Page 61 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

I’d been a little nervous at the thought of doing the cake run myself, but once I was driving out into the countryside, window open a crack to let in the fresh April air, I found I was quite enjoying myself.

When I arrived at my second stop in Risley Common, Rosie was there waiting – without Amelie this time. She asked where Ellie was and I told her what had happened.

‘Oh, that’s awful. I do hope she’s okay. And the baby, of course. I can’t imagine how I’d have felt if something like that had happened while I was carrying Amelie.’

I nodded. ‘She definitely had us all worried for a while there. But it’s looking good. So where is she today? Amelie?’

‘Oh, she’s at home with her gran. My mum’s come to stay for a few weeks. She and my stepdad have been living in Spain for the past five years, although I think Mum’s homesick so I don’t think it’ll be too long before they come back home to the UK.’ She crossed her fingers and smiled. ‘They hate not being able to see their granddaughter regularly.’

‘I’m not surprised. I absolutely loved the curry you gave me, by the way.’

‘Really?’ Rosie flushed with pleasure. ‘You never know, do you? If people are going to like your food.’ She glanced inside the van. ‘Can I take that lovely lemon drizzle loaf cake, please?’

‘You’re a great cook,’ I told her honestly, as I popped the cake in her box. ‘I’d seriously pay good money to eat that curry in a restaurant.’

‘You would?’

‘Absolutely. I was actually thinking on the way here that you’d do really well at the farmers’ market in Lockley Meadow?’ I shrugged. ‘I could find out from Ellie how to go about contacting the council to get a pitch... and all the rules and regulations about food hygiene, that sort of thing?’

Rosie laughed in disbelief. She was looking at me as if I’d casually suggested she should set up a stall on Jupiter. But I spotted a tiny gleam of hope in her eyes as well.

She stepped back as I served the other customers.

When I’d finished, she came over. ‘Did you mean I could produce food on a big scale from my kitchen to sell at the market?’ She frowned. ‘But do you really think people would buy it?’

I smiled. ‘I’m absolutely sure they would. You could have a pot of it on the go at the stall and let potential customers taste it. Seriously, Rosie, the aroma of those spices would really tempt people in. It smelled absolutely delicious when I was heating it up in my kitchen and it tasted just as good.’

She was staring at me in amazement, and I could tell she was already turning the idea over in her mind.

‘That would beso good,’ she murmured. Her eyes were bright and she looked quite flushed. ‘If it could work, I mean.’ She shrugged. ‘I really don’t want to be on benefits. I want to set an example to Amelie as a strong, independent, hard-working woman.’ She shook her head. ‘Honestly, if I could start my own business and make it a success, it would be all my dreams come true at once.’

‘Well, there’s no reason why it can’t become a reality. You’re passionate about good food – and a great cook as well. And youstrike me as someone who’s prepared to really put in the work to succeed.’ I shrugged. ‘I’m sure if you needed any business advice, Ellie would be only too happy to help.’

‘Gosh.’ She smiled at me. ‘You’ve certainly given me something to think about, Katja. Thank you.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Sorry, I’ve kept you talking for too long. You’d better get on to your next stop.’

I smiled. ‘Which just happens to be Lockley Meadow farmers’ market.’

She nodded. ‘By the time you come back next week, I’ll have set the wheels in motion. I hope.’ She made an excited, nervous face.

‘You can do it, Rosie. You’ve got a great product and the motivation to succeed. See you next week.’

‘Tell Ellie I hope she’s feeling much better now,’ she called, as I hopped back into the van.

I glanced back at her in the rear-view mirror as I drove away.

Rosie’s energy had changed.

She was smiling and there was a spring in her step that wasn’t there before...

*****

It was Lockley Meadow next stop – and already, the butterflies were getting into gear at the thought of seeing Caleb again.

After he’d dropped Maisie and me at my flat the other day – after driving Ellie and Zak to the hospital – I’d made him a coffee and asked politely about his eco houses. I could see the passion in his eyes as he spoke and I actually found myself genuinely interested in the whole idea of living sustainably. Caleb made it sound fascinating. (Although being able to gaze into his piercing blue eyes as he talked added immeasurably to my over-all fascination.)

Our parting, though, was stiff and polite, mainly because having acknowledged to myself that I was attracted to him, I was now desperate he should never find out.

So it was awkward, in other words. But then, there was nothing new there...

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