Was he actually for real?

Shaking his head, Jasper drew his bowl back towards him and picked up a chip.

Robyn sighed. Her appetite had all but disappeared, but she couldn’t very well up and leave after saying that to him now, could she? However much she was tempted and however much the peace of the ocean was calling her.

Gerald returned from the other end of the bar. ‘Do you fancy a drink, Jasper?’

‘Just an orange juice please, mate.’ Jasper held his hand up.

‘Coming right up. How about you, Robyn? A top up?’

Robyn shook her head. ‘No thanks.’

After pouring the juice, Gerald set it beside Jasper and leaned back against the shelving unit. ‘Have you two met one another yet? Robyn is volunteering at Elsie’s bakery and Jasper is...’

‘We’ve met.’ They both spoke quickly before looking at each other. With anyone else, she’d have laughed if they’d said the same thing at the same time, but with him... Nope.

‘Good, good.’ Gerald tapped his chin. ‘Actually, Jasper, I think you may be able to help me with something?’

‘Anything. Fire away.’ Jasper grinned, not being able to hide how grateful he was for the distraction away from Robyn.

‘Just what I wanted to hear.’ Lowering his hand, Gerald indicated Robyn. ‘I thought you might help me persuade the cynical Robyn that true love exists and that all these people in here aren’t secretly hating each other’s guts.’

‘What?’ Jasper began coughing, his chest heaving as he took a gulp of orange juice before composing himself.

‘Exactly. I had a similar reaction.’ Gerald nodded, seemingly oblivious to the fact Jasper was likely surprised for a very different reason.

Tightening her grip on her cutlery, Robyn felt a sear of embarrassment flush across her cheeks. Please stop, Gerald. Please stop.

‘Tell her about your parents.’ Gerald tilted his head at Jasper.

‘She doesn’t want to hear about my parents.’

‘No, I really don’t.’ Robyn muttered as she wiped her lips with a napkin.

‘Go on, tell her how loved up they are after all this time. They’ve just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, haven’t they?’ Gerald turned his attention to her. ‘They had a joint anniversary and retirement party here last month, didn’t they, Jasper? Which is why Jasper’s taken over the family firm.’

‘That’s right.’ Jasper nodded, his eyes fixed on Gerald. Anything to avoid looking at Robyn.

‘Well, tell her then.’ Gerald held up his hand, palm forward. ‘No, wait, you can do something even better. Take Robyn along to Penworth Bay Care Home with you this afternoon.’

Jasper dropped his fork to the bar with a clatter. ‘Oh, she doesn’t want to volunteer there.’

‘Go on.’ Gerald looked at Robyn. ‘The care home is having a huge Christmas party for all the residents and their families this afternoon. Go along, that’ll prove to you true love can be the real deal. And that families can have fun together.’

Robyn spluttered. ‘No, I can’t do that.’

‘Of course you can. There’ll be a minibus to take the volunteers from right outside the pub in about fifteen minutes, and you’ve got the afternoon off from the bakery, haven’t you? I’m sure that’s what you told me.’

‘Yes.’ Robyn whispered. The last thing she wanted to do with her afternoon off was to spend it anywhere near the entitled Jasper.

‘No excuses then. And besides...’ He leaned towards her and lowered his voice. ‘Who can refuse to volunteer for such a good cause?’

Robyn closed her eyes. She couldn’t do this. She didn’t want to. ‘I’ll just take your word that true love exists. I believe that all these families in here are happy, and no one ever argues or raises their voices to one another. I’ll believe all of it.’

Gerald chuckled. ‘Go on Jasper, tell her she’s welcome to go along with you and the other volunteers.’

Picking up his fork slowly, Jasper pierced a chip and shrugged. ‘Sure.’

‘That’s settled then.’ Gerald tapped the bar in celebration before turning to serve.

‘Great.’ Robyn seethed under her breath. A whole afternoon with Jasper! What could be worse than being forced to listen to him prattle on? And to make matters worse, if he volunteered regularly at the care home, he’d probably told them his side of the story of Dasher’s escape and turned her into the villain she wasn’t.