Part 20
"Well today's the day," announced Archie over breakfast.
"Oh, you don't think he's going to find anything wrong do you? We've been over
everything three times at least and with the amount we've spent on advice and
new equipment he can't possibly find fault with it …. can he?" Lexie looked
anxiously at him.
Today was going to be the last hurdle before they could finally get the
business up and running. The local health inspector was due at 2 o'clock to
make the final inspection of the premises and give them the necessary
permission … or not. They had been busy the day before cleaning and scrubbing
until the stainless steel surfaces shone. Everything looked spotless and was
all laid out according to the guidelines with different zones to keep the fresh
and raw food away from the cooked and prepared dishes. What could possibly go
wrong?
Archie grinned back at her. "Now you know everything will be fine. Have I ever
told you that you're a great organiser. We would never have been ready in time
if it had been left to me."
" Now that's not true," exploded Lexie, "what about all the negotiations with
the kitchen installers? I could never have handled them when some of the stuff
didn't turn up. They needed to be shaken up a bit and you were the person to do
it."
She gave him a cheeky look which he always found hard to resist. He wrapped his
arms around her and gave her a tender peck on the cheek before resting his chin
thoughtfully on her shoulder. "Well let's just say it was a joint effort then"
he said.
"Yes, let's." she replied as she smiled up at him. "But I think we'd better
just take another look to make sure it's alright and I still have to wash the
floor over again when we've finished."
"OK then, no time like the present," he responded.
Suddenly the phone rang.
"Hang on a minute. I'll just go and answer that," said Lexie.
"Oh, leave it Lex."
"Now, that's not very businesslike Archie. It might be a client and we haven't
got the answer machine hooked up at the moment."
She took a deep breath and using her most cultured tones spoke into the
mouthpiece.
"Good morning. Occasions and Celebrations. Can I help you?"
"Och, damn, it's a wrong number. Oh, sorry love, didn't mean to swear at you. I
was after ma daughter and I obviously got a wrong number. Sorry to have
bothered you. I'll just get my husband to find the right number for me and I
can try again."
The female and very Scottish voice at the end of the phone line then let out an
ear piercing yell … "Er …… ic, come and find me this phone number again."
Lexie smiled and rolled her eyes. "Mum. It's me."
"What's that love?"
"Mother, it's me, Lexie. Your own flesh and blood. You just didn't recognise my
voice."
"Lexie, is that you?"
"Yes, mum."
"Oh, ma poor wee girl. You sound so different. It's that Archie Macdonald
giving you the airs and graces now isn't it?"
"Oh no mother," replied Lexie with a giggle as she lapsed back into her rich
Glasgow accent. "Did I sound all posh then? I was trying to impress any potential
clients who rang up and I've been a bit worried some of them may not understand
my accent."
"Well you sound fine enough as you are pet. And who are these clients then?
Have you opened a shop or something. Molly didn't say anything about a shop."
"Oh, have you spoken to Molly? How is she? I owe her a phone call."
"She's bonny dear. We had a good old natter together. I had to ring her to get
your number and then I gave it to Eric look after and then he lost it and then
we found it again in his other wallet and …"
She paused for breath and Lexie realised that this might be a long
conversation. Her mother only rang her once in a blue moon but when she did
then there was no stopping her. She waved across to Archie hovering in the
doorway and mouthed "Mother" at him as if he hadn't already guessed. Archie
nodded and indicated that he was heading outside. He knew it was best to just
leave them to it.
Lexie was already deep in conversation with her mother. After the initial
pleasantries, when it was established that both Archie and Eric were both in
very good health and spirits, the mutual interrogation began with Pamela taking
the lead.
Pamela had married Lexie's stepfather Eric only a few years earlier and to an
outsider they were as different as chalk and cheese. But they brought out the
best in each other and with his money and her 'get up and go' attitude they had
embraced a hedonistic lifestyle ever since. They were constantly travelling and
Lexie had found it difficult to keep in contact, having to leave messages in
far flung locations in the hope that it would reach them. Half of them didn't
so there was a lot of catching up to do.
Lexie told her mother about the difficult decision that she and Archie had had
to make about upping sticks and leaving Glenbogle, and how she was now
realising that it was the best thing that could have happened. She also blessed
Jolyon for having left them enough money to establish themselves in this
beautiful house and begin their own business. He and Pamela had always had a
soft spot for each other and Pamela and Eric had even been out to visit him in
Africa before he died.
"He was a lovely man," sighed Pamela. "A complete eccentric, but lovely all the
same. Now then, tell me about this shop of yours then."
Lexie tried again to describe to her mother what was actually involved in their
catering business but sensed that most of the information was flowing over her
mother's head.
"Well now you know what I'm doing tell me where you've been hiding out. Last
time I had an address you were in South Africa. I take it you're back from
there now."
"Would you listen to the girl. We left there about … let me see …. four or five
months ago. Now where did we go after that? Oh, yes, we had about a month in
Mauritius and then we went to stay with Ken and Marlene – they're this lovely
couple that we met in South Africa. They're from Florida and they have a
fantastic little residence in the middle of the Florida Keys with a pool and
everything. Well we got on so well that we just kind of stayed and stayed. In
fact we only came back now because they had their daughter and her family
coming to stay."
Lexie established that Pamela and Eric were back in their Glasgow bungalow but
apparently not for long. They were already planning their next trip and just
had to decide between New Zealand and Japan before they would inevitably lose
contact for another few months. Lexie's mother had always had this restlessness
about her and even when they were living in the poverty of a back street
tenement in Glasgow she had always strived to get out and explore whenever she
could, particularly when there was a new man in tow.
Pamela was now getting into full throttle and at times like this there was no
stopping her. When she had given Lexie a full account of what they had been up
to in nearly every minute of the last six months, she spent as much time or
more telling her of all the plans that she and Eric had for their adventures
ahead. Lexie settled herself down on some cushions and smiled to herself.
Although they did not always see eye to eye on some things she had to admire
her mother's zest and enthusiasm for life and that was obviously what had
attracted Eric to her. It was Pamela's confidence that had brought him out of
his self made shell and allowed him to stretch his wings for the first time. He
was obviously devoted to her and spoilt her unashamedly.
"Now then Lexie. That's enough about me. What's ma wee girl been doing in
Sassenach country then?"
Lexie was called upon to give yet another detailed outline of their plans for
'Occasions and Celebrations' and had to make it clear to her mother that 'yes'
they were 'alright' and 'no' they didn't need any financial help but 'thank you
anyway'.
Pamela was always looking for an opportunity to help her daughter. She still
felt guilt pangs over the life they had been forced to lead after Lexie's
father had left and which had finally led to Lexie's departure at a very early
age.
It had taken some time to rebuild their relationship. Pamela could still see
the look in Lexie's eyes when they first encountered each other again and hoped
she would never see it again.
As her mother rattled on Lexie found herself obliging with the odd 'yes', 'no'
and 'of course' but the concentration began to lag a little. She loved a good
gossip as much as anyone but this conversation was rather too one sided. She
was wondered just how much more Pamela had to say when she was jolted by a yell
down the phone, "Lexie, girl, you not minding me."
"Oh, sorry, must have drifted for a second. What was that again?"
"I just asked you how things were with you and Archie. Now if things weren't
right, you would tell me wouldn't you? I did find it a bit strange – him going
off to … Nepal was it?"
"Everything's fine mum."
"Well I just wondered, you know. How long have you been married now – two years
is it?"
"You know full well it is."
"Then I dare say you'll be thinking about a family soon then."
"Mother!" exclaimed Lexie.
"Well I just thought I ought to ask. I don't want to come back from Japan and
find a load of grandchildren I didn't know I had."
"Believe me mother. You will be one of the first to know."
"So you are planning a family then? It's just that, with it being two years
now, we did wonder if there was any, well, difficulties, if you see what I
mean."
"Well I think that's for Archie and I to sort out don't you?" said Lexie a
little too sharply. She realised that Pamela only had her welfare at heart and
softened her next words.
"Look I'm sorry I snapped at you but you have to believe me there really isn't
a problem – at least I don't think so. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be getting
grandchildren eventually," Lexie rolled her eyes at her mother's forwardness.
"Now let's talk about something else. OK?"
"Alright, I can see when to shut up. Just take care, the two of you. I just
wish you didn't live so far away now or I would be able to pop over and see
you."
"Oh, mother, you can travel half way round the world and back and yet you say
Glasgow to Northumbria is too far to come! Shame on you!"
"Well it's Eric, he doesn't like the driving these days, but you never know.
Now if I had a nice wee grandchild to visit nothing would stop me."
"Mum, stop it." Lexie growled.
"OK, I know. Alright I'll change the subject. Tell me what the village is like"
The conversation continued on a more even keel for some time. So long in fact
that Lexie had only just put the phone down on her mother's call when Archie
strolled back into the kitchen to find something for lunch.
"So what's my mother-in-law been up to then?"
Lexie began to put him in the picture as best she could as they put together a
lunch of bread and cheese.
As the time approached one o'clock Lexie suddenly sat up with a start. "Damn, I
haven't washed the floor over," she called as she dashed out of the house
kitchen and headed for the industrial version.
She stood in the doorway and was viewing the scene as Archie appeared up behind
her.
"It's alright, I've done it. Forgot to tell you. See … all done."
"Thanks Arch," Lexie responded, but she was still unsettled about something.
Her eyes scanned the whole room. It looked pristine. Nothing wrong there. Her
gaze fell on the door to the part of the building that had been earmarked for
the new office and she noticed that it was ajar. She tiptoed across the newly
scrubbed floor to close it but hesitated and decided to take a little peek
round the door.
There wasn't much to see at the moment, just an old cupboard, a couple of
chairs and the hamster cage on a table at the back. She went to close the door
…… and then opened it again wide.
"Archie," she yelled, "How long has the hamster cage been in the office?"
"Oh, I put it in there last night because Pickle kept chewing on the bars and
it was giving me a headache."
"And did you check Pickle this morning?"
Archie looked puzzled. "Ah, no, but perhaps it would be a good idea to take him
back in the house before the inspector gets here."
"Well, I think it would be ….. if there was a hamster to take."
"What do you mean?"
Lexie gave him a stern look.
"Have a look in the cage Archie. Do you see any hamster there?"
"Er, no." He stared at the empty cage and tried to avoid the evil look he was
being given. "I'm sure I did that door up properly. Well he can't have gone
far. We'll just look for him."
"And we'd better find him," added Lexie, "after all the door was open and he
could have got into the kitchen. He could be anywhere. What's the inspector
going to say when he finds a hamster popping out of a saucepan when he does his
rounds?" Lexie began to crawl around peering under the tables and chairs. "Come
on Arch, help me look and get that cage back into the house before he sees it."
As the time passed all too quickly Lexie and Archie focused all their attention
on trying to find Pickle. For Lexie the fear of him turning up during their
imminent inspection was as nothing to the distress she would feel if she lost
her little friend.
For the best part of the next hour they searched the buildings thoroughly. They
looked in every nook and crevice in the industrial kitchen and the office next
door but there was absolutely no sign of the hamster anywhere.
"You don't think he could have got out into the yard do you?" whispered Lexie
fearfully.
"Well I suppose it's possible but the outside door wasn't open for very long
was it?"
"If he got out there we'll never find him," she sighed.
"But at least he won't worry the inspector," replied Archie as he looked out of
the window, "and if I'm not mistaken that must be his car arriving now."
The health inspector proved to be a man of few words. He asked them to show him
the way and then began making notes as he peered in all the cupboards and eyed
up the general arrangement. Archie and Lexie eyed each other nervously from
opposite sides of the kitchen. Eventually, after he had been writing for some
time on his clipboard, Lexie could stand it no longer.
"Well, Mr Frobisher," she began, "I hope our little establishment is up to the
expected standards." She eyed him questioningly.
He ignored her for a moment as he finished writing and then turned to speak.
"Well, Mrs Macdonald. I understand you are new to the catering business and I
can see that there are a number of things that could be improved, however …" he
paused "I'm pleased to tell you that they are not insurmountable and that I am
happy for you to begin trading."
He held out his hand for her to shake and even managed a weak smile. Lexie
grinned back at him but her smile soon became rather fixed on her face as she
looked past the inspector's shoulder to where Archie was standing, next to some
shelves laden with various storage jars. Running along the edge of the shelf in
the general direction of the inspector was Pickle.
"Now if you will bear with me can I just go over a few points with you," the
inspector continued, and he began to explain. However his audience were not
listening.
Lexie coughed very loudly and stared very pointedly at Archie and back to the
hamster. Archie, who had been standing in self-congratulatory mood with a beam
on his face, suddenly realised that she was trying to message him. He looked at
where she was staring and a look of horror came over his face. He quickly
scooped the hamster up in his hand and, as the inspector finished his little
speech and looked up, he thrust his hands behind his back.
"I'll be off now. Lots of other calls to make this afternoon," said Mr
Frobisher, extending his arm to Archie, "Nice little establishment you have
here."
"Thanks, we like it very much," spluttered Archie, who ignored the outstretched
hand and looked as if he was about to explode.
The inspector gave him a strange look, wished them good luck and allowed Lexie
to show him to the door. "Is your husband all right, Mrs Macdonald? He doesn't
look at all well?"
"Oh, he's fine," she answered jovially, as the inspector got into his car.
She hurried back into the kitchen where the scene had changed dramatically
The hamster was now running around in the sink. Archie was running around
shaking his hand and swearing profusely and the lovely clean floor and work
surfaces were now liberally sprayed and smeared with large deposits of what
could only have been Archie's blood.
Lexie stood and surveyed the scene for a moment and then she smiled, and then
giggled and then, unable to contain herself, burst out laughing.
Archie looked at her laughing and frowned. "It's all right for you madam, but
that wretched hamster of yours has just bitten me."
