Chapter Two

‘ H ere we are.' Layla stopped in front of the bakery Erin had walked past earlier and tapped on the glass before unlocking it. ‘I need to remember to give my key back today.'

Erin nodded as Graham stood back, letting her through before him. The bakery was relatively large, not the small bakery she'd envisioned when she'd signed up to volunteer, but that was a good thing. She had been a little worried she'd be bored but by the looks of things the business had a bakery, a wedding planning part to it of some sort and a little cafe or certainly somewhere to grab a drink if the tables, chairs and large coffee machine on a counter at the back of the shop floor was anything to go by.

‘What do you think?' Layla waved her arm, indicating the inside space.

‘It looks great. I'm guessing it gets busy in here. What with the three businesses under one roof? Is that right?'

‘Oh yes, it does and now it's the summer holidays, it'll only get busier thanks to the kids being off school and the tourists arriving.' Layla pointed across to the counter along the side of the bakery where wedding cakes were displayed and pictures of happy couples emblazoned the wall. ‘Plus, with summer being the most popular time to marry, Wendy and Molly will be run off their feet, I'm sure.'

Erin nodded. As long as she had nothing to do with anything remotely wedding orientated, she'd be happy.

‘Right, I'll introduce you to Elsie and Teresa and then we'd best get a wriggle on and get freshened up. Plus, I need to send an email to my new boss.' Layla looked back at Graham who, after closing if the door, head placed his and Layla's bags on a table by the window.

‘Is your new job in Penworth Bay still?' Erin let her holdall drop to the floor next to the bakery counter.

‘No, it's close, though. Only a short drive away. It's at a local hotel called The Fern.'

Erin grinned. ‘Well, congratulations and good luck for your first day.'

‘Thanks.' Layla pushed open a door at the back of the shop floor, revealing a large kitchen. ‘Morning, Elsie. Morning, Teresa. We ran into your newest volunteer, Erin, this morning. Erin, this is Elsie and Teresa.'

‘Hi.' Holding her hand up, Erin smiled. Elsie was standing behind a huge stainless-steel table, kneading a mound of bread dough whilst Teresa was delicately icing a large cake on the other side of the table.

‘Erin, I'm so pleased you've come.' Wiping her hands down her apron, Elsie hurried towards her and held her arms open.

‘Thank you for having me and for organising it all so quickly.' Stepping forward, Erin accepted the hug. After finding out about her promotion two weeks ago, Erin had practically been coerced into taking the holiday owed to her and she'd known exactly where she'd wanted to spend the last few weeks she had in England.

‘You're very welcome, love.' Returning to the dough, Elsie placed it in a bowl before covering it and washing her hands. ‘And very much needed. One moment and I'll show you around.'

‘Okay thanks.'

‘Hi, Erin. Have you managed to see much of Penworth Bay yet?' Teresa looked up from the pale blue flower she was icing on the cake. ‘Although I'm guessing the answer is probably no. I always forget how early it is.'

Elsie chuckled. ‘Oh yes, I suppose half the day has already been and gone for you, what with organising the kids' packed lunches and uniforms before coming here.'

‘Yep.' Teresa grinned. ‘I wouldn't have it any other way, though. I love my early mornings.'

Elsie patted Teresa's arm as she walked past her towards Erin. ‘Come on then, love. Let's get you settled, shall we?'

‘We're going to head off now. I'll be back in time for opening though.' Stepping froward, Layla hugged Elsie before waving at Teresa and leading the way through to the bakery.

‘Don't even think about it, Layla, love. Go and enjoy your last day of freedom before starting your new job tomorrow.'

‘Are you sure?' Layla looked at Elsie. ‘I'm happy to work today.'

‘I'm positive. I wouldn't have said it otherwise, love. Go and enjoy your day. Just make sure to pop by tomorrow and tell us how your first day at The Fern goes though, won't you?' Elsie let the kitchen door swing shut behind them.

‘I will. Thank you.' Smiling, Layla and Graham left.

‘Right, well, where shall we start?' Elsie stood, hands on hips, and looked around the bakery. ‘Here we have the bakery counter where Diane and Brooke will be serving. I tend to stay out the back and bake to keep a fresh supply of goods coming through and we also provide goods to some local businesses too, so that takes up a fair amount of time as well.'

‘I bet it does.' Erin nodded.

‘In the middle here, we have a little somewhere for our customers to sit and enjoy a piece of cake with a coffee.' Elsie shifted a chair, lining it up properly beneath the table closest to them. ‘And over there we have the wedding counter where Wendy's cakes and wedding favours are displayed. There's a little office behind there where Molly and Wendy plan weddings.'

‘Right. And, umm, where would I be volunteering?' Please be behind the bakery counter. Please.

‘Well, I'm glad you've asked, love. I like to give our volunteers the chance to choose where they'd feel more comfortable. Although most of our volunteers work behind the bakery counter as that's where we normally need them, but if you'd prefer to help out elsewhere, then we can juggle things around.'

‘Nope, I'll be more than happy behind the bakery counter. Thanks.' Erin breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that she had anything against marriage, she just didn't think she'd do a very good job planning something she knew could quite possibly end as suddenly and dramatically as hers and Kyle's marriage had. How could she sell the idea of a ‘happy ever after' when she had stopped believing herself?

‘Fantastic.' Elsie walked towards a door behind the bakery counter and opened it. ‘Then I'll show you to your room and you can come down and start when you're ready.'