Chapter 4
‘Oh my, something smells amazing in here.’
Andreas popped his head around the doorframe from the kitchen area behind the shop.
‘That’ll be me and my bakes,’ he answered, giving a cheeky smile.
‘I have honey cake, Greek style, made with our best local Chain Bridge Honey, and it’s fresh out of the oven.
’ He appeared in full, wearing his favourite Greek statue apron, the one that always made Cath grin.
It was an image, old-masters style, of a naked man in marble.
You were guaranteed service with a smile and a touch of fun in this fabulous rural shop.
‘I’ll just have to let it cool a little. But I can always pop some around to you in a short while.’
‘That would be great.’
‘So, what’s on the shopping list today?’ Dan stepped forward at the counter.
‘Hah, that’s it. I always get diverted as soon as I walk in. I never intend to buy cake. It’s dangerous, this shop.’
‘Naughty but nice. Designed to entice.’ Andreas chuckled to himself.
‘Okay, so what I actually came in for was some milk and bread, a pack of butter and some granulated and demerara sugar. I’m planning on making a crumble.’
‘Ah yes, it’s certainly a crumble time of year. And we can help with all of that.’
Cath had a haul of sun-ripened juicy blackberries in her freezer, which she’d picked from the nearby hedgerows back in September.
And the apples were now ripe on Reggie’s Bramley cooking apple tree.
She’d tested one this morning with a twist of her hand, and off it had popped.
An apple and blackberry crumble would make the perfect pudding for her next supper event.
‘Oh, and I wanted to set a date for the next supper club, thought I’d moot it with you two, first.’
‘Oh, so what’s the plan then, lovely?’
Since Cath had arrived in the village, they’d had some fantastic themed events, each taking turns to host, and putting their personal twist on things. The bar was set at a relaxed high.
‘Are we back in action at Will’s?’ Dan asked. ‘We still need to test out his cooking skills! He got away with it, the last time.’
‘Well, seeing as you all bunked off that day, it’s hardly his fault.
’ Cath sounded miffed, but she couldn’t help but smile.
So far, she’d loved the results of their meddling, truth be told, even if it had sent her into a bit of a spin.
And the two of them had chatted again last night, just easy conversation, saying how nice the walk had been. Slow, steady steps.
‘I’d like to host again, so let’s give the old summerhouse a last blast for the autumn.’
‘Oh, marvellous.’
‘I just need to find a date that works for everyone. I was thinking maybe next Saturday?’ Cath suggested.
‘Oh, we have a cinema trip planned. The latest Joker movie is released then. Lady Gaga’s in it, looks rather fab. Shall we go for the Friday evening instead?’ said Andreas.
‘Great, I’ll put a message out to the group,’ said Cath, feeling a frisson of anticipation.
‘And might young Will be helping you in the kitchen?’ Dan quirked an eyebrow.
Cath felt herself blush. ‘Possibly … he might be.’ He had in fact already offered his sous-chef services, when they’d chatted about doing another group event on the phone last night.
‘Hah, I knew it.’
‘Well, it’d be a shame to waste those cooking lessons we gave him,’ added Andreas. ‘He needs to build on his skills.’
‘I don’t know about cooking lessons, Dan. The last supper club was more like “Lessons in Love”.’ The partners bantered on.
‘Yeah, he’ll need to build on those skills, too.’
The pair of them grinned broadly.
‘Hah, you two are incorrigible. Shush now, or I might just withdraw that invitation.’ Cath was, however, giggling along with them.
The bell above the door jingled, announcing the arrival of another customer, and the cheeky chat ceased.
Being true gents, the lads didn’t intend to spread any gossip about Cath and Will from their shop.
An elderly lady walked in, wrapped up in a smart black woollen coat teamed with a fuchsia pink scarf, with an old-fashioned tartan shopping trolley in tow.
‘Morning, Agnes. How are you, my lovely? Is Frank’s cough any better this week?’ Dan asked kindly. After eight years running the local stores, they knew everybody in the village and its environs.
‘Oh, so-so. Thanks for asking. I’ve been trying to get him over to the doctor’s for a check, but he won’t have any of it. Actually, I’ll get him some more of those lozenger thingies. The honey and lemon ones – they seemed to help a bit. And I’m here for my Daily Mail and some semi-skimmed milk.’
‘Of course, lovely.’ Dan came out to the tall glass-fronted fridge to fetch the milk for her, her paper already saved behind the counter with the regular orders.
Cath said a cheery ‘Hello’, and then finished gathering her provisions, and settled up with Andreas, whilst Agnes browsed for some fresh fruit and vegetables.
‘Oh, and I’ll bring your cake order over in a little while, Cath,’ called out Andreas as she headed for the door. ‘Home delivery. No extra charge. It’s all part of the service.’
‘Ah, thank you.’
‘He’s hoping for a coffee, mind you,’ chipped in Dan. ‘I’ll know what’s going on if it takes you twenty minutes, when it should be five, Andreas. There’s bound to be a rush on too just as you disappear. It always happens that way.’
‘Well, don’t forget to take your pinny off as you leave the stores,’ said Cath, ‘or you might shock the neighbours.’
‘Hah, perhaps. But they might get a laugh.’ He chortled.
‘Well, don’t mind me, I rather like it.’ Agnes’s voice, then face, lifted wryly from behind the fruit stand. Her eyes were smiling.
They all chuckled.
Community and friendship were key at the Tilldale Village Stores, along with a generous sprinkling of flamboyant fun.