The Legacy: Trouble Comes Disguised As Family (Unspoken Book 2) T. Belshaw (management books to read .txt) 📖

About a mile further along, the Mercedes turned right at a faded, wooden sign that read, Café Blanc. Jessica had driven past it many times but had never been inside. She followed Bradley along a narrow, tree lined, asphalt track. Autumn was biding its time and many of the trees still held onto their leaves. At the end of the drive was a large, white painted building, the front of which was partly covered by crimson, climbing roses. White painted metal tables surrounded by wrought iron chairs were set out on a forecourt at the front. They parked up in an almost empty car park at the back of the restaurant and walked among the still-flowering rose shrubs that had been planted either side of a weather-worn, stone path and made their way to the oak-framed, panelled-glass, entrance.

‘It’s a beautiful afternoon for October. Shall we have our late lunch al fresco, or would you rather sit inside?’ Bradley offered his hand towards the table lined forecourt.

‘It’s warm enough to sit outside, don’t you think? It is lovely out here.’

Bradley smiled. ‘I hoped you’d say that. Choose a table, I’ll nip in and let them know we’re out here.’

Jessica selected a table close to a low wall that bordered a neat, well cared for shrubbery, placed her bag on the table and sat down facing the old white building. Bradley joined her a few minutes later and pulled out a chair so he could sit facing her.

‘Do you know, I have the strange feeling that I’ve been here before, but I’m sure that I haven’t.’ Jess swivelled in her chair and looked around.

‘Maybe you came here with your parents when you were young,’ Bradley suggested.

Jess shook her head. ‘It’s not the sort of place my parents would patronise. They found other things to spend their money on. Maybe I came here with Nana.’

A pretty waitress arrived with two menus and a notepad. Jess ordered a spicy veggie wrap while Bradley asked for a chicken satay salad.

‘Would you like a drink with your meal?’ The waitress waited; pen poised.

Bradley tilted his head and looked across at Jess. ‘A cocktail, maybe? They do a lovely Martini here.’

‘Just a glass of mineral water please. I’ll be using the car until late evening.’

‘Very sensible,’ said Bradley and ordered up a diet cola.

Jess watched the waitress walk back to the restaurant, then threw her head back, her eyes wide.

‘I suddenly realised why I thought I’d been here before,’ she said.

Bradley looked at her quizzically.

‘Nana’s memoirs! She came here with Godfrey, I’m sure of it. She had a Martini, but she thought it was called a Martina. She’d never had a cocktail before.’

Bradley’s jaw dropped. ‘The Martina cocktail is our family’s drink of choice when we all get together at Christmas. I have no idea who first mixed it, but it had to be someone in the family because you can’t order one in a cocktail bar without explaining how it should be constructed.’

Jess laughed. ‘In her memoir, Nana said that Godfrey was so delighted by her faux pas, that he was going to design a cocktail called a Martina. He actually mixed one for her at a New Year’s party at the farm.’

Bradley grinned and raised his glass to Jess. ‘That’s one family mystery solved.’ He looked up at the sky. ‘It really has turned into a beautiful day. Wonderful weather and wonderful company. Who could ask for more?’

They chatted about the Mollison farm as they ate their meals. Bradley seemed genuinely interested in her future plans.

‘So, you’re going to move into the farmhouse immediately?’

‘Yes, I think so. I’m staying with my best friend at the moment but I feel awkward, especially when her boyfriend stays over. I hate being a gooseberry.’ She looked across at him as she placed her knife and fork onto her empty plate. ‘Do you own your own place?’

‘Sadly not. I did have a mortgage at one time. I was married for a short period and we bought a house on the outskirts of Gillingham, but the marriage was doomed to failure. We weren’t mature enough to make it work, so we parted before the relationship got sour. We’re still on speaking terms,’ he added brightly.

‘That’s a shame, how old were you?’ Jess wiped her mouth on the colourful paper napkin, screwed it up and dropped it onto her plate.

‘I was twenty, she was nineteen. It was a whirlwind romance. As I said, doomed to failure.’

‘So, you sold the house?’

‘We did, and we lost a bit of money on it, not much, but we wanted a quick sale. I moved back home and stayed there for two or three years, then the apartment at Atwood Park became available. I’m happy enough.’ He pointed Northwards. ‘It’s only half a mile away from the office, so it’s very handy and I’ve got good neighbours. They’re not the nosy sort.’

‘My new neighbours aren’t close enough to be nosy even if they wanted to be,’ said Jess with a little laugh. ‘One of the benefits of living on a farm.’

Bradley nodded. ‘It’s a lovely old building. I met Alice there when we drew up the plans for the trust.’

‘You’ll have to come over for the housewarming,’ said Jess.

‘Ooh, I love a party,’ said Bradley. ‘I’ll look forward to that.’

‘I’ll give you a call at the office,’ replied Jess. ‘Don’t expect a Hollywood party though, there’ll probably only be a handful of people there.’

Bradley screwed up his nose and shook his head. ‘Forget the office, can I give you my personal mobile number? We don’t want my receptionist getting the wrong idea.’

Jess added him as a contact on her phone, then slipped it into her bag. ‘It will be a couple of weeks yet.’ She checked her watch then got to her feet. ‘Thank you for the lovely meal but I’d better get off. Sam will be home from work now. I’m hoping she’ll give