Chapter Four
T he kitchen door swung open, and Elsie walked towards the coffee and cake counter, putting down two large cakes before joining them. ‘Oh, a lull. Make the most of it, schools break up tomorrow.’
‘Noooo.’ Pushing her mug away, Diane placed her elbows on the counter and sank her head into her hands.
‘Yep, afraid so. And we all know what that means.’ Elsie chuckled as she rubbed Diane on the back.
‘No more morning lulls and being run off our feet,’ Diane groaned.
‘That’s right.’ Nodding, Elsie glanced around the group. ‘But me, Teresa and Brooke have had a word and you’ll be coming and helping me in the kitchen. I don’t want you getting tired being on your feet all day and upsetting the baby.’
Lifting her head, Diane frowned at Elsie as a look of horror swept across her face. ‘But I can’t cook.’
Chuckling, Elsie shook her head. ‘From the few times I’ve managed to coerce you into the kitchen, you’re not as bad as you think. Besides, they’ll be plenty of other things to keep you busy. for instance, decorating cupcakes and cookies and all sorts.’
Perking up, Diane grinned. ‘Oh, I can do that!’
‘I know you can, love.’ Elsie chuckled again. ‘We have the Christmas market in Trestow tomorrow, but Ian will stand in behind the counter with you, Brooke. I’ll try to get organised before we leave, but you’ll be okay helping Diane in the kitchen if needed, won’t you, Teresa? Molly and Wendy will be about to jump on the coffee and cake counter or help out too, as I’m pretty sure they just have the one client meeting tomorrow.’
‘Sounds good.’ Teresa nodded.
‘And, Robyn, would you like to come and help at the Christmas market with me, love? It’s always a great atmosphere.’ Elsie smiled.
‘Umm, yes. That sounds nice.’ Robyn nodded. She’d just have to embrace the Christmas atmosphere. Nothing would change her feelings towards Christmas, but she’d just have to pretend. That’s what everyone else did anyway, just pretended Christmas was this big joyful event each year when inside they probably dreaded it as much as she did, didn’t they? She picked up her mug and took a sip of her coffee. Unless someone really did have the perfect family without arguments or snide comments being thrown around, but that didn’t exist, did it?
‘That’s settled then.’ Elsie nodded and made her way back to the kitchen.
‘Ooh, I wonder if Elsie will let me crank up the Christmas music while I’m working in the kitchen?’ Diane tilted her head. ‘I must admit, I’ll miss being out here and chatting to the customers about Christmas. I love hearing all their plans and feeling the excitement build.’
‘You’re only going to be a few steps away.’ Teresa laughed. ‘And I’m pretty sure Elsie’s not planning on shackling you to the table. You’ll be able to come back out and help out here. Elsie’s only trying to be nice, so you’re not on your feet all day.’
‘Ah, I know. Yes, I’ll go and see if I can do a bit of both. I can work behind the counter until I get too tired.’ Diane placed her empty coffee mug on the tray and began making her way towards the kitchen door.
‘There’s no pleasing some people.’ Grinning, Teresa called after her.
‘Haha, that’s what Harry tells me all the time too.’ Laughing, Diane pushed the kitchen door open.
‘You’re here until after Christmas, aren’t you, Robyn?’ Brooke looked at her.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Aw, you’ll love Christmas here in Penworth Bay. It’s so magical.’ Brooke grinned as she hugged her mug. ‘The lantern parade, the bay’s Christmas market and ice rink, Santa visiting here...’
‘Here, in the bakery?’ Robyn looked around. ‘Do you do one of those breakfast with Santa type of things?’
‘Yes here, but no to the breakfast with Santa. We’ll be setting up a grotto in a few days’ time, so it’s ready for the lantern parade.’ Brooke took a sip of her coffee.
‘In here?’
‘That’s right. Then when children come in to decorate their lanterns at the tables, they can pop and see him too. The grotto will be open during the Christmas market as well.’ Brooke grinned as she lowered her mug back to the tray. ‘I love Christmas in the bay.’
‘Me too.’ Teresa glanced towards the door. ‘And talking of which, it looks as though we have one of his elves visiting us right now.’
‘Huh?’ Following Teresa’s gaze, Robyn watched as Jasper walked through the door behind another customer. Today, he was wearing another equally garish Christmas jumper. This time, the baubles had been replaced with a knitted picture of Rudolph himself. Slamming her mug down on the counter, her heart sank as she saw coffee spill from the rim and run down the ceramic mug to pool on the counter. ‘Drat.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll clean it up. You go and serve.’ Teresa reached for a napkin from the coffee and cake stand.
‘Aw, no. I... umm...’ Looking wildly about, Robyn tried to think of an excuse, but Brooke had already begun serving the woman who had entered first, leaving Robyn to serve Jasper. Turning to him, she set her jaw, ready for another onslaught of insults. ‘Hello. What can I get you?’
‘You?’ Standing in front of her, he scowled, tiny lines forming around his eyes.
‘Er... yes. It’s me.’ She glared back at him, standing her ground. Why couldn’t he just drop it? Why couldn’t he have come in, seen her, and either turned around and walked straight back out or pretended to be a nice human being and apologise for how he’d spoken to her yesterday?
‘Right.’ He ran his hand across his strong jawline.
Robyn watched him. She could almost hear his skin graze against the dark stubble on his chin and once again the thought that he was just her type entered her head, and she snorted at herself. Just her type in looks maybe, but certainly not in personality.
‘What?’ He frowned, his eyebrows knitting together beneath his furrowed brow.
‘Nothing.’ Averting her gaze, she swallowed. Was he going to order or just stand there and stare at her? ‘Can I get you anything or do you want to wait and be served by someone else?’
Jasper looked across to where Brooke was serving, and then over at the queue which had formed behind the first customer. Slowly turning back to her, he spoke quietly, forming each word slowly. ‘I’ll have a loaf of bread.’
‘Please.’ Robyn pursed her lips together quickly. She hadn’t meant to let that slip out.
‘Pleaseeee.’ He accentuated the ‘ee’ sound, his eyes still on her as she turned away to pick a loaf up from the basket at the end of the counter.
Placing it in a paper bag, she returned to her spot and put it on the counter between them.
‘A wholemeal loaf of bread. Please.’
Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him. He was enjoying this. Returning the loaf back to the basket, she swapped it for a wholemeal one and just about resisted slamming it down onto the counter. ‘Two pound twenty, please.’
Taking his wallet from his back pocket, Jasper slipped out his card and tapped the machine. Picking up the loaf of bread, he turned towards the door, glancing back at her as he muttered, ‘Fortunately, I have Dasher secured in the van this time.’
Clenching her fists, it took all of her willpower not to scream at him, not to repeat everything she’d told him yesterday, instead she surprised herself to hear her voice coming out so calmly. ‘Enjoy you bread.’
‘Hi, could I have five of your chocolate chip cookies please?’ The woman who took Jasper’s place spoke cheerfully.
‘Coming right up.’ With her eyes still fixed on Jasper, she watched as he left the bakery. What was it with him? And why did it bother her so much? She hadn’t come here to make friends, she’d come here to escape the rubbish going on back at home, the arguments, the trying-to-please both her parents and now she felt as though she’d escaped from one confrontational environment to another.
‘You okay?’ Coming up next to her and reaching for the cupcakes, Brooke frowned.
‘Yes, sorry.’ Shaking her head, Robyn turned back to the customer in front of her. She really needed to put him out of her head and focus on why she’d come down to Cornwall. She didn’t need to get wrapped in anyone else’s dramas. ‘Sorry, what was it you’ve come in for?’