Respect for the King Final Episode

 Respect for the King is a continuing serial story by Patricia Foster. It is about friendship,love, a restaurant and music recorded by Elvis Presley.

To start at the beginning, go to Respect for the King 1.

By the time they were drinking coffee ( or hot chocolate, in Waverley’s case) they were on the fourth seating arrangement.  Kevin had been static throughout the evening, while the others had moved according to his plan, so that his guests had all been forced to circulate.  In the final arrangement, Clare was at the head of the other table.  This choice had been made after serious thought on his part: he had to acknowledge that Respect for the King would not exist were it not for Clare’s contribution.

     Kevin rose to his feet with the intention of expressing his sincere thanks to them all, but above all, Clare.  Although he had planned the menu and of course the seating arrangements, he had not prepared a speech.  He had several ideas that he wanted to put into words, but had not yet chosen those words.  He was conscious that he must be careful to offend anyone.  Chiding himself for not making some notes, he began, intending to approach points gradually, gaining thinking time.

     He started by saying that he wanted to thank them all, and then said that he’d been pleased with business so far, and that he was looking forward to the official opening.  He continued talking about his vision of future success, and some of the others grew restless as he was weaving towards whatever point he was trying to make, like a drunk lurching towards home.

Chris offered them all a diversion, surprising them all by pushing back his chair, standing and interrupting Kevin.

     ‘I’ve got an announcement to make!  Three of you know this already – but as we’re all gathered together…’ he paused, to gather his thoughts.  He had drunk rather a lot, and had not intended to say anything.  He turned around to look for Heather, seated at the other table.  He saw her grimace, took this for a reassuring smile, and continued, ‘Heather and I will be putting some business your way, Kevin.  We’ve just got engaged, and…’

     His next words were lost as the others cheered, or clapped.  He sat down, grinning.

     Kevin beamed at Heather, now seated on his left side, and asked, ‘Have you set a date?’

     ‘We’re trying to sort out somewhere to live, and then make arrangements.  But we don’t want a long engagement, so we hope it will be this autumn.  And we’d like to have our reception here, at Respect for the King.’

     Congratulations and questions buzzed back and forth between the guests, until Heather whispered to Kevin, ‘I think you’d better get back to your speech.’

     Kevin clapped his hands to regain the attention of his friends, and then picked up the nearest glass, raised it and said, ‘A toast for Heather and Chris.’

      When everyone had responded, he noticed that his glass was now empty, and called to the waitress to come and fill everyone’s glass, saying they would need it for another toast.

     While the waitress was circulating, offering a choice, as previously instructed, Kevin said (once again) that he wanted to thank everyone.  Then, he finally stepped gingerly onto new ground in his speech, with, ‘While I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by not giving them a special mention, I don’t want to keep us here all night.  However, I really must say how much Clare has helped me.  She walked into the café at exactly the right moment: it was a sign.  I knew it.  I think she thought I was mad when I told her that, and then explained that I wanted her to be my business manager.  I’m sure that she thinks I ignore everything she tries to tell me.  It’s true that I have sometimes put my own spin on some of her management theories.  But, the bottom line (to use a business phrase) is this: we would not be here tonight, in Respect for the King, without everything Clare has done.  Raise your glasses everyone, to Clare!’

     They all joined in, as instructed.  It would have been a natural conclusion to Kevin’s speech, but he continued to stand.  Ann Marie, at the opposite end of the table, mouthed to him, ‘Get on with it!’

     He wasn’t sure what he should be getting on with; he had thanked everyone. He had told Ann Marie that he intended to ask Clare to continue as the business manager, and thought that could be what she was urging him to get on with.

     ‘So, Clare,’ he said, to regain her attention, ‘I should have planned the music for this question.  Do you remember, I played you ‘It’s Now or Never’ when I asked you to be the business manager.  I should be playing it now, because I’m asking you if you want to stay on, as the permanent business manager.  You can move into the flat, upstairs.’

     Clare had expected to be asked this question, but had not anticipated that it would be put to her at the party, with an audience.  She glanced at the faces nearest her: Eddie to her right and Waverley to her left, busy drawing on the back of a seating plan, using a pen found for her by a sympathetic adult.  Eddie smiled, looking relaxed.  Only Sheila, facing her from the opposite end of the table, appeared to be sitting up taller in her chair, preparing to listen to the answer.

Clearly they all (with the possible exception of Sheila) expected her to say something like ‘yes, of course’, and it would be the kindest thing to stand up now and do just that. But it wouldn’t be honest, and in a little while she would have to tell them all that she’d changed her mind. That would mean half a dozen difficult conversations, so she might as well get it over with, she thought, as she gripped the edge of the table and levered herself up.

‘Thank you very much, Kevin, for your continued faith in me. Some of you might know that I had doubts as to whether I should take this job. Remember? I was worried that it was not a real job, and that I needed to start my career. I want to tell you, Kevin, in front of everybody here, that I am so glad I took the job. It took me ages to see what a huge opportunity you gave me. I’ve learned such a lot, and not just about business. I’ve enjoyed the work, but more importantly, I have got such pleasure out of getting to know all of you. I love you – all of you – as if you were my family.’

She felt her face burning, and thought that she must not start crying. She looked down at the table, and breathed in and slowly exhaled, struggling to remain calm.

‘All of you, one way or another have taught me about love and what is important in life. Kevin, I wish that I could stay, but it would be the wrong thing to do. Wrong for you – you don’t need me to be your business manager anymore. I would just be a financial burden to the restaurant. Sheila knows how to use all the systems that I’ve set up, and she has bags of experience. And staying on would be wrong for me, because I still have hopes that I can have a career. This is the right time for me to move on to the next job, so I’m not going to move into the upstairs flat and get comfortable. In fact, I’m going to leave the city. I will keep in touch – I couldn’t bear not to – and I will want to know every detail about the restaurant. I know it will be a success.’

She was forced to pause, as the carillon from the cathedral clock began to sound. It would be futile to continue until the hour had been rung in. Clare stood looking through the window, listening to the familiar tune, and then counting as the bell was struck. The sun had just set, and most of the cathedral was veiled in shadow. As the bell sounded for the eighth and final time, the floodlights that surrounded the cathedral were turned on, prompted by an invisible automatic timer, illuminating the magnificent building in stark contrast to the darkening sky.

Clare raised her glass and said, ‘A final toast: Respect to the King.’

Jumping into a swimming pool – even at the deep end – is not much good as an analogy for real life.  A swimming pool has defined boundaries, and a set of rules posted for all to see.

     A fast flowing steam, with changing currents, and hidden rocks might better illustrate the difficulties of making your way through adult life, especially if the mythical stream could one day be rain-swollen, and the next dried to a muddy trickle.

     But even a stream that changed from minute to minute would not match life’s complexities.  No, everyone attempting to navigate the rolling waters would have to be following a different set of arcane rules, never to be fully revealed.’

     Clare was struggling with this chain of thought as she sat on the back seat of her parents’ car, travelling towards Bristol.

     She had been very grown up and business-like, securing a job before officially vacating her position as business manager for Kevin Hobbs.  All the systems that she had established to ensure the smooth administration of the restaurant had been documented, and she had tutored Sheila, her replacement, in every detail she should need to know.

     When Adrian had asked why she was going, she merely repeated, at greater length, what she had said in her valedictory speech at the party.  He said that he would be up to see her as often as possible; she did not voice her doubts.

     Adrian had asked, ‘Why Bristol?’

     Clare had explained that it was big enough to hold the possibility of a ‘proper’ job (and she had now secured such a job), as well as practical, because she could stay with her aunt and uncle until she had established her footing.

     Deep down, Clare’s worldview had changed.  She now held her past way of thinking to be naïve, possibly child-like.  How could she have been so simple as to believe that everything could be planned and achieved through rational thought?

     The horrific events of 11^th September had shaken her, even though she only saw them on the television and read reports in the newspapers.  At first, she had expected to feel some impact in daily events in her own life: at least in the city, or in business.  In fact, the only noticeable after effect was the absence of Americans in the city during the month of September.  The restaurant had proved popular; there was no apparent gap in the rank of customers coming through the door.

     But the dust of that dreadful day seemed to have infiltrated her thought patterns, and she was increasingly guided by feelings rather than logic.  Clare admitted this to nobody, embarrassed that she was starting to think like Kevin.

     The true but secret answer to Adrian’s question as to why she had chosen Bristol was that she had overheard a customer use the phrase ‘ship- shape and Bristol fashion’.  She didn’t know what it meant but it was clearly a sign, pointing her towards Bristol.

Adrian: accountant and Clare’s boyfriend

Amy: head waitress at Respect for the King

Ann Marie: Kevin’s ex-wife and now lover

Bobbie: Sheila’s mother-in-law

Chris: Kevin’s lodger, computer expert and Heather's boyfriend

Clare: business manager of Respect for the King

David: Heather's father

Dot: Eddie's mother

Eddie: head chef at Respect for the King

Heather: bookshop owner

Kevin: owner of Respect for the King

Paul: Sheila’s father-in-law

Peggy: Heather's mother

Sheila: Kevin’s sister.

Waverley: Sheila’s daughter (sometimes called Wavey)