Page 6 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

‘Just as well you’re spoken for, then, Stells.’ Maggie’s eyes twinkled mischievously, making Stella laugh.

‘He’ll have half a dozen partners and a sordid past by the time the local gossips get to work,’ chuckled Florrie.

‘Maybe he’ll take a shine to our Jazz.’ Stella sent a cheeky grin Jasmine’s way.

‘Not even remotely funny, Stells.’ Jasmine pinned her with a stern stare.

‘Joking aside, flower, we’d love to see you with someone. You’ve been on your own too long, you’ve forgotten how lovely it feels to have someone to share the weight of your worries and concerns, not to mention your workload. It feels good to be with someone who has your back – I know all of us here have your back and would do anything for you, but it’s not the same.’ Florrie’s words took Jasmine by surprise. She felt a lump forming in her throat.

‘Here, here,’ said Maggie, the others making sounds of agreement.

‘Get knotted, you lot.’ Jasmine grabbed her glass and hid her face behind it.

THREE

SATURDAY

‘Mum! Mum! I’ve been invited to a party!’ Zak burst through the front door of eighteen Rosemary Terrace, landing in the kitchen on a waft of warm summer air and a wave of enthusiasm, his football tucked under his arm.

Jasmine, who’d been feeding a load of laundry into the washing machine, straightened and turned to look at her son. She couldn’t help but smile at the expression on his face, the smattering of freckles that grazed his nose and cheeks lending him an adorably mischievous appearance. ‘Morning, Zak, lovey, a party, eh? That sounds exciting. Whose is it?’ She was used to her son’s boundless energy and enthusiasm, but this morning, from the way he was dancing from foot to foot, it appeared to have been cranked up a notch or two. She headed over to him, throwing her arm around his shoulders and pressing a kiss to the side of his head. It crossed her mind that if his recent growing spurt continued, it wouldn’t be long before he was towering over her.

‘Mum,’ he grumbled, wriggling free of her embrace and scrubbing at the spot where her kiss had landed, making her laugh. ‘He’s called Connor and he’s really cool. He’s in my class and he’s mad on football like me and his party has a footballtheme – he said I can wear my Micklewick Lions football strip –andhe’s going to the sports week in the summer holidays. He’s just moved here. I’m his best mate and he’s mine. It’s his party next weekend and it’s going to be at his house. It’s that massive one on the cliffs.’

Jasmine struggled to keep up with Zak’s words as they tumbled out in an effusive torrent. He beamed a smile then proceeded to bounce his ball several times, earning himself a pointed look from his mum.

‘Not inside, Zak,’ she said, her mind going back to the last time he’d bounced his football in the kitchen and the devastation that had followed. He’d whacked the ball with such force, it had ricocheted off the fridge and flown across the table, where a newly decorated birthday cake sat. She’d looked on in disbelief as the fondant replica of a pair of red designer high-heeled shoes in croc leather she’d painstakingly spent hours to perfect was skimmed off, ending up in a ruined heap on the floor. If that wasn’t bad enough, the cake was due for collection in just over an hour.

Jasmine’s frazzled nerves had been soothed once she’d realised there was enough leftover sugar paste from the fondant shoes to allow her to hurriedly create a new, albeit slightly smaller, pair. She’d been inordinately relieved when the cake was collected and had left her house. The customer had been delighted with it and in blissful ignorance of the drama that had unfolded an hour beforehand. Disaster may have been averted in that particular instance, but it wasn’t something Jasmine was eager to repeat. Ali Harrington had yet to call to collect her parents’ anniversary cake, which was sitting in three boxes on the worktop beside where Zak was standing and had been bouncing his ball seconds earlier. She didn’t fancy that cake suffering a similar fate, nor the prospect of having to explain to Ali why it wasn’t ready.

‘Soz, Mum. I forgot.’ Zak ceased his bouncing and treated her to a sheepish grin that made her heart melt.

‘So, what day and time is this party then?’ Jasmine’s mind quickly segued to her calendar, just as Chloe skipped in, followed by Heather whose hands were full of her grandchildren’s backpacks and a variety of other bags. ‘Hi there.’ Jasmine smiled, glancing between her daughter and her mum. She held her arm out for Chloe, who skuttled across for a cuddle. She absently pressed a kiss to the top of Chloe’s strawberry-blonde head, glad to see her daughter’s mood seemed brighter today. Jasmine hoped to get the chance to have a word with her mum when the kids were out of earshot, see if Chloe had let slip about anything that could be bothering her.

‘Now then, lovey.’ Heather smiled warmly. ‘I should warn you, a certain someone’s very excited.’ She nodded towards Zak.

‘So I see.’

‘He’s been talking about the partyallthe time, Mummy. It’s been party this, and party that,’ said Chloe, shaking her head with a weariness that was way beyond her seven years.

Jasmine caught her mother’s eye and the pair exchanged an amused look.

Zak grinned broadly. ‘The party’s next Saturday, in the afternoon, can’t remember the exact time. The invitation’s in my school bag, but Connor says I can get there early if I want. And he says I can stay over, but you have to call and say it’s okay with you. There’s a phone number on the invitation. And guess what? His house even has a cinema and a swimming pool. Howawesomeis that?’

‘That’s very awesome, Zak.’ Her thoughts went back to the conversation with her friends the previous evening, and their curiosity about the owner.

She peered at her calendar, noting she had a ten-year-old boy’s football-themed birthday cake to have ready for nextSaturday morning. She fleetingly wondered if it was for Zak’s new friend – Jasmine recalled not recognising the name – Osborne – when the order had been placed and had assumed it was for a family out of town. Her next thought was that she had a shift from twelve till four at the bakery that same day. ‘I’ll need to know the time you can be dropped off, but I can’t see a problem getting you there.’

‘Cool!’ Zak beamed at her.

‘Right then, rascals, can you take your stuff upstairs, please?’ She didn’t want the house to look messy when Ali called to collect her parents’ cake.

She watched as they gathered their bags and headed into the hallway, the sound of Zak thundering up the stairs in his usual way following seconds later. She listened, waiting for the familiar sounds of them going into their respective bedrooms, before turning to her mother. ‘Thanks for having the kids again, Mum, I really appreciate it.’

‘No problem, lovey, they were good as gold, as always.’ She set the children’s bags down by the back door. ‘Your dad and me’d be happy to help out getting Zak to and from the party next Saturday, if you’re stuck.’

Jasmine groaned inwardly. She already needed to ask her mum if she’d be able to cover her shift on Tuesday so she could make her meeting with Lady Caro at Danskelfe Castle and felt uncomfortable asking for more help.

As if sensing her daughter’s hesitation, Heather said, ‘Wouldn’t mind an excuse to have a sneaky peek around that particular property. Mind, I’ve been hearing all sorts of rumours about the new owner, ranging from him being a famous artist, to a sports celebrity to a lottery winner – oh, and an opera singer. Someone even reckons he’s a spy for MI5.’ Heather chuckled.

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