Page 9 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘I wonder who that woman is with Jaz and Harry? I don’trecognise her, do you?’
Anita joins me at the window and we watch as the littlegroup walks across the green, presumably heading home.
‘Nope. No idea who she is.’ She sniffs the air with a frown.‘What’s that smell? You did take the strawberry tart cases out of the oven,didn’t you?’ She dashes over to check.
‘Yes. Ages ago.’ I point at them on the cooling trays.‘There they are. But you’re right. There’s definitely a burning smell.’
We rush to the window and then to the front door. The smell ofsmoke is stronger outside.
‘Someone’s having a barbecue,’ says Anita.
‘Or they’re burning stuff on a –’ I gasp. ‘Oh, my God. Look!It’s the café!’
Anita turns in the direction I’m pointing and her mouthopens in shock. ‘Is that smoke coming out of the window? What the hell’s goingon? Where’s my phone?’
CHAPTERFIVE
It’s the following lunchtime and we’re on our way toWales.
I’ve left my puppy, Marples, with Anita while we’re away,and she’ll no doubt be spoiled rotten! After the drama at the café yesterday,I’m only just starting to feel relaxed.
When Anita and I spotted smoke billowing out of the caféwindow, we immediately phoned for help and the fire brigade were swiftly on thescene, thank goodness. When Ellie returned with Maisie, she was naturallyhorrified, especially when she saw the blackened mess in her lovely kitchen.
She’d had to leave in a hurry to collect Maisie from afriend’s house and she’d left a pan on the hob which had boiled dry. It seemedthat in the heat, a tea towel left by the hob had caught fire and quicklyspread.
‘Thank goodness you and Anita spotted the smoke,’ she saidto me, staring white-faced at the devastation as the fire brigade continuedtheir work. ‘Otherwise, the whole place might have gone up in flames.’ She crossedher arms tightly across her stomach. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about.’
‘Hopefully, you’ll just need to replace the kitchen,’ Isaid, trying to look on the bright side. ‘The rest seems to be untouched by thefire.’
She turned to me, a bitter smile on her lips. ‘There’salways a silver lining. At least I’ll get to choose some nice new units.’
Now, as Hudson drives past a sign for Port Castleton, ourdestination, I shake my head slowly. ‘I can’t believe the café’s going to beclosed for the foreseeable future, while the renovation work is done. How longdo you think it’ll take?’
‘At least a month, I should think.’
‘I wonder what the girls will do while it’s closed?’
‘Help out elsewhere in the business, I guess. The bakery’s probablystill operating. And the baking school’s open.’
‘That’s true. It’s not as if the whole business has groundto a halt.’ I point excitedly to my left. ‘Ooh, look, there’s the sea!’
Hudson grins at me. ‘Did you bring your bucket and spade?’
‘No, but I wish I had.’ I glance at him. ‘Speaking ofbringing things, I hope you remembered to put my mug in the “kitchenessentials” box?’
‘I did indeed.’
‘Good. I’m absolutely parched and tea never tastes as goodas it does in the mug you bought me.’
He shakes his head, smiling fondly. ‘You’re just asentimental old romantic at heart, aren’t you?’
‘What’s wrong with that?’
Early in our relationship, soon after we got together, I wasat Hudson’s house and he made me a coffee. I drank most of it but he seemedunusually keen that I should finish every last drop. And when I did, I saw why.At the bottom of the plain cream mug with a blue rim, in jaunty blue italics,was the message,I bloody love you!
He gave me the mug as a gift and it was a gorgeous milestonein our relationship.
I smile sheepishly at Hudson. ‘It’s the best present I’veever had.’
