Chapter Thirteen

H olding the stack of empty trays in one hand, Erin pushed the kitchen door open with the other and took a deep breath. It always surprised her how much more it smelt in here than out in the bakery. ‘Yum, that smells good. What's in the oven?'

‘Shortbread and cookies.' Elsie looked up from where she was kneading some dough at the large stainless-steel table and smiled. ‘It sounds busy out there. What are you after?'

‘It is. We've had almost a whole coachload of tourists in as well as the usual tourists and locals.' Erin laid the empty trays on the table. ‘We need sausage rolls, cookies and iced buns if you have any, please?'

‘Iced buns and sausage rolls are over on the side cooling, and I'll bring the cookies along with the shortbread through when they come out of the oven.'

‘Great. Thanks.' Erin carried two of the trays to the side and began transferring the sausage rolls and iced buns.

‘I'm glad it was you who came through, actually.' Letting the dough drop to the table, Elsie looked at Erin.

‘Oh, really?'

‘Yes, I have a favour to ask, if that's okay? Obviously, you're welcome to say no if you don't want to do it, but I thought I'd give you first refusal.'

With the trays now brimming, Erin balanced them on the edge of the table. ‘If it's something I can help with, I'd be more than happy to.'

‘Little Hudson has his birthday party next week. He's just having a few friends over here, in the bakery, after closing, but I want to make it special for him.' Elsie wiped her hands down her apron before picking up a magazine from the shelf running across the back wall. After walking back to the table, she flicked through the magazine and laid it open in front of Erin. ‘He's been talking about superheroes a lot recently and I found this article.'

Picking up the magazine, Erin looked at the bright photographs depicting an array of partyware and ideas to bring alive a child's birthday party. Everything from superhero masks to a pin-the-wings-on-Superman game. ‘It looks fun.'

‘Do you think you'd be able to do a spot of planning for it?'

‘Yes, I should think so. I organised the Christmas party at work last year.' She grimaced. ‘Although I'm guessing drinks and a posh meal won't do the job here, but I had to sort decorations and entertainment too. I can give it a go, if you like?'

‘That would be lovely of you. If you're sure you don't mind? Of course, you'd have the time off during the workday in which to organise it and source and buy all the bits and pieces you'll need.' Elsie smiled. ‘I'd really appreciate it but only if it's something you'd like to do. It's not usually a job I'd ask of our volunteers as it's nothing to do with the bakery, but we're really up against it at the moment, what with it being wedding season and our new baking contract.'

Looking up, Erin grinned. ‘I'd love to. I mean, I enjoy working behind the bakery counter, of course I do, but this would just be something different. Something I think I could really sink my teeth into.'

‘Fantastic. Thank you, love.' Elsie placed her hand over Erin's.

‘When would you like me to start?' Erin picked up the magazine and closed it before tucking it under her arm.

‘This afternoon? After the lunch breaks, if possible?'

‘Perfect.' Yes, she was looking forward to planning a party. She'd really enjoyed planning the one at work. Had even thought about retraining as an event co-ordinator - only for a minute mind, until she'd thought back to her five-year plan. But still, she wasn't at work now, she wasn't working towards any of her career goals so, yes, this would be perfect.

‘THANKS FOR COMING WITH me. And for the lift.' Shutting the car door behind her, Erin smiled at Tim, unsure if she should lean forward and kiss him now they were dating or whether that would just be awkward. Turning away, she clipped her seatbelt in. How were they supposed to make the transition from friends to something more if neither of them was brave enough to make the first move?

‘No worries. I didn't have a job on this afternoon, and this sounds intriguing. What is it you said we needed to buy? Superhero masks and capes?' Tim grinned at her before focusing on the road and pulling away from the kerb.

‘Haha, that's right. Although I'm not sure about the capes. I'm organising Wendy's son's birthday and, apparently, he's fixated on superheroes at the moment.' She frowned. ‘I'm guessing it will be a fancy dress party so the kids will arrive wearing outfits and capes and things. But masks might be good fun.'

‘Yes, I bet they would. They could take them home after the party, as party favours. Do they have them at a kid's party? Favours?'

‘They have party bags.' Maybe she wasn't the best person for the job. Perhaps she should have told Elsie to ask Diane or Brooke or someone else. She didn't know Hudson; she'd only met him once, and that had been brief and she didn't have nieces or nephews or even close friends with children.

‘You've gone quiet. You okay?'

‘I'm just realising I'm probably the worst possible person for Elsie to have asked to plan a kid's party.'

‘No, you're not. You'll be great.'

‘Umm, I guess I've agreed to it now, so I need to try my best to pull it off.' Leaning forward, she pulled out the magazine from her handbag along with a pen.

‘What are you doing? Taking notes?'

‘You know me.' She grimaced. ‘I don't want to mess this up.'

‘I have every faith in you.' Reaching across, he took hold of her hand.

Shifting in her seat, Erin looked at him as he watched the road ahead. He wasn't her usual type. No, that wasn't true. He had been when he'd been living and working in the city. Not that she'd ever thought about the two of them ever getting together, but looking back now, she could see that when he'd had his high-powered job and his suits... Yep, he could have been her type. Now, though, he'd changed. She knew he was the same person underneath, but he'd softened. He smiled more. He laughed more. In the space of three short months, he had become a happier version of himself. A better version of himself. ‘You've changed.'

‘Huh? Why don't I like the sound of that?' Glancing across at her, he frowned.

‘Not in a bad way. At all. You're happier living down here, aren't you?'

Relaxing, he smiled. ‘Yes, I am. I did worry for a while that I'd perhaps miss the stress of work, miss the bustle of the city and the adrenaline those crazy deadlines used to give me, but I've got to admit the very thought of going back to that way of living makes me want to run a million miles in the other direction.'

She nodded. ‘I never thought you'd say that. Up until coming here and seeing how you've settled and become part of the Penworth Bay community, I couldn't picture it. I could only picture you as the person you were back there.'

‘Is that a bad thing? For us, I mean?' He lifted up his hand, hers still in his.

‘No, I think it might be a good thing.' She rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb before gently pulling her hand away and picking up her pen again.

‘I have so many questions to ask you to that response.' Tim chuckled. ‘But I can see you're busy, so I'll try to be content just knowing it's a good thing.'

Erin laughed. She wasn't even sure if she could form the words to explain why she felt as she did, but she'd try. For Tim. ‘Sorry, let me just get these notes down and I promise I'll explain all.'

‘No worries.'

Masks. Yes, they were a great idea. She could put them in each child's place at the party tea table. That way they would act as favours, as Tim had suggested, and also provide entertainment and fun whilst the children were eating. What else did she need? She tapped the end of the pen against her chin. Decorations. Balloons and such like. Party bags. Games! Yes, games.