I did have to spend fifteen minutes explaining to those not in the know a little of the history behind the wedding invite. I mean, you can’t just say we spent New Year with the Taxis, you have to go back to Analise’ wedding to fill in some of the gaps. Which of course raised as many questions as it provided answers – de Vreen and von Strechau were seen in mutual jollity at my discomfort – I'll get you two later.

It was after three when the ‘party’ broke up, the Luchows heading directly back to Cottbus, Dad taking the remainder in the camper. Yeah, Tali and Josh were taking the train north from Kӧln, they’d be home – well in Hamburg at least, about nine, Josh staying the night at the Schmidts.
Which left Mand, Mum and me to finish the clear-up.

"So you alright for the morning, Gab?”
"Think so, Tomas is taking us up about eight so we can get everything set up.”
"Me and your dad will come up about nine, Tom should arrive about half past.”
"You sure you don’t want to come, Mand?” I asked.
"Can’t, I've got school,” she complained.
"You got any exams?” Mum enquired.
"No, English tomorrow.”
"Well as your guardian I think you’d be better off revising at home than commuting for hours – I'll do you a note for Tuesday.”

Mand’s demeanour changed, Mandarella will go to the ball!
 
Josef was up a ladder when we arrived, he already had the name boards revealed and was busy affixing bunting around the gutters.

“I'll give you a hand in a minute,” Tomas suggested.
"We’ll get the Brötchen inside, Dad,” Con told him.
"Okay, so where do you want me, Jo?”
 
I stood watching the decorations being put up, this is real, isn’t it?

"You alright, Gab? You’re shivering.”
“’S a bit chilly. It’s actually happening isn’t it, Con?”
"Definitely, now grab that other tray of Brötchen.”
I hefted the tray of rolls from the back of the car, "Aren’t you nervous at all?”
"What for?”
"Well you know, our own business and everything?”
“I guess it is a bit exciting but it’s not like we’re doing it on our own is it?”

That’s true enough, the Thesing’s are bankrolling the whole thing, Dad’s not shy of getting involved and even Max has volunteered a time or two. Then we’ve recruited Kristin as our first employee – she lives locally, she’s available and it means Con and I can split the opening closing stuff between us. For today Nen’s helping too in case we’re busy.
 
I'm sure we’ll develop some sort of routine but this morning we spent ten minutes getting in each other’s way as we started machinery going, stowed bread, fetched supplies, opened the till and generally got ourselves ready.

"How’s it going, girls?” Con’s father enquired as I placed the first würst onto the griddle.
"All in hand,” Con enthused.
"Any chance of a couple of coffee’s?”
"You could do them yourself,” Con suggested.
"Such customer service,” he mock grumbled, "How’s this thing work?”
"Put a cup in and press the button for whatever,” I told him without taking my attention from the job at hand.

It might not be a big grand opening but that doesn’t mean attendees don’t get anything, by democratic vote that's a plate of the old favourite currywurst mit Pommes. There will be Sebenschuh wine, soft drinks or coffee to wash it down and Therese has made a cake. A party at ten in the morning. Of course you can’t conjure up fifty sausages and portions of Frites in seconds flat hence me getting the cooking started early.
 
“I've just seen Nena, we’ll make a start on the tables,” Con advised.
“’Kay,” I allowed.
"Morning!”
"Oh hi, Kristen, Gab’s got stuff inside,” Con told the help as she departed.
"Okay boss, what’s happening?”
"Morning, Kris, didn’t realise it was that time.”
“I'm a bit early, so what do you want me doing?”
"Erm, oh yeah, can you slice those batons, you know like at an angle?”
"There something to put it in?”
"Baskets on the shelf, napkins by the window.”
 
"Frikadel and a coffee.”
"We’re not open yet.”
"Dang, I missed breakfast too!”
I turned round, "Mum!”
"Wotcha, kiddo, everything under control?”
"Think so, me and Kris have it cracked in here.”
"Hi, Mrs Bond,” Kris called over.
"Food’s just about ready to go, just need to serve it up.”
"That what you’re wearing for the opening?”
"Er yeah?” I allowed.
"You didn’t bring anything to change into?” she pressed.
"Um,” what’s wrong with Capri's and my kiosk T shirt?
"Really, Gaby, I thought I'd brought you up better, it’s a good job someone was thinking this morning, I'll be back in a minute.”

Mum departed, leaving me staring into space.

Kris sniggered.
"You could be an ex employee,” I half heartedly suggested.
"Soz, Gab, but the look on your face, is she always like that?”
"Yeah,” I sighed, "From when I was little, don’t wear that, wear this. Good job she doesn’t know half the stuff that's in my wardrobe.”
"Mine too,” Kris smirked.
 
A couple of minutes later mater came in the back, well only door brandishing a frock in a dress cover.

"Here you go, I don’t know how you find anything in that wardrobe.”
Kris and I exchanged a look.
"Thanks, Mum.”
"Shoes and hose in the bag, I've just seen Tom arrive so scoot.”
My, "Yes Mum,” was to an empty space.
"You’d best get changed then,” Kris snickered.
"Can you take the Rotkohl and Sauerkraut out while I get Mum respectable.”
"Of course, boss lady.”

Have to give Mum her due, her choice from my wardrobe was bang on the money, a very fitted sleeveless number in pink with little white flowers that I bought for Steff’s birthday party. She’d been thorough, in the bag, besides my beige heels, was a pair of glossy hose, Wolford don’t you know, matching knickers and BH, my make up bag and in an envelope, Gran’s earrings and the matching necklace. I headed into my impromptu changing area, the store room.
 
"Where’s Gab? We need her out front now!” Con gasped out without drawing breath.
"Here,” I advised as I threaded the wire of my second earring through my lobe.
"Great,” she noted as she turned my direction, "Damn you, Bond.”
"Not my idea,” I defended.
"Her mum’s a right laugh,” Kristen added.
"Oh well,” Con sighed, "Too late now, come on, Gab, people to meet, hands to shake and stuff.”
"You okay with chopping the würst, Kris?”
“In the top, press the button and into the tray?”
"That’s the one.”
"Gab!” Con persisted.
“I'm coming!”
 
Being inside and then getting changed I'd missed what was going on outside. Gab’s Garden was packed, the guy from Ahr Zeitung, Freddy from the Tourist board, our families of course, The Angels, some of the Thesing’s business contacts, I'm guessing the guy with my Rents is our guest of honour, Mr Boonen. However the big surprise was presence of Gertie Schmidt, you remember, she of Rhein Abend fame – not just here but her camera crew too.

"Mingle!” Con prompted.
"Okay already.”

I spotted Dad waving at me, dapper in his best suit – you know the weddings and funerals thing. Here goes nothing.

"Here she is,” Mum enthused, "Tom, my daughter, Gabrielle.”
Really, Mum?
"Ah, the famous daughter of the famous mother,” Mr Boonen started with a smile, "Nice to meet you, Gabrielle.”
"Er Gaby please, Mr Boonen.”
"Call me, Tom.”
"Er thanks for doing this.”
"Makes a change from some supermarket in deepest Vlaenderen ,” he chuckled.
“I was just telling Tom about Saturday,” Mum put in.
“Very impressive, Gaby,” Tom noted.

Of course my face tried to clash with my hair and dress.

“It was mostly luck.”
"You make your own luck, Gaby, I saw you at Roubaix, very impressive and Dave tells me you’ve been on the top step regularly all season.”
"More than her mother,” Mum added.
I shrugged, “Just lucky I guess.”

We chatted for another couple of minutes – or maybe it was longer, he’s quite a charmer – if he wasn’t so old...

"Gabs, time!” Con called out.
 
"And it’s with great pleasure that I declare the Bridge Kiosk open for business, Gaby tells me that there’s currywurst coming out, I hope there’s plenty of mayo!”

There was a round of clapping and cheering – we’re open!

Tom’s speech had been well received by our select audience, a couple of anecdotes – you know the sort of thing, cafe tales, every cyclist has them, a funny aside and a bit of inserted information about the locality and our business. He might be serious on his bike but he has a lighter side too, he certainly had me chuckling with the chicken sausage.

It wasn’t quite a bun fight after that, bit more restrained but soon the distinctive aroma of Bratwurst, paprika sauce, Pommes. and coffee filled the air. As I was dressed posh I got out of serving – Con was volunteered by her mum to supervise the help – oops. Of course there were photos to be taken, interviews to be given, not just by me but by both the men’s and women’s current elite road cycling world champions – Tom and Mum that is.

"Great currywurst, Gaby,” Gertie Schmidt advised as she wiped piquant sauce from her mouth.
"Er thanks, our signature dish,” I suggested with a grin.
"You turn up in the most unexpected places, Gaby Bond, fitness courses, weddings, Weihnachts Markt and here now, a snack bar.”
"Never a dull moment, eh?” I suggested.
“I think you, young lady, will be keeping me in a job for some time to come.”
I shrugged, “I er try to please.”
"Don’t you ever do that, Gaby, you are unique, remember that, the fact you are a successful sportswoman and now businesswoman only adds to the mystery.”

The blush that Tom started earlier now burst forth in glorious technicolour.
 
Maddy Bell © 18.03.17