Chapter 27
‘I haven’t got time for this,’ complained Hannah as she parked the car at the edge of Cranbridge village. ‘The café opens in two days’ time.’
‘You told me everything was all set. Besides, there’s always time for tea,’ said Dotty, before climbing out of the car. ‘And cakes,’ she added, with a smile.
‘You know, you keep telling me that I’m already pretty good at making cakes,’ said Hannah. ‘So why do we have to go out for them instead?’
‘It’s called sussing out the competition,’ her grandmother told her before linking arms with her granddaughter and walking towards the centre of the village. ‘Besides, it’s good to get you away from the hotel occasionally. You’re too young to hide yourself away all the time.’
Hannah couldn’t disagree with her grandmother, especially with Cranbridge looking particularly beautiful that afternoon.
Instead of a main street, there was a wide shallow river running down the middle of the village, with three ancient pedestrian stone bridges connecting either side over the clear, bubbling water.
Hugging the river were a number of houses, all built in the familiar honey-coloured stone.
They walked past the Cranbridge Stores, a thriving corner shop which they had often used as it stocked local produce as well as pretty much everything else, and along Riverside Lane.
Hannah smiled at a few familiar faces but she didn’t know half as many people as her grandmother and they had to stop quite a few times to chat to local villagers before they finally reached their destination.
‘Nice day for it,’ said Dotty, pushing open the garden gate. ‘Shall we sit in the tea garden?’
At the end of the row of shops was a large walled garden which was full of colour and customers. Hannah couldn’t blame them for choosing such a pretty place to sit and have a morning break. It was a lovely setting, with the river nearby and the watermill slowly turning at the far end.
‘This place used to be so awful and overgrown,’ said Dotty, as they sat down at the only free table and chairs in the garden.
‘It certainly isn’t now,’ replied Hannah, looking around at the beautifully cared for plants around them. The air was alive with the sound of bees as they buzzed from one brightly coloured flower to the next, searching for nectar.
Her eyes moved on to the small indoor café alongside the garden, which was also full of people. It was certainly very popular, especially on a bright and sunny afternoon in May when everyone was desperate for the warmer days of late spring.
‘Hi,’ said a waitress, coming to stand next to their table. ‘Oh, hello, Dotty!’
‘Hello, Molly,’ replied Dotty. ‘I don’t know if you’ve met my granddaughter Hannah?’
‘Nice to meet you,’ said Molly, smiling down at Hannah.
‘You’ve done wonders with the place,’ said Dotty, before turning to Hannah. ‘Molly owns the tea room.’
Hannah smiled. ‘Yeah, I kind of got that, Grandma,’ she said, holding up the menu on the table which said Molly’s Tea Room.
Dotty looked back at Molly. ‘How’s business?’ she asked.
‘Busy,’ said Molly. ‘And I’m about to get even busier,’ she added, holding her stomach where Hannah suddenly realised she had a small baby bump.
‘Oh, congratulations,’ they both said at the same time.
‘Thanks,’ replied Molly. ‘Logan and I are over the moon.’
‘And your mum too, I’m sure,’ said Dotty.
Molly nodded. ‘First grandchild so he or she is going to be spoilt rotten. So what would you both like?’ asked Molly. ‘Tea? Coffee? Pastries?’
‘Coffee,’ said Dotty. ‘Definitely one of your delicious cakes, you choose for us. We’re not fussy eaters. And a little information as well, if you don’t mind.’
‘Information?’ Molly laughed. ‘I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me for that before now.’
‘My granddaughter here is opening up her own tea room in the old boathouse on the lake,’ said Dotty.
Molly looked delighted. ‘At Maple Tree Lodge?’ she asked, to which Hannah nodded her reply. ‘Oh, that’s a fantastic idea. Location is everything, as you can see,’ she carried on, waving her hand towards the river. ‘I would say you’re definitely going to be onto a winner.’
‘I’m not so sure about that,’ replied Hannah, her fears bubbling to the surface once more. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before.’
Molly gave her a sympathetic look. ‘I know all about being nervous,’ she said.
‘I was a bag of nerves before I opened up this place. But you know what? I knew my cakes were good. Beyond that I had no skills at all but at least I felt that if my cakes tasted great then hopefully everything else would follow.’
‘That’s what I keep telling her,’ said Dotty.
‘Any advice for me?’ asked Hannah before grimacing. ‘Although I feel kind of bad asking you because we’re in the same line of business.’
‘Oh, that doesn’t matter,’ Molly replied, with a smile.
‘There’s plenty of room in the area for all of our small businesses.
Now, let me see. Definitely start with only a short menu of your favourite items. It will help with the stock control before you know how many customers you’re getting in each day.
Also if there’s less choice then you won’t have quite so many leftover cakes.
’ She laughed. ‘However pleased your family will be to eat them!’
‘We always enjoy her baking,’ said Dotty, with a proud look.
‘I’m sure. Now, what else?’ said Molly. ‘Staff are key. I was lucky with mine and now I’ve got a great set-up with someone that I can rely on. And she’s become a really great friend as well. That helps.’
‘I’ve told her that I’m happy to help out,’ said Dotty. ‘I haven’t got much else to do these days.’
‘That’s great,’ said Molly. ‘Family support really helps. Oh and finally, get yourself an amazingly supportive partner,’ she added, twirling the engagement ring around on her finger. ‘That makes all the difference in the world.’
After thanking her and placing their orders, Hannah thought back once more to Sean and knew that he could never be described as being supportive. What would he think about her new venture? He’d probably tell her that she would be no good at it, she figured.
That made her all the more determined to prove him wrong. She was stronger without him, she realised for the first time. And with that thought, she began to feel a little more brave about opening up her very own café.