I love to bake cheesecakes and watch people eat them ...Scene 3: Belvedere, The Peak
She is sipping a pink lemonade by the pool, keeping an eye on Seraphina.
These days, you just can’t take your eyes off the hired help. Take your eyes off and the furniture won't get dusted, the windows will only be summarily wiped down and the vacuum cleaner stashed into God-knows which corner of the house.
'Seraphina, Seraphina – where has that girl gone? – Seraphina – '
She abandons her lemonade. It is too hot to sunbathe anyway. The glare is shining straight into her eyes. So much for the view of the harbour.
‘Seraphina – oh, there you are. Is the cheesecake ready? Is it done?’
Poor Seraphina ducks back into the kitchen, slipping and sliding on the slippery floor. Too much wax on the marble, must remember to use less the next time – she makes a mental note.
‘Madam, the cake is almost done. I can see it’s nearly there – ’
‘Did you test it with a skewer?’
‘No, Madam – ’
‘Then how on earth do you know it’s almost done? Ai, do I have to do everything myself?’ – she pulls her robe together.
In her soft pink slippers, she pads across the floor, walking in such small mincing steps, she resembles a tiny geisha. The living room glistens in white. The sofas are white, the marble floor is white, the bearskin rug white, the vases and its tulips all white. The only thing which isn’t white is a crimson red painting on the longest wall – a painting of a village scene in Florence, Italy.
‘Have you made sure Angie’s room is spotlessly clean?’
‘Yes, Madam – ’
‘Good, she’s coming back today and I want everything to be perfect for her. Perfect from top to bottom. Did you remember to tell Joe to pick up the sushi?’
‘Yes, Madam – ’
‘Wonderful. Ok, Seraphina – you can bring me the cocoa powder now. The cake’s done. I want to finish up the tiramisu.’
Seraphina reaches into the enormous fridge in the sparklingly shiny French-styled kitchen and pulls out a canister of cocoa. Madam is driven by an urge to keep everything in the house spick and span, absolutely driven. This extends to managing the smallest detail in the kitchen. She likes – no, needs – everything to be put away either in the cupboards or in the fridge. Nothing must hang about – be left lying around – or be tossed casually on any countertop. And, not only are objects to be stored away neatly, they must be, if possible, stored in airtight spaces.
‘Seraphina – did I tell you how much Angie loves tiramisu and cheesecake?’
‘Yes, Madam, Angie loves tiramisu and cheesecake and lobster thermidor and abalone soup and sushi – ’
‘Yes, yes, yes!’ – she claps her hands happily like a child – ‘Oh, I’m so excited to see Angie. At last, after four years! It’s too long, just too long – I can’t wait!’
She finishes dusting the tiramisu. Seraphina, meanwhile, has gingerly moved the cheesecake out of the oven. Ordinarily, they would have left the cheesecake inside to cool but not this time – Angie likes her cheesecake warm and jiggly, straight from the oven!
The abalone soup is simmering gently on the stove. Seraphina does not dare go near it. It is Madam’s speciality and a very skilled, light hand must be employed in dealing with this soup. Also, a highly sophisticated palate is required to discern the level of seasoning the soup needed. Seraphina’s tastebuds have been spoilt by years of eating devastatingly sour food that’s been spiked with obscene quantities of jalapeno chillies. She doesn’t trust herself to go near such subtle delicacies as an abalone soup.
Instead, she plays with the lobster which is sitting gloomily in a very large roasting pan – all dressed and nowhere to go! She adjusts a sprig of parsley that has been tucked into the lobster’s belly.
And not a moment too soon – they hear the car pull up in the driveway. ‘That must be Joe! Oh they’re here! Seraphina, get the door - ’
Seraphina pulls open the massive doors with some effort.
‘Aunt Tiffany! Oh, Aunt Tiffany, how wonderful you look!’
Madam Car spins around like a giggly schoolgirl, slightly shy in her bathing robe but proud her figure is still as svelte and slender as when she was a teenager. Her matching bathing suit fits her like a second skin. ‘Angie, Angie – stop spinning me, I’m getting dizzy. Let me look at you instead. Oh, you’re not too bad yourself – what a lovely, lovely girl you’ve turned out to be! It must be our family genes!’
Angie gives a hearty laugh. She hugs her aunt and they shower each other with kisses.
Joe, the chauffer, quietly carries Angie’s luggage into the house, hands them over to Seraphina.
‘I’ll get the sushi – ’ he says and efficiently disappears back to the car.
‘Angie, come to kitchen. Guess what I’ve got for you – ’
Angie pushes her sunglasses up to her head, leaves it perched there, as she whips her scarf off her neck. ‘What are you up to, Aunt Tiffany? What have you been doing?’
She spots the cake on the table, squeals and dashes over to the kitchen drawers, looking for a spoon. ‘This is heavenly – ’ she murmurs, digging straight into the soft, warm cake. ‘So, so, delicious – oh my God, you remembered!’
Madam Car giggles. ‘My dearest Angie, you’re the only person in my life – the only person I know – who eats cheesecake straight from the oven and with a spoon!’
‘Yes, it’s a pudding for me, a wonderful custardy pudding!’
Madam Car cannot resist. She pulls out a spoon and joins in.
‘I haven’t lost my touch, eh?’
‘Superb! Top marks! Oh Aunt Tiffany, I love you!’
Seraphina, luggage deposited in the guest room upstairs, wanders back into the kitchen and stands sombrely in a corner waiting for instructions.
‘Seraphina, you silly goose – come here!’
‘Yes, Madam – ’ she inches her towards the kitchen table. To her astonishment, a spoon is thrust at her. ‘Come and eat this cake and tell me – isn’t it the most wonderful cheesecake in the whole world?’
Seraphina puts her spoon in and take a tiny glop. She sticks the glop into her mouth and tastes. Heaven …
‘Seraphina, this is my favourite niece – Angie. She’s just returned from Vancouver. From now onwards, she’s staying with us, until she finds her own apartment and sets up her own den. You must take good care of her, understand?’
‘Yes, Madam.’
‘Angie’s just completed her Masters in Marine Biology. She’s a scientist and we’re so proud of her!’
Seraphina nods. 'Oh, I see – that’s why Angie loves seafood.'
'Yes. And that's why I'm so eager to introduce her to Chi Yat-Po. Remember that delightful young man I was telling you about?'
'The young man with the fishing float?'
'Precisely.'
Angie, satisfied with wolfing down a chunk of cheesecake, wanders to the abalone soup and takes a sniff. 'I'm hungry for soup and lobster.'
Madam Car laughs again. 'I have two words for you - 'boy,' 'friend.' When you have a 'boyfriend,' we'll see if you dare eat like a horse still - '
Angie smirks. 'There's not an ounce of flab on me, Aunt. I'm fitter than a fiddle.'
'Vainpot. It's just as well you've got my genes. Your Mum's always the fleshier one.'
'Yes, Mum sends her love. She wants to know when you'll be going to visit her.'
'Sorry, darling Angie. Hongkong is just about as cold as I'd like a city to be. Vancouver's an icebox. Tell your Mum to come over instead.'
Angie drops the lid back on the soup. 'So who is this Chi Yat-Po person you're so eager for me to meet?'
Madam Car twirls around and claps her hands again. 'Oh, you'll find out soon enough, soon enough, my pretty niece!'
Angie feigns a pout. 'Another one of your projects, Aunt Tiffany?'
'No, my dear! Oh how crass of you to say that! Chi Yat-Po is a one-of-a-kind sort of person. There are not many people like him these days. Oh, what's the use of my telling you. You've just got to meet him yourself. You'll love him!'
'Love him, huh? We'll see about that - '
Madam Car gets up from her chair. 'Ok Angie - shoo shoo! Go get washed up and changed. Your uncle will be back in a minute!'
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