Chapter Seventeen
P ushing the small bags of coins away into a heap on the bakery counter, Lynsey wrote the amount she’d counted carefully in the small box in the notebook Elsie kept a note of the takings in. Closing it, she began picking up the tiny plastic bags bulging with coins and glanced outside. The sun was still high in the sky and the air held a warmth promising warmer weather.
As she closed the till, leaving a small amount of change for the float for the next morning inside, she smiled. Even just a few days ago, she’d never have believed it if someone had told her she’d feel comfortable counting up the day’s takings and working with money. Yes, that was one of the reasons she chose to volunteer at the bakery – to push herself out the comfort zone she’d so hidden inside – but to feel this comfortable, to be able to stand here and handle money without anyone else being around, nope she’d never have believed it. She’d thought she’d only feel happy having someone else on hand, someone to verify that she’d counted it properly, someone to check she hadn’t made a mistake. And ultimately someone to have on hand to verify that she hadn’t stolen anything, a safeguard.
She looked around the bakery. It was empty. Brooke had left as soon as the bakery had closed for the day to go to some show or something with Ian, and Elsie was in the kitchen. She was alone. And the panic she’d grown so accustomed to feeling when she’d been put into a position of trust was controllable. In fact, it had all but disappeared.
Turning, Lynsey picked up her coffee Teresa had brought her a few hours ago, and she’d never had a chance to drink. The liquid was cold, but she took a tentative sip, grateful for the taste and the caffeine all the same. After her sleepless night at the cottage, she’d been running on adrenaline, which, now the bakery had calmed, was beginning to wane.
Wrapping her hands around the stone-cold ceramic, she leaned her back against the counter, thoughts whirring through her mind. Ross’s accusations of stealing and manipulating people’s bills to scam them had completely shattered her. She knew he’s just been covering for himself. She saw that now, but at the time, it had all but destroyed her. The one person she’d believed in, the one person who she’d stupidly hoped would always have her back, had turned the whole town against her. She’d been fired from job. Her patisserie job had quickly ended too, and she’d been left with no one. The only thing that had kept her going through those dark times had been Nina, Gary and her dad and without them backing her and fighting her corner, she dreaded to think about where she’d be right now.
And that was why it was so difficult to let Zac in. She shifted on the spot; the coffee rising precariously to the rim of the mug. If that’s what he’d wanted, of course. She may have just completely misread the signs. She probably had.
But still, if that’s what he did want – and she did too – then she needed to have the conversation. She needed to tell him what had happened with Ross. She needed to know he was sincere and that he had her back. It was the last thing she wanted to do, to open up to him, to admit how trusting and na?ve she’d been with Ross, but he needed to know. If they stood any chance of having a future together, then she’d rather tell him and he back away right now rather than him find out months, or even years down the line, and he turned his back then. And he would. He’d visit her hometown, meet her dad, Nina, Gary and he’d notice the whispering behind cupped hands, the long stares and the open pointing.
Mud stuck. And she just had to accept that. She’d never be able to shake off what Ross had done to her. People didn’t forget, and she knew accusations were made towards her suggesting she was aware of what Ross had been up to even after her name had been cleared.
She took a long sip, the sudden chill from the coffee tickling the back of her throat. She could be her old self down here, being confident enough to handle Elsie’s taking without worrying about being stitched up proved that, but she’d always have ties to her hometown and she’d just have to live with that.
After gulping the rest of the coffee, Lynsey placed the mug on the counter and bundled the money into her hands before carrying it through to the kitchen.
‘Aw, thank you, Lynsey, love. Just pop it down there and I’ll put it in the safe in a moment.’ Elsie, elbow deep in soap suds at the sink, nodded towards the table. ‘The dishwasher is full, so I’ve resorted to the old-fashioned method.’
‘Do you want me to help?’ She lowered the money bags to the table.
‘No need for that. I’m almost finished, anyway. Thank you though. You must be shattered. You really should have taken up my offer of having the afternoon off.’ Pulling a metal bowl from the sink, Elsie rinsed off the bubbles before stacking it on the draining board.
‘Thanks, but I was late starting. I couldn’t have walked out and left you.’
‘Don’t be daft. If I offer something, it’s a genuine offer. I’m not one of those people who say something but secretly wish for the opposite.’ Elsie chuckled. ‘With me, you get what you see.’
Lynsey grinned. She’d already worked that out. Elsie was one of the most genuine and caring people she’d ever had the good fortune to meet. ‘If you don’t need me for anything else, I think I might go for a quick walk along the beach before I have an early night.’
‘That’s a good idea. The sun’s still shining. Go and enjoy yourself.’ Elsie smiled.
ZIPPING UP HER COAT , Lynsey stepped outside onto the cobbles before turning and closing the door behind her. Just as she began walking towards the ramp leading down to the beach, she paused and grinned as she spotted Zac standing up from the bench opposite the bakery and walking towards her. ‘Are you stalking me now?’
‘Well, I know you’re volunteering at the bakery, so it’s not hard.’ Chuckling, he pulled a woollen beanie hat from his head, his sandy hair springing up in an unkempt fashion. ‘I wondered if you’d made a decision about the work on your cottage? I know you said yes this morning when I talked you through my plans, but I didn’t want to accept that as a given. We were both rather tired at that point.’
‘It’s still a yes. A definite yes. I had a look over the sketches and the quote at lunchtime and I’d absolutely love you to help me renovate my cottage, please.’ She nodded enthusiastically.
‘Fantastic. Here’s to a proper deal then.’ Zac held out his hand towards her.
Laughing. Lynsey took his hand and as his enveloped hers, she felt that same connection she’d felt yesterday when they’d had, they’d been so close to kissing. Looking at him. She searched his face. Did he feel it too?
‘Right.’ Slowly pulling his hand away, Zac then ran his fingers through his hair, that same pink sheen appearing across his cheeks. ‘In that case, I’ve got some exciting news.’
Trying to silence all thoughts of taking a step closer again, Lynsey tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘You have?’
‘I do. Trestow Reclamations have just accepted some new pieces from a huge house clearance and I happen to know they might just have what we’re looking for your kitchen.’
‘Really? What? Today?’
‘Yep, right now.’ He glanced behind him towards his white transit van. ‘If I’m not interrupting anything, I wondered if you’d like to come over there with me now. Check out their new stock before anyone else has a chance?’
‘Umm... Yes. I’d love to.’ She wouldn’t really have cared what he had planned. Just the idea of spending some more time with him sounded perfect.
‘Great. My carriage awaits.’ He chuckled as he led the way to his van and held the door open for her.
As they drove down out of Penworth Bay and through the lanes leading to the outskirts of Trestow, Lynsey stole quick glances at him, sure that she must have caught him looking right back at her a handful of times. Was it really what she was beginning to feel for him? Or was it all in her imagination? The stolen looks, the connection she felt when they touched? Him going out of his way to help her?