The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop Read online

  Imogen wrinkled her nose and made a face at her sister. ‘I think Finn’s planning on proposing to me.’

  ‘Really?’ Anna said, unable to keep the excitement from her voice.

  ‘Yes,’ Imogen said, the unshakeable nature of her feelings clear now. ‘Only I don’t feel excited about it. Not at all.’

  ‘Right,’ Anna said.

  ‘I don’t know if this is even just about Finn,’ Imogen said. ‘I don’t really know what’s going on. I just feel in a slump. The Amazon project falling through, nothing new in the pipeline . . . I feel stuck here at the moment, just like I did that first summer when we set up the shop. And me and Finn – well, I love him. I really do. That’s not in question. But all I can think is that getting married would tie me down even more. Does that sound horrible?’

  ‘It sounds like the truth,’ Anna said.

  ‘It is. Maybe I’m overreacting. I may’ve got the wrong end of the stick anyway. It was just something that Mum said that made it seem like he might be planning on asking.’

  ‘Well, it wouldn’t surprise me,’ Anna said. ‘I mean, he clearly adores you, anyone can see that, and he’s always said he wants to have a family, hasn’t he?’

  ‘Yes!’ Imogen said, her emotion welling up. ‘That’s it. You see? I feel like everything’s racing ahead, far more quickly than I’m ready for, Anna. Marriage, a family, this expansion he’s planning for the business, things that would keep us here for the long term. Of course I want to support him, and I definitely want to stay with him. But I want it to be relaxed like it used to be. Spending time with each other because we enjoyed spending time with each other, the simple pleasure of that, taking a day at a time.’

  ‘I know what you mean,’ Anna said. ‘But I think there comes a point in any relationship when that needs to change. Don’t you?’

  ‘Maybe. But now? I’m only twenty-six,’ Imogen reminded her sister. ‘I never thought the age gap would matter. It’s only a few years, but now . . . I’m starting to wonder. I feel like we’re in different places right now.’

  ‘You should talk to him,’ Anna suggested.

  ‘I know,’ Imogen said. ‘But seriously – how can I talk to him about something that hasn’t even happened?’

  Chapter 12

  The next morning, Imogen and Finn were sitting in their house by the window, a breakfast of croissants and eggs on the table between them. Imogen had woken up to the smell of fresh coffee, and for a moment everything seemed perfect. Then she’d remembered the conversation with Anna, the feelings of unease she’d had over the past couple of days that were refusing to shift. As she looked at Finn now, dressed in a grey T-shirt and his favourite jeans, his sandy hair falling in one eye, she tried to push those thoughts aside. She was lucky. She just needed to get her head straight, that was all.

  ‘I’ve got some really good news,’ Finn said. ‘Evie and I sat down with the figures yesterday, and I’ve made her a formal offer. She’s accepted it.’

  ‘That’s fantastic,’ Imogen said, smiling. She was genuinely happy for him. But then – then there was also the feeling of being on a rollercoaster that she couldn’t get off.

  ‘Yes. And she seems keen to get going with it, now that it’s certain.’

  ‘So, once it’s all finalised, what would happen next?’ Imogen asked.

  ‘We’d have to do a lot of the work ourselves. Probably a bit crazy doing it in high season, but Andy and I are both keen to get on with it, and it seems like Evie wants to get going with the sale sooner rather than later. She seems happy about the idea of the place staying in the family, so to speak.’

  ‘That’s nice.’

  ‘And you’ll be off again soon, I’m sure, so I might as well be busy.’

  ‘Maybe.’ She shrugged. The heavy sensation in the pit of her stomach wouldn’t shift, and she was starting to think that maybe this was how it felt to be a failure.

  ‘I’ve got the assistant work for Lauren, but that’s about it at the moment,’ Imogen said. ‘I might help Uncle Martin out at the guesthouse, in the short term. I’d rather be busy. I’m going to see if he could use someone on reception, perhaps with a bit of online marketing, that kind of thing. There’s so much potential, and a few hours here and there isn’t going to stop me taking on a good project.’

  Imogen tried not to think about what she’d be doing now if things had worked out differently – that only led to a deepening of the disappointment that had weighed on her ever since Sally told her the news. There was still time for her to fulfil her dreams of taking photos out in the Amazon. They were just going to have to go on hold for a little while, that was all.

  On the way over to Lauren’s studio, Imogen dropped by at the ice-cream shop to pick up Hepburn.

  ‘Thanks a lot, Imogen,’ Anna said. ‘I couldn’t face leaving him in the flat today. He’s started whining when we go out, and it’s driving the neighbours mad. But bringing him here probably wasn’t the best idea, when it’s so busy. He’s been under our feet all day.’

  Imogen bent down to pick him up and brought him up close to her to cuddle him. He licked her face. ‘It’s fine, I’ve been wanting a bit of quality time with him, anyway. And I haven’t got much to do at the studio today.’

  ‘Great. I appreciate it,’ Anna said.

  ‘So, have you heard anything from Evie lately?’ Imogen asked.

  ‘Yes! Anna said. ‘She just popped in. Told us about selling the shop to Finn. What great news.’

  ‘Isn’t it?’ Imogen said. ‘He’s over the moon about it.’

  ‘She seems so relieved to know she’ll be dealing with someone she knows.’

  ‘So I was thinking about it on the way over here,’ Imogen said. ‘Evie’s hardly going to want to sit still and retire, is she? She’s not really the type.’

  ‘You don’t think so?’ Anna asked. ‘What would she do?’

  ‘We could ask her to run Vivien’s,’ Imogen said.

  Anna paused, letting the idea take shape in her mind. ‘I suppose it could work. It’s worth asking.’

  ‘I could talk her through the recipes, and keep an eye on things while you’re abroad. She’s always been good in the kitchen.’

  ‘I love the idea,’ Anna said. ‘Once the lunchtime rush is over, I’ll go and ask her.’

  ‘Great,’ Imogen said, lighting up.

  ‘God!’ Anna paused and then bit her lip.

  ‘What is it?’ Imogen asked.

  ‘If she says yes . . .’ Anna said, her voice faint.

  ‘What?’

  ‘We would be all set.’

  ‘But you want to be, don’t you?’ Imogen said.

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Anna said. ‘That is . . . I definitely think I do.’

  Imogen arrived at Lauren’s studio with Hepburn after a long walk on the beach. Her friend caught her at the doorway, looking stressed and frantic, her cheeks flushed.

  ‘Imogen,’ Lauren said, her expression panicked. ‘You’ve got to help me.’

  ‘Have I?’ Imogen said, bringing Hepburn up into her arms and stroking his head.

  ‘Yes.’

  Imogen raised an eyebrow.

  ‘I mean please,’ Lauren said. ‘I’ve double-booked myself. I’ve got a wedding up by Seaford and I’ve messed up – I completely forgot about baby Jacob coming in.’

  Imogen peered past her friend and into the room, where a young couple were jiggling their baby on their laps. ‘Could you cover this session – as a favour to me?’

  Imogen hesitated. ‘I’ve never—’

  ‘Come on – we both know you could do this standing on your head,’ Lauren said. ‘I’ve got to go. I’ve explained the situation to them. Equipment’s all there. Thanks a million.’

  Lauren hugged her quickly and went out of the door.

  Jacob’s parents cooed over him.

  Imogen introduced herself and tried to put them at ease, even though she felt far from it herself.

  ‘How about you hold him between you?
Yes, just like that,’ Imogen said.

  The baby’s parents looked full of pride as they cradled his small body between them.

  Actually, he was kind of cute. She got a few shots of him smiling and laughing.

  ‘What about this toy?’ Imogen suggested, passing them a fluffy bear. She’d collected together a few props that she thought might help things to move smoothly. Baby Jacob frowned and then started to cry.

  Imogen looked around for something else to use, and then Hepburn, the dachshund, dashed in through the gap in the door. The baby’s face lit up immediately as he spied the black-and-tan sausage dog. With one hand Imogen beckoned for Hepburn to come and lie by her feet, keeping his distance from the baby, and with the other she took photos of the boy and his parents, who were by now all in fits of giggles.

  Later, over tea, she showed the couple a few of her favourites on the screen of her laptop. ‘I haven’t edited these yet obviously, but I think there are some great shots here.’

  ‘They’re perfect,’ said Jacob’s mum. ‘Just what we were looking for. We didn’t want anything formal, just pictures of us as we are at home.’

  ‘Great. Well, I’ll edit them and get the disc ready for you then.’

  ‘Thanks, Imogen,’ they said, glowing.

  Imogen went home via Elderberry Avenue. The day at the studio hadn’t been so bad, she thought. It would do, as a stopgap. Until something better came along. After Jacob and his parents left, she’d phoned around old contacts, letting them know she was available for work, and a few had promised to keep an eye out for assignments. At least there was one positive thing about her still being in Brighton: she’d get to see the guesthouse open.

  She knocked at the door and her uncle Martin answered. ‘Hello, Imogen,’ he said, brightly. ‘You’re a sight for sore eyes.’

  ‘Oh, yes?’ she said.

  ‘Yes. The party’s tomorrow night and I seem to have a hundred and one things still to do – picking up all of the drinks, delivery, the final pieces of furniture, getting the rooms cleaned up . . . It feels endless. Could you give me a hand?’

  ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘That’s why I’m here.’

  Which was true. At least it was half of the reason. The other half, if Imogen was completely honest, was that she was avoiding going home to Finn. She was so happy that things were progressing well with his plans for the business, and yet, after the day taking photos she just couldn’t really bring herself to care about, she felt less inclined than ever to consider settling in Brighton for good. And, at the moment, every time she looked at him, that was what she thought about.

  Martin tugged at the little that was left of his hair. ‘We’ll have forty guests coming, and then the extras from the press that your mum’s organised.’

  ‘Let’s get things set up. Don’t worry, it’ll be great,’ Imogen reassured him.

  ‘I hope so – and, anyway, I suppose I’d better get used to all this organisation: it’s going to be my working life from now on, after all.’

  ‘Advance bookings still coming through?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ he said. ‘Since we got the website up they’ve been coming through at a rate of knots. It’s not that I can’t cope with it, Imogen. I can – it’s just . . . Well, Françoise, you remember, she was such a dominant personality.’

  Imogen recalled her uncle’s ex-wife, and the way she would frequently speak over and for him, undermining his decisions or making decisions for the two of them without consulting him.

  ‘And now you’re doing everything on your own,’ Imogen said.

  ‘Yes. Which is a good thing – I mean I’m enjoying it, and I’m happier than ever now that your dad seems more on board with it all. But I don’t know . . . It can feel a little lonely sometimes. The responsibility of it, I suppose.’

  ‘You’ve got all of us on your side,’ Imogen said, giving him a hug. ‘This place is part of our family, and we’ll be there for you every step.’

  At around seven in the evening, Imogen realised that the job was too big for her and Martin to manage alone. She called in backup – their dad Tom went with Martin to pick up some of the furniture they still needed and Finn drove Anna and Imogen to the drinks wholesalers.

  On the journey over, Anna, in the passenger seat, couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

  ‘OK, I can’t hold it in any longer,’ Anna said, happily. ‘I asked Evie, about running the ice cream shop. And she said yes. She wants to do it.’ Her grin got even wider.

  ‘That’s amazing,’ Imogen said. ‘I knew it!’

  ‘She seemed really pleased with the idea, didn’t take any persuading at all.’

  ‘That’s fantastic,’ Finn said. ‘So I get to keep her as my neighbour after all. Hopefully, she won’t mind all the noise while we rebuild her old shop. Andy and I were going over the plans with his dad today and I think it’s going to be quite a big job.’

  Finn’s eyes were bright – he looked more excited about the project than he had done about anything in months.

  ‘I can’t wait to get started on it. We’ve been running the business in the same way for years, and this is a chance for us to push ahead, make the surf school a real destination for people wanting to learn to surf.’

  ‘A new start for everyone,’ Anna said. ‘I have a feeling it’s going to be a really great year for us all.’

  Imogen glanced out of the window at the traffic going by.

  ‘You OK, Imo?’ Finn asked, catching sight of her in the rear-view mirror and turning to look at her.

  ‘Oh, yes, I’m fine,’ she said. She tried to force a smile, but inside all she felt was heaviness. With all the positive things happening around her, she couldn’t figure out why, or where it was coming from. Only that when she looked ahead, into her future, she wasn’t quite sure what she could see any more.

  Chapter 13

  ELDERBERRY GUESTHOUSE OPENS ITS DOORS

  by Sam Graham

  Brighton and Hove today sees the opening of a brand-new guesthouse.

  Once home to one of the city’s best-loved residents, Vivien McAvoy – who many will remember as the proprietor of the now-famous ice cream shop under the arches – the Elderberry Guesthouse has now been given a new lease of life by her sons, Martin and Tom.

  Under their guardianship, the premises, on Elderberry Avenue, have been transformed into a boutique guesthouse, with rooms inspired by classic movies. The proprietors say the hotel is already drawing plenty of attention with advance bookings from the UK and abroad . . .

  Evie and Anna walked down Elderberry Avenue on the cool spring evening, with Matteo and Bella following close behind. Evie squeezed Anna’s hand in anticipation as they neared what had once been Vivien’s home. Anna, Imogen, Finn, Martin and Tom had worked until midnight getting everything ready, putting the final touches to the guesthouse and setting up for the party. But, when she’d come home, she’d been buzzing, and had woken Matteo up so that she could fill him in on everything they’d been doing. In good-natured sleepiness, Matteo had listened, smiling and nodding in all the right places, until Anna had finally calmed down enough to fall asleep. Her excitement had been mixed with nerves – because tonight meant more than just the guesthouse opening. She’d vowed to herself that at the party, she’d tell her family she and Matteo were leaving, and that they weren’t exactly sure when they would be coming back.

  ‘I’ve been so looking forward to this,’ Evie said. ‘I haven’t seen anything he’s done, so it’ll all be a surprise. I intended to pop in, see how Martin was getting on, but, well, as you know, there’s been quite a lot going on lately, hasn’t there?’

  ‘Are you feeling OK about it all?’ Anna asked.

  ‘Yes.’ She nodded.

  ‘It’s a lot of change.’

  ‘I know. And it’s the end of an era, so of course I have some mixed feelings about that. But it’s also a new start for me, Anna – and I need that. This idea you’ve had – about me taking over the ice cream shop – wel
l, it’s just given me a surge of energy. I thought by closing my shop I’d be moving further away from Vivien, all my memories of her. Instead, I’m getting even closer. It’s an honour, really. I can’t wait to get started.’

  ‘I’m so happy – and of course Imogen is too,’ Anna said. ‘I can’t think of anyone more perfect for the job.’

  ‘It’s going to be a steep learning curve, though,’ Evie said, laughing. ‘I’ve never made an ice cream in my life.’

  ‘If Imogen can learn it,’ Anna whispered to Evie conspiratorially, ‘you’ll have no problems. Believe me.’

  ‘And you, Matteo and Bella – off to Sorrento. You must be counting the days.’

  ‘I am.’ Anna said. ‘But it doesn’t feel real yet. I think it will after tonight. Once I’ve told everybody.’

  ‘Of course,’ Evie said, sympathetically. ‘But after that, well, you won’t look back. I’m certain of it. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Amalfi coast. Intoxicating.’

  ‘Have you ever been tempted to go back there?’ Anna asked.

  ‘Oh, I did, once,’ Evie answered. ‘Just once.’ Her eyes glazed over slightly as she said it. ‘Look, here we are,’ she said, pointing at the house.

  ‘The Elderberry Guesthouse,’ Anna said.

  ‘What a lovely sign.’

  Anna looked at the ceramic sign with the guesthouse name on it, recognised her father’s handiwork right away and felt a wave of pride.

  ‘I think it’s time to join the party,’ she said, pushing the front door open.

  Anna and Evie stepped inside. What had once been Vivien’s hallway and study had been transformed into an elegant reception area, filled with lively guests drinking wine. The living room had been decluttered, and new, mid-century furniture brought in, but the shelves remained full of Vivien’s books and her favourite armchair – upholstered in green velvet – was still over by the bay window, where it had always been. Anna pictured how Vivien had looked sitting in that chair, Hepburn in her lap as the two of them had talked over tea and Anna’s homemade cake. It felt for a moment as if she were there at the party with all of them.