Chapter One
Thud!
Molly McKendrick, standing behind the counter at The Old Bakehouse, brought both hands up to cover her heart. She looked over to the window and smiled. There was Cam standing outside on the snowy pavement, wearing his traditional toque hat and his apron tied around his waist. With a huge beam on his face, he gestured towards the snowy windscreen of the van. Molly threw her head back and laughed. Cam had drawn a love heart in the snow with their initials etched at the top and bottom.
‘You big softie,’ she mouthed at him, still smiling.
Just as Cam was about to walk inside, he playfully threw a snowball at the window, causing Molly to jump again. Shaking her head, she watched him stamp the snow from his boots before entering the shop. It was good to see Cam in a better mood as she’d begun to worry about him in the last few weeks. His mood had seemed to change overnight and he’d become pensive, and at times a little short-tempered.
As the door opened and Cam stepped inside, Molly shuddered at the cold blast of air and walked towards the window. Outside was a typical winter’s evening, the beam from the streetlamp highlighting the hypnotic sight of snowflakes flurrying to the ground. The dusting of snow over the village green marked the beginning of the festive season.
‘It’s a beautiful winter wonderland out there,’ said Molly.
‘It’s blooming freezing is what it is,’ replied Cam, hanging up his hat and apron on the peg behind the counter ready for tomorrow. He joined Molly at the window and playfully touched her cheek with his cold hand.
‘Get off me,’ she said good-humouredly. ‘You’re freezing!’
She tried to wriggle away from his clutches but Cam slipped his arms around Molly’s pregnant waist and rested his head on her shoulder.
‘Christmas is coming and I am getting fat,’ she joked, smiling warmly at Cam over her shoulder.
‘You are not fat, you are utterly gorgeous, and blooming … blooming!’ he replied.
‘How is it you always say the right things?’ Molly pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before turning back and watching the snow fall. ‘This is my favourite time of year. Log fires, hot chocolate and family film nights. Everything is just so perfect. Us, this place and our soon to be extended family.’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ Cam replied, checking his watch. It was exactly six o’clock and he turned the sign on the back of the shop door toclosed. ‘It’s not been as busy today with the weather like it is, but I still need to cash up.’
Cam had managed The Old Bakehouse for the last four years – a change in career from dentistry to resurrect a business close to the heart of the community, one that was founded by his Great-Uncle Ted – and he had never looked back.
Molly – the local vet – had gone into partnership with Rory Scott, the vet from the Clover Cottage estate, and was currently enjoying some time off during her pregnancy. With their first son George just starting school and another baby on the way, Molly had been helping out in the shop for the past couple of weeks to relieve some of the pressures on Cam.
‘If that snow keeps falling, the shop may be quieter. People won’t want to venture out in this. Not that I’m complaining,’ he added quickly before disappearing into the back of the shop whilst Molly straightened the jars of chutneys and jams on the shelf. He returned a few minutes later carrying the most delicious, calorific-looking hot chocolate, layered with cream and pink and white marshmallows, and handed it to Molly. ‘Just for you,’ he said, giving her a tired but adorable smile. ‘I know how much you are craving hot chocolate at the minute.’
‘This is the life,’ Molly murmured and patted her stomach. ‘I think I’m using cravings as an excuse. This baby is due out in only a few more weeks and goodness knows what is baby and what isn’t.’ She looked down towards her bump that was growing bigger by the day. ‘But I’ll worry about that at a later date.’ Cupping the drink with both hands she leant into Cam’s chest. ‘And why can’t I be craving fruit or vegetables? Just my luck!’
‘Make the most of it,’ he said, lightly kissing the top of her head then taking a glance towards the window.
‘What are you thinking? You’ve suddenly got a worried look on your face,’ Molly said.
‘I don’t want you driving out in this, especially in your condition.’
In recent weeks, after hours, Molly had been loading up the van each evening with all the leftover perishable goods and making the journey over to the homeless shelter on the outskirts of Glensheil whilst Cam bathed George and put him to bed. It was their way of giving a little back to the community. Molly knew that whenever the temperature dropped outside, the line-ups for the shelter started early and a stream of people – both young and old – shuffled their way through the doors, so she always aimed to get there when the shelter opened a little after six-thirty. Their faces chapped from the cold and their hands trembling around the warm bowl of soup, they were grateful for a place to shield from the bitter chill outside.
Every one of these people had a story to tell. Their lives had not panned out the way they would have liked. Some were friendly and some weren’t but without fail she’d turn up every night with any leftover food from The Old Bakehouse and she knew the volunteers at the shelter were extremely grateful.
‘I’ll be absolutely fine,’ she replied. ‘Honestly, don’t worry.’
‘I know we are doing our good deed, and – never mind the weather – that place isn’t without drama.’ He raised an eyebrow.
Molly knew exactly what Cam meant. Some of the shelter’s visitors were struggling with mental illnesses and addictions and sometimes there were situations that escalated out of control, but that hadn’t stopped Molly.
‘Let me go instead,’ continued Cam. ‘Like I’ve just said, those roads will be treacherous and you are eight months pregnant. I don’t want anything happening to you.’
‘You big softie. Honestly, don’t worry, it’s a straight run. I’ll be there and back before you know it and never mind me – you’re the one I’m really worried about.’
‘Me … why?’ asked Cam, surprised.
‘Because you have been up since the early hours and I know you are going to pull your face when I say this, but you really could do with some help in the shop.’ Molly had begun to wonder whether Cam’s recent irritable mood was down to the fact he never stopped. ‘You are baking all the bread and pastries and making the jams and chutneys. An apprentice is what you need.’
