Poppy’s Parisian Pâtisserie: A perfect summer read (The Blossomwood Bay Series Book 6)

Chapter One

‘How was your date last night, Poppy?’

Poppy scrunched up her nose, warmth filling her cheeks as she averted her eyes from Holly’s enquiry that she would have really preferred not to answer. She tucked the sides of her dark mahogany bob behind her ears and tried to arrange her face into a nonchalant expression that she knew was fooling no one.

‘He… he didn’t turn up.’

‘What!?’

‘It’s fine. He called me later… quite a bit later… to explain.’

‘What about Ryan, the guy who took you to the cinema last week?’ asked Rachel.

Poppy cringed. She knew her friends meant well, but over the last few months it felt as though the landscape of her love life had been strewn with embarrassing encounters and humiliating no-shows, and her date with Ryan had been the most excruciating so far.

‘He left to take a call and… well, he didn’t come back. I ended up watching the movie alone.’

‘Oh, Poppy, I’m so sorry.’

‘Thanks. I’m having a hard time not taking it personally.’

‘Forget about him, he’s not worth a moment more of your time,’ said Rachel, reaching out to lace her fingers through Poppy’s and giving them a squeeze before she pushed back her chair. ‘I’ll go and ask Beckie for another pot of tea and a selection of Kath’s delicious cherry scones.’

‘Thanks, Rach.’

Poppy watched Rachel make her way to the Boathouse Bistro’s counter, surprised to see that whilst she had been chatting to her friends in Beckie’s cosy book nook, the place had emptied of customers. Despite the damp, drizzly weather, there was usually at least a few sturdy dog-walkers prepared to brave the elements for a mug of hot chocolate with lashings of whipped cream and one of her signature red velvet muffins.

‘Isn’t Ryan your brother’s friend?’ asked Holly, her eyes filled with sympathy as she fondled the silky ears of her constant companion, a russet-coloured springer spaniel called Ariel, receiving a lick of gratitude for her solicitude.

‘Yes, he is.’

‘Rugby, cricket or tennis?’

‘Rugby. Actually, when I told Jamie what had happened, he said that Ryan’s just been offered a contract to play for Toulouse next season; that’s the call he got when we were at the cinema. I suppose he was just so excited that he forgot he was on a date with me and rushed off to tell everyone the good news.’

‘Perhaps, but it’s still unforgivably rude.’ Holly paused and met Poppy’s eyes. ‘Maybe next time you should organise your own dates.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Date a guy who hasn’t been vetted and introduced to you by one of your brothers, and who isn’t completely obsessed with every sport known to the universe.’

‘But I love sports, and it means there’s always something to talk about when there’s those inevitable awkward silences on first dates.’

‘Opposites attract, too, you know.’

‘I’m not so sure about that,’ said Poppy, fiddling with the handle of her empty cup. ‘Especially after what happened with… Anyway, I want to be with someone who enjoys my company, someone who’s on the same wavelength as me and who takes me out to romantic places, or who likes spending cosy nights in by the fire. Having common interests is one of the things that makes relationships last; look at my mum and dad, and at Jamie and Alicia, and my other three brothers and their wives. And what about you and Oscar – you bonded over your mutual love of dogs – and Rachel and Leo who both love outdoor activities and are planning to run a retreat business together.’

Holly placed her hand on Poppy’s arm, her expression filled with sympathy. ‘I’m sorry about what happened with Drew, I truly am. What he did was unforgiveable, and you’re right; romance means different things to different people. All I’m saying is that it’s not always going to be like those romcom movies you’re obsessed with. There’s not always going to be a “meet cute”, or an unfortunate accident with a cup of coffee.’

‘How can you say that, Holly!?’ Rachel laughed as she deposited a tray of drinks on the table in front of them. She re-secured her high ponytail, causing her lemon-coloured yoga hoodie to ride up and reveal her toned abdomen, then slid back into her seat next to Poppy. ‘Your “meet cute” with Oscar was straight out of a Hallmark movie.’

Holly giggled and Poppy could see the adoration flood into her friend’s bright blue eyes as she reached down to give Ariel one of the homemade doggie treats that Kath and Beckie kept in a Tupperware box behind the bistro’s counter for their canine visitors.

‘That’s true. I think the look of astonishment on his face when he saw me lying on his bed in his Airstream, wrapped in nothing more than a skimpy towel, will stay with me forever.’ Holly turned back to Poppy. ‘I just want you to keep an open mind, that’s all. Love can be found in the most unexpected of places with the unlikeliest of people – people who aren’t pre-selected and pre-approved by one of your adoring brothers.’

Poppy smiled. She knew Holly was right. Her brothers were overprotective of her when it came to dating, but that was what happened when you were part of a close-knit family with four older brothers – and four wonderful sisters-in-law – who were keen to make sure she didn’t make any more heartbreaking mistakes after the devastation her breakup with Drew had caused.

However, it also meant that she’d had a string of dates that had never progressed beyond the third. Every time she met someone, she found herself hoping that this would be the guy, the one who would sweep her off her feet to live happily ever after, like her parents – who were currently celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary on a Caribbean cruise – had done, like her brothers had done, and like the two friends who were sitting opposite her were hoping to do. Then she remembered the “Drew nightmare” and her positivity evaporated, replaced with a feeling of doubt that living happily ever after could ever be possible.

Before she’d met Drew, she had been confident, optimistic and determined to forge her way in the world, both professionally and romantically, but his deceitfulness had knocked the stuffing out of her, and she had struggled to come to terms with what he’d done, even though none of it was her fault. Her family had taken the view that the best way to deal with the distressing situation was for her to get straight back on the dating horse, but with guys who were friends of friends, or friends of her brothers, or friends of their wives, or friends of her cousins. She had been happy to go along with that, but so far the plan hadn’t worked very well, and her non-date with Ryan had made her realise that things had to change.

‘Anyway, who I date doesn’t matter.’

‘Why not?’ asked Holly.

‘Because after what happened last night, I’m going on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and not just with my brothers’ friends, but all guys. I’m going to spend the month of November re-evaluating, reconsidering, recalibrating and readjusting my mindset, as well as planning what I’m going to do when Andrew finally locates Dexter.’

‘Is there any news?’ asked Rachel.

‘Yes, there is. Kath got a call last night,’ said Poppy, her heart giving a sharp uptick of anticipation. ‘At long last, Andrew is actually hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with Tuxson, the guide he hired.’

‘Tuxson?’

‘Apparently, people who hike the PCT use trail names. It’s one of the reasons it’s been so difficult to find Dexter. No one knows him by his real name – Dexter Hawkins, world-famous rock guitarist – which I suppose is the point. It’s his chance to get away from all the media attention he and his bandmates attract and to enjoy a little privacy. Anyway, someone who could be Dexter was spotted by a group of section-hikers at a campsite just south of Lake Tahoe a couple of weeks ago, so Tuxson is optimistic that they’ll find him in the next few days, a week at the most.’

‘Oh, thank God,’ muttered Holly, the relief written clearly across her expression. ‘To be honest, I was starting to think…’

‘What?’

‘Well, he’s a rock star, and if you believe everything that’s been written about him over the years, he’s not had the healthiest of lifestyles. Just the other day, I read a blog post saying that ten years ago, after a gig in Vienna, he was rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis and there were some kind of complications and he ended up staying there for three weeks. Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is a tough challenge for anyone, never mind someone who’ll be sixty at the end of this month.’

‘He’s hiked endurance trails before, though,’ said Rachel, clearly trying to reassure Holly. ‘He’s done the Camino de Santiago and the Appalachian Trail, but this was his ultimate dream; to hike the whole Pacific Crest Trail all the way from the Mexico border to the Canadian border. It’s a shame he hasn’t been able to do that this year, but even getting from Campo to Lake Tahoe is an amazing achievement, and I’m sure he’ll be able to go back next year and start where he left off. Lots of people do the trail in stages, apparently.’

‘I’m surprised no one besides us misses him,’ Poppy murmured, taking a sip of her replenished tea. ‘I’d be upset if my boyfriend, partner, or spouse left me to go off hiking for four months without any means of communication whatsoever. It’s a bit… well, it’s a bit selfish, don’t you think?’

‘He’s single,’ said Holly, her silver charm bracelet jangling at her wrist as she helped herself to one of Poppy’s white chocolate and cranberry cookies. ‘Suzie and I tried to work out how many girlfriends he’d had this year and we got to eight, and that was before he set off on the trail.’

‘I wonder why he dates so much?’ Poppy pondered.

‘If you believe the celebrity gossip, it’s because someone broke his heart way back in his career as a musician and he never got over it. Since then, he’s preferred to date a string of glamorous and gorgeous women rather than settle down.’

‘So no family? No children?’ said Poppy, her forehead wrinkling with sadness for Dexter.

‘It’s not for everyone, Poppy,’ said Rachel softly.

‘Oh, I know that, it’s just…’ She saw Holly and Rachel exchange a sympathetic glance and decided to change the subject to something that had been playing on her mind for a while. ‘What if Dexter decides not to rebuild the beach huts?’

‘He will. Why wouldn’t he?’said Holly.

‘Well, think about it. Who’s left to rent them? Tilly is running her sister’s teashop in Tuscany, Freya’s started a new aromatherapy business at her uncle’s chateau in Provence, and it looks like Suzie is settled with Christos in Santorini. You’re busy getting the kennels ready to open—’

‘We prefer “Luxury Hotel for Dogs”.’ Holly laughed.

‘And a beach hut is much too small for what you’ve got planned for your wellbeing retreat project with Leo, Rach, which only leaves me and Chloe. By the way, did either of you hear anything back from Chloe? I’ve tried to call her several times and all I got in response was a smiley face emoji. I’m worried about her,’ said Poppy.

‘I finally managed to speak to her last week,’ said Rachel, taking a sip of her camomile tea before popping a piece of buttered scone into her mouth. ‘When I asked her why we hadn’t seen her at the bistro or at the Fox Fiddle for the last month or so, she said she was busy organising her cocktail-making classes for the run up to the festive season.’

‘Did you ask her about where she was living?’ asked Poppy.

‘I did, but she was…’ Rachel paused, searching for the right word. ‘Well, evasive.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘She confirmed that she’s moved out of her flat, just as we thought, and she said she was staying with her friend until our insurance money comes through. When I asked her which friend, she changed the subject and asked me if I knew anything more about how Suzie and Christos were getting on with the police.’

‘Oh, yes, I wanted to ask you about that, too,’ said Poppy, turning towards Holly. She knew Holly and Oscar had met up with Suzie and Christos – and their friends, Heidi and Nathan, an investigative journalist – in London a few weeks ago when they had flown over from Greece for a meeting with the detective in charge of the investigation into the armed robbery that had taken place at the jewellery store Suzie used to work at. ‘Is there an update?’

‘Actually, there is.’

Poppy scooted to the edge of her seat, anxious to hear the details. She knew how much Suzie had struggled with what had happened. Not just the robbery – which had taken place when she and her colleague Carmen had been left in charge of the jewellery store while their boss, Fran?ois, was visiting family in the south of France – but what had happened afterwards, when the media had insinuated that it was an inside job and that either she or Carmen, or both of them, were to blame.

Suzie had been mortified, but even worse was to come when, instead of standing by her and helping her to deal with the storm of unwanted and totally unjustified publicity, her fiancé, Adam – who worked for an international accountancy firm – ditched her because he was worried that his “connection” to her would tarnish his reputation and affect his chances of securing a prestigious promotion.

Devastated, Suzie had relocated to Blossomwood Bay and slowly built up an artisan jewellery-making business in one of the beach huts on the boardwalk, only for it to be destroyed in the fire. Poppy knew she was still upset about what had happened in London the previous year, and that she would have no rest until the culprits were found and she and her colleagues were exonerated.

‘Okay, so I’ve already told you that the new detective in charge of the case has not only identified who carried out the robbery, but who was behind it and another couple of raids on luxury-brand stores in the same area. Well, he’s now got the go-ahead from the CPS to make the arrests, and he’s planning to do that this weekend. Once those responsible are in custody, and have been charged with the relevant offences, he’s promised to share the details with Suzie and Christos.’

‘So she’ll finally get closure, after almost eighteen months!’ said Rachel.

‘Yes, it looks like it.’

‘She must be so relieved,’ said Poppy.

‘Oh, she is, she really is. Okay, I think I’d better get back to the Fox Fiddle or Oscar will think I’ve been kidnapped. He’s hosting his first tasting night at the restaurant this evening and he wants everything to be perfect because he’s had a tip-off that a food critic from London might be coming. Also, Kaitlyn, his agent, will be there; she’s still on a mission to persuade him to write that Dash, Dollop, Drizzle cookery book!’

‘Oh, I’d love to add that one to my collection!’ said Poppy.

Holly laughed. ‘How many have you got now?’

‘Well, including the box of cookery books from the sixties and seventies that my parents gave me before they headed off on their anniversary cruise to the Caribbean yesterday, I have one hundred and forty-two.’

‘Wow, that’s a lot of cookery books!’

Poppy nodded. When she said it out loud, it did sound like a lot, but she had been collecting them since she graduated from catering college and displaying them on the bookshelves at her childhood home in Sidmouth alongside her father’s astronomy books and her mother’s gardening manuals. What had once been the dining room where the family had enjoyed noisy, boisterous mealtimes filled with gossip from her sports-obsessed brothers, was now a more sedate library with a panoramic view of her mother’s show-grade garden and the Devonshire coast beyond.

‘It is, and I can’t wait to try out the bacon-wrapped Spam bites!’

‘Ergh! Disgusting,’ said Rachel, grimacing in horror.

‘I’m joking, but there are actually some great recipes from the nineteen seventies.’

‘I’ll take your word for it. Okay, I’d better make a move, too. Leo wants to take a look at a potential site for the retreat business that Holly’s friend Harry has told him about. Catch you later, Poppy.’

Poppy watched her two best friends leave together, her spirits lifting when she saw the renewed spring in Rachel’s step. She knew that the arrival of Leo – whom she’d met while on a retreat in southern Italy – had precipitated that change, and Rachel was excited and energised by their plans to launch a similar retreat enterprise in the Devonshire countryside.

She glanced around the bistro, perturbed by the lack of animated chatter that usually swirled around the place, interspersed by the whoosh of the coffee machine, and the clink and clang of crockery and cutlery. She sighed and had just pushed herself up from the table to start gathering their empty mugs and plates when she saw Beckie’s aunt Kath emerge from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

To Poppy’s surprise, instead of making her way over to help her, Kath headed towards the bistro’s door, turned the sign around to read Sorry We’reClosed, and then joined her in the book nook.

‘Poppy, do you mind if we have a chat?’