Chapter 3 #2
Izzi laughed and then hung up before continuing her walk along the pavement, relishing the feel of the fresh wind on her cheeks.
She passed a red post box wearing a colourful crocheted hat with multiple knitted pumpkins and a smiling black cat on the top.
She grinned and went to look in the window of the beauty salon, promising herself that she’d get her toenails painted if the job worked out.
If the salon was popular, it would give her a chance to chat with some of the locals without drawing suspicion, and perhaps she’d be able to steer the conversation around to whether they knew anyone who looked like her.
If Cameron was to be believed, he’d definitely met someone. It was the only real clue she had.
She had no idea how she was going to find her mystery relative.
The letter provided almost no details, and she hadn’t formed a plan.
Her main hope was that because they knew her name, they’d hear she was in Honey Haven and seek her out.
She just needed to ensure she spoke to as many people as possible and made herself a part of the community as soon as she could.
From the look of the place, that wouldn’t be a hardship – and Izzi loved people, so it should be a piece of cake.
She continued to walk and passed a corner shop bustling with customers, then the pet shop, before finally arriving at the Candy Apple Café.
She stood outside for a moment, admiring the pretty purple and lilac awning that stretched above the wide windows and the stunning, teal hand-painted sign over the top.
Maud had told her they sometimes put purple-painted chairs on the pavement for customers if they wanted to sit outside.
She wondered if they’d put some out today.
Despite it being October, the air was comfortably mild.
‘You’re early, lass!’ Maud Buchanan sang as the door to the café suddenly swung open and she stood grinning at Izzi like she was a long-lost friend. ‘Come in, come in!’ She swept a hand, encouraging her to join her inside.
As soon as Izzi stepped in, she felt a blast of warmth on her cheeks and smelled marshmallows, toffee and melted chocolate – it was a balm to her soul. She’d missed this and she inhaled deeply before refocusing on Maud.
The older woman wore a lilac apron with the name of the shop printed on the front, and underneath that a purple polo shirt, black trousers and sensible flat shoes.
Her silver bob had been covered by a hair net and a cute lilac cap, but her bright blue eyes were the same as yesterday: warm and friendly with just a hint of mischief.
‘I just received a phone call from my grandson, so I knew you were on your way,’ she admitted as she guided Izzi into the seating area of the café where a dozen multicoloured, hand-painted chairs and tables had been set out at intervals.
Each table had mini pumpkins centred on a white and terracotta chequered tablecloth.
Izzi could see a couple of long squashy sofas facing each other in the far corner of the café.
Each had mismatched velvet scatter cushions perched across the wide seats and mounds of fleecy tartan blankets hung from the arms. There were wicker baskets spaced throughout the room stuffed with more fluffy blankets, which all added to the cosy charm.
She had a sudden urge to wrap herself in one and dipped her chin into her chunky scarf.
Three lamps had been placed across the window, which Izzi guessed would be lit up in the late afternoon to give the space a homely glow.
She turned to check the counter where pumpkins had been scattered along the top – the warm orange colour added a pretty, autumnal radiance. She loved this time of year, Halloween included, and used to jazz up her aunt’s bakery whenever she could.
‘What did you think of Cameron?’ Maud suddenly asked.
‘Um…’ Izzi thought about the handsome man with the permanent frown. ‘He seemed—’
‘Aye, he’s certainly that.’ Maud winked.
‘He’s not very happy with me,’ she confided, looking more delighted than concerned.
‘It seems I overstepped by letting you stay in his cabin. It means you’ve got under his skin, which I’m delighted about.
’ She grinned. ‘The lad barely speaks to anyone of the opposite sex these days; it’ll do him good to have someone living in such close proximity for a while.
’ Her beam intensified. ‘Make sure you put that kitchen to good use.’ The wattage of her grin suddenly dulled.
‘Ever since that business partner of his ran off, he’s buried himself away in that house and he’s barely touched anything in it.
Too angry with her – and himself – I think… ’
‘She was a wily one, very pretty, and for a while I thought something might happen between them. Cameron really liked the lass.’ Her mouth pinched.
‘I think that’s why it was so easy to believe her stories and get sucked in – because she seemed so genuine.
’ She frowned. ‘I blame myself; I always see the best in people.’ She shrugged.
‘But the lad can’t let go of what happened.
He’s furious he didn’t see through her – she was supposed to be investing in his business but ran off before she handed over any money.
She totally used him; it was never about working together and always about money.
’ She winced. ‘He can’t forgive himself—’ She gave Izzi a wry smile.
‘I think life’s too short for regrets. There’s no point in hanging onto things – we only get more hurt that way. ’
‘That’s my philosophy.’ Izzi shoved her hands into the pockets of her trousers.
She was keen to hear more about Cameron and his ex-business partner but didn’t want to appear too nosy.
It wasn’t just that he was her landlord – and the one thing standing between her and things working out here – but there was something about him that called to her. And it wasn’t just his gorgeous face.
Maud considered her for a moment, and Izzi was worried she’d guessed what she was thinking. Izzi had an expressive face and a reputation for giving her thoughts away. She didn’t want her new boss to know how attractive she found her grandson.
The older woman winked. ‘He’s a good man,’ she said quietly.
‘Do you want a hot chocolate?’ she asked abruptly, changing the subject before skipping across the café and making her way to the other side of the glass counter at a speed more suited to someone half her age.
‘I’m on my third. Cameron says I drink too many, but it’s the only way I can function when I start work early.
Don’t tell on me.’ She giggled before turning to warm some milk in a small pink jug.
Izzi watched until steam fizzed from the jug, then the older woman carefully filled two mugs before adding cocoa and a handful of chocolate drops.
She topped the drinks off with generous dollops of marshmallows, whipped cream and sprinkles, making Izzi’s mouth water.
‘Now drink this,’ Maud said, offering her the steaming mug and signalling that Izzi should join her behind the counter.
‘I know I showed you around the kitchen yesterday, but I thought I’d walk you through it all again now.
You’ll meet Catriona McNab tomorrow. She works in her sister’s florist in the mornings and is usually in the café between twelve and two-thirty.
Her wee bairn has something at the school today, so she’s not going to make it.
Usually, it’s just the three of us working here.
Skye does the cakes, biscuits and any special orders – that’s what I need you to cover while you’re here.
I’m the savoury queen, so you can leave the bread, sandwiches, fresh soup and that kind of thing to me. ’
Maud paused for long enough to take a breath and then she stopped suddenly and gave Izzi a quizzical look. ‘Do you know, I just got the oddest feeling we might have already met. Do they call that déjà vu?’