The Chocolatier's Secret (Magnolia Creek, Book 2) Page 26

  Andrew had been over to see Louis after Molly left the house yesterday and he’d told him about his change of heart. At first Louis had protested and told Andrew he wouldn’t take the kidney. Stubborn old goat. But Andrew had placated him with talk of Molly, telling him the feelings he’d had since she’d come into his life. Feelings which, up until now, he’d kept closely guarded. Andrew knew he needed to learn how to forgive. He wasn’t sure it came naturally to anyone, but he didn’t want to give a kidney to appease any guilt he’d feel if his father died, he wanted to give him the kidney for the right reasons. And to do that he needed to talk to his father and see the good in him, not just the bad.

  When Andrew knocked on the door of the annexe yesterday, Louis had taken a while to answer. Molly had told him his dad was sleeping, but he’d given him a few hours before he’d come over. It’d given him time to collect himself.

  Louis stepped back. ‘Come in,’ he’d said softly, and shut the door behind his son.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ Andrew ran a hand through his hair to rid it of the fine rain that still hung in the air outside.

  ‘I slept for a while,’ Louis said matter-of-factly and walked through to the lounge. ‘I feel better now.’

  It took his dad longer to sit in his favourite chair than usual.

  ‘Did you have a good chat with Molly?’ Andrew asked when Louis was safely in the chair. He hadn’t offered his help, the determination on his dad’s face warning him off, as though he didn’t want to put Andrew to any more trouble than he already had.

  Louis’ face thawed. Whatever he’d worried about, whatever he’d thought Andrew was about to say, he seemed glad at what he’d heard. ‘She’s a lovely girl. A really lovely girl.’

  Andrew smiled. ‘I know.’

  ‘She’s like Julia.’ Again, when Louis mentioned Julia’s name it was as though he were waiting for a specific reaction, a launch into the same slanging match they’d had days ago.

  ‘She is,’ said Andrew.

  ‘And to think—’

  ‘Dad, enough.’

  ‘Enough?’ When Louis looked across at his son, it was as though they’d switched roles. It was as though this old man, shorter in stature than Andrew, was the child and Andrew was the grown-up following the right way to do things, educating the other.

  ‘I didn’t come here to fight, Dad.’

  Louis’ legs shuffled restlessly, and his face contorted.

  ‘You okay?’

  ‘I’m fine, a bit of pins and needles, that’s all.’ He looked more squarely at his son. ‘Why did you come?’

  ‘I came to tell you …’ Could he really use the word forgive? ‘I came to tell you I understand why you did what you did back then, why you lied. I’m not saying it was right, but I can see how you felt you had no choice.’

  Neither of them said anything and the silence stretched into five, ten minutes. Andrew wondered whether Louis was waiting for him to say the word ‘forgive’ but he wasn’t there yet. He hoped in time he would be. Molly had forgiven both him and Julia for creating a life and signing that life over to someone else, albeit unwittingly on his part; Gemma had forgiven him for not telling her about Julia and the baby they’d made together. Forgiveness was one of the most powerful emotions he knew, and Andrew would do his damnedest to get there, eventually.

  ‘I’ve phoned the doctors.’ Andrew broke the silence, shuffling one seat closer to his dad and watching for his reaction. He saw shock, regret even. ‘I told them I’m willing to go ahead with the live transplant. I’ll need to have the necessary checks again, and we’ll find out more tomorrow when I take you for your dialysis.’

  Louis eyes filled with tears. But he didn’t let them spill over. He was still the father, Andrew was still the son. ‘I can’t let you do it.’

  ‘What?’

  Louis shook his head. ‘I don’t deserve it, son.’

  ‘I should never have pulled out in the first place.’

  ‘Yes, you should. I did something so dreadfully, dreadfully wrong. And I’m sorry.’

  ‘I know you are, Dad.’ Andrew’s voice caught. ‘But don’t refuse me this. I want to help.’

  They both sat in stunned silence for a few minutes until Andrew pulled out a packet of playing cards from the bureau at the side of the lounge and challenged Louis to a good old-fashioned game of poker. Shuffling blue slippers or not, the man was a master at the game and beat him every time, and many an evening in his teenage years had been spent bonding with his father over a few games.

  ‘Loser gets to forfeit a kidney,’ said Andrew, and locked eyes with his dad.

  All Louis did was nod, and he picked up the playing cards, shuffled them and dealt, ready to go again.

  Of course, today was no different. Louis beat him quickly and efficiently.

  Now, at the chocolaterie, Andrew smiled as he rested the final bunny mould on the vibrating plate over the tempering machine and watched the milk chocolate settle perfectly. He set them aside to cool as Stephanie called through to the kitchen to say they needed more dark chocolate bunnies for the shop. Apparently they were selling like nobody’s business out there.

  ‘Knock, knock.’ It was Gemma this time, a big smile on her face. ‘Can we come in?’

  Andrew wiped a couple of moulds clean and noticed his father behind Gemma. ‘Pull up those chairs.’ He gestured to the corner, strangely nervous with all eyes on him. ‘I’m under the pump so I’ll keep going if you don’t mind. Lunch hour?’ He looked to Gemma.

  ‘Yup. I walked home to check on Louis and we thought we’d come and say hello.’

  He smiled. He knew exactly what she was up to. Even though he’d already worked this through with Louis, Gemma needed to see it with her own eyes.

  Gemma brought the chairs over and unstacked them, positioning one for Louis and one for herself, and then she grabbed two requisite blue hairnets to match Andrew’s, one for her, one for Louis, and they sat and watched.

  ‘I miss the smell as much as the taste.’ Louis inhaled the sweet air all around them, the life of a chocolatier, which had surrounded him for more than forty years before he’d retired.

  Andrew worked well under pressure, but he was suddenly aware of his audience. Louis never criticised or picked fault, he knew his son was more than capable, but they were only just finding their footing after the fallout, and it made Andrew nervous.

  He worked and chatted simultaneously with Gemma and Louis. They laughed about the ten thousand eggs Andrew had made and wrapped, giggled when he told them he’d dreamed about those eggs on more than one occasion. They talked about Molly and how lovely she was, how it would be great to share Good Friday with her. They gossiped about Molly and Ben.

  ‘Long-distance romance is tricky,’ said Gemma.

  Andrew retrieved moulds from the fridge, turned out the Easter rabbits that were set. He took out sheets of coloured foil from the stock cupboard and began to wrap, feeling therapy in his actions. He smiled to himself, shook his head.

  ‘What is it?’ Louis must’ve been watching him.

  ‘I worry about her.’ Andrew looked to Gemma, but he saw nothing but happiness across her face, probably glad he could finally be in the same room as his dad without wanting to strangle him. ‘Is that weird? I’ve only known her a couple of weeks.’

  ‘Not at all,’ said Louis. ‘It makes you a father.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose it does. Although her dad is the one who should worry. Plenty of men can father a child, but he’s been there parenting her for thirty years.’

  ‘Andrew, I—’

  ‘That wasn’t a dig at you, Dad. I’m simply stating facts. What’s done is done, and at fifteen I don’t think I’d have made a particularly good parent anyway.’ He wrapped the fourth bunny, carefully folding the edges so they didn’t tear, careful to protect the bunny and keep it fresh, then the fifth and a sixth, and he set them all aside on a tray and popped them out of the way.

  ‘Where’s the enormous egg?’ Lo
uis asked.

  ‘It should be ready.’ Andrew went over to the fridge. ‘I had to move around some of the shelves in the fridge to get the thing in there.’ He opened the door and took out the ginormous half egg in its mould.

  ‘It’s enormous!’ Gemma squealed, leaping up. ‘Is it ready to turn out?’

  Andrew tentatively felt the edge of the chocolate. ‘I think so.’

  ‘Wait there.’ Gemma scarpered over to the sink and washed her hands. ‘Let me help, it’s huge!’

  ‘Great project to get, son,’ said Louis.

  Andrew looked at his dad, held his gaze. ‘Thanks, Dad.’ It had been a stroke of luck getting the order for the Easter eggs. Apparently before Andrew had opened up the shop in town, the idea of doing the hunt at Magnolia House had already been discussed and talks had already taken place about finding a suitable supplier.

  ‘Andrew?’ It was Stephanie from the shop. ‘Visitors for you.’ She popped her head around the corner of the kitchen.

  ‘Send them through.’ His hands were on either side of the mould, ready to turn the half egg out onto the benchtop with Gemma’s help. He put a thin metal sheet over the top of the chocolate so the dome was on the bottom, and with one hand firmly on the metal and the other beneath the dome of the chocolate and Gemma mirroring his actions, they counted to three and flipped the chocolate over. Placing the metal sheet on the benchtop he said, ‘Fingers crossed.’

  He slid the metal sheet out from beneath the mould and gently began to lift the plastic from the chocolate.

  ‘Whoa! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much chocolate.’ This from Ben who’d come out back with Molly at his side. They were holding hands, Andrew noticed, until Gemma handed them each a hairnet and they pulled them on.

  ‘What do you think?’ Andrew asked, proud Molly had witnessed the unveiling. ‘It’s going to be the raffle prize. I’ll make the other half now and then put those bunnies,’ he nodded to the tray full of foil-wrapped pieces, ‘inside.’

  ‘So is this egg hunt for adults too?’ Ben asked Molly.

  Molly touched Ben’s chest with her hand. ‘You big kid!’

  ‘How are you, Molly?’ Andrew used kitchen towel to wipe out the mould ready for the other half of the ginormous egg. He’d wrap the first half carefully so the air didn’t attack it before he had a chance to let the other half set.

  ‘I’m good, thanks.’ He’d already turned away to carry on with his work, but he could tell by her voice she was smiling. ‘Silly question, but why don’t you have two moulds?’

  ‘We did but the other broke last Easter. I forgot to replace it but it’s on order and should arrive any day now.’

  Knowing Louis, he’d want to help Andrew right now, but his body was weakening more by the day, hands not as strong as they once were and legs not as sturdy to hold his shrinking body above him while he worked. Instead, Louis disappeared into deep conversation with Molly about all things chocolate.

  Andrew filled a jug at the tempering machine and when the liquid reached the top he turned and poured it into the mould, lifting the vessel and tilting it so the chocolate coated all sides. He refilled the jug and used a brush to add more of the mixture and ensure the chocolate achieved the required thickness, and as he finished he looked over at the family gathered in the kitchen with him and a lump formed in his throat. A few weeks ago he’d known nothing of Molly, he’d not known his father as he’d been back then, back in England. He watched the scene, with four additional people wearing their identical blue hairnets, and he knew he didn’t want this moment to end.

  ‘You okay?’ Gemma left the conversation and came to his side. ‘Andrew?’

  He knew he had tears in his eyes and gave himself a moment, the warmth from Gemma’s body melting against his own.

  ‘I’m happy,’ he said. ‘I’ve got family around me.’

  Gemma gave his arm a squeeze and left him to it. But next up was Molly.

  ‘How long will it take to set?’ she asked.

  Tears all gone and a big smile on his face, he said, ‘A while. But I’ve got the fridge to speed things up.’

  ‘I thought you weren’t supposed to put chocolate in the fridge.’

  Andrew pushed the mould to the back of the benchtop. It was too heavy to lift to the top shelf where they usually cooled their chocolates. ‘You mustn’t put chocolate in a regular fridge,’ he explained, ‘but our fridge is set to a special temperature.’

  Andrew had a captive audience with Molly and explained how cocoa crystals needed to form correctly for chocolate to be perfect. He explained how chocolate hardened and contracted, shrinking away from the edges of the moulds so it could be tipped out easily. He talked about the busiest times at the shop and the novelty chocolates they made for every season.

  ‘Some of these chocolates are awesome!’ This from Ben who was flicking through the trade catalogue Gemma had given him. He pointed to a motorcycle made from dark chocolate before leafing through more pages. ‘I should get that one for Owen.’

  Molly pointed to one of the Halloween creations. ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Eurgh. It’s revolting.’ Ben pointed to the dog turd made out of chocolate. ‘Although maybe my brother would like it.’

  Louis laughed. ‘I came up with the idea. Kids – boys mainly, but some girls – think it’s hysterical.’

  ‘I bet they do. It’s the sort of chocolate me and my brothers would’ve loved to surprise our parents with,’ said Ben.

  ‘I don’t think I could eat it,’ said Molly.

  Gemma pulled a face. ‘Me neither.’

  Andrew met Louis’ gaze as Molly and the others sniggered over the magazine, and both men found themselves nodding. It was only a small movement of the head, barely detectable to anyone else, but nevertheless there. It was a nod of acceptance of everything that had passed, everything that had happened. The future was what mattered now, and Andrew felt a rush of what he could only claim as forgiveness.

  The family went upstairs to the decking outside for lunch. Andrew and Ben helped Louis up the stairs, slowly but surely. This was one family gathering Louis wasn’t going to miss out on, and Andrew didn’t want him to either.

  Gemma ran home and raided the pantry for bread rolls, the fridge for cold meats. Ben went to the Harrisons and brought back a selection of cheeses and crackers and some fruit, and Andrew sorted out tea, coffee and soft drinks for everyone. They pulled tables together out on the decking. The rain had dissipated and, with a good wipe of all the chairs and the tabletops, they were able to set lunch up outside overlooking the bush in all its beauty.

  One thing Andrew loved about chocolate was the way it brought people together. Most people loved chocolate in all shapes and sizes, and today he’d worked in the chocolaterie, relaxed in his familiarity as his family gathered around and watched, asked questions, discussed processes, laughed over funny creations. It was everything he’d dreamed his life would be, and sitting next to Molly for lunch, he was devastated she lived on the other side of the world.

  ‘Are you straight back to work after the holiday, Molly?’ he asked, willing himself not to get overly emotional.

  ‘I have four days when I get back.’

  ‘To allow for jet lag?’ he asked.

  Ben unwrapped another portion of Brie and offered it round. ‘That, or in case she got the fear.’

  ‘The fear?’ Andrew asked.

  ‘My fear of flying.’ Molly grinned, not in the least bit riled by Ben. ‘And I think I’ll be fine.’

  ‘But you won’t have me by your side.’ Ben was clearly smitten. Andrew wondered who would struggle more with Molly’s departure: Ben or him.

  ‘Dad, can I get you something else to eat?’ he asked Louis, sure he was encroaching on Ben and Molly’s time together. Young love, especially when the two people involved didn’t realise that was what it was, was all-consuming.

  ‘No, I’m good thanks, son. My appetite is pathetic really.’ He looked over at Molly. ‘I’ll
miss her when she leaves.’

  ‘Me too.’

  ‘Gemma has adjusted well.’ Louis watched his daughter-in-law pouring a glass of lemonade at the other end of the table as Molly drew her into whatever she was talking about with Ben.

  ‘She’s doing okay.’

  ‘I love her as though she were my own, you know.’

  ‘I know you do, Dad.’

  ‘And Molly is a keeper … she’s wonderful. Hold onto her.’

  ‘I intend to.’

  ‘Remember, son. Life isn’t black and white. It’s colourful, like everything you create in the chocolaterie … life is crumbled raspberries, gold lustre paint, hundreds and thousands. Life is rarely anything but complicated. It’s glorious technicolour.’

  They stared at one another until Louis said, ‘I did a terrible, terrible thing—’

  ‘Dad, you don’t—’

  ‘No, I do need to say it. I did a terrible thing, but don’t let my mistake become your mistake. Don’t let anything come between you and that girl, whether it’s geography or your own need for a family. Gemma will be by your side every step of the way, I know it.’ Louis patted his hand. ‘Would you mind if I went home now? I’m tired.’

  It was as though he’d been gearing himself up for his speech and now he was done, he could rest easy.

  Andrew popped his last piece of cracker and cheese into his mouth and readied himself to help Louis down the stairs. Louis lifted a hand to say goodbye to everyone, and Ben came over to shake the old man’s hand. ‘It was nice to meet you,’ he said.

  ‘Good to meet you too,’ said Louis.

  Molly hovered awkwardly but then stepped forwards, and for a moment Andrew thought she’d shake Louis’ hand, but she didn’t. She put her arms around his father and hugged him, carefully, as though he might break if she squeezed too hard. Louis was taken aback, Andrew could tell, but he was also clearly pleased at the gesture, especially when he gave him a wink that made him smile as though he were a little boy again being praised for getting top marks in a test.