Page 88 of Best Summer Ever

My bank account was currently rather depleted so I would be living off staples until I was paid by Algy at the end of the month and Penny for my four days in the café. It was the first of August today, so I had a while to wait, but I knew Mum wouldn’t let me go hungry.

‘In that case,’ Algy insisted, ‘come and help yourself to some cereal and toast and when your mum arrives, you can give her a list of what you need to fill the summerhouse kitchen cupboards.’

‘Oh, I can’t do that—’

‘Of course you can,’ Algy interrupted, brooking no refusal. ‘You’ve weeks to wait until pay day, so I insist. My weekly order will go up to the village later today so you’re just in time. And, in the meantime,’ he added, with a nod to the dresser, ‘there’s a little cash in that envelope with your name on, to tide you over. And before you object, I’ll take it out of your first pay cheque.’

‘That’s so kind, Algy,’ I said, feeling choked. ‘And so thoughtful of you, especially given that you’ve already done so much for me.’

‘I’d say it’s a fair exchange.’ He smiled. ‘I’m expecting you to make my dream come true. For a while anyway…’

I wasn’t sure if I’d just heard him right but didn’t have time to ask him to repeat what he’d said as Mum bustled in, clucking like a mother hen and looking damp around the edges.

‘Daisy.’ She smiled, shaking the worst off her umbrella on the doorstep before walking in. ‘How did you sleep?’

‘Oh, yes,’ said Algy. ‘How was that mattress? Any good? And was there any sign of the cat?’

‘It was perfect,’ I told him. ‘I had a wonderful night’s sleep.There was no sign of Luna though. I reckon she’s probably spying on me from the undergrowth while she susses me out.’

I had a feeling some of my sweet slumber might have been down to the fact that I was blissfully happy. That said though, given my current level of excitement, it was a miracle that I had calmed down enough to nod off at all.

‘So was your decent sleep down to the new bed or being worn out?’ Mum asked, once Algy had agreed with my thoughts about what the cat was up to. ‘It was late when I heard Penny head for home.’

I knew Penny hadn’t gone home to Wynmouth, so she must have moved her car round to Nick’s cottage after the pair had left the summerhouse. She was thrilled with how the twins were working out in the café and together with her now being coupled up with Nick, her life was suddenly perfect too.

‘Probably a bit of both.’ I nodded and my tummy rumbled.

‘Breakfast,’ Algy commanded. ‘Then groceries and then work.’

‘I’m rather looking forward to work.’ I grinned.

That wasn’t a statement I made every day!

‘So, that’s settled then,’ proclaimed Algy later that morning. ‘We’ll set you up with a desk in here.’ We were in his office, having gone through things like the insurance. ‘And you can use this as your business base when you need to access the internet and check emails and so on.’

‘That will be really handy,’ I told him. ‘I’m going to set up social media accounts for the cutting garden today and I’m planning to officially open to the public from Monday if that suits you, Algy?’

Algy looked pensive.

‘Unless you had a different day in mind?’ I asked.

‘I think it would be more lucrative to tie the opening hours in with the fruit farm,’ he suggested and I felt a bit of an idiot for not thinking of that myself.

‘Of course it would,’ I tutted.

‘How about you open Wednesday through to Sunday from ten until three?’

‘But that’s only, what… twenty-five hours a week, Algy. Are you sure that’s long enough?’

‘I think so.’ He nodded. ‘You’re going to have maintenance to do on top of that and all that social media malarkey and I did say you could help your dad out in other areas of the garden if he needed you, if you remember.’

‘Yes, you’re right. I daresay the rest of the time will soon get eaten up, won’t it?’

‘Exactly. Now, as you’re so convinced the venture needs an online presence—’

‘And flyers to hand out around the village,’ I reminded him.

‘And those too,’ he said, with a twinkle in his eyes, ‘I think we need to come up with a name, don’t you?’

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