‘I’m not going to beat around the bush and I know that you’re busy holding the fort for Liz at the moment, but mycontacts tell me you have a hankering to have your own restaurant.’
‘That’s the dream, yes, but it won’t be for a while yet.’
‘Well, that’s okay, I’m prepared to wait.’
Jay frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
Lord Weatherton grinned at him. ‘Well, I’m sure you know how much I like my food.’
‘Your feedback is always much appreciated.’ Jay tried to be diplomatic.
‘Well, then. I took a shine to Liz and her catering, and since then I’ve taken a shine to you too. Especially since you won the regional competition.’
‘Well, thanks, but I still don’t understand.’
‘I want to back you. Your talent and my money and business experience. I don’t see how we could fail.’
‘But I...’ Jay was at a loss for words.
‘I won’t pressure you, though. I know you’ve got your hands full at the moment, and you will have until Liz can come back to work and you can get things in order for her to take over again. But when you’re ready, come and see me, and we’ll talk about what can be done.’
‘Thank you,’ was all Jay could say.
Emma smiled to herself. Jay had been astounded by the offer and hardly able to take it all in, but it had given him the confidence he’d needed to start planning his future. The best bit, though, as far as Emma was concerned, was that he talked his ideas through with her and valued her opinion. No longer was she on the outside looking in.
Another massive change to Emma’s life was her friendship with Heather. After dusting herself off, Heather had found a job in an elderly persons’ care home. Despite how she had been at the hotel, it turned out that she loved caring for the elderly, and she had soon developed a rapport with the residents. Andwhen Betty had announced she was going to look for a lodger and someone who could also help around the house, Emma had thought she knew the perfect person. She’d introduced Heather to Betty, and the pair of them had become instant friends, as she’d known they would.
Heather was a different person to the one Emma had first met at the Rosemont, and she had blossomed under Betty’s care. Likewise, Betty had told Emma that she couldn’t imagine living on her own again.
The taxi arrived at Diva’s and Emma helped Betty out of the car. Betty looked at the front of the restaurant nervously.
‘Lovely. It looks posh, though.’
‘Fit for the queen you are.’ Emma smiled and took Betty’s arm. ‘Come on now. Time to meet your fans.’
Although it wasn’t a surprise party, Jay had asked everyone to arrive early so that Betty could make a proper entrance with her guests already in situ.
Heather was the first to greet her at the doors to the function room and, as she led them inside, cheers rang out for Betty. And then Jay was standing in front of them with a big grin on his face and Betty visibly relaxed. As Emma had predicted, it wasn’t long before she found her stride and revelled in being the centre of attention.
Smiling, Emma left her to it. Jay’s mum stopped to talk to her.
‘I know I’ve said it to you before,’ Mary said warmly. ‘But I’m really glad you’re in Jay’s life.’
‘I’m glad I am too.’
‘Everything’s changed so much since you got back together. He’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him and I can’t tell you what it means to have him back in my life too.’
‘There was always something missing when you were estranged,’ Emma said. ‘And it’s so good to be part of your family.’
‘If you can stand our noisy lot.’
‘Oh, that’s not a problem at all,’ Emma replied, thinking of how quiet her own childhood had been and how she had always longed for the chaos of a happy family. Even if they weren’t blood-related, she was part of that now and they couldn’t have made her feel more welcome.
Over the last six months, Jay’s family had started to regularly drop round at Betty’s, and she and Jay cooked Sunday dinner for them all, which was a lot less stressful than that first time. Even Jay was more relaxed around them. His relationship with his stepfather was never going to be easy, but at least they could bear to be in each other’s company, and the bond between Jay and his half-brothers was slowly developing.
‘And look at Heather,’ Mary continued. ‘Hovering over Mum like a mother hen.’
‘They’ve certainly hit it off,’ Emma said, pleased with herself for introducing them.
