Yes Chef, No Chef

chapter Thirty One



"Oh Lisa, I hope I've done the right thing?" Katie said, serving two breasts of duck onto plates.

Lisa leaned forward and sniffed appreciatively. "Well, from what you've told me I think you got it spot on.”

Katie handed Lisa a spoon to help herself to caramelised red cabbage, green beans and potatoes. "I know, and all that about Graham and Jenny was a shock. I’d no idea he had all that resentment trapped inside him.”

Lisa nodded her head understandingly. “Yeah, resentment and bad feelings are not good things to have festering away in your head,” she said piling red cabbage onto her plate.

“But do you think I should have at least kissed him when he had his head sunk into my chest? I could so easily have lifted his face up and kissed him. In fact, I was longing to," she said wistfully.

Lisa crunched into a green bean. "No, I think stroking his hair was a big enough gesture to make. Which, considering the stressful time you’d spent together in the restaurant, was probably more than he was hoping for,” she said and then raising an eyebrow she emphasized, “But, it was a loving response and he will have left knowing that you're still interested but not a complete walk-over and the bad behaviour from weeks ago will simply not be tolerated...”

Katie giggled at her kind but schoolmistress expression and felt more reassured than she had done since he’d left. She piled her plate with cabbage and potatoes. "You should work in psychology, Lisa; you've such a rational way of summing up situations. You've no idea what a comfort you are."

Lisa snorted. “Yeah, that’s me all right, always ready with the answers to everyone’s problems. It’s a pity I can’t be as level headed with my own …”

Katie looked at her friend and wished she knew how to break down her steel barriers so she could help her in return.

Lisa cut through the roasted skin on her duck breast. "This is simply de-lici-ous,"

But, the moment was gone and Katie smiled at her pleasure eating the duck.

Grinning, Lisa asked, "Does this happen to have been cut by the butcher with the enormous hands?"

"No, it wasn't," Katie winced. “And when I think how close I came to shagging him, well, it makes me cringe."

Lisa ate ravenously enjoying every mouthful. "This cabbage is lovely, Katie. Is it easy to cook? I mean, how do you get it to turn red in colour?"

She burst out laughing. "Lisa, it's already red in colour. You buy it like this and just cook it like green cabbage."

"Really! Oh that's good,” she said innocently. “I’ll have to try it one day. I'm thinking of maybe doing a cookery course because my diet is so crap. Apart from the mackerel I’ve learned to cook, most days I'm lucky to have one portion of fruit or vegetables a day, never mind the recommended five. You see, I’d always hoped to meet a guy who could cook and then that would solve all my problems."

Katie smiled at her friend wondering when, or if, she would ever meet her match in life. Although Lisa didn't believe in Mr Right, her mum always maintained there was someone for everyone out there, and she prayed there was such a guy for Lisa.

They spent the rest of the evening watching a DVD and just after she’d bid Lisa goodnight she checked her emails. Tim’s email address popped up on the screen and she read it savouring every word.

From tim.davies to katie.charles

Thanks again for helping out in the restaurant, and for the lovely meal you cooked – I really enjoyed being with you again. When my chef is back next week, Jack is sending me over to France to meet with some buyers and to source new wines and ingredients. It’s going to be an exciting trip and I’ll probably be there about two weeks. Would it be ok to email or text you while I’m away?

Love Tim.

Shit, shit, shit! She raged, she knew she should have kissed him. Now he would go away thinking she's wasn’t into him anymore and who knows what would happen or who he'd meet. She wanted to scream ‘please don’t go’ or ‘please take me with you’ but instead she calmly replied;

To tim.davies from katie.charles

Hey, that sounds great! Hope you have a good trip and yes, of course, drop me a line anytime – I’d love to hear from you…

Love Kate

She rang Lisa. “I knew I should have kissed him,” she wailed. “And now he’s gone off to France thinking I’m not interested in him - what a stupid mistake to make…”

But Lisa firmly and kindly disagreed, repeating her mantra, “Treat ‘em mean, to keep ‘em keen”.

So for the next week she kept herself busy and tried not to keep checking for texts or emails from him but found it difficult because the days seemed to be dragging by.

Frances came for supper one night and Katie hadn’t realised until she was sitting opposite her just how much she’d missed her friendship and the daily camaraderie. Sarah had suggested weeks ago that she might find it hard to adjust to working alone, after being part of a team all her life, but Katie had dismissed the theory as simply another one of Sarah’s worries. Now as she looked at Frances’s familiar face and her peculiar but endearing mannerisms while tucking into her supper she agreed that Sarah could have a point.

With her mouth full Frances talked non-stop about work and relived the email Katie had sent her about Terry’s disastrous night with the beef bourguignon. “What a prick!” she cried out laughing and spluttering before heaping her next forkful ready to put into her mouth.

Katie laughed with her. “Are they still together?”

“Nah, he’s got a new babe in tow now,” she said. “Poor cow”.

Katie smiled, remembering the night and how long ago it seemed, and also how detached from them all she felt.

Frances shook her mane of frizzy hair. “And Alexander Jennings? Well, what a chump he’s turned out to be,” she said giggling. “David Shaw is having to step in every week and sort out the mess he’s making of every project. And I did hear he’d told someone that the day you’d left was the worst thing that had ever happened to his team.”

Katie couldn’t help giving Frances a ‘told you so’ smile and felt gratified to be proven right. “Oh, what a bloody shame,” she said laughing and pulling a smug face.

Frances finished eating and laid her knife and fork slowly together on her plate. “That was lovely, thanks, Katie,” she said. “Would you ever want to come back? I mean, if Alex left and David Shaw was to ring and beg you to come back, would you?”

Katie was startled at the question because not once since she left had she even considered it, but really she didn’t have to think twice. “No, Frances,” she said confidently. “I don’t think I ever would.”

Katie brought her up to date with the catering bookings and the adventures she’d had with the butcher and Sam in the greenhouse. Frances had laughed until the tears rolled her down her chubby cheeks and then Katie explained what had happened so far with Tim and how they were at least talking again but that he’d gone off to France.

“And he’s had rave reviews in The Telegraph about his new royal wedding recipes for the banquet,” she said handing the newspaper cutting to Frances. “I’m so proud of what he’s managed to do and how he’s turning the place around.”

When Frances was pulling on her coat at the front door and Katie was reluctantly bidding her goodnight she smiled and lightly touched Katie’s cheek. “If it’s any help, I agree with Lisa on this one. Make him sweat and be doubly sure he’s definitely changed before you go steaming back in, love. I’d hate to see you hurt again,” she said.

Katie hugged her. “I will and thanks again for coming.”

Frances started to walk down the path and turning she called over her shoulder. “But I really hope it does work out for you, Katie, because I still think he’s your other half in life.”



Finally on the fourth day late at night an email arrived.

From tim.davies to katie.charles

Hi Kate, Hope you are well and have plenty of work? I’m staying in Chambery in a budget hotel which is quaint, not at all practical, and very French! You would love it but personally I miss a good power shower in the morning.

I’m so pleased we talked before I left for the trip and I’ll be eternally grateful you were prepared to listen to me. I know now it’s what I should have done the day after you walked out but I was in such a bad place.

Anyway, I’ve met up with loads of suppliers & contacts and already have a bag full of flavours, spices, cheese and wine samples to bring home. I’ve been thinking of you at the meetings and wondered if I should bring some of the samples round for you to try when I get home?

Yours, Tim

PS. Hopefully you’ll be kneading some bread when I call around? I don’t know about you but I can’t stop thinking about that afternoon! XX



To tim.davies from katie.charles

Great to hear from you, pleased you’re enjoying yourself and yes, I’d love to see your samples when you get home. I do think of the afternoon we kneaded bread but when I’d upset you and you stormed off I spent the next few days in a state of turmoil and confusion? And then after our disastrous day working together and talking things through, to be honest I feel even more confused than ever? We’ve still got a lot to talk about because I need to be certain that you have changed and I also need to know exactly who this Julie is? But, on a positive note, it was lovely to talk on Saturday and enjoy a meal together like the old days - and I didn’t realise how much I’d missed it, And you!

Yours, Kate XXX



From tim.davies to katie.charles

Julie was a dinner date in an effort to try and get you out of my head. We both ended up very drunk and yes we had a couple of passionate snogs. But the truth of the matter is that when we got back to her flat I was too drunk to actually perform (if you know what I mean). I still haven’t managed to get past that base with anyone else – you’re a hard act to follow!

Have you?

Yours, Tim. XX



To tim.davies from katie.charles

Well, I did get very close to it with a butcher who had enormous hands (it’s a long story) and my next door neighbour got a little steamy with me in his greenhouse when I was mesmerised by his courgettes and cucumbers but I decided having a fling with my next door neighbour was probably not the best idea I’d ever had. So the answer is no, I’m still

Your, Kate XXXXX



From tim.davies to katie.charles

Aw, Kate. That’s just the best news I’ve had for ages. I’ve just had a glass of red wine and my eyes are drooping with tiredness. Can we talk some more tomorrow?

Tim XXXXX

To tim.davies from katie.charles

Yes please, and you’ll see I’ve scanned the article from The Telegraph and attached it to this email. The review about your new recipes is fantastic, it says the restaurant offers first-class food and uses words like quintessentially British with extraordinarily elegant versions of jelly and custard – well done you!!

Sweet dreams.

Kate. X



The news that he hadn’t been with Julie was better than she could have hoped for and she slept more soundly that night than she had done for weeks. She rang Lisa at work to tell her all the news and although Lisa was delighted she still urged caution. Katie also learned that loved-up Sarah had rang to say Simon was staying at her flat most nights but would meet them both for lunch on Saturday at the bistro with all her news.

That night Katie emailed him first.



To tim.davies from katie.charles

Hey there. Hope you had a good night’s sleep and lay off that red wine! Look where it got you in the past and you know it’s not the answer. I was just hoping to carry on where we left off and was wondering how it seems easier to talk to each other in cyberspace rather than at home. Maybe it’s true that absence does make the heart grow stronger? When I woke up this morning and thought of what we’d said to each other and how close I feel to you again it’s hard to remember why the last few months actually happened. Why couldn’t we have just talked to each other?

Yours, Kate. XX

From tim.davies to katie.charles

Em, it was only one glass with dinner and I can take it or leave it now. I know, it does seem easier on here, doesn’t it? Maybe it helps not being face to face and you know how tired emotional upheaval makes me feel – I slept for ten hours last Saturday when I left your place. Anyway, I just want to add that when you left me I was in total shock. You see, I’ve never been dumped since I was at university and it was a horrible feeling to be rejected like that again. I thought we were both in it for the long haul but you just up and walked out as though what we had was worthless. And, as I told you last Saturday I am truly sorry about the way I behaved towards you. So, I will admit I was definitely out of order and you had every reason to be pissed off with me.

Your Tim XX



To tim.davies from katie.charles

Well, at least you’ve recognised there was a problem and you’re sorting yourself out now. And, as we are baring our souls, I have to say if I’d shown more interest in your job by coming to the restaurant I would have found out why you came home in such a foul temper every night. I should have tried to support and understand you rather than kick-off all the time. But on the Sunday when I walked out, I honestly thought you’d come after me and when you didn’t I reckoned you mustn’t have cared too much about us either – Ditto!

Your Kate XX



There was no answer to the last email that night and she resisted the urge to send another. She felt as though she’d said all she could now and although she knew now how sorry he was, she needed to know that he was still in love with her. Snuggling down under the covers she turned out her bedside lamp and longingly stroked the empty side of the bed wishing he was there and wrapped around her body.



The next day she arrived in the bistro for lunch with Sarah and Lisa. Nearly every table was full as she wove her way through to their usual corner smiling at a large family gathered around a table laughing and shouting birthday wishes to an elderly relative.

Sarah was taking off her coat and had her back to Katie when she approached the table. “Hey, stranger,” she said and Sarah swung around to face her. They hugged for longer than usual. “Wow, you look radiant!” Katie gushed grinning at her. It was the only word she could think of to describe the glow and happiness shining out of Sarah’s small face.

Just as Katie was removing her jacket the strong distinctive aroma of Oscar de La Renta hit her and she knew Lisa was behind her.

It was Lisa’s turn now to hold Sarah at arm’s length. Staring at her she cried, “Just look at you! He’s got to be Mr Right, then?”

Sarah looked from Katie to Lisa and urged them to sit down. “Yep, Simon is the one. He’s definitely my Mr Right,” she said grinning. “And I couldn’t be happier. In fact, I’m so happy, that frankly, it scares me to death.”

Katie squeezed her hand. “Oh love, don’t spoil it all by worrying. You’ve waited too long to find him.”

“I know, but nobody gets to be this happy and for it to last, do they?” she asked with a frown creasing her forehead. “I mean, look at you and Tim. There wasn’t a better couple more suited and in love with each other than you guys were and look what happened?”

Lisa snorted lightly grinning at Sarah. “Oh, but you’re not the only one with news. Is she, Katie?”

Katie beamed at them and brought Sarah up to date with the emails they’d exchanged and how she had high hopes that they were going to make another go of it.

Sarah practically squealed with delight. “Oooh, Katie, how great is that? You must be over the bloody moon!”

“Well, its early days but at least we’re talking and he sounds as though he can’t wait to see me when he gets home. But I’m following Lisa’s advice and taking it slowly.”

Lisa blushed slightly and Sarah teased her. “Well now, Lisa giving advice about love and relationships, that’s got to be a first.”

They all laughed and ordered lunch while Sarah told them how Simon’s lease on his flat was coming to an end and instead of looking for another she’d asked him to move in with her.

Lisa put her knife and fork together on her plate and looked seriously at Sarah. “Er, I really don’t want to be the one to burst your balloon, love, but please be sensible about this. I know he’s Mr Right and all but please think about drawing up an agreement before he moves in. If, heaven forbid, he doesn’t turn out to be your knight in a shining T-shirt I’d hate to see you out of pocket on top of everything else. We single girls have to take precautions in all our areas,” she said.

Katie tittered and Sarah smiled. “It’s ok. He’s already had one done and it was at his insistence not mine.”

“Jeez, Sarah, I love him already!” Lisa gushed. “And when do we get to vet, I mean, meet Mr Right?”

Sarah shook her head slightly in mock disapproval but the corners of her mouth were twitching in amusement. “Well, I’m one ahead of you on this one. I’m going to throw a ‘come meet my friends and family party’ for him next week. But there again, after hearing Katie’s news I might change it to the weekend after and then if Tim is back he can come too.”

Katie smiled, nodded her agreement and offered to bake a cake while Lisa produced her filofax and pen and they threw themselves into planning the party.



From katie.charles to tim.davies

Hey, no answer to last night’s email? Are we still ok? I have an invite for you to Sarah’s party…..

Your Kate. X



From tim.davies to katie.charles

Sorry, darling. Lost my signal in the hotel last night because there was a freak thunderstorm and I was just booting up the lap top now to see if I could get it working and if not I was going to ring you. I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid? I mean, just giving up on what we had together – I must have been crazy. All I can say is letting you go was the biggest mistake of my life. Nothing was the same when you’d gone and everything in my life was upside down and the worst thing was I didn’t know how to get it back onto an even keel again until I’d confronted my demons. I’ve missed you so much - there’s no one comes close to you, Kate, and whether you decide to forgive me or not, which I probably don’t deserve, I will always love you…….

Your Tim. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Katie gaped at the words she’d been longing to see and sat back in the chair. Oh, thank you, God, she cried with tears of relief running down her cheeks. She knew without a moment’s hesitation she was going to give him another chance.



From katie.charles to tim.davies

Oh Tim, it’s already forgiven and if you want to give us another chance you’ve just made me the happiest girl in London tonight (well, next to Sarah, of course). But you do need to know if that arrogant, selfish prat you’d become shows his ugly face again - I’ll be off like a shot. However, I am still in love with you, so let’s put it all behind us now and start afresh. After my embarrassing escapade in the greenhouse last week with Sam I came to the decision that although I could, and did fancy other men I really don’t want to make love to anyone else but you. And I agree, what we had (or hopefully still have) is simply the best and is definitely worth one more try. When will you be home?

Your Kate

PS. I LOVE YOU!! (It feels so good to be saying that again).

From then onwards their emails became light hearted, optimistic, and very passionate. And just before he was due to leave France, one night she wondered if it was possible to have cyber-sex? Because as the emails had gone ping-pong back and forward across the channel, they’d practically talked each other through the motions of making love and she’d hardly slept a wink with frustration.