‘Thank you,’ he said, once his brain started to tire and we decided to stop. ‘I’d never have been able to do this without your help.’
We sorted a few remaining printouts into carefully labelled sections in his new ‘Harriers’ folder and I stood up to leave. I had a recipe to teach later on and after the teething problems on Wednesday I needed to restock the ingredients.
‘Oh, you know I’ll do anything for a good breakfast. I’m pleased you felt you could ask me.’
When Elliot looked me in the eyes I could almost pretend the past ten years had never happened. ‘While I wouldn’t want everyone watching me fumble through a few basic tasks, I’ve never felt like I had to be anyone but myself with you.’
* * *
The cooking lesson went about as well as I’d expected. Isaac was tired and distracted after a day pandering to more last-minute wedding demands, although to be fair he listened and did his best to get on with it in between fielding yet more messages from the troublesome couple.
Arthur turned up in a white coat.
‘I’ve been doing some research,’ he explained. ‘The way to become a successful chef is to think of food as a science.’
‘I prefer to think of it as an art,’ Isaac said, sprinkling pine nuts into a bowl with a flourish.
‘Did the research say you needed to wear a lab coat?’ I asked, handing him the ingredient list for the starter mezze plate.
‘Getting in the zone, Jessica. You know me, I’m not a man who does things by halves.’
‘Did you buy it especially?’
‘No.’ He smiled absently, studying the printed sheet. ‘I borrowed it from work.’
‘Ew.’
‘Don’t worry, it’s clean.’
Hygiene wasn’t what worried me. I tried not to be creeped out by whatever that lab coat might have previously been covered in. I really hoped that working in a church, helping people with all manner of grim challenges, meant Elsa was a lot less squeamish than me.
Once the hard work was over and we were enjoying the results, we discussed who they would do their solo cook for. As the person ‘hired’ to oversee the project, I strongly suggested they didn’t ask the people they really wanted to impress until the project was complete. Isaac was the first to rebel against that idea.
‘So, what, I invite another woman to dinner, as part of my plan to prove to Connie that I’m done dating random women? I don’t think so.’
‘Agreed.’ Arthur nodded firmly. I’d insisted he removed the lab coat to eat, but he still had something of the mad scientist look about him. ‘I’m not interested in having dinner with anyone but Elsa.’
‘You’re having dinner with us,’ I reminded him. ‘It doesn’t have to be a date. Elliot ate with me.’
I pointedly ignored Isaac’s surreptitious snort.
‘What about one of your sisters? Part of the project is improving your social skills before attempting to go out with Elsa. Besides,’ I added, helping myself to a couple more slices of potato. ‘At this early stage, she could well turn you down again.’
‘She hasn’t turned me down!’ Arthur pulled his chin back, affronted. ‘She was busy.’
‘All four times?’ Isaac asked, gently.
‘She’s a very busy woman with a full life! That’s one of the things I love about her.’
‘Arthur, I really think that—’
‘Permission to break the no phone at dinner rule for one message?’ he blurted, face turning blotchy. ‘It’s directly relevant to the task.’
‘Is this message asking Elsa to have dinner with you?’ Isaac sighed.
‘It is!’
‘Go on, then,’ I agreed. The sooner he asked, the sooner we could move on to other possibilities.
