Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (18) Recipe for Love

Jane Cooper was 7 years old before she knew she had two Grandfathers.

She knew she had a Grandpa Colin, he and Nanny Laura had been in her life from the day she was born.

But Granddad Harry she had never heard of, and so she was deeply suspicious of him and she was a bit miffed with him because of all the birthday and Christmas presents she’d missed out on.

 

Harry Cooper came into her life after her baby sister Karen was taken ill with Meningitis.

While her father Paul was waiting in the anxiously in the corridor for news his father Harry appeared and they spoke for the first in more than twenty years.

Although there were hugs and apologies it wasn’t a complete reconciliation, but it was an important first step.

Over the following twelve months bridges were painstakingly built and sins gradually forgiven.

And in the spring of 1998 Paul Cooper returned to his old family home, at Coopers Villa, and he took his new family with him.

It wasn’t a simple transition but because there was a willingness to succeed on both sides they made it work.

Harry proved to be far more comfortable as a grandfather than he had ever been as a father and the girls loved him, even Jane who overcame her initial suspicions, which may have had something to do with the size of her new bedroom.

She’d had her own bedroom in the old house but it was tiny, her new room was enormous, or at least it seemed so to a little girl.

 

The house was amazing and she had a great view of Teardrop Lake from her bedroom, which had two windows.

The biggest one overlooked the lake which was shaped like a teardrop, which was where it got its name, and it was surrounded by the ancient woodland of the Dancingdean Forest.

It wasn’t a huge body of water, just over two miles long and almost a mile at its widest point but Jane thought it was just beautiful and a little magical.

And certainly over the years the Lake worked its magic and the Cooper family thrived and Jane lived a very happy life in Coopers Villa.

Her father, Paul, was still in the local police and rose slowly up the ranks and could maybe have climbed higher and faster, if he had specialised or moved to Abbotsford.

But he preferred to be a big fish in a small pond.

Her Mum Lynn who was the glue that held everyone together, returned to full time work at the surgery when her youngest daughter Karen started school at St Mary’s.

 

If there were any remaining tension between Paul and Harry they were undiscernible.

They both consigned the past to the past and the deeds and words of so long before were thought of only as water under the bridge.

As far as the girls were concerned Granddad Harry was just the kindly white haired old man who gave them sweets and walked them to school.

 

Jane thought that life had certainly taken a turn for the better when they moved to the lake and that good fortune had smiled on them all.

The only fly in the ointment was Terry O’Neil, whom she considered to be and annoying boy who lived next door at Lakeside Villa and from the moment they moved in he was besotted by her and he followed her everywhere.

Jane was only 8 years old and she had her own personal puppy dog.

 

Jane had always considered herself to be lucky and never took anything for granted, she was always very much a grounded girl.

She was also very single minded and knew from the age of six precisely what she wanted to do with her life.

Grandma Laura worked at Addison’s bakery in Shallowfield for all of her working life.

And one day when Jane was six years old St Mary’s school was being used as a polling station so she couldn’t go in that day.

So grandma took her to work with her and Jane helped her and old Elsie Addison, who was well into her eighties, making pastries for the shop and café.

Auntie Elsie was a lovely jovial old lady, she was quite rotund and she was always laughing.  

Jane enjoyed her day so much at Addison’s that she declared right there and then that when she grew up she was going to be a bakist.

Jane may have decided that she was going to be a bakist but she didn’t want to limit herself just to baking she wanted to do everything so she would help her mum at home or go to Grandma’s house whenever she could so that she could learn more.

 

When she wasn’t cooking or reading about cooking or thinking about cooking she was trying to avoid Terry O’Neil who was very persistent without the slightest encouragement from her.

The only escape she had was when she was at school because he went to St Jude’s but that all changed when they started at Secondary School and they were in the same form at Shallowfield High School.

 

Much to her disgust Terry was even in the same class as her for Food Tech (Domestic Science for those readers over thirty) and to add insult onto injury he was on the bench next to hers.

One particular day they were making a béchamel sauce, which Jane could do in her sleep, and Terry managed to burn his which he thought was highly amusing.

“Why can’t you take things seriously” she said “Don’t you like food?”

“I like eating it” he said

 

Of course what he didn’t realise, being a callow youth and therefore immature, was that if he had taken cookery seriously or shown even the slightest interest in the subject he might have managed to achieve his goal which was to win her heart.

Instead he just alienated himself further.

He still continued to pursue her right through to her college years which Jane really couldn’t understand, after all she never encouraged him for a second.

Her sisters were much more attractive than her in fact they were very pretty, so why he didn’t go after one of them she just didn’t know.

Jane always considered herself to be plain, it’s true to say that she wasn’t as stunningly attractive as Kath and Karen, but in all honesty she was by no measure plain, but that was the way she saw herself.

She was a tall girl with auburn hair and an abundance of freckles which she thought detracted from her looks even further but to Terry O’Neil they merely enhanced them.

Which is why he had loved her since she was eight.

 

Whereas all the Cooper girls had Auburn hair and freckles all the O’Neil Boys, of which there were also three, had black hair and wild gypsy eyes.

 

On the day when Jane went into college to pick up her results she inadvertently ran into Terry, who was there for the same purpose and for the millionth time he asked her out and she was so thrilled with her results that Jane gave in and went to the pictures with him.

Much to her surprise she actually enjoyed it and though she saw something in Terry that she had never seen before.

 

But the next morning in the cold light of day her previous prejudices resurfaced and when he asked her out again she brushed him off.    

However the next day Jane returned home to find that Terry was in her dads study and he had been in there for about an hour.

Nobody in the house seemed to know why he was there and she was filled with a sudden dread that he was talking to her dad about them, even though there wasn’t a “them”.

All manner of fanciful thoughts raced around her head all of which she instantly dismissed, but one thought she just couldn’t shift.

Terry O’Neil was asking her dad for permission to marry her.

“How humiliating” she said to herself as she sat down on her bed.

 

When she heard the front door go she raced to the window and looked out and saw Terry walking towards his house.

She ran down the stairs and found her dad in the kitchen,

“Was that Terry O’Neil I just saw leaving?” she asked nonchalantly

“Yes” he replied

“What did he want?”

“He wanted to ask me something” Paul replied  

“Oh” she responded

“He’s a very nice lad” Paul said “and he spoke very highly of you”

“Did he?” She replied casually

“Is that why he was here? To talk about me” she asked

“No” Paul said “why would he be?” 

“No reason” Jane said suddenly feeling very foolish

“So what did he want then?” she persisted “was it anything important?”

“Blimey you’re really nosey”

“No not really I’m just curious is all” she said

“Well if you must know he wanted to know about the police graduate program”

He said

“He wants to join the Police after University”

“Really?” Jane said, not a little impressed

Jane was unfaltering on her chosen path all through her school years and again when she went to college, and even when she’d gained her qualifications she refused to rest on her laurels.

She worked whenever and wherever she could and when she wasn’t working she was attending more courses.

And that September Terry went off to University while Jane set about gaining practical experience, where ever she could.

In her spare time, what little there was of it she would cater for buffets for social events, christenings etc.

It was hard work but it was all grist to the mill, every penny she earned went into the Restaurant fund.

Because that was her goal, to be chef de cuisine in her own kitchen in her own restaurant.

It was a big goal, she had set the bar high, but she figured if you’re going to have a dream you might as well dream big.

During the period Terry was at University Jane saw very little of him when he was home because she was all about the work.

And her hard work was well rewarded when just after her 21^st birthday she was lucky enough to get a job in the Brown Windsor Restaurant in Shallowfield and within six months she was the Sous Chef.

At the same time Terry’s reward for a first class degree was his acceptance, with Chief Superintendent Cooper’s recommendation, on to the fast track graduate program.

 

Jane didn’t see Terry at all over the following few years but she heard of him, through her father mainly, he was doing well.

In the meanwhile she was making a name for herself as an excellent Chef.

When she was 24 she catered a number of events around the Shallowfield and the Lake but the most significant of her culinary events was Olivia Adamson’s birthday dinner at Dr Andrews up at Folly cottages.

Which was the first of her home dining experiences.

The first of many as it turned out and it wasn’t the last one on the lake either.

In November she was booked for a dinner party for 12 people at Lakeside Villa for Kay O’Neil’s 50^th Birthday.

It was the biggest job she had ever done and there was quite a lot of work involved so she had her mum Lynn and a local girl Emily Goff helping her.

Emily lived in Shallowfield and was doing the same college course that Jane had done herself and so she felt an affinity with her. 

 

The evening was a tremendous success, and after all the clearing away was done, Emily and Lynn were taking things to the car and Jane was in the kitchen packing away the rest of her equipment when Terry walked in.

“That was a lovely meal” he said

“I’m glad you enjoyed it” Jane replied 

“So what do you get up to on your nights off?”

“Well officially Saturday is my night off” Jane said

“So I guess I do this”

“What about when you’re not doing this?” he said changing tack

“I’m working at the Brown Windsor” she answered

“Well let me take you to dinner on your next night off” he requested

“Blimey that’s like a busman’s holiday for a Chef” she said with a snort

“On my nights off I prefer to avoid restaurants and gastro pubs”

“Oh” he said and looked somewhat deflated

“But I like bowling” she said surprising herself at the suggestion,

The truth was she didn’t really do time off and she certainly didn’t do dating which was why at the age of 24 she was still a virgin.

“Great” he replied “I love bowling”

 

Jane wasn’t sure why she had agreed to go out with him, maybe it was his crushed expression, whatever it was a few days later they went ten pin bowling and laser questing in Abbeyvale and then they even had a slice of pizza and a beer afterwards.

In spite of herself Jane really enjoyed it and when Terry dropped her home that night she said

“That was fun”

“Maybe we could do it again next time I’m home” he suggested

“Yes I’d like that” she said and meant it

An awkward goodnight kiss scenario followed which ended with a peck on her cheek.

Terry didn’t go home again for any significant amount of time for the rest of the year buy they spoke on the phone a few times and they did meet briefly at St Mary’s Church on Christmas morning.

So as the year came to an end she reflected on the events of the year and congratulated herself quite smugly on her achievements, and the growing restaurant fund and she looked forward to the future.

 

The next morning when she got up and went downstairs she was met with grave expressions.

“Blimey! How much did you lot drink last night?” Jane asked

Just then her father walked in wearing his uniform

“I thought you were off today” she said

“I was” he replied then he kissed Lynn

“I’ll see you later love”

“What’s happened?” Jane asked but no one spoke

“What’s happened?” she repeated “Where’s dad gone?”

“Someone’s been hurt” Lynn replied

Jane knew by the atmosphere that it was someone they knew, but she didn’t know who it could be.

And as if to pre-empt Jane’s next question Lynn said 

“It’s Terry O’Neil”

And Jane felt like she’d been punched in the stomach.

And the next thing she knew she was being helped up from the floor.

 

PC Terry O’Neil was on duty on New Year’s Eve with another PC, Georgina Devereaux, when there was an armed robbery at a wholesale jewellers in Finchbottom.

Georgina was driving when they took the call and spun the car around as Terry responded on the radio.

Two other cars were in pursuit from Finchbottom and O’Neil and Devereaux were heading straight for them to intercept.

As Georgina took the roundabout, the bandit car went the wrong side of the island as a shortcut to the motorway and hit them head on.

Devereaux and two of the bandits died at the scene and a third in the ambulance, only Terry survived and he was only hanging on.

  

“Oh my darling” Lynn said as she helped Jane onto a chair

“I didn’t know”

“What am going to do mum?” she said and wept

 

Jane was like a zombie in the days following the bad news.

Her mum and dad kept her updated on his progress, Lynn through her contacts in the medical profession and her father as a high ranking police officer.

But all she really knew was that he was off the critical list and his police career was over.

And that wasn’t enough, so she had to adopt unconventional methods.

She borrowed granddad Harrys binoculars and from a suitable vantage point, her sister Karen’s Bedroom window, spied on the comings and goings at Lakeside Villa.

Although it might have seemed unorthodox, or even creepy to the untrained eye, but she wanted to be sure Kay O’Neil was at home when she called round.

So it was all in a good cause and after all she didn’t spy on them all the time, she still had to work for a living.

 

It was twenty minutes into her third morning of espionage when she got her reward, she saw Kay’s car pull onto the drive.

Kay worked at a nursing home in Childean and was obviously returning home after a night shift.

Kay O’Neil was a kindly woman and a good neighbour.

Jane waited until she was sure Mrs O’Neil was in the house before she raced downstairs and out the front door.

And then a few minutes later she was knocking on the O'Neil’s front door.

“Hello Kay” Jane said when the door opened

“Jane! How lovely” she said still wearing her nursing uniform “Come in dear”

“How is Terry?” she asked as she stepped over the threshold.

“He’s stable, but they have him in a medical induced coma” she said “I’m off to sit with him for a couple of hours”

Jane was thoughtful in response and then asked

“Are you going on your own?”

“Yes I’m afraid so” she replied “The others are at work”

“I could keep you company if you like” Jane said

“Would you? That would be nice” Kay replied “I’m leaving in half an hour” 

As she drove them to the Winston Churchill Hospital Kay broke the silence 

“Terry has loved you since primary school you know?”

“I know” she replied “And I only realised quite recently that the feeling was mutual”

Kay reached across and squeezed her hand.

 

When they reached the hospital they went straight up in the lift.

They went into Terry’s room in High Dependency and Jane was shocked.

He was a mass of bruises and abrasions and there were tubes coming out of every orifice.

And there was a frame keeping the covers from where his leg would have been.

“Hi Baby” Kay called “Mums here, and I’ve brought Jane too”

Kay kissed his forehead and added  

“Sit down and talk to him while I’ll get us a coffee”

“What should I say?” Jane asked

“Just chat to him” Kay said

“Let him hear your voice dear”

Jane nodded and sat on the chair by the bed as Kay left and after a few moments she said

“Well Terry O’Neil, You finally got my full attention”

And she took hold of his hand and cried.

 

Jane visited him whenever she could after that, sometimes with Kay, sometimes with his brothers and sometimes on her own, it depended on when or whether she was working.

Her visiting went on like that for more than a week with her sat by his bed holding his hand and baring her soul.

But that came to an end one lunchtime when she was working at the Brown Windsor Restaurant.   

It was just after the last of the mains had gone to the pass that she received a text from Kay.

“He’s awake x”

 

As soon as the service was concluded and the kitchen cleaned down she went across the road to the surgery.

“Hello love” Lynn said “everything ok?”

“Can I borrow the car mum?” Jane asked

“Any particular reason?” Lynn asked

“Terry’s awake” she said

Lynn just smiled and tossed her the car keys.

 

Although Jane had held a full licence since she was 18 she was not an experienced driver by any stretch of the imagination, which was perhaps fortunate as it forced her to be more cautious than she otherwise might have been under the circumstances.

And it was as a consequence of her caution that she reached the hospital in safety.

So she parked the car and then rode up in the lift, when the lift doors opened she paused and took a deep breath before stepping out.

She had only taken a few steps before she heard a familiar voice.

“Jane dear!” Kay said and hugged her.

“Hello Kay” she said and hugged her back

“Come and sit” she instructed “The doctors are with him at the moment”

So they sat in the visitor’s room and held hands as Kay explained the details of his reawakening.

 

“You can go back in now Mrs O’Neil” A doctor said

“Thanks Doctor” Kay said

“You’d better go in first” she said to Jane

“Me?” she replied

“Yes, I told him you were coming” Kay said

“Oh goodness” Jane said “I don’t know what to say”

“You say exactly what you’ve been saying dear” she replied and squeezed her hand.

 

As she approached his bed his eyes were closed so she sat in her normal chair and waited.

But she didn’t have to wait for long, however she was looking the other way at the time, and didn’t see his eyes open.

He focused on the figure in the chair and licked his lips before he spoke.

“Now I know what I have to do to get you to come and see me”

“Well text time just ask, you have my number” she said “And my heart”