Page 58 of The Clockmaker's Cottage
‘It’s okay, it’s not you,’ he replied, clicking his glass against hers. ‘Here’s to the future. Let’s have a look at the menu and then you can tell me all about what the future looks like for Pippa Bell.’
Just as they picked up their menus, a man in a dark jacket approached their table with a confident smile. ‘Good evening,’ he said. ‘I’m Sam, the owner here at The Sea Glass. I just wanted to come over and say hello, and thank you for venturing out in this weather. You’re staying in Clockmaker’s Cottage, I believe?’
‘We are,’ enthused Pippa, ‘and luckily staying for the foreseeable as the causeway is closed,’ she added. Theo had received an email while they were getting ready for dinner that confirmed they could stay until it reopened, and Pippa had been thrilled at the news.
‘That could be the best part of the week, so I hope you’ll make the most of the island. It’s a very romantic place to be when the weather is like this.’
‘Oh… we’re not—’ Pippa began.
‘We will, thanks,’ Theo said with a grin, cutting in. ‘This restaurant is magnificent.’
‘Thank you. I renovated the old boat myself. It once belonged to my grandfather, he left it to my mother and she gave it to me when I was eighteen. She called it junk and couldn’t wait to get rid of it, but I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, and now it’s the floating restaurant of my dreams. It’s a little quiet tonight due to the weather, I’m afraid. Most of our bookings were for guests of the convention, but they left the island before the causeway closed.’
Pippa looked around and saw for the first time that they were the only ones in this section. She’d been too absorbed in Theo, she realised. A blush rose to her cheeks and she did her best to play it off. ‘I feel like a celebrity who’s hired the restaurant just for themselves.’
Sam smiled. ‘If there’s anything you need, just let your waiter know. And please, enjoy your evening.’
‘Thank you, we will,’ Theo replied.
Sam went to see to other tasks, and their waiter reappeared, topped up their wine, and set down a small basket of warm bread with seaweed butter and a little dish of olives, before telling them he’d give them more time to look over the menu.
Pippa opened her menu. ‘Okay, this is dangerous. Everything looks good.’
Theo leaned in a little so they could scan together. ‘Start with oysters?’
She looked up, surprised. ‘You like oysters?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘You?’
‘I love them,’ she admitted, a bit sheepish. ‘I haven’t had any for years.’
‘Why not?’
‘Rob didn’t like seafood. He wouldn’t let me eat fish at home, and I didn’t order when we were out because it turned into a whole thing. It just was easier. Saved an argument. So I just stopped.’
Theo’s expression softened. ‘He wouldn’t let you eat it at home?’
‘He said it would stink the place out,’ she said. ‘I gave up the fight because it wasn’t worth the hassle, which is ridiculous when I say it out loud.’
‘Then tonight you should get exactly what you want,’ Theo said. ‘Please order the fishiest things on this island.’
Pippa laughed. ‘You know what? I will. Oysters to start. Maybe scallops. Maybe the prawn cocktail, too, and then something with actual fish as well. I’m going all in. What do you fancy for mains?’
Theo scanned. ‘The halibut with brown shrimp and capers looks solid. Or the sea bass with fennel.’
‘I’m eyeing the mussel and crab linguine,’ Pippa said. ‘Or the hake with saffron sauce.’
‘Linguine sounds amazing. I’ll take the halibut so we can share bites,’ Theo said decisively.
She gave him an approving nod. ‘We’re very compatible at the ordering stage.’
‘Our one true test,’ he said, amused. ‘Side dishes?’
‘Chips,’ she replied. ‘Always.’
‘Chips it is.’
Their waiter appeared and took their order, repeated it back to them and then disappeared towards the kitchen.
