Page 30 of Snowfall Over Halesmere House
‘Is there?’ Max looked blank. ‘Think I’ve only been in about twice.’
‘Then that ought to change,’ she told him briskly. ‘You should shop there, at least for some things. And they’ll deliver within a few miles. They’re really switched on to how to reach people and make themselves relevant in an online world. The shop is packed full of local suppliers, and we should approach them to see how we can offer support and vice versa. I’ve got a meeting with the local baker and a woman who makes candles later.’
Ella had googled Rowan, the young baker Pearl had told her about, and discovered a burgeoning business and a growing reputation. Rowan’s Instagram was full of gorgeous images of delicious-looking bread, and Ella had seen the appeal at once. She’d emailed Rowan to introduce herself and they’d set up a meeting at the bakery, hoping Rowan would supply Halesmere. Ella couldn’t imagine many people would turn down a fresh sourdough loaf sitting in their kitchen when they arrived for a holiday or weekend of tramping the fells. She’d also arranged to meet up with Marta, who made the candles, near the college where she taught.
‘Did you know that Halesmere has an account with the shop?’
‘No.But as we don’t shop there, nobody will have been using it.’
‘Ah.’
‘Let me guess. You’re already using the account I didn’t know we had and have no idea how to pay?’
‘So, not so slow this morning then, hey?’ That came out more flirtatiously than Ella had meant but she couldn’t regret the low chuckle it elicited from Max. ‘And you really should shop there. I know you won’t get everything but it’s so important to support local producers and you might be surprised by what’s on offer.’
‘I’ll definitely try it.’ He leaned forward, pressing his hands into a steeple. ‘If I asked how you think we might encourage more artists to Halesmere, would you have an answer? And local producers too?’
‘Of course.’ Ella was two steps ahead of him. ‘Have you ever been to a supper club?’
‘Hey, Stan the man! You busy?’
Ella saw him grin as he climbed out of the red pickup parked beside his workshop. ‘Never ’eard that one before,’ he called as she caught up with him.
‘I could do with borrowing you for a bit.’
‘I thought things were lookin’ up since you got ’ere, young Ella.’ His eyes lit up and she knew she had his interest. ‘What do you want me for?’
‘Pearl was telling me about you being a brilliant carpenter. How do you fancy making some new doors for the barn? Those old ones are very nearly past it and we could do with the space being weatherproof as soon as possible.’
‘Could we?’ Stan unlocked the door of his workshop. The donkey jacket was back on, and he’d added a thick woolly hat in bright green for good measure. ‘You comin’ in for a brew so you can tell me what it’s all about?’
‘I’d love a brew, thanks.’ Ella noticed a large box sitting open on the floor. ‘So you got your chainsaw then?’
‘Aye.’ He gave the box a loving glance. ‘I’ve got some Christmas trees to cut down. What’s this about new barn doors?’
‘They need a proper job, Stan. Someone like you who knows what he’s doing.’
‘Do they? Well, you’ve come to the right bloke then. Tea or coffee? Or Bovril?’
‘Tea please.’ She settled on a stool, glad of the stove that was quietly burning and throwing out welcome heat. She’d had enough coffee for now and tea would make a pleasant change. ‘I’ve never tried Bovril.’
‘It’s either that or the tea.’ Stan was rinsing out mugs in a tiny sink and Ella resisted the urge to shudder; the mugs looked like they’d never seen a dishwasher or boiling water. ‘I ’aven’t got any coffee.’
‘Then why did you ask me if I wanted it?’
‘It’s good manners to offer me visitors a choice, so Pearl keeps tellin’ me. An’ it stops the boss ’angin’ around an’ checkin’ up on me if I ’aven’t got coffee for ’im to drink. Max doesn’t like Bovril. Can’t think why not.’
Stan’s grin was merry as Ella accepted a mug of tea and a home-made mince pie he produced out of a tin. The pie was outstanding, with perfect shortcrust pastry, and she told him so. ‘It even makes up for offering me coffee you haven’t got.’
‘I’ll tell Pearl, she’ll be ’appy to ’ear it.’ He dropped into a worn armchair. Every scrap of space was neatly arranged, and there was a tidy workbench, a piece of wood clamped in a vice with a hand plane nearby and shavings on the floor. ‘So what’s with the barn, then? Why do we suddenly need new doors?’
‘We’re having an Artisan Christmas Open Day.’ Ella sipped her tea. It was just how she liked it, dark and strong, and she couldn’t help wondering if Stan always brewed tea that way. She was smiling at the thought of his disgust if she asked him for milky and pale instead.
‘An’ what’s ’appenin’ on this open day?’
‘I’ll come back to you on that if I may. But how do you fancy joining me at the pub for dinner and a team meeting one night? I thought it might be nice to get everyone together there and go through some plans.’
‘An’ who’s on this team then?’
