The Winter Sea (22 page)

‘He’s interested. The next bit will be up to you and the . . . what are you calling it?’

‘The Blue Boatshed.’

‘Good call,’ said Michael. ‘And remember, if you need me to help, just shout.’

‘Thanks, Michael,’ she said. ‘You’ve already been so helpful. It was great that you could introduce me to Steve. Catch him off guard. A bit unorthodox, but he didn’t say no right off.’

Later that afternoon Steve, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with a surfing logo on it, walked slowly around the little kitchen and then out onto the deck.

‘I remember this place. It was pretty shocking but it’s got a lot of potential.’ He stood on the deck as Bill eyed him curiously. ‘Nice space out here. Great view.’

‘I was thinking of a couple of long tables out here and a more elegant set-up inside.’

‘You could also put three or four small tables out the front, on that big cement area, and you could use that stand-up bar and counter stools as well. Kitchen needs a bit of an upgrade and they’ll make you put in another toilet, but I reckon the place could be kinda fun, if you hit the right note.’

‘I’m over trends and fashions and fickle bars and joints. I want people to come here for the food. Your cooking teamed with the fabulous local produce. The setting is a plus.’

Steve rubbed his chin. ‘Have you checked out the local providores? Cheesemakers? Vegie mob? You know the high school runs a farm and they sell what they grow to the community? Good stuff, too. Some exotic vegies. Seafood is covered. And the local pork is a winner. I don’t do bread or sweets unless it’s an emergency.’

‘I’ve got that covered. I’ve heard there’s an Italian baker a bit further down the coast who’s terrific, but I haven’t tested him yet. And Trixie Spring is my dessert queen.’

‘Geoff Spring’s old lady? I heard she was good. Look, I’m interested but we have to talk bucks and frankly I’d like to be flexible. I don’t have cash to invest. At first I thought that you’re probably just a city girl with more money than sense but now I think you might have more sense than money. Am I right?’

‘Close. What do you mean by flexible?’

‘You mentioned having my own input, having a say in things. I’ve always had a lot of ideas. I’m a good chef, even if I say so myself, but working at the Cliff Top – you can’t imagine – it’s like pulling teeth to get changes on the menu. If a dish is popular, it stays and stays and there’s no room to move away. It kills me having a set menu when suddenly there are pomegranates or something else seasonal, but you can’t use them because they’re not on the menu.’

Cassie understood his creative frustration. ‘Sounds like the law firm where I used to work. No room to move there either. But, here, collaboration is what I’m after. I
love the ambience. I love the food that’s around here.
I love how there’s a bit of an Italian backdrop to this area but I don’t want to make this an Italian bistro. The seafood is great, but so is a lot of other food from around here. We can talk to Trixie about matching her desserts with what you want to do.’

‘I’m over fusion, but what we could do is showcase the great produce available here on the south coast. The people we want to come here will know what they’re after. They want healthy, homemade, keeping it real, “love with the grub” food, but with style. Know what I mean?’

‘I do. Food with heart. Do you have any specialities?’

‘Signature dishes? Nope. Don’t want to set myself up and then have to put that special dish on the menu all the time. I like to cook what’s fresh on the day so to speak. If I have a favourite cuisine, I suppose it’s Italian.’

‘Steve, your ideas are exciting. Tell me a bit about yourself. I can’t offer you anything to drink, I’m afraid. Place isn’t mine till next week.’

‘That’s okay.’ He sat down on the deck and Bill mooched close. Steve held out his hand for inspection and then rubbed Bill’s ears. ‘That’s a nice dog.’

‘Yes. Bill found me and that’s how I met Michael.’

‘You met his family yet? They’re part of the fabric of this place. You’ll like Frank, he’ll like you. He likes the ladies, does Frank, but he’s all right.’

‘I’ve been invited to Michael’s great-uncle Ricardo’s ninetieth birthday. I suppose I’ll meet the family there.’

‘For sure,’ said Steve. ‘I was invited too but I’m working. Always working. What sort of hours are you thinking of for this place? You getting some help in the kitchen?’

‘Yes. Trixie. She’s great, really efficient, no nonsense. She’ll be good but I need backup. She’ll cook her dishes at home and we can finish them off here. I’m sure we can get a kitchen hand and waiters.’

‘Shouldn’t be too much trouble. Lot of women around here looking for part-time work.’

Cassie liked the way the conversation was going, as if Steve was already part of the team. They began talking food and the hours that the restaurant should open. She told him about her family’s connection to the food industry, and by the time he stood up to leave, she realised he hadn’t told her a thing about himself.

‘I’ll let you know next week, if that’s okay. What’s your phone number?’

‘We haven’t discussed money.’

‘For me it’s about other things. This could suit me better than the Cliff Top. Just got to talk to someone first. I know a guy who could take my place up at the pub so I wouldn’t be leaving them in a hole.’

‘I understand. Here’s my mobile number. I’ll be moving in here soon, but mobile reception at Pelican Cove is dodgy, so you might have to leave a message. I’ll call you back.’

*

Franco, ‘call me Frank’, lived up to the charm and banter of his phone call. He looked far more Italian than Michael. Indeed, Cassie thought Frank had the heart-throb good looks of an Italian movie star. He was tanned with perfect white teeth and, while not very tall, he showed off his muscled physique in a tight T-shirt only partly hidden by a leather jacket.

He spoke loudly, calling out greetings to the men in long plastic aprons sorting through the day’s catch at the fish co-op.

‘Operation’s not as big as it used to be,’ he told Cassie. ‘Most of those guys are crew, but a couple are boat owners. I’ve got my own business and my own boats, so I don’t do much with the co-op, but I like to look in from time to time to see how things are going.’

‘Do you send fish to Sydney?’

‘Most of it. Some of the top, top chefs call me when they want something. I send really special stuff to Tetsuya. He’s one classy chef.’

‘What’s always around? Snapper? Flathead? Whiting? What’s available fresh? That’s what we’ll put on our menu.’

‘Nothing frozen, eh? Are you going to work like the Mediterranean places – cook what’s fresh on the day?’

‘That’s the plan,’ said Cassie. ‘I’d like to specialise in as much local produce as possible.’

‘You know what you’re doing then.’

‘I grew up in a fish restaurant. My mum and dad used to run a big one in Sydney.’

‘We have a lot in common then. Our family are all fishermen, since my great-grandfather came out here close to a hundred years ago. Of course Michael let the side down, him being a vet. But what a team you and I are gonna make!’

Frank became serious as the two of them inspected the seafood packed into plastic tubs on beds of crushed ice. He gently picked up some crabs and showed Cassie. Then he inspected a fish, lifting it tenderly with two hands.

‘Beautiful quality. Seafood is different from meat. It’s more delicate and doesn’t have the muscle meat has because of its environment so it needs to be kept at the proper holding temperature in storage. The best chef can’t fix the quality of seafood if it’s been roughly handled before it gets to him.’

‘I’m impressed. I think my father would have agreed with you there. He always said that fish had to be respected. Is the catch handled as delicately on the boats?’ asked Cassie.

‘As best we can. Fishing is a rough business. We still do it the old way with nets and poles. No big mechanised systems like those damn super trawlers. We’re small, slick and sustainable. My father used to say his grandfather could talk to the fish, he could think like fish and he just had an instinct for finding them and catching them without any of today’s technology.’

‘Really? That’s amazing,’ said Cassie. ‘By the way, Michael’s asked me to great-uncle Ricardo’s ninetieth birthday. I’m looking forward to it.’

‘Well, Michael beat me there, I was going to ask you. Yes, my grandfather’s big party. He’s the family patriarch, so you’ll meet all the family! Cast of thousands. Save a dance for me, okay?’

‘Dancing! Will you have a band?’

‘Of course. It’s an Italian family gathering, so there’ll be eating, drinking, singing, telling stories, kissing kids and more eating.’

‘Wow. I come from a very small family, I’m an only child, so I like the sound of your big party.’

‘That’s too bad. Who did you play with or fight with when you were growing up?’ asked Frank. ‘Are you going to have a lot of kids?’ He leaned towards her with a big smile.

Cassie changed the subject. ‘I still have to get the restaurant set up. I think I have a chef coming on board, but also I need a regular supply of good seafood.’

‘Of course you do. I’ll look after you. We need a really good eatery around here. Are you going to do Italian?’

‘No. We’re not going the full Italian route, more local country. But as the chef has a bit of a passion for Italian food, we’ll probably include a pasta dish or two.’

‘Sounds good. Listen, let’s go to the wharf. I’ve had a lunch prepared for us, one of the old family favourites so you can try out my seafood in situ as it were.’

‘You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.’ Cassie was hungry and flirtatious Frank was good company.

Life was definitely looking up.

There was suddenly a
lot to do. Cassie felt at times as though she was surfing. She was on a wave and it was rushing forward and she wasn’t sure whether she’d be wiped out or whether she’d ride it into the shallows and land on the beach. She felt exhilarated by the adventure of setting up her restaurant in spite of the risks she was taking. Each morning as soon as she opened her eyes she leapt happily from bed and began planning the day. It was so different from the times she’d had to drag herself, feeling weary and dejected, to face another day at the law firm.

She looked out of the loft window of the boathouse and across the calm lake at the morning mist rising from the water. She’d moved in only a couple of days before, but already it felt like home.

‘Bill,’ she told the dog. ‘Who knew we could have it so good?’

Cassie called Jenny to tell her about her meetings with Steve and Frank. She listened to Jenny’s advice on the financial organisation and paperwork involved in setting up a restaurant as well as her ideas for the kitchen.

‘I thought the renovations would be more expensive than they are, but Geoff seems to be quite cluey and got me some good deals. Now that Steve has agreed to be chef he’s also taking a passionate interest in the kitchen remodelling. The new layout is going to be much more efficient. Steve has made sure he has more room to work. Michael told me about a family estate that’s come up for sale so I’m going over there to check it out and see if there’s anything I can use. Apparently there’s a big collection of cutlery, dishes, platters and vases that have been sitting in cupboards for years and years. Heirloom stuff that no one wants,’ said Cassie.

‘You won’t want it either. You can’t put heirloom fine china through an industrial dishwasher in a restaurant!’ exclaimed her mother.

‘That’s what I told Michael but he said that it was all going for peanuts, so there’s no harm in looking. At least if there are some decent big vases they could be useful. Anyway, Michael says it’s a beautiful old estate and worth seeing. We’re getting a preview before the dealers descend.’

‘Well, it sounds like a nice day out. You seem to be getting along well with Michael,’ said Jenny.

‘Yes, he’s sweet,’ said Cassie, ‘but before you say anything more, I’m not rushing it. It’s just nice to know he’s around.’

‘If you say so, dear,’ said Jenny. ‘I feel guilty that I can’t be with you but I’m off tomorrow on this trip to Broome. It’s been organised for so long, I just can’t pull out at this stage. I’ll try to ring you when I can, so I know what you’re up to.’

‘I’ll be fine, Mum,’ said Cassie.

*

Saturday afternoon was clear with a nip in the air. Michael drove between the tall gates at the entrance of the estate and along a gravel driveway lined with ageing cypress pines. The formal gardens around the house were neglected, as were the paddocks spreading into the distance. The stone mansion was covered in ivy and a wisteria vine weighed down the front portico. The sandstone steps were covered in leaves and the windows were dusty and shut tight.

‘Do you know how long it’s been empty, Michael? It looks abandoned but it must have been grand in its heyday,’ said Cassie. ‘It’s very English, even down to the four fancy chimneys.’

‘The old lady who owned the place had been in a nursing home for many years. There was a caretaker here looking after the place, I believe. Anyway, the heirs are nephews who live in the UK and they have no desire to come out here. I’ll park around the back near the stables. Laurie from the solicitor’s office is meeting us here with the key to the back door.’

A young woman was waiting for them. She introduced herself to Cassie. ‘Hi, I’m Laurie, from Mr Walker’s office. Hi, Michael. How’re things? Everyone’s looking forward to your uncle Ricardo’s birthday. It’ll be some bash.’

She led them through the large back door into a vestibule full of cobwebby gumboots. Old raincoats, hats and jackets hung forlornly from pegs.

‘It’s very dark inside, I’ll open a curtain so we can see better, as there’s no power. All the china is set out in the dining room. I can’t believe how much there is,’ said Laurie.

‘How many bedrooms are there?’ asked Cassie, looking at the broad staircase leading upstairs.

‘Six, I think, and a children’s nursery above that. There’s so much to be sold off. Sad really, isn’t it.’

‘Can we have a look around later?’ asked Cassie. Then she gasped as Laurie pulled aside heavy curtains in the dining room and light flooded in, revealing piles of china and glasses and serving dishes stacked on the long dining table, on the sideboards and along the floor on one side of the room. ‘There’s enough here to stock a department store! Or three restaurants,’ she exclaimed.

‘It doesn’t look as though it’s ever been used.’ Michael picked up a dish and turned it over. ‘It’s called Blue Daze, and it’s pretty sturdy.’

Cassie picked up a white plate edged with a blue band that ended in a knot.

‘This is rather nautical, but how much of it is there?’

Laurie lifted up a long velvet tablecloth. ‘There are cartons of it under here. Boxes of it.’

‘Here’s another setting with the same pattern – smaller plates, bowls and serving dishes. Why would they have so much of it?’

‘I believe there was a plan years back to turn the house into a boutique B&B, but it never happened. There’s lots of linen that’s never been used, either,’ said Laurie.

‘They must have been planning weddings and other big events. I just love it. It’s good, solid china. Just perfect for what I need. Look, there’s a setting in blue. I could mix it with the white,’ said Cassie, seeing in her mind’s eye the fresh blue and white theme of the restaurant.

‘Why not look at the linen too? It’s in one of the bedrooms. I’ll give you the tour,’ said Laurie.

*

‘I’m glad we came in your big four-wheel drive,’ said Cassie as Michael stacked the last of the cartons of china and glassware and canteens of cutlery in the back while Cassie piled the damask cloths and dark blue napkins onto the back seat between the glass vases and serving platters. ‘I would have paid ten times the price they were asking for all this. It’s stunning. Just perfect. Laurie, please thank Mr Walker for me,’ said Cassie.

‘He’s only too glad to see the pile go down. A dealer is coming to look at the artwork, but there’s all the farm equipment and the tools and the other household items. I believe there are quite a few Sydney dealers interested in seeing what’s on offer.’

‘Thank you again for coming out and letting me go through this first,’ said Cassie.

‘When is your restaurant opening? It sounds as though it will be very nice,’ said Laurie.

‘I’ll send you and Mr Walker an invitation to our preview, so you can see for yourself,’ promised Cassie.

‘I think I’d better store all this at my place, until your remodelling is complete,’ suggested Michael.

Cassie gratefully took him up on his offer, although there were some items that she kept to use immediately. When she had first moved into the boatshed she had bought herself some cheap bed sheets. Now she decided to replace them with the bedding she’d bought from the manor. She would luxuriate in fine linen sheets and lace-trimmed pillow cases and snuggle under her goose-feather doona covered in white embroidered damask.

That night she spread Bill’s beach towel across the bed. ‘That is your spot, okay? No dirty paws on this glorious linen, mate!’

Together they lay awake staring at the stars and listening to the lap of the water, until it sent them to sleep.

*

Several days later Cassie was down on her knees cleaning the long-unseen dregs of her kitchen after Geoff had pulled out the old stove and cupboards and taken them away to the tip. She wore old clothes, had tied a scarf over her head and knew she had dirt on her face where she’d wiped a filthy hand across her perspiring brow. Bill suddenly gave a low, unfriendly growl and went to the front door. Cassie got up and followed him to investigate.

‘What’s up, mate?’ The dog was sniffing at the closed door. Someone rapped on it.

‘Sorry, we’re closed for renovations.’

‘Hey, c’mon, Cassie. It’s me.’

She froze and, sensing her dismay, Bill broke into a frenzy of barking. ‘Hal? What are you doing here?’

‘Let me in for God’s sake and I’ll tell you. It’s good news.’

Cassie grabbed Bill’s collar, saying, ‘Stay. It’s all right. I think.’

She opened the door to see Hal standing there, his Porsche parked out front. He gave a grin and raised an eyebrow. ‘Caught you at an inopportune moment?’

Cassie was flabbergasted. He’d caught her off guard. She was annoyed by the intrusion out of the blue and the fact she knew she looked a total mess. ‘What are you doing here? How did you find me?’

‘I hadn’t realised you were in hiding. Can I come in? Or will the mongrel attack?’

Cassie patted Bill and spoke in a soothing voice. ‘It’s okay, Bill.’ But Bill was not convinced and gave another low growl. Cassie turned and walked indoors. ‘C’mon through to the deck. As you can see I’m renovating.’

‘Good grief. What is this place? Surely you’re not living here? I ran into your friend Sarah and she said you’d moved down here, so I thought I’d check in.’

‘What do you care, Hal?’ Cassie sat on a chair on the deck and waved him to another one. She’d be blowed if she was going to offer him anything to drink.

‘Don’t be like that, Cass. I do care. Despite everything, I know I did the wrong thing by you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care what happens to you. I can’t believe you’re living here, in a dump like this. Anyway, you’ll be happy to know that the apartment has sold, so you can afford to do better than this. What are you doing here?’

‘I’m opening a restaurant.’

Hal threw back his head and laughed. ‘Good God. You’re turning into your mother. Listen, we got twenty grand over the asking price for the apartment, so you don’t have to bury yourself in a shed in this backwater. Come back to Sydney. I mean, what are you doing with your life? You can’t stay here! You have a law degree!’

Cassie felt herself bristling. Hal had the ability to make whatever she was doing seem trivial. ‘We’re getting a divorce, so I can do whatever I want. And you know what? I am so glad to be out of Sydney and out of law. I have a life. I surf. I have a dog. I have friends. And I’m going to start a business.’

He shook his head. ‘You’re throwing your life away, Cass. Come back to Sydney. Can’t we be friends?’ He leaned forward, giving her the crooked smile and using the cajoling tone that used to win her over. ‘You used to work for one of the biggest and best law firms in the country. Opening a restaurant is such a comedown. I’m sure I could get you your old job back.’

Before she could reply, Cassie was saved by a shout at the door. Bill leapt forward and started barking again. Unfazed by the dog, Frank came through the door carrying a box.

‘Cassie, look what just came in.’ He grinned at her. ‘You look cute. Cleaning, huh? Where’s Geoff? Isn’t he supposed to be helping? Oh, sorry, didn’t know you had company.’

Cassie stood up. ‘Frank, this is Hal. A friend from Sydney. He just stopped by.’

Hal stood and shook hands with Frank, giving the handsome fisherman the once-over then, turning to Cassie with a bemused expression, he said, ‘You have settled in well.’

‘What have you brought, Frank?’ asked Cassie.

‘If you and your friend Hal want lunch, look at these little beauties.’

‘Hal can’t stay for lunch,’ said Cassie briskly as she looked in the box he put on the table.

Frank pulled back a wet layer of sacking. ‘Straight off the boat. Sweet fresh lobsters. Be a shame not to have them fresh. But you can freeze them if you want.’

Hal gave a whistle. ‘That’s sixty bucks a plate for one of those, and the rest!’

‘Not in my restaurant. Frank, would you please do me a big favour and drop them up to Michael? I don’t have a stove at present. I’ll give him a call and maybe we can share them later.’

‘Sounds good. We need a feed like these for your opening, eh? Nice to meet you, Hal.’ Frank gave Cassie a wink and left.