Chapter Seventeen
‘Effie, take a seat.’ Lola accosted her the moment she pushed open the café door following her Tuesday morning swim. ‘I’ve got something for you. The usual?’
‘Yes please.’ Effie pulled her dry robe around her. It was a damp, cold morning, so the warmth of the café was a welcome reprieve.
Alf patted the spare seat beside him. ‘Been for a swim, love? You’re a brave lass.’
‘Not as brave as you were, I bet,‘ Effie said, ‘at least I can stay in the bay and not go all the way out to the ocean.’
Alf shrugged. ‘That was a long time ago. I miss it. But you have to respect the sea. It can turn in an instant. I used to swim in my youth. Sometimes I wonder why I ever gave up. The sea is a good place to calm the brain. Puts things into perspective.’
Effie nodded her agreement. ‘That’s why I do it. Sets me up for the day. It’s easier to swim here every day now the sea is just across the road. It beats a swimming pool any day.’
‘There you go.’ Lola placed a large mug of hot chocolate in front of Effie followed by a plate of bite-sized hot cross buns. Alf’s eyes widened at the sight of them. Sensing the baked goods, Scruff sat up.
‘I didn’t order any buns,’ Effie said, ‘but they’re adorable.’
‘I said I could cater for the shop opening, here’s my first offering. Mini hot cross buns. Try them, see what you think.’
Effie picked one of the buns up and bit into it. The dough was pillowy and soft, the fragrant spices hitting her palate as the fruit burst on her tongue. ‘Oh my gosh, that’s one of the best hot cross buns I’ve ever had!’
Lola beamed with pride. ‘Freshly baked this morning.’
Effie helped herself to a second one, ravenous from her swim. Alf picked one up and took a bite.
‘Why aren’t these already on the menu?’ Alf asked. ‘It’s two weeks until Easter. At Christmas we had mince pies coming out of our ears.’
‘Don’t fret, Alf. I’ll be rolling out my Easter treats this week.
Buns, bunny biscuits, mini simnel cakes.
I’ll decorate the café for spring later.
Found some gorgeous bunting. It’ll be like an Easter grotto, if that’s even a thing.
’ Lola laughed before admitting, ‘I’ve just been tied up trying to get my wedding plans sorted.
Tristan and I thought it’d be fun to do it as soon as possible, but I didn’t expect the past few months to go quite so quickly.
’ She sighed as she sat down between them.
‘When are you getting married?’ Effie asked.
‘Late May bank holiday weekend. I know! I know! It’s not even two months away. I must be mad.’
‘Don’t believe the panic,’ Alf told Effie. ‘She’s got it all planned out, I’m sure.’
‘Everything other than a photographer,’ Lola sighed, ‘they’re all fully booked. Have been for months.’
Effie’s mind turned to Jake. However, the most she’d seen of his photos was of the interior of the shop and some stunning landscapes. But wasn’t he trying to build up a business doing weddings and events? She fished a gooey marshmallow out of her mug and contemplated putting his name forward.
‘Anyway, enough of my woes. Effie, would you like me to make some buns for the opening? I can also do chocolate nest cakes and oh, what about book-shaped biscuits?’
‘That would be wonderful, let me just clear it all with Clive. We’re having a chat later about the shop progress. Apparently, he’s arranged for someone to come and open it, but he won’t tell me who!’
‘A celebrity?’ Lola gushed.
‘Probably a local author,’ Effie told her.
‘No idea who though. We are a little bit out of the way.’ She’d spent the previous night searching all her favourite authors online, trying to figure out who might want to make the journey.
Effie was secretly hoping for a romance author.
She’d made a list and sent it to Clive, placing her favourites at the top.
He’d replied with ‘We’ll see what the budget looks like. ’
Effie’s thoughts were interrupted by the café door opening.
Jake stepped inside, holding a small folder in his hands.
She hadn’t seen him since he’d joined her parents for Sunday lunch.
He’d been brilliant company, chatting to her dad about his music taste and her mum about her job.
When Effie had kissed her parents’ goodbye that evening, she’d been rather concerned that her mum was about to start issuing wedding invitations.
Jake had had some business to attend to the previous day, and Effie hadn’t known what to do with the feelings of missing him that had risen as she’d spent a rather boring morning giving the walls what she hoped would be a final coat of paint.
Even her trusty Viking warriors couldn’t lift her spirits.
‘Morning.’ Jake beamed at them ‘Was hoping to find you all here. I’ve got something to show you.’ He dropped the folder onto the table and slipped into the spare seat.
‘Coffee, Jake?’ Lola asked.
‘Yeah, sure, thanks, extra shot this morning, please.’ Jake drummed his fingers on the table as he waited for Lola to return.
‘What have you got for us?’ Alf asked when Lola was back.
‘Remember I took some photos at the party. Yesterday I went to get them developed properly and I wanted to show them to you.’ He pulled the glossy prints from the folder and passed them to Alf.
As Alf slowly went through them, Effie was surprised to see nerves come over the normally confident Jake. From the corner of her eye she watched as he dragged his hands through his hair, tapped sugar packets against his cup and took a hurried sip of too hot coffee.
‘Well, young man, these are splendid,’ Alf said.
Jake sat forward. ‘You think so?’
Alf nodded and signalled for Lola to come over. ‘Here, have a look.’
Lola sat down and took the photos from Alf then slowly leafed through the prints before passing them on to Effie.
Even from the first few it was obvious that Jake had a natural talent for capturing the moment.
He’d managed to get the joy on Alf’s face as Lola presented the birthday cake to him, Scruff’s eagerness to get in on the action, the delighted surprise when Angelo revealed his portrait.
Even the photos Jake had taken of unsuspecting Polcarrow residents were flattering.
Effie’s face coloured as she reached the last one.
It was one of the test shots he’d taken of her when he returned to the hall.
Effie went to pass the photos back to him, but Lola took them for a second glance.
‘What do you think? Are you happy with them?’ Jake asked.
‘They’re amazing, Jake,’ Effie said, ‘you’ve really captured everything. You’re so talented.’
‘Splendid, boy, absolutely splendid, I could be a model!’ Alf quipped and struck a pose. ‘You’ve really flattered Scruff here.’ The dog barked in agreement.
Jake exhaled with relief. ‘Thanks, that means a lot. Honestly. You see, I’m thinking of starting a business doing event photography, but I’ve not got very far with it yet.
Yeah, my landscapes have been popular online, but photographing people is a whole different business.
They fascinate me. The stories their faces tell, you know.
I loved taking these photos. Your comments have given my confidence a boost. Thanks, guys. ’
An epiphany passed across Lola’s face as she handed the photos back to him. ‘Jake, these are wonderful. I’m wondering if I can ask you something.’
‘Go on.’ Jake took the package back from her.
‘Tristan and I are getting married the last weekend in May. Everything is sorted other than a photographer; there’s just no one available. I had no idea finding one would be so hard. But these photos are amazing. Really natural, I love them. Would you be interested in photographing our wedding?’
Jake contemplated this. ‘Really? I’d love to but a wedding is different from a birthday party.’
‘Yes, I do mean it, and not just because we’re desperate,’ Lola insisted. ‘Those photos are truly something special. We don’t want anything too formal, and you’ve clearly got an eye for detail.’
Effie watched as Jake considered the offer, her own heart racing with expectation. Surely this would be the best way for him to get his new venture off the ground.
‘Gosh, Lola, that’s quite the honour, but could I do a few test shots first, check you’re happy. You know, like an engagement shoot?’
‘An engagement shoot?’ Lola’s face lit up. ‘Of course! I have the perfect dress!’
Alf rolled his eyes. ‘Of course you do.’
‘I want to make sure you’re completely happy with the photos before we agree to anything. Dreaming of taking event photos is one thing, being entrusted with someone’s wedding is another.’ Jake gulped.
‘I have every faith in you. Honestly, Jake, I do.’ Lola’s voice was soothing and sure. Effie couldn’t imagine anyone ever saying no to her.
Jake caught Effie’s eye and gave a nervous laugh as he raised his cup to his lips. ‘No pressure,’ he said before draining the coffee and catching Effie’s encouraging gaze, disbelief shining in his blue eyes. Part wonder, part terror at what he’d agreed to.
No pressure at all, Effie thought, for either of them setting up their new lives in Polcarrow. It seemed the village really did have a way of sprinkling magic onto the roots of its residents’ new beginnings.