‘Of course, Stan.’ Ella was glad she was good with names as she thought of the handyman she’d seen earlier. ‘But how did you…’
‘News travels.’ Pearl tapped her nose meaningfully. ‘Actually, he was in before for his sausage butty and he told me you’d spent another night in that awful flat. Said he had no idea what Noelle was up to, putting you in there, and that you were a bonny lass with purple hair. How are you settling in?’
‘I’m not sure I have yet, I only arrived on Friday.’ Ella couldn’t resist a smile, even if Stan had made her sound as though she had a lavender rinse instead of expensive highlights in subtle shades of lilac.
‘And what do you think of Halesmere? Me and Stan don’t live in the grounds, our cottage is just down the road but he’s there every day, working or not. He loves that place. Max has got his work cut out, trying to make it pay. Had its share of bookings over the years but folk want more than a decent view and high ceilings these days.’
‘I think it’s beautiful, I feel very lucky to be living there for now.’
‘That’s what Stan said when he came up here for a summer job, and he never left.’ Pearl winked. ‘Just give him as good as you get and you’ll be on the right foot, he likes a bit of banter. Now, can I get you a slice of that coffee cake, you’ve never taken your eyes off it yet. How about a nice Americano to go with it?’
Ella laughed. It felt lovely to be made welcome and she was still hungry. This shop might just prove very hard to resist, especially if they served great coffee. ‘You’re on, you had me at “slice”.’
Pearl chuckled as she carved off a piece of cake that Ella was pretty sure would serve two people, and probably more like four in her previous job. If she was going to be recommending the shop to guests and finding ways to encourage them to buy here rather than rush into town or order everything online, she thought, then she was duty-bound to try everything on offer and make sure it was as delicious as it looked.
‘On the house.’ Pearl slid a box across and busied herself with the coffee machine.
‘That’s very kind of you.’ Ella picked up a napkin and some fresh olives stuffed with jalapeños. ‘Can I have a sourdough please? The malted barley one looks amazing.’
‘Course you can.’ Pearl left the coffee by the till and started scanning Ella’s shopping. ‘Now if this is for the house, then you can put it on their account.’
‘Account?’ Ella picked up some plain brown paper bags and started filling them. ‘Do people still have those?’
‘Halesmere does, aye, so don’t be paying for stuff that’s not yours. And if I had to guess again then I’d say you’re making tea for little ones, and there’s only them two lovely kiddies that I know of up at Halesmere who’d be wanting rainbow pasta.’
Laughter was bubbling on Ella’s lips. Clearly Pearl was a mine of information, possibly not all of its hers, and Ella swiftly decided she ought to be careful what she let slip around her and Stan.
‘I might be giving them tea a couple of times a week when Max is busy with work. I was a chef before and Arlo was interested – he really likes his food.’
Was a chef. Ella felt a rush of guilt for so easily falling into the past tense. She still hadn’t decided that she wasn’t going back. She wasn’t sure she was brave enough to leave her career for ever; it would be like leaving Lauren behind too.
‘Who makes the bread, Pearl?’ Ella was hoping to distract her from the subject of the family. ‘I’d love to get in touch and find out what else they produce.’
‘That’s Rowan, she lives down the road and has her bakery on the way into town. No shop though, she sells some online and delivers locally, as well as here.’ Pearl was like lightning on the till, and she’d scanned the shopping far quicker than Ella could pack it. ‘She’s very busy with it all now, gave up her other job to go full-time.’
‘I heard this shop is run by the community, is that right?’
‘Yes, there’s about eight of us that take turns. Other than the pub there’s not much here and it makes sense to give local producers somewhere to sell. We get our share of walkers passing through and holidaymakers, and it’s not a bad thing if they don’t always have to drive into town.’
‘Thanks, Pearl. So will I find Rowan’s bakery online?’
‘You will. Have a look on Facebook or Instagram for Love and Loaves, you can’t miss it.’
‘And what about the candles? Are they produced locally?’ Ella loved the simple clear jars filled with soy wax offering up evocative winter fragrances reminiscent of firesides, woodland walks and cosy evenings indoors.
‘Yes, Marta makes them, in what spare time she has. She’s a lecturer at the college in town and she lives at the farm who supply our lamb and the sheep’s-milk cheese. Instagram, Ella, Hart, and Hearth, same as the name on the jar.’
‘Perfect. Thanks.’
Pearl shook her head when Ella offered her debit card, printing the receipt instead and sticking it on a spike. ‘On account. Now remember, watch out for my Stan. Keeping him busy keeps him out of mischief. He likes to be doing and he’s not as busy as he was since he retired from carpentry.’
‘He was a carpenter?’ That was more information worth knowing and Ella’s ears pricked up.
‘Aye, a very good one too, had his own business but packed it in when Halesmere went up for sale as he thought the new owner might turn him out, and now he’s a jack of all trades.’
‘Thanks for the tip.’ Ella thanked Pearl again as she left, jangling the bell on the door, the heavy bags bumping against her legs. She’d have brought the car if she’d realised how well stocked the shop was, and she was still thinking about Stan and the jobs she might give him as she set off back to the house.
It was Sunday afternoon and Ella was on the shore of Lake Windermere. This landscape was one of the reasons why moving to Cumbria, even temporarily, had appealed so much. She wasn’t the only one wearing a drysuit on such a sharp, cold day. Two people were paddleboarding, one with a dog in a lifejacket on their board. She was also wearing neoprene shoes, a hat, and her gloves; her kayak was inflated and ready to go. Keeping warm was essential in this weather and she was well used to being on the water in winter conditions.
