Chapter Thirteen

‘ M orning, love. Did you sleep well?’ Elsie looked up from the dough she was kneading as Robyn let the kitchen door close behind her.

‘Morning, yes thanks.’ Robyn stifled a yawn as she looked across to Teresa, who was icing cupcakes. ‘Hi, Teresa.’

‘Hey, Robyn.’ Teresa grinned as she swapped the pale orange icing bag for one containing green.

‘What do you want me to do?’ Robyn pulled an apron from the hooks by the door and pulled it over her head. She’d probably had the best night’s sleep last night than she had for the first time since she’d arrived, which had meant she’d actually got up when her alarm had gone off instead of automatically snoozing it for another hour or two as she’d done every other morning. Despite not feeling fully awake yet, it felt good to be up this early, to see the winter sun beginning to rise outside the kitchen window. Quiet music played from a radio on a shelf at the back of the kitchen and the aroma of baking bread mixed with the spicey scent of gingerbread, resulting in the most cosy atmosphere Robyn thought she’d ever experienced.

‘Oh, I know!’ Elsie grinned as she wiped her hands down her apron and walked across to the counter encircling the large kitchen. Picking up a wire rack of gingerbread Santas, she then slid them across the large stainless-steel table towards Robyn. ‘How do you fancy icing these? They’re to send to Penworth Bay Care Home for this evening’s carol and dance event.’

‘A carol and dance event?’ Robyn pulled the wire rack in place. Angie, the manager at the care home, had begun mentioning something about an event being held tonight, but she’d had to rush off when one of the residents had dropped a jug of water across the carpet.

‘That’s right. Ian and I went along last year to deliver some food they’d ordered and ended up staying for the evening. It was a good night.’ Elsie grinned. ‘A very good night.’

‘Oh, I remember you telling me about how much you’d enjoyed that night. Are you going again this year?’ Teresa glanced up towards Elsie.

‘As much as I’d love to, we can’t. Diane’s parents are visiting to take her and Harry out to do some baby shopping today and they’ve invited us over for dinner.’ Elsie began kneading the bread dough again.

‘That’ll be nice. I’d forgotten Diane wasn’t in today.’ Teresa picked up the tray of now fully iced and decorated cupcakes and swapped them for a large carrot cake. ‘Is Angie collecting the food for the care home?’

‘No, she’ll be run off her feet, I should think. I’ll pop over before going to dinner.’

‘I don’t mind delivering them.’ Robyn drew a red outline of Santa’s coat, the lines a little too wobbly for her liking.

‘Are you sure, love?’ Elsie glanced across at her.

‘Yes, of course. My car should be ready today too, so I’ll pop over and see Scott at the garage on my lunch break.’ She swallowed. When he’d rung her yesterday to tell her the good news, she hadn’t dared ask how much it was going to cost.

‘That would be great, if you really don’t mind, love?’ Elsie smiled. ‘And of course, if your car isn’t ready, you can always take the bakery van.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ Robyn grinned as she tried again, outlining Santa’s coat in the deep red icing. It would be nice to see everyone again, Lizzie, Terrence, and the other residents.

‘WOW, THAT WAS CRAZY !’ Robyn turned the small door sign from Open to Closed and locked the door before leaning against it and rubbing her ankle. ‘Please tell me it’s not going to be this busy from now until Christmas.’

‘Umm.’ Brooke began stacking up empty trays. ‘Do you want me to lie to you?’

Groaning, Robyn joined her at the bakery counter again. The queue of customers had been non-stop today, right from the moment they’d opened until closing time.

‘We’ll have Diane back tomorrow, though.’ Brooke smiled.

‘True.’ Robyn nodded as she popped the till open to begin counting their takings.

‘And then, of course, we’ll have the lantern parade, which will bring in even more customers as the bakery becomes one of the stations people can come and decorate their lantern before the parade begins. And...’ Brooke continued. ‘... then it’ll be people coming to collect the Christmas cakes and treats they’ve ordered...’

Turning to face her, Robyn grimaced. ‘So, in other words, this was one of the quieter days leading up to Christmas Day?’

‘Er, yes. But I love the run up to Christmas here, so I don’t mind the chaos. Everyone’s always so happy and the atmosphere is just...’ Brooke hugged her arms around her middle and smiled. ‘So Christmassy.’

Robyn laughed and turned back to the till. With the decorations, the Christmas tree and the grotto, she could hardly imagine the bakery being able to be more Christmassy. The funny thing was, she didn’t actually mind it. The one reason she’d been hesitant in booking this break down here had been because she’d been worried about the joys of Christmas being shoved down her throat but despite it being the very reason she’d wanted to escape her hometown, she was enjoying it. The hustle and bustle had taken her mind off her parents and the worry of trying to please the both of them, and she had to admit, she was beginning to enjoy the carefree run up to the big celebration.

A clatter sounded from the kitchen, and Elsie poked her head around the door. ‘Could one of you just give me a hand with the dishwasher, please? I’m not sure what I’ve done.’

‘Coming.’ Hugging the empty trays she’d collected to her chest, Brooke hurried through to the kitchen.