BooksBarbecue
Back Escape to the French Farmhouse
Chapters (79)
  1. COVER
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Jo Thomas
  4. DEDICATION
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. THIRTY-NINE
  44. FORTY
  45. FORTY-ONE
  46. FORTY-TWO
  47. FORTY-THREE
  48. FORTY-FOUR
  49. FORTY-FIVE
  50. FORTY-SIX
  51. FORTY-SEVEN
  52. FORTY-EIGHT
  53. FORTY-NINE
  54. FIFTY
  55. FIFTY-ONE
  56. FIFTY-TWO
  57. FIFTY-THREE
  58. FIFTY-FOUR
  59. FIFTY-FIVE
  60. FIFTY-SIX
  61. FIFTY-SEVEN
  62. FIFTY-EIGHT
  63. FIFTY-NINE
  64. SIXTY
  65. SIXTY-ONE
  66. SIXTY-TWO
  67. Epilogue
  68. Acknowledgements
  69. RECIPES
  70. Lavender shortbread
  71. Apricot jam sponge cake
  72. Lavender lamb
  73. READ MORE
  74. Prologue
  75. ONE
  76. TWO
  77. THREE
  78. FOUR
  79. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

He smiles at me fondly and shakes his head. ‘It wouldn’t be fair to ask that of someone,’ he says. ‘And, besides, who would want to have to keep things just the way they are because that’s how I’ve done them and my parents before me?’ He swallows. ‘Unless I can hand the business on to someone, this is where the legacy will end.’

I rack my brains, ‘Let me speak to my brother, see if he has any thoughts.’ I know he’s not into cooking, but maybe he could run the place and employ a chef. I’m trying to find a solution to the problem. After all, isn’t that what I do, work out the problem and find solutions, get the deals signed and sealed? I think of my phone, the office and Monday. My stomach flips with excitement. But, right now, getting my phone charged can wait. There won’t be any news until Monday and I have to find a way of sorting out my grandparents and the future of the family business. I’m a business lawyer: I need to think with my head, so why is my heart doing all the shouting?

‘No, it’s not for him,’ Nonno says. ‘I understand. Besides, he doesn’t have the knowledge. He didn’t grow up with it. You always loved being here in the kitchen.’

‘Then I’ll do it!’ I say suddenly, with all my heart.

He laughs and touches my face.

‘I mean it! I could do the paperwork and rotas from home. The ordering. Keep an eye on the books. You have Dante working as a waiter and Carlo your sous-chef. They know all the ropes. Dante has been here for ever! We just employ a chef. Maybe another kitchen hand.’ I’m putting together a plan in my head.

‘It’s a lovely idea, but you have your job, a city lawyer. I’m proud of you! You don’t have time to eat, let alone run this place. Besides …’

He stops.

I cock my head to one side and frown. ‘Besides what?’

‘I think I may just have the answer.’ A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. His shiny round face looks happier.

‘Really?’ I smile back. ‘But that’s great! What is it?’

He smiles even wider. ‘I think I may have found the person to hand the business on to. Like I say, your brother wouldn’t want to take it on and I needed to think who else there might be. And I’ve thought about this hard. But now I have the answer,’ he says. ‘I’ve explored all the options.’

There’s something mysterious in his voice.

‘So, who is it?’ I ask eagerly.