As they made their way to the bottom of the hill, Merri paused and filled her lungs with the familiar fresh salty sea air. She’d missed this. At home she was lucky if she didn’t get a lungful of the fumes from someone’s car backfiring; here, though she didn’t think she’d ever take this for granted.
‘We’ll get soaked standing here.’ Tilly laughed as she pulled Merri towards the small row of shops and the bakery.
‘Sorry!’ Shaking her head, Merri allowed herself to be guided towards the warm lights of the bakery, the only shop in the row which still appeared open this evening. ‘Is the bakery still open ?’
‘No, Wendy and Molly are working late on a last-minute wedding.’ Reaching the door, Tilly opened it and ushered Merri inside.
Stepping into the welcome warmth of the bakery, Merri spun around slowly on the spot, taking in the large bakery counter to the left, the small coffee and cake counter nestled at the back of the shop floor behind the tables and chairs scattered in the middle and the counter on the opposite side of the room which displayed the delicately decorated wedding cakes Wendy had so expertly created as well as photographs from some of the weddings they’d planned which adorned the wall behind.
The fleeting nerves she’d felt on the journey down here subsided and instead were replaced with excitement. Ever since she’d left Penworth Bay two months ago, she’d been looking forward to returning again, and volunteering here in Elsie’s bakery with her had taught Merri so much. So much about herself and her life she hadn’t really thought about before. It had taught her that although she liked her job back home, working for a small paper supply company, it wasn’t where she wanted to be for the rest of her working life. However much she liked working for her boss, Brian, she was sick of, once again, being solitary. Her, Brian and the enthusiastic but stern Martha, who she worked in the office with, were all the people besides Aggie she really spoke to on a daily basis. In contrast, Elsie’s bakery was a hive of energy both among the close team of people working here but also with the local residents, visitors and tourists who popped by. The vibrancy of the place, the noise, thevery atmosphere — that’s what Merri had so thrived on over the summer.
‘Tilly? Merri? Is that you two?’ Elsie’s voice wafted through from the kitchen at the back of the bakery before the kitchen door swung open and she hurried out, her arms wide open ready to draw Merri in for a hug. ‘Merri, love! How lovely to have you back with us.’
‘Hi, Elsie. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be back.’ Sinking into Elsie’s arms, Merri hugged her back before stepping away and slipping her rucksack from her shoulder. ‘Thank you for having me back, and so soon too.’
‘No, thank you for coming back. It’s lovely to see you again.’
Merri fiddled with her necklace before taking a deep breath and holding the basket she’d made in front of her. ‘You probably don’t remember, but when I was here last, you encouraged me to start doing something I enjoyed again and, well, I took a course on willow weaving so to thank you for your encouragement I wanted to give you this.’
Holding her hands against her cheeks, Elsie grinned before taking the basket and turning it over in her hands. ‘You made this?’
‘Yes.’ Merri shoved her hands in her pockets.
‘It’s stunning. It’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much, love.’ Stepping forward, Elsie gave her a quick hug with her free hand. ‘And I know exactly what I’m going to use this for. One of the bread baskets we keep on the counter is breaking, and this will be perfect to replace it.’
Merri swallowed as panic rose from the pit of her stomach. If Elsie used it as a breadbasket, it would be on show to every customer who walked through the door. ‘It’s probably not good enough for that.’
‘Oh, it really is. It’s perfect. You have a real talent here, Merri, love.’ Elsie smiled warmly. ‘And I’m not just saying that; people would pay good money for something like this.’
Merri cleared her throat, hoping her voice wouldn’t give away how much Elsie’s comment meant to her. ‘Thanks.’
‘It really is wonderful, love.’ Elsie rubbed Merri’s forearm before turning to the bakery counter and placing it on the counter before picking up one of the existing bread baskets and turning it over to show a piece of unravelling willow. ‘Perfect timing, Merri. Now you must be starving after your long journey?’
‘A bit.’ Merri nodded. That was an understatement. After almost missing her first connecting train, she’d skipped even grabbing a coffee when she’d had to swap trains again, let alone getting something to eat.
Elsie glanced across at Tilly. ‘Is Isaac still coming for dinner? It’ll be ready soon.’
‘Yep. He’ll be here in five.’ Tilly sniffed the air. ‘Whatever it is you’re cooking smells delicious.’
Elsie chuckled. ‘That’s not for now. What you can smell are some pies I’m baking for the pub. Ian has just popped out to grab us all a chippie dinner.’
‘Well, they smell good. I might have to drag Isaac to the pub for dinner tomorrow then, just so I can sample them.’ Tilly pulled her mobile from her pocket as it began to ring. ‘Sorry, that’s him now. I’ll see how long he’s going to be.’
‘I’ve made a few extra pies, so I’ll bag you and Isaac some up before you leave tonight.’ Elsie turned to Merri as Tilly began speaking into her mobile. ‘Are you okay telling Wendy and Molly dinner’s almost here?’
‘Will do.’ Placing her rucksack on the floor next to the counter, Merri headed towards the small office Wendy and Molly worked in. She already felt at home. As soon as she’dwalked inside, she’d been reminded of how welcome she’d been on her last visit. It had been the right decision coming back. And for Christmas too. She had the distinct feeling this might just be the Christmas she needed.
Chapter Two
‘Are you sure you’re okay over there?’ Tilly called across from the bakery counter to the coffee and cake counter where Merri was standing.
‘Yes, I’ll be fine. As long as I remember how to turn the coffee machine on, that is.’ Merri grimaced as she pressed switch after switch on the large bean-to-coffee machine. Nothing was working.
‘Here, you need to turn it on first.’ Wrapping the string of tinsel she was holding around her neck, Brooke leaned over the counter and switched it on at the wall. ‘There you go.’
Slapping her hand over her forehead, Merri laughed. ‘I can’t believe I forgot to turn the thing on.’
‘Haha, it’s easily done. Besides, last time you were here you used to cover the coffee and cake counter at lunchtimes, am I right? If so, then it’d have been switched on already.’
