‘I noticed you put some pumpkins in the café’s window. I need to decorate for Halloween as well.’
‘Speaking of which, I’m going to ask Robson to have a Halloween party in the pub this weekend. We can tell people to dress up, give a prize for best costume, and charge for tickets to raise money for the Hub. We haven’t got long, so best spread the word fast.’ She pulled out her phone and sent Robson a quick text.
Sophie nodded. ‘Great idea. It’s been years since we had a Halloween party.’
Ginny tucked into her grub, cleaning the bowl within minutes. ‘Mmm, I need to come here for dinner more often.’
‘You can come every night if you like.’
If there was one area of Ginny’s life where she was blessed, it was with her friends. They were such a close circle and always there for each other, no matter what. Her heart warmed from the love she always felt in Sophie’s kitchen. Her own seemed to lack something. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was definitely something missing.
‘You know what, Soph, I will talk to Shaun about divvying up the café. It’s worth an ask. I’ll pull him to one side when he comes in for lunch. Ask on the quiet if he can come back at closing. The last thing I need is to wake the troublemakers before I’ve decided anything.’
‘If you do decide to go ahead with it, do you think it’ll cost a lot?’
Ginny couldn’t be sure until she spoke to the builder. ‘I’m going to sell the flat above the café. The tenants move out soon, and I told the estate agents I didn’t want to renew. I plan to use that money to set up.’
‘Ooh, you’ll get a good price for that flat. I know the flats above the shops aren’t that big, but the sea view is the selling point. Why don’t you convert that into the tearoom?’
‘I did think about it, but I want my tea shop to be wheelchair and pram accessible.’
Sophie waggled her fork. ‘Hmm, good point. Lottie would get the right hump if she couldn’t get her wheelchair in your new premises.’
‘A lot of my customers are elderly as well. I don’t want to exclude anyone. And if I convert the flat to use as part of the café so I have more room downstairs, it means the staff will be up and down stairs all day. No, best I sell the flat.’
Sophie raised her fork higher, almost catching it in her dark hair as glee flashed across her face. ‘Ooh, Gin, I know something that might help. I recently read about a tearoom repair shop.’
‘What the blimming heck is that?’
‘It’s supposed to help stop people wasting clothes. They repair them, see?’
‘I don’t see what that has to do with tea and cake.’
Sophie finally put her fork down. ‘It’s part of a help-out scheme. Anyone who can sew, for example, can sign up, come down the tea shop at certain times, and help repair clothes brought in by those who aren’t very good at that sort of thing. Luna would help. She can make anything out of a piece of cloth.’
‘Well, it’s something to think about, I guess.’
‘It could help get people onside if things start going belly up.’
‘Yeah, but is it hygienic? All that material dust flying around.’
‘You could choose days when the weather’s nice so they can sit outside. Put a canopy up, perhaps. Look, just stick this one in your back pocket so you’ve got it there as your weapon if needed. Plus, it’s a lovely idea. We could set something like that up at the Hub next spring. Might be something we can offer once a month. We’ll bring it up at the next meeting. See what everyone says.’
Ginny yawned. ‘Oh, sorry. I’m just feeling it lately.’
‘Gets you like that when it gets dark early.’
It was more all the running around she was doing. Suzanne was struggling to lift Birdy, leaving Ginny to pick up the slack. The sooner a place in a care home came up the better. She knew her mum hated the idea, but what else could be done? No one was coping.
Sophie reached across the table and lightly patted Ginny’s hand. ‘Hey, you burning the candle at both ends?’
‘Seems that way. Mum’s getting worse, so I have to do more. When I leave here, I have to go put her to bed, as Suzanne has to leave early tonight. She’s so good. I swear she works after her hours have ended. She’s sent another email on Mum’s behalf as well. Demanding more help soon.’ Ginny tapped her collarbone. ‘You know, I’m the one expected to be chief carer, but I can’t do it, Soph. I work full-time.’
Sophie gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘It’s hard, isn’t it? I wouldn’t want to put my grandad in a home.’ Her green eyes held nothing but sympathy. ‘I’m so pleased he can still take care of himself.’
‘And he’s older than Mum.’
‘Not by much, not that it makes a difference. These things can happen to any of us at any age. Look at Lottie. Only last year she was knocked off her bicycle by a car and put in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. You just don’t know what’s going to happen.’
