Chapter 21
Pulling into the little car park behind Pennycress, Ellie couldn’t help but feel disappointed when she didn’t see Murray’s van.
When she’d left home she’d noticed it had gone from outside her cottage and she couldn’t help but feel a little disheartened he hadn’t knocked to say hello or anything, so she’d been hoping to catch him here this morning.
Shaking her head, she smiled. He’d probably parked out the front on the road.
She sometimes did, but she’d wanted the excuse to walk through the garden and see Murray before going in and getting to work.
Memories of yesterday evening whirred in her mind. It was all she’d been able to think of since Murray had left her cottage. She must have relived that kiss a thousand times already, although she still didn’t really know what to make of it all.
One thing she did know, though, was that she wasn’t going to get carried away. She wasn’t going to allow herself to begin dreaming up all sorts of scenarios about them getting back together, him telling her he’d made a mistake all those years ago, wiping both their histories and starting over.
She wouldn’t. She really wouldn’t.
Besides, everyone knew that real life wasn’t like the movies and the elusive true love the fairy tales promised. Even if they did both want to try again, they still shared a not-so-rosy history and that wouldn’t just disappear.
No, it wouldn’t work. It really wouldn’t work. And Murray likely didn’t want to try, anyway.
Ellie pulled the key from the ignition. She needed to get a grip before she showed herself up. And she needed to focus. Laura and Jackson’s wedding was quickly approaching, and she still had numerous things to source and sort. She didn’t have time for daydreams. However warm and cosy they might be.
Stepping out of her car, she closed the door, grabbed her bags from the boot and headed towards the back door.
Stealing her one hundredth glance around the garden just in case she’d missed Murray and he jumped out from the hedge or dropped down from the willow tree, Ellie closed her eyes momentarily, pushing all thoughts of him from her mind before letting herself in through the glass doors into the kitchen.
As she closed the door behind her, she took a deep breath, her lungs filling with the comforting aroma of vanilla, cinnamon and coffee. ‘Morning. Something smells delicious.’
‘Morning, Ellie. That’s some French toast I made for our guests earlier. I can make you some up if you like?’ Jackson pointed to a glass bowl on the work surface in front of him. ‘I have some mixture left.’
‘Ooh, that would be fab if you really don’t mind, please?’ Ellie placed her bags on her designated table and began unpacking her notebooks and mood boards. ‘I didn’t have time for breakfast this morning, so I must admit I’m absolutely starving.’
‘Well, that definitely needs rectifying.’ Jackson turned back to the bowl and began mixing. ‘I’ll pour you a coffee too.’
‘Thank you.’ Ellie smiled. If there was a positive from Rick having looted the cottage, it was this – working at Pennycress and having the opportunity to sample Jackson’s amazing cooking.
Even if she’d had the time to scoff down her usual go-to measly bowl of cereal, it didn’t come close to Jackson’s offerings.
And being honest, even if she had all the ingredients – and utensils – she’d still not be able to cook anything as scrumptious as he could.
Sitting down, she began flicking through her notebook, keeping her voice light as she spoke.
‘I didn’t see Murray when I came through. ’
‘No, he’s had to go to the suppliers.’ Jackson walked across with a steaming coffee mug and placed it in front of her. ‘Oh, before I forget, where did you park? Miss Cooke is on the warpath and has hired one of these companies to come and clamp anyone who parks illegally.’
‘Oh, I parked in the car park.’
‘That’s good then. Probably best you carry on parking there, at least until Miss Cooke gets bored. It’s the lines that need addressing, not the drivers. The yellow paint has practically worn right down all along the road out here, and I can’t imagine it’s any better elsewhere in the village.’
‘I hadn’t noticed a problem with the parking. I had with the road markings but not the parking.’ Ellie picked up the coffee mug and took a sip, the bitter taste waking her a little. ‘Thank you for this.’
‘You’re welcome.’ Going back to the kitchen area, Jackson began cooking the French toast, the room quickly filling with the warm fragrance of vanilla and cinnamon once more.
‘I haven’t either. I think there was a van parked outside the hardware shop for a few days.
Whether that’s what has sparked Miss Cooke’s sudden interest in parking regulations, I’m not sure.
It was only poor Neil Parson’s son who’d come to visit him. ’
‘Ah, yes, I bet that was it then.’ Ellie rolled her eyes, their tyrant of a mayoress strikes again then. ‘I’m sure we’ll hear all about it this evening at the meeting.’
Jackson groaned. ‘Thanks for the reminder.’
Laughing, Ellie placed her mug down again and pushed her books and boards to the other end of the table as Jackson approached with her breakfast. ‘Sorry.’
‘Haha, it’s just another meeting I have to try to get through without any eye contact with the lovely Miss Cooke.’ Jackson lowered the plate in front of her. ‘She always seems to pick on me to help out with the sound system or some other thing.’
‘Ooh, this looks and smells absolutely delicious. Thank you.’ Ellie’s stomach grumbled as she picked up her cutlery. ‘I have noticed that. Not that she even needs a sound system, her voice could penetrate the loudest rave music.’
‘Not that anyone dares to even whisper whilst she’s talking for fear of being called out.’ Jackson chuckled.
‘Exactly.’ Ellie shook her head.
‘I’m going to head out now. Laura and Nicola are about if you need anything though.’ Jackson quickly wiped down the work surface before hanging up the tea towel.
‘Okay, thanks. And thank you again for this.’ Ellie bit down on a forkful of French toast, the tastes an explosion in her mouth. Jackson really was an amazing chef. He still wouldn’t be cooking his own wedding breakfast, though. Never mind how fantastic the food would be.
Just as she was about to take another bite, the shrill ringtone of her mobile filled the kitchen. Looking down at it, she dropped her fork, letting it clatter onto the plate below.
It was Melissa. Melissa was calling her in response to that stupid email she’d sent.
What did she do? Answer it? Ignore it and let voicemail pick it up?
Picking the mobile up carefully, she held it in front of her and chewed on her bottom lip.
Melissa was either ringing to accept Ellie’s apology for telling Fiona about Melissa’s husband’s affair or to have a go at her – and she had a feeling she knew which.
She hit the answer button and lifted it cautiously to her ear. ‘Hello?’
‘Ellie! I received your email and, no, I will not be accepting a truce. I can’t believe you’d stoop so low as to blurt out to Fiona something I had shared with you in confidence.’ Melissa’s tone was clipped, low and angry.
‘I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…’ Ellie traced the pattern around the edge of the plate with her forefinger.
What was she doing? Why was she grovelling for forgiveness?
Melissa obviously didn’t feel any guilt for almost ruining Ellie’s career.
Steadying her voice, she tried again. ‘I really am sorry for telling Fiona what I did, but what you’ve done to me, the accusations you’ve made… ’
‘That’s it then. Just as I assumed. You told her in retaliation.’ A hollow laugh erupted down the phone line.
‘No, I… It just slipped out. Fiona said…’ She was doing it again, she was grovelling, making excuses, trying to explain herself to someone who owed her the apology.
‘Well, if you think…’ After a pause, Melissa’s tone suddenly changed as though someone else had entered the office. ‘I don’t believe we need to continue this conversation. In case you’re not aware, if I were you I wouldn’t attempt to contact any suppliers to All Things Love again.’
Widening her eyes, Ellie found her voice again. She’d been right. ‘You have spread rumours about me, then?’
Being met with silence, Ellie pulled the mobile away from her ear.
Sure enough, Melissa had hung up. She supposed at least she had the confirmation she’d needed now.
She was wasting her time trying to ring round the suppliers she’d worked with for years, people she thought would have known her better than to believe the lies Melissa had spread about her.
Slowly placing her mobile face down on the table in front of her, Ellie watched her shaking fingers before taking a deep breath and steadying them.
She could so easily let that short conversation with Melissa unnerve her again, reignite the doubts about whether she could do this on her own, but surprisingly, it felt like some sort of closure.
She and Melissa would never be anything resembling friends again and there would be no truce, but at least she knew where she stood now.
She also knew not to waste another minute ringing any suppliers she’d worked with before.
No, she needed to make new connections. This was a fresh start in her career.