Page 67 of The Damaged Hearts Bargain

“Even if Lucy forced you to ask me?” Cal asked.

George laughed. “Let’s say she instigated things. But I’m glad you’re here now. And also, you should know that Lucy very often gets what she wants. She can be a big old bully and isn’t afraid of taking advantage of your weaknesses.”

“Oh yeah? Like how?”

He leaned closer. “Like pretending that there’s a mouse in the kitchen so you don’t go in and notice that she hasn’t done thedishes like she’d promised.”

“Noted,” Cal said gravely. “I’ll be sure to keep my greatest weakness a secret.”

“Oooo, you can tell me though, right?” George said.

Cal was really starting to like him. His cheekiness, his smile, his need to look after Lucy. She gave a fake sigh. “Fine. But it’s our secret. I can’t take tickling.”

George gave a serious nod. “I’ll be sure to report that back to Lucy. I mean, NOT report that back to Lucy.” He giggled. “Alright, come on then, come behind the counter and let’s get started.”

IT TOOK TEN minutes to get the lay of the land in the bakery. The till system was one Cal had used before, and the ovens were literally just for heating things up.

“Of course, when Pen’s here, things are different,” George said, as he finished showing her the kitchen. “This place smells amazing when Pen’s baking.”

“Have you heard anything from them at all?” Cal asked politely.

“Not a peep,” grinned George. “But I hope they’re busy honeymooning and not picking out babies.”

“Picking out babies?” asked Cal, confused.

“Lucy’s convinced they’ve gone to South America to adopt, remember? I think that’s just wishful thinking though,” George said.

A deep tinkling bell sounded.

“Uh, that’s a customer at the bookshop,” said George. He looked around the bakery.

“Don’t worry,” said Cal. “I’ll keep an eye on things in here, you go deal with the books. I’ve got to wait for Lucy anyway, and it’ll be good practice for Friday.”

“Thanks,” said George gratefully.

He disappeared through the connecting door and Cal took herself off behind the counter and wondered if she could do something like this. Not a bakery, of course, but some kind ofshop. Or a cafe maybe?

She was good with people, good at serving people, and she had plenty of experience. Maybe she should sell her mother’s house and get herself started in her own business. She sighed to herself. Her world was changing, that much was clear. She just didn’t quite have a handle on what she was supposed to change to.

The only thing she knew for sure was that she wanted Lucy involved. Probably. No, definitely.

“Good morning,” a woman said cheerily as she opened the door. She came in, followed by two, no three small children, like little ducklings.

Her face was familiar and Cal placed her as Moira Hadley after a little thought.

“Oh,” Moira said, stopping when she saw Cal standing behind the counter.

“Just standing in for George, helping out,” Cal said as neutrally as she could manage.

Moira bit her lip then must have decided that there was no harm in smiling. “That’s kind,” she said. The shop bell rang again as one of Moira’s kids went out and then came back in again. “Sorry about that, she’s got a thing about playing shop right now. She’s getting on my last nerve.”

“Not a problem,” Cal said with a smile. “What can I get you?”

“A large loaf please,” Moira said.

“And a biscuit,” piped up the youngest of the three children as the oldest came in and out of the door again, making the bell ring like crazy.

“They don’t have any biscuits,” Moira said, looking at the display.

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