Chapter Twelve

‘ I 'm so, so sorry I'm so late.' Erin hurried behind the counter and pulled her apron over her head.

‘No worries.' Diane turned back to her customer. ‘Everything all right?'

‘Yep, all good.' Erin grinned. She still hadn't fully processed what had happened. Were she and Tim an item now? Going out together? Partners instead of friends? Stepping forward, she greeted the next customer. ‘Morning. How can I help you today?'

‘Hello, I'd like one of Elsie's special sourdough loaves, please?' The man pulled out his wallet and held out his card, ready to tap the machine.

‘Great. Coming up.' Erin took a loaf from the bread basket, knocking it with the sourdough as she placed it in a bag. Gasping, she watched the whole basket topple before falling to the floor, loaves and rolls included. ‘Oh no, I'm so sorry.'

‘Don't worry.' Brooke placed her hand on Erin's shoulder. ‘You finish serving and I'll clear up before getting some fresh bread from the kitchen.'

‘Thanks.' Erin raised her eyebrows at the man in front of her. ‘At least I saved your sourdough.'

‘Haha and for that I'll be forever grateful.' The man chuckled, took his loaf and tapped his card against the machine before leaving.

‘Well, I think you made him laugh, anyway.' Diane nudged her and grinned.

‘That's something then.' She repositioned the empty basket and watched as Brooke carried the unsellable bread into the kitchen. ‘I can't believe I did that. I just wasn't thinking.'

‘Don't worry, we all have days like that and, as Elsie says, things can only get better. Where did you disappear off to last night, anyway?'

Erin swallowed. The pub quiz felt like days ago, not last night. ‘Sorry, I didn't mean to just leave without saying bye or telling you where I was going, I just... I had to speak to Tim.'

‘Hey, don't worry. Brooke said you'd gone out to talk to him. We'd have sent out a search party if we hadn't known you were with him.'

‘Really? Thanks.' Erin smiled. The only person who made sure she got home okay after a night out back home was Tim if he was with her, and that was in the city.

‘Of course. We look after our own, you see.' Diane shrugged. ‘I know that probably sounds a little dramatic. I mean, this is Penworth Bay, but after Daisy got cut off in the cove and Ollie and Ian had to rescue her, we don't leave anything to chance.'

‘I don't blame you then.' She turned to the door as Daisy walked through. ‘Hi, Daisy.'

‘Morning! Do I dare ask if you managed to get any sleep last night or was Bonnie screaming the place down in the early hours?' Walking towards them, Daisy leaned her elbows on the counter.

‘I think she woke up a couple of times, but she settled pretty quickly as far as I could tell.' Erin smiled.

‘You look refreshed this morning.' Diane pulled out a croissant, placing it on a napkin before sliding it across the counter towards Daisy.

‘I feel refreshed. I think I slept more last night than I have in months.' Picking up the croissant, she took a bite before speaking. ‘Thank you, just what I needed.'

The door to the flat swung open, and Ian stepped inside the bakery, carrying little Bonnie. ‘Is that Mummy I can hear?'

‘Aw, I've missed you, my little princess.' Abandoning her half-eaten croissant on the counter, Daisy rushed around the counter and held her arms out for her daughter.

‘There you go.' Ian placed Bonnie in her mum's arms.

‘How has she been?' Daisy buried her nose in Bonnie wisps of hair.

‘She's been an angel.' Ian beamed. ‘An angel who doesn't believe in sleeping, but an angel all the same.'

‘Oh Bonnie, have you been a pain for Grampy Ian and Nana Elsie?'

Bonnie gurgled as she reached for Daisy's hair.

‘Nothing we couldn't cope with and a little stroll along the promenade didn't cure.' Ian chucked. ‘It's been a pleasure having her.'

‘Well, thank you. I was just telling Diane and Erin that I haven't slept as well as I did last night for months. Probably since she was born actually, and I thought we'd cracked the sleeping ages ago.'

‘She's just teething, love. She'll soon get back into a routine, I'm sure.' Ian rubbed Bonnie's cheek with his finger, chuckling as she grabbed it and tried to pull it towards her mouth.

‘I hope you're right.'

‘Besides, you know me and Elsie are always happy to have her whenever you need to catch up on some shut-eye.'

‘I know, and for that, I am eternally grateful. I don't think me or Ollie would have got through this past year without you and Elsie.' Leaning forward, Daisy kissed him on the cheek.

‘As I said, our pleasure.'Iannodded towards the kitchen. ‘I think I smell cheese and onion pasties fresh from the oven. I'm sure Elsiewouldbe more than happy for you to grab acouple for you and Ollie.'

Daisy turnedtowards the kitchen and called over hershoulder. ‘As if I need to be told twice.'

Ian chuckled before turning to Erin. ‘Did you manage to work things out this morning?'

Erin smiled. ‘Yes, I did, and I took your advice, spoke to him and I decided that I'd rather regret trying and us not working out than not trying and forever wonder how things would have turned out.'

‘Good foryou, love.' Ian touched her forearm before nodding towards the kitchen. ‘I'mgoing to see if Elsie needs a nap after lastnight or see ifI can do anything to help at least.'

Waving her customer goodbye, Diane sidled up to Erin. ‘So, what's this I hear?'

Erin felt her cheeks pink and looked towards the door as their last customer left.

‘Sorry, I'm just being nosey. Ignore me.'

‘No, I don't mind.' Erin shrugged. ‘It would probably be nice to be able to tell someone.'

‘Ooh go on...'

‘I found out that Tim had feelings for me last night and, well, we've decided to give things a go.'

‘Ha, I told you! Didn't I say there was something going on between you both?'

Erin laughed. ‘You did, and I have no idea how you could tell what he felt about me before I could.'

Grinning, Diane tapped the side of her nose. ‘Just call me a relationship expert, that's all.'

‘Haha, well, if you have any advice on how I'm supposed to act with him now we're supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend, I'd love to know.'

Crossing her arms, Diane leaned against the counter. ‘I think you should just be yourselves. Take things at your own pace and enjoy each other's company.'

Erin grimaced. She'd hoped for something else, some magic wand or piece of wisdom that would instruct her how she could go from friends to partner in sixty seconds. ‘I was hoping for a bit more.'

Diane smiled. ‘You don't need anything else. You're the best of friends already, so you're already halfway to the best kind of relationship you can have. The rest will come. Your feelings will grow and meet his if it's meant to be. Or if you secretly do like him in that way, then by spending time together, you'll unearth that love.'

‘Huh, that's pretty good advice, actually.' Erin nodded. What Diane had said made sense. The best relationships were based on friendship, and she was right. They already had that side covered.

‘Well, as I said, I'm the queen of relationship advice.' Diane twirled as she laughed.

‘SO, THIS IS WEIRD.' Erin looked down at her hand in Tim's as they walked across the beach.

Looking at her, Tim chuckled. ‘It is a little, isn't it?'

‘I'm not really sure how we're supposed to act towards each other now.' They'd been fine whilst they'd been eating their dinner of chips from the chippy van, but now that they didn't have that distraction, she wasn't sure if she was supposed to try to kiss him, or what. She just hoped she hadn't made the wrong decision about giving them a go, as partners rather than friends.

‘Do you fancy a paddle?'

Erin looked out across the ocean, with the orange glow of the setting sun being reflected on the water's surface, she couldn't think of a more romantic view. ‘Sounds like a fun plan.'

‘Great.' Slipping his hand from hers, Tim pulled his trainers off and waited for her to do the same.

As they ran into the water, Erin squealed as Tim kicked at the water, splashing it up the back of her legs. Bending down, she cupped her hands together, filling her palms with water before showering it across him.

‘You've asked for it now!' Tim chuckled as wiped his hand over his face.

Without waiting for him to retaliate, Erin waved her hand a little under the water, sending a small wave towards him and laughed as his beige shorts turned a murky colour.

Tim jumped out of the way as Erin repeated her manoeuvre, only to trip and fall into the ocean, grabbing her hand as he did so.

Squealing as Tim pulled her down with him, she felt the water seep through her dress and across her skin.

Standing up, Tim held out his hand towards her, gripping her hand before pulling her to standing and out of the water.

Dropping to the sand, Erin doubled over and laughed. ‘I'm so glad it's summer, and the water is warm.'

‘Haha, me too.' Tim looked down at his shorts and once pale blue t-shirt before looking her up and down. ‘I think I came off the worst with my choice of colours.'

Erin grinned and leaned her back against the sand, still warmed by the day's sun. ‘Yes, I think you did.'

Laying down next to her, Tim pointed up to the stars above them, each one glittering in the deep blue of the sky. ‘You see that one?'

Erin nodded as she felt him shift closer beside her.

‘That's Sirius, the Dog Star.'

‘Is it? I never knew you liked stargazing.' She smiled.

‘I dabble. It's something to do of an evening.'

Lifting herself to her elbows, she looked at him. ‘So even after all of these years as your friend, I don't know the whole Tim, then?'

Tim shrugged. ‘I think you know me pretty well.'

‘Umm. Well, I like it. After all, normally when you date someone, you have a lot to learn about them. I like the fact we've known each other most of our lives, that we know the essence of each other, but I also like the fact there's a little more to find out too.'

Tim grinned and laid his arm out across the sand before tapping his shoulder. ‘I think I like that too.'

As Erin laid her back against the sand again, she rested her head on his arm and nestled into his shoulder. Yes, this might just be the beginning of something quite lovely.