“Don’t worry.” Mum squeezed my shoulders. “I’ll ban her for good if she starts any nonsense.”
“Are we missing something?” Angie asked as she and Cathy exchanged a look.
“Nothing.” Mum covered for me. “Let’s open the doors.”
And I knew the moment that door swung open that Aisla Rankinknew.
She had her nose in the air, sneering down at me as she approached the counter.
My stomach churned. I’d had no sickness this morning, and I’d resent Mrs. Rankin for more reasons than one if she provoked it to make a return. “Good morning, Mrs. Rankin,” I choked out. “What can I get for you?” I made no comment about how last time we’d seen each other, she’d announced she was neversetting foot in our establishment again.
“Well, the truth might be nice.”
I felt Mum pass off a customer to Angie and move to my side.
“May we help you?” Mum’s tone held a warning.
Mrs. Rankin raised her voice. “It has been brought to my attention that your promiscuous daughter has seduced Lewis Adair and trapped him with a pregnancy.”
Oh my God, she did not just say that.
Everyone in the bakery went utterly silent.
“Get out,” Mum seethed.
“I assure you I have no wish to be here, but it is encumbered upon me as an upstanding member of this village and a woman of good morals to warn my neighbors against spending their hard-earned money in an establishment run by a girl who would allowmultiplemen to use her body and then trap one with a pregnancy. Who’s to say it’s even Lewis’s and here you are … you’ve ruined that boy’s future and forced him back to Ardnoch. I see it as my job to make sure everyone knows who you are, so they can be more particular with their money and where they choose to spend it.”
I knew it.
I knew vile people like Aisla Rankin would spread the rumor that I’d deliberately gotten pregnant to trap Lewis. I’d never considered they’d question whether he was the father!
“How dare you, you vicious hag.” Mum’s voice rose to meet Mrs. Rankin’s. “You tried to pull this crap when I first opened my bakery, your daughter tries to pull this crap on anyone she takes a dislike to, and now you’re both trying to do it to my daughter. Well, not this time! Not with my kid.”
“Well, it is clear where she’s learned her sins from!”
“Don’t you dare!” I yelled. She could talk shit about me all she wanted, but she would not say a word against my mother.
My mum pressed a soothing hand to my arm before rounding the counter to face Mrs. Rankin. “I know you like to think that you have some authority in this village, but the truth is, everyone thinks you’re a bitter woman with nothing better to do than sit on your sanctimonious throne of thorns, judging everybody else. So you can spread your little rumors all you want, Mrs. Rankin, because the people in this village who know better, know I have one of the best kids in the world and she’s going to make a great mom … and they also know that Lewis Adair has loved my daughter since he was a kid, and he’d be the first one to boot you out on your ass for talking to her like that. Since he’s not here, that’s gonna be my job.” She leaned into Mrs. Rankin, who gaped comically. “That’s your cue to get the hell out of my bakery and keep my daughter’s name out of your mouth!”
And proving that bullies are just cowards, Mrs. Rankin bolted from the bakery as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.
I gawked at my mum in utter hero worship until clapping broke through my stupor, and I glanced over to find Flora from the café clapping like she’d watched the best show ever. The rest of our customers burst into applause too, some whistling, others laughing, and Mum’s cheeks bloomed a rosy-red as she groaned abashedly.
Chuckling, I rounded the counter and threw my arms around my mum. “You are my hero.”
“No one talks to my kid like that.”
When we pulled apart, it was to find Flora at our side. She beamed in delight. “Let me be the first to say congratulations.”
Now I was blushing. “Thanks.”
“You and Lewis have always made a beautiful couple. I’m very happy for you.”
The cat was well and truly out of the bag.
For the rest of the morning, I was congratulated by villagers who stopped by, and I knew that outside our door the whole place must be buzzing, not only about my pregnancy, but about Mum booting Aisla Rankin from the premises in spectacular fashion.
Sure enough, at noon, as we were nearing the end of today’s inventory, Dad strode in with my little brother. The estate was super flexible with his schedule and allowed him to take the mornings Mum and I were working off so he could be at home for Harry during the summer holidays. He usually dropped Harry off at a friend’s house in the afternoons or here at the bakery.
