Miranda Dickinson - When I Fall In Love

‘It smells amazing, Dad. New recipe?’

Jim set two places at the table and accepted a glass of wine from her. ‘Yep. Excellent Moroccan cookbook I bought from that second-hand bookshop café Olly loves so much. In fact, I was having coffee with him when he spotted it.’ His awful attempt at slipping this into the conversation made Elsie giggle.

‘Dad. That was terrible.’

Jim’s face fell. ‘I thought I was being subtle.’

‘No offence, but perhaps you’d better stick to cooking?’

‘Point taken. Sit, sit! We should have this while it’s hot. Preserved lemon? Found these in a wonderful deli that’s opened near the Theatre Royal.’

‘You’re such a foodie.’

Pleased by this, Jim winked at her. ‘Next stop MasterChef , eh?’ He served the aromatic vegetable stew and handed her a multi-coloured plate. ‘Now, tell me what you think.’

It was wonderful – warm, spicy flavours that made Elsie’s palate tingle and reminded her of a holiday they had taken to Marrakech when she was fourteen, Jim determined that his daughters should have every opportunity to visit new and exciting cultures. She could still remember his brave but ultimately fruitless attempts at bartering over a rug in the souk, as the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling market laid siege to their senses.

She had to hand it to Jim: he was a tremendous cook. But more than the chance to sample his excellent food, Elsie relished the opportunity to spend time with her father. The past two years of her life had often demanded her attention to the point where she had neglected time with her family; only now was she feeling like she was reclaiming some of it. Growing up as one of three siblings, with the added complication of her mother’s absence, time alone with her father had always been invaluable; even now, as each of the Maynard sisters lived out their lives, Jim’s time was divided. A fair man in everything, he tried to give each of them an equal portion of his attention, although Guin’s impending motherhood meant this was likely to change soon.

‘So what was it you wanted to tell me?’ Elsie asked, when the meal was over and they were sitting in the comfortable lounge watching soft candlelight bathe the walls from the collection of oil burners and pillar candles on the coffee table. Patchouli and lavender incense pervaded the air and Jim’s favourite Bollywood chill-out album provided an exotic soundtrack.

‘Ah yes. It’s very exciting. You know that I’m on the Traders’ Association committee for the Brighton Carnival this year?’

Elsie didn’t, but this was nothing new. Jim was nothing if not committed to his town.

‘Well, I am. Never learn, will I? Anyway, the point is, we were discussing community music for the street stage we’re sponsoring and I suggested your choir! I told them how much of a community endeavour it’s going to be, and they thought it was a fantastic idea! What do you think?’

‘I think it’s great, Dad, but don’t you think it might be better to wait and hear the choir we put together before you start booking us?’

‘It’s not till July, so there’s plenty of time to prepare for it.’ Jim hugged her. ‘I have every faith in you.’

Whether or not the choir would be able to take up Jim’s offer, Elsie was encouraged by the vote of confidence. She walked the streets of Brighton delivering choir recruitment posters to local businesses, handed out leaflets to customers at Sundae & Cher and persuaded a journalist at the local free paper to write a story, thus saving her the expense of placing an advert. She and Woody discussed their plans at length, determined to create something that stood out from the other choirs in the area.

‘It’ll be fun and inclusive, more than anything.’

‘Babe – we can’t lose. We’ll be the only choir with destiny on our side.’

‘And we’ll make the songs interesting and different. Try to avoid some of the choir clichés and create a repertoire that they want to sing.’ Elsie hesitated, as a thought occurred. ‘People will come, won’t they?’

Woody’s conviction was Jedi-like. ‘If we ask them, they will come.’

The day of the widely advertised first choir meeting arrived, and Elsie spent most of it wrestling with nerves and trying her best not to dwell on the possible outcomes for the evening. It was as if she was at the edge of a tall precipice, her toes dangling over a two-thousand-foot sheer drop, waiting to take a step of faith: thrilling and utterly terrifying in equal measure.

Daisy arrived a little after seven that evening, with an unapologetic Woody appearing twenty minutes later.

‘I was seeking inspiration,’ he shrugged. ‘You can’t rush that.’

By eight, Elsie was trying not to check her watch, Daisy was pacing the floor and even Woody was beginning to show signs of apprehension.

‘What time was on the posters?’ Cher asked.

‘Seven-thirty,’ Daisy and Woody chorused.

‘Ah.’ She looked uneasy. ‘Perhaps they’re caught in traffic. Wednesday nights, you know …’ Unconvinced by her own argument, she fell silent.

‘Nerves, man. That’s what it is. Deep down the whole town knows this choir is about to shake the establishment.’

‘It’s a choir, Woody, not a political movement.’

Woody regarded Daisy with disdain. ‘So you say.’

Daisy ignored him. ‘This is ridiculous. They’re not coming, Els. Let’s just call it a night.’

Elsie considered the disheartened group. Part of her wanted to pack up and go home, but she had been so sure people would respond – surely that level of certainty counted for something? ‘You can go, if you like. I’m going to wait to see if anyone turns up.’

‘Suit yourself. If you don’t mind, I’ll head off.’ Daisy picked up her coat.

‘Yeah, you go, girl,’ Woody replied. ‘Leave the believers keeping the dream alive.’

Incensed, Daisy pointedly dropped her coat over the back of a chair and sat down again. ‘Then I’m staying, too.’

Elsie groaned and stepped outside, leaving the Mexican standoff in the ice cream café behind her. The early-April evening was clear and a slight breeze sent goosebumps along her arms as she gazed up the quiet street. While she didn’t want to admit it to the group inside, she could feel her optimism fading like the light in the early evening sky above. Maybe the venue was wrong, or the night of the week? She shivered as a gust of wind whipped along Gardner Street. If there was one thing that could be said about her, she reminded herself, it was that Elsie Maynard wasn’t a quitter. This was, she told herself, merely a blip. It may not be the establishment-rocking, quasi-revolutionary idea that Woody seemed to think it was, but starting this choir was something she wanted to do. Therefore, she had to find a way to make it happen …

‘Am I too late?’

Elsie turned her head to see a tall figure approaching. As the light from the café window illuminated his face she felt her heart lift.

‘Olly! I’m so pleased to see you.’

Olly’s smile was easy and completely welcome. ‘That’s the best reception I’ve had all day. So, how’s it going?’

Elsie’s shoulders dropped. ‘It’s not. The only people here are my sister, my boss and Woody.’

‘Ah.’

‘I know. But now you’re here, so that’s a step in the right direction.’

‘Mmm. Only slight problem is that I can’t stay, I’m afraid. I was on my way to a family thing and thought I’d look in.’

The bright glimmer of hope in Elsie’s heart spluttered out. ‘Oh, I see. Thank you, though – for thinking of me.’

His brow furrowed and he held up his hand. ‘Wait there.’