Chapter 4
IZZI
Izzi barely had a chance to catch her breath until almost eleven o’clock. Maud was right, the café was busy – busier than she’d been expecting for such a small village – but the steady stream of customers and their friendly chatter made the time fly.
She was about to ask if she could take a quick break when the door of the café opened and a woman aged about fifty with pink hair, wearing a thick navy coat over a flowing purple kaftan walked into the shop and strode up the counter, her smile wide.
‘Hi, I’m Flora Reid,’ she said, her voice warm.
‘Izzi Beaumont,’ Izzi said, smiling shyly as the woman stared unapologetically, her dark eyes whizzing across Izzi’s face.
‘I’m sorry to stare, lass,’ the woman said after a pause. ‘But you look so familiar.’ She tipped her head as if trying to see Izzi from another angle. ‘I’m not sure why. There’s something about your eyes.’
Izzi felt her stomach swoop. ‘Um, any idea who I remind you of?’ she asked, praying Flora might have some information to impart.
She wished she could ask more, but if she was going to honour her relative’s request, she couldn’t.
But after her conversation with Maud and Cameron had turned into a dead end, being told she looked familiar again offered a ray of hope.
‘I’m afraid not, lass. Do you have any family living locally?’ the woman asked, continuing her perusal.
Izzi’s cheeks heated. ‘Not that I’m aware,’ she croaked, which was true because she had no idea where her relation lived. ‘Neither of my parents are around and my only living relative recently passed away.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ The woman shook her head and her lips pursed.
‘Well, it’s lovely to have you here. I’m friends with Maud and I was so pleased to hear that you’ve been able to step in so quickly to cover Skye.
Her leaving was very last minute; I didn’t think Maud would be able to find anyone at such short notice and I know how much she needs you.
Especially now. Then again, I did see something in her tea leaves that suggested everything would work out… ’
‘Tea leaves?’ Izzi asked.
Flora smiled. ‘Sorry, lass, I should have explained. I run the gemstone shop on the high street.’ She turned and pointed left. ‘You might not have seen it yet because it’s at the far end.’
‘I’ll be sure to visit,’ Izzi promised. Who knew what she might discover or who she might bump into if she did.
‘Make sure you pop in and I’ll give you a free tea leaf reading of your own,’ Flora said as a sudden flicker of sunlight made her eyelids glitter, making her seem almost ethereal.
‘It’s my speciality. They’re good for guidance and reflection.
I can help you make sure you’re on the right path – we so often aren’t. ’ She nodded sagely.
‘Thank you,’ Izzi said. She had never gone in for that kind of thing, but she was open-minded enough to try, and perhaps the tea leaves might uncover something about her relative – give her a clue as to who they might be or what they might want?
‘Anyway,’ Flora said, checking her watch.
‘I wanted to pick up some lunch. I’ll have to take it with me today because I need to get back to the shop.
’ She perused the incredible spread of food through the glass counter, which was now filled with row-upon-row of cinnamon-dusted pastries, candy apple cookies, pecan pies, mouth-watering sausage rolls, fresh sandwiches and crusty bread which Maud had baked to go with the soup.
‘Could you pack me up some tomato soup and one of those pecan pies please, lass?’ Flora pointed to the glass.
‘Also, I wanted to order a dozen cupcakes for next week. I hear you’re an expert at decorating.
I’d like each of them to feature a different flower, sort of like a bouquet.
They’re for one of my customers’ birthday. ’
‘Of course,’ Izzi said, already imagining crafting the petals. ‘Let me get my pad and I’ll take some notes.’
Maud came to check on Izzi half an hour later.
‘Is everything tickety-boo?’ she asked, skipping out of the back, her lilac apron covered in flour.
She’d done more baking through the morning and had made multiple batches of sandwiches and more soup while Izzi had been serving. ‘How were the customers?’
‘They were lovely. I got a few cake orders already, including one from someone called Flora.’ She picked up the pad she’d left beside the till.
‘Flora is a good friend.’ Maud nodded. ‘I’m sorry I missed her.’
‘She said to say hi, but she couldn’t stop,’ Izzi told her. ‘As well as her cupcake order, someone asked for a pumpkin cake with sweets inside for a Halloween birthday party and there was an order for a witch’s hat and a black cat too. I took down the details, and they all paid a deposit.’
Maud looked impressed. ‘Are you happy to make those?’ she asked. ‘Because they might be a little beyond my capabilities. I don’t do the showstoppers as a rule; I’m more of an everyday baker.’
Izzi grinned. ‘I’d love to. I might do a practice run. Especially with the pumpkin.’ It would give her an excuse to get her hands on Cameron’s kitchen. ‘But like I said in my interview, I’ve done similar in the past.’
People had travelled from far and wide to order her cakes when she’d worked in Regina’s bakery and she had a reputation for being able to make anything elaborate, although she was too modest to share that now.
‘Have you got a bundt pan?’ she asked. The round mould would be vital if she was going to create a pumpkin shape.
She’d had loads in Regina’s bakery, but in the end, nothing had officially belonged to her.
She’d lost all her baking tools and favourite equipment – even pieces she’d bought herself – and it would take her a while to build them all back.
Maud nodded. ‘I have two, lass. You can take them to use in Cameron’s kitchen if you want to have a go at home?
’ She winked. ‘Make him a chocolate cake. He might complain, but he won’t be able to resist. He’s got a very sweet tooth.
He’s lost weight recently…’ Her forehead creased.
‘You’d be doing me a favour if you got him eating again. ’
‘Okay.’ Izzi nodded. She liked the idea of making something tempting enough for him. Cameron had seemed a little drawn… It might be fun to get him to eat her creations. To earn his trust via the power of food.
‘Take what ingredients you need from the kitchen,’ Maud said, waving a hand towards the back.
‘Do you want to stop for a quick break before the lunch rush?’ Maud asked as the door of the shop opened and Cameron strode in.
He frowned when he saw Izzi standing beside the till – she was starting to think it was his only expression – but then his face broke into a grin when he spotted his grandma, and Izzi’s stomach did a little flip.
It was the first time she’d seen him smile and it was just as heart-stopping as she’d imagined it would be. It even made her knees go a little wobbly.
‘Cameron lad, have you come to check up on me?’ Maud asked, sweeping past Izzi to the front of the shop so she could envelope him in a hug.
‘I was just passing,’ he mumbled, looking embarrassed.
‘I’m on my way to scope out a job and then I’ve got a meeting.
I thought I’d pop in and—’ His eyes met Izzi’s over the top of his grandma’s head.
‘See how everything was working out.’ His expression suggested he’d been expecting tears – perhaps he’d been looking forward to frog-marching her out.
He obviously had good reason to be suspicious of strangers, but Izzi hoped it wouldn’t take too long to win him round.
Then again, she’d never done it with her aunt.
‘It’s working out fine!’ Maud said. ‘I can already tell Izzi’s going to be a huge asset.
We definitely need that at the moment.’ She frowned before her face brightened.
‘Why don’t you sit and take a break before you go to your job?
’ She guided him to one of the two comfy sofas in the far corner.
Cameron frowned for a beat before he relented and slumped into one, shoving one of the velvet pillows aside first.
‘Izzi was about to take a break too. Why don’t you sit together?
’ Maud said without waiting for him to agree.
She indicated that Izzi should sit on the sofa opposite and she did, because her feet were tired and she was curious about what Cameron might say next.
She slowly sank into the seat, relishing how it hugged the back of her legs.
It was so comfortable that if she wasn’t careful, she might never want to get up.
Cameron stared at her, his face set into its usual frown, but Izzi was used to dealing with tricky people so wasn’t going to let him faze her.
Also, he’d mentioned she looked familiar too – perhaps he’d work out why if they talked.
Neither Flora nor his grandmother could recall the person who looked like her, but maybe in time one of them would?
‘Where’s Cupcake?’ she asked and tried not to smile. The name was so wrong for the huge dog – it was a bit like calling a great white shark Bubbles or Fluffy.
He sighed. ‘I left him with a friend of mine in his hotel, Scott MacRae, you might have seen The Hot Chocolate Hotel when you walked down the high street?’ Izzi nodded.
‘Scott likes dogs, aside from his own.’ He shook his head when Izzi looked at him quizzically.
‘Long story. But he’s good with Cupcake – I don’t usually let the reprobate get within a mile of the café.
He has an unhealthy obsession with baked goods.
’ His mouth moved and for a moment Izzi thought he was going to smile, but instead he shook his head.
She studied him as Maud rushed around, making coffee.
‘I don’t mind helping,’ Izzi offered, starting to get up.
Regina hadn’t liked her taking breaks in the bakery.
She’d usually grabbed a sandwich in the local high street and taken a walk.
She wasn’t used to being served, or taken care of, and wasn’t sure what to make of it.
‘Stay where you are. I’m fine, lass. You’re new and deserve a proper Honey Haven welcome, I know you didn’t get one from my grandson,’ Maud teased as she put a plate on the pink coffee table in front of Cameron.
Izzi watched as he leaned forward and picked up the huge sandwich. He bit into it, before taking a deep breath. He’d eaten breakfast, but a man like him probably needed to consume a lot of calories, especially since his work was physical.
‘So – what do you think of the place?’ Cameron asked as his grandmother placed a small sandwich and a slice of pecan pie in front of Izzi.
‘I love it. So far, all the customers have been very chatty and welcoming,’ Izzi admitted, wondering if he’d pick up on the irony.
‘She’s a good worker. Made friends with everyone who came in – and she’s already taken some cake orders,’ Maud jumped in.
‘I’ve asked Izzi if she can do a test run in your kitchen.
We can bring whatever she makes to the Candy Apple Lassies meeting tomorrow.
’ Her gaze travelled to Izzi. ‘Talking of that, you might as well sign up while you’re here. ’
‘What’s that?’ Izzi asked.
‘It’s like our version of a fraternity,’ she explained. ‘Most of the women in the village belong and it’s a great way of getting to know the locals.’ She paused. ‘I usually host it here because it’s easy to make hot drinks and we have plenty of sweet treats, so you won’t have to travel far.’
‘Ah well.’ Izzi was tempted, but would she have time, what with working here, practising her bakes and trying to find her missing relative?
Cameron leaned back in his chair and regarded Izzi, his expression part amused.
‘You might as well agree. There’s no way my grandma is going to let you say no,’ he murmured.
It was the first time he’d looked at Izzi with anything but suspicion and she felt a thump in her chest. Wondered why his approval mattered so much.
She’d trained herself not to care about other people’s opinions.
But for some reason this man’s did. Why was that?
‘Of course I’ll come,’ Izzi said, and felt her insides leap when Cameron offered her a genuine smile. She cleared her throat, surprised at the intensity of her reaction to him. She needed to keep him on side, but allowing it to develop into anything else would be a bad idea. A very bad idea indeed…