Chapter 12
‘Yes, at lunchtime, Mum.’ Nicola smiled as she sidestepped around a young family on the school run, a dad pushing the buggy whilst a small child clung to the handle, his brilliant purple book bag banging against his knees every time he took a step.
Once he’d thanked her, she turned her attention back to her mobile.
‘And it’s a meeting, you say?’ Vivienne’s voice wafted through the phone.
‘That’s right. A staff meeting with me and Jill.
All I can think is that Jackson needs to be involved and, being as he stills cooks at the pub, it’s easier for him if we have the meeting there so he can pop over and say what needs to be said or to listen.
’ She shrugged. She hadn’t managed to glean any more information from Laura yesterday.
Every time she’d tried to ask, something had come up – the phone had rung, or a group of people had stopped by the inn for tea and cake.
‘I’m sure it’s fine, Nicola. It won’t be anything to worry about.’ Vivienne’s voice was reassuring.
‘I hope you’re right. I don’t know what I’d do if Laura turned round and told me they were selling, and I’d be out of a job.’ Nicola rounded the corner onto Wisteria Lane and Pennycress Inn came into view. ‘I love working there.’
‘I bet you do. After growing up at Pennycress, it’s a home from home for you.’
‘Yes, that’s exactly it. And in a weird way, I kind of feel as though I’m giving something back, something to the future of Pennycress, being able to use my marketing knowledge to help Laura and Jackson.
’ She unlatched the gate and smiled at the large Cotswold stone property in front of her.
The small straw cat still prowled across the thatched roof.
She remembered her mum insisting on having it up there when the roof was being re-thatched.
Nicola had always loved cats and her mum had told her it was for her.
‘I’ll be at the pub this morning too with my book club, so I’ll be about if I can help in any way.’ Vivienne paused. ‘I do hope Laura isn’t selling.’
‘Umm. I’d better go now, anyway. I’ve just arrived.’ Nicola pushed open the wrought-iron gate. ‘See you at lunch.’
‘Yes, will do. Love you.’
‘You too.’ After ending the call, Nicola slipped her mobile into her handbag and looked around the garden. As she walked towards the front door, the lavender brushed against the bottom of her trousers, filling the warm summer air with the familiar earthy aroma of her childhood.
‘Morning, Nic!’ Jill waved at her from the decking encompassing the right-hand side of the inn as she planted up some pots.
‘Hi.’ Walking up the steps, Nicola reached Jill. ‘You’re early today.’
‘I know.’ Straightening her back, Jill placed her hands on her hips, the trowel she’d been using to plant dropping clumps of dirt down her shorts. ‘Gerald is doing the school run today. Little Willow has a choir performance at half two, so I wanted to make up any time I’ll miss this morning.’
‘Oh, that’ll be nice going to watch her. Was she looking forward to it?’
‘Most definitely. She’s so excited. It’s all she’s been talking about for the last couple of days. My choir this, my choir that…’ Throwing back her head, Jill laughed.
‘Aw, that’s really sweet.’ Nicola checked the time on her watch and nodded towards the front door. ‘I’d better get a move on. We’ve got the sewing group coming in an hour and I want to look over the social media campaign for Pennycress before they arrive.’
‘Okay. Catch you later.’ Jill knelt back down.
‘Yes, we’ve got that staff meeting at the pub this lunchtime, remember?’
Jill looked up at her, the trowel mid-air. ‘Ah, yes, it had completely slipped my mind.’
Nicola frowned before turning to the door.
Wasn’t Jill as worried as she was? Once inside, she closed the door and walked across to the reception desk.
She was no doubt overthinking things. Laura probably just thought it would be nice for them to have their meeting at the pub – a good excuse to get away for an hour or so and treat themselves to lunch, too.
She’d have said if she was thinking of selling.
And even if she hadn’t, then Nicola would surely have picked up on something, but, if anything, Laura had been happier than ever recently.
Things were going well. Or they seemed to be.
‘Hi, Nic, you’ll never guess what happened this morning!’ Laura placed two mugs on the counter and pushed one across to Nicola.
‘Thanks.’ Picking up the mug, she inhaled the strong fragrance of coffee as her stomach grumbled.
Thanks to Trixie pulling one of her middle-of-the-night hunting sessions and dragging a petrified bird through the cat flap at half-past three in the morning, Nicola hadn’t had time for her morning coffee, let alone any breakfast, after missing her alarm.
Thankfully, with a little coaxing from Nicola, the bird had escaped unscathed bar a few tail feathers, but Trixie was still in her bad books nonetheless for disturbing her much-needed sleep. ‘What happened?’
‘I had another mouse incident, only this time it was a laptop charger which had got tangled in the bedsheets.’ Laura laughed. ‘I thought it was a snake at first.’
‘Haha. You would have thought someone would know they were missing a laptop charger when they packed up.’
‘Exactly! As soon as I found it, I rang Mr Tresend who had stayed last night and, luckily, he was only ten minutes away so managed to pop back and not be late for his meeting or wherever he was going.’ Laura sipped her coffee.
‘He must have left early then?’
‘Quarter to seven. I couldn’t even entice him with some of Jackson’s famous French toast!’
Nicola pulled a face before taking a drink of her coffee. How anyone could pass on Jackson’s French toast, she’d never know. Even the smell of the cinnamon and egg toast was enough to make her stomach rumble whether she’d eaten breakfast at home or not.
‘Remember, we’ve got the staff meeting at the pub this lunchtime? You’ll come, won’t you?’ Laura looked at her, her eyes flickering with an emotion Nicola couldn’t pinpoint.
She swallowed. ‘Yes, of course. I’ll be there.’
‘Good, good. Thanks.’ Laura picked up her mug again, cradling it in her hands. ‘I’m going to go and try to bake that fruitcake your mum gave me the recipe for. I say try, so I’ll apologise for the inevitable burning smell which will no doubt be coming from the kitchen in the next hour or so.’
Nicola smiled. ‘I’m sure you’ll do just fine.’
‘I doubt it, but I’m determined to learn.’ Grimacing, she turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
Bringing her mug to her lips, Nicola took a long sip. Laura wouldn’t be trying to learn how to bake if she was just going to sell Pennycress Inn, would she? But if she wasn’t going to sell, then what else could the staff meeting be about?