Page 20 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

She’d been just as incensed as Fen was over the way Richard had treated me, and she’d seen right through my bravado. The night before, she’d made supper for the two of us and bought my favourite wine, and she’d encouraged me to talk about what my future might look like. She’d suggested I join the local book club or take up a social sport like badminton, just to get me out of the house.

‘I know whatIused to be like after a relationship went pear-shaped.’ She’d smiled sheepishly at me. ‘I’d stay in and watch soppy movies, eat cake and cry my eyes out.Notrecommended!’

‘Really? I’ve done all the above and I’ve found it quite helpful,’ I joked.

She chuckled. ‘You only end up a stone heavier and having to buy yourself a whole new wardrobe.’

I sighed, appreciating her concern, but knowing that a book club wasn’t the answer. ‘I do need to take stock of my life... make some changes... but I’m not sure joining activities groups is really me.’

She’d nodded. ‘But a fresh start of some kind might be helpful.’

‘Absolutely.’Anything that would get me out of my old routine that just kept reminding me of Richard.

She smiled mischievously. ‘I might have an idea in that case.’

‘Really?’ I looked at her doubtfully.

‘You know how we off-loaded all those leftover cakes on Maggie for her granddaughter’s birthday party?’

‘How could I forget that day? Particularly that big bully of a bulldozer driver!’ I grunted, remembering his rudeness. ‘I thought we were either going to be arrested for parking offences or bulldozed to death.’

Ellie grinned. ‘Itwasall a bit extreme. But anyway, Maggie was in here last week and she mentioned that everyone absolutely loved the cakes, and one of the mothers was asking whether we did deliveries. Of course, Maggie had to say we didn’t. But it got me thinking.’

I frowned, trying to follow her train of thought. ‘You mean about delivering the cakes and pastries that would normally be wasted?’

‘Exactly. The bakes that were still perfectly good but that the food banks were unable to take off our hands. We could sell them at vastly reduced prices.’

I nodded, thinking about this.

‘We’d just need to make enough money to cover the cost of the petrol and the upkeep of the vehicle.’

‘It would be a great way of combating food waste,’ I murmured thoughtfully. ‘And it would also be a great advert for the café and your online bakery business.’

‘That’s what I was thinking.’

‘It would be especially popular in the more isolated villages that don’t have a bakery. But what about the transport?’

Ellie tapped the side of her nose. ‘Ah, well. Just wait and see.’

It had all been very mysterious.

But now, as I went to the window to wave Fen off, an approaching vehicle in the distance caught my eye.

It was painted in eye-catching pastel colours, a bit like an ice-cream van, and it was turning off the main road through Sunnybrook and heading towards the café.

I went to the door and peered out.

It wasn’t selling ice-cream. It was just a small van that had been spray-painted in ice-cream colours. And as it drew closer, I burst into surprised laughter to see Ellie at the wheel.

She smiled and waved at me as she drove the vehicle into the car park.

On the side of the jolly little van, in swirly letters, were the words: ‘Travelling Cake Van’.

CHAPTER TEN

As I went out to meet her, Ellie opened the van door and carefully slid her legs around, before using the door to haul herself into a standing position. She looked flushed and I wasn’t sure it was from excitement or the exertion.

‘We’re kicking a lot today.’ She patted her bump, looking happy but exhausted.

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