Page 31 of The Midnight Bakery
Frankie nodded. She guessed that Tam had probably been treated appallingly in the past. ‘Sorry, I can’t stay long. I’m still at work and I ought to get back, otherwise there won’t be enough loaves for sale come the morning.’
‘Is that where these came from?’ asked Tam, as he opened the bag slightly and peered inside, inhaling the enticing aroma which wafted out. ‘Heaven,’ he said. ‘Did you make them yourself?’
Frankie gave a small nod, grateful that her blushing cheeks would be hidden by the dim light. ‘There are always a few spares – ones which go a bit wonky when they’re baked. They taste the same,’ she added quickly. ‘But they’re not the prettiest.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘No need to say anything,’ said Frankie. ‘I should get going andyoushould have some tea while it’s still hot. The flask isn’t mine, so I’m afraid I’ve no idea how well it works.’
‘I’ll have myself a proper midnight feast.’
‘At three in the morning?’ She laughed. ‘Well, enjoy…’ She began to shuffle her way towards the car door. ‘And hang onto the flask and hot-water bottle. There’s no need to return them straight away, so you can pop back whenever you need a refill. The bakery’s the one at the end of the lane there.’ She pointed to the road leading away from the car park. ‘There’s a back door a little way along the alley which cuts through to Green Street.’
Tam nodded. ‘I know it,’ he replied, watching as she pushed open the door. ‘Good night, Frankie.’
‘Night, Tam,’ she replied. ‘Sweet dreams.’
She didn’t feel the cold at all as she walked back to the bakery.
18
Frankie
Frankie worked flat out when she returned. Not only because she had a little time to make up, but because she felt far more at ease than she had done over recent days. The dark had never held any fear for her, but her last few shifts had been plagued with worries which had spilled over from the day, leaving her cowed and anxious. Feelings she was far too familiar with. The night was hers, and no one was going to take it from her. She had two more people in her life now though, three if you counted Tam. Fledgling friendships they might be, but she felt stronger than she had in a long time. There would be a way out of her situation, she just had to find it.
She picked up her phone and navigated to her playlists. She knew exactly which one she was looking for and, with her favourite songs filling the room, she danced her way through the remaining hours of her shift.
With the last batches of bread cooling on the racks, Frankie began to tidy up, clearing away all the equipment she had used during the night. It was half past six and everything would needto be shipshape before the shop opened for the morning trade. She turned off her music with a smile – time for one last cup of tea and then she’d set to it.
The sun was just beginning to rise, although you’d never know it given the darkness outside. The height of the buildings would ensure the alley was in shadow for a good while yet and, busy in the storeroom, Frankie had no way of seeing the figure approach. She heard it though: the faint clicking of a heel tapping against cobblestones in the lane outside. She froze, listening intently. The noise stopped momentarily, as if whoever was outside had paused beside the window. Even now they might be peering in. Heart suddenly pounding in her chest, Frankie inched closer to the storeroom door. With any luck she might be able to peer through the gap without being seen herself.
She almost cried out as a tap sounded on the window – four sharp retorts in succession. She checked herself – did that sound friendly? The sort of rat-a-tat-tat rhythm you’d make on a friend’s door, a casual knock somewhere you were expected. She took a deep breath and, with a broom clutched firmly in her hand, she stuck her head around the door. She let out a laugh of relief as Tam’s face appeared and she hurried to let him in.
‘Was that for me?’ he asked, grinning as she opened the door. She was still holding the broom. ‘You looked as if you were about to clout me one.’
‘No, I just…Well, yes, possibly. Until I saw who it was.’
‘Don’t blame you,’ he said. ‘You can’t be too careful.’ He smiled again. ‘I wondered if I might ask a huge favour.’ He was looking past her into the warmth of the bakery. ‘You wouldn’t have a loo I could use, would you? I got rather carried away and drank the whole flask of tea, with the inevitable consequences…’
Frankie took a step back. ‘Of course. Come in.’ She pointed to the far corner. ‘It’s through there, but I’m sorry, the door doesn’t shut properly. It has an alarming tendency to swing open attimes so…’ She pulled a face and handed him the broom. ‘Do you want to use this to prop it?’
Tam took it as instructed, cheeks bright red, although that might have been from the cold…
‘I’ll just…do something out the front,’ finished Frankie, murmuring her last few words. The room wasn’t overly large, and the cloakroom not very far away. She wondered if she should whistle, or perhaps sing…
‘Sorry about that,’ called Tam, appearing a short while later. ‘There’s a gym I go to for my morning ablutions, but it’s not open yet.’
‘It’s no problem, honestly,’ said Frankie, coming through the archway which led into the shop. ‘It must be rather difficult, I imagine. It’s my fault, I should have thought before bringing you an enormous flask of tea.’
Tam was silent a moment, weighing something up. ‘Can I ask you a personal question?’ he said, and then continued before Frankie had a chance to reply. ‘Only I’ve noticed you always try to take the blame for things, even when you’re being incredibly nice.’
Frankie’s hands went to her cheeks. ‘Oh, do I…? Sorry.’
‘And you always apologise for everything, too.’ Tam smiled. ‘It should bemeapologising. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.’
‘No, it’s okay,’ Frankie replied, clearing her throat. ‘You’re right, it’s a habit I got into…accepting the blame for everything even when it wasn’t my fault. Anything for a quiet life…’ Her voice faltered. ‘Trouble is, once those habits are with you, they’re a bugger to break, aren’t they?’ And Frankie’s had been with her averylong time.
Beth had told her that Tam worked in a care home, and she could see how that would suit him. He had a kind expression, with gentle, enquiring eyes and, for all that she’d only known him ten minutes, it would be easy to tell him her life story –to explain that although she very much wanted to be Frankie, Frances still clung doggedly on.Shewas a hard habit to break. Frankie had come close to telling Beth all about her former self as well, but Beth had problems of her own; it wouldn’t be fair. And neither would it be fair on Tam.
