Molly looked over at Cam. In her head she was willing him to say something – maybe ‘sorry’, and that Bree could stay for a while – but her thoughts were not getting through to him. At that second an excited George ran into the shop frantically waving a DVD in the air. ‘Can we watch this film, Bree?’ George’s monster slippers slid to a halt on the floor and his arm dropped to his side. ‘Where are you going? I thought we were watching a film?’ Wide-eyed, George walked towards Bree, and she crouched down. ‘That’s a really good choice of film,’ she said, tapping the DVD case, ‘but I have to go, buddy.’
‘Daddy?’ George turned and looked towards Cam. ‘I don’t want her to go. I want to watch the film.’ George cast a sulky glance to the floor and shuffled his monster slippers from side to side.
Hearing the beep of the tractor they all turned towards the window and saw Drew had pulled up on the road outside The Old Bakehouse. There was a group of other villagers sitting on tartan rugs thrown over hay bales and hugging mugs of tea.
Molly looked at Cam then at Bree.
‘I’ll stay here then and give Sam a ring to let her know,’ said Molly, looking towards Allie, who waving at her from the back of the trailer and holding up a flask of tea.
‘Please, Dad,’ pleaded George once more.
Cam was looking at George then at Bree. He exhaled. ‘Have you any experience of working in a shop or looking after children?’ he asked.
‘Neither,’ replied Bree, honestly.
Molly noticed Bree’s eyes brighten and a small smile hitch on her lips, hopeful that Cam might give her a chance. ‘I can do it; I won’t let you down. We can do it, can’t we, George? What’s the worst that could happen?’
Cam didn’t even want to think about that possibility.
George and Bree stood in silence, their eyes flitting between Cam and Molly like they were watching an intense game of tennis.
Cam exhaled. ‘No more than two hours max,’ he finally agreed and was met by a huge, warm smile from Molly.
‘Trust me, it’ll be okay,’ she whispered, opening the bakery door. Drew was standing on the other side.
‘Morning! Wrap up warm, it’s going to be a cold couple of hours. Are you ready?’ he chirped.
‘I’m just getting my coat,’ replied Cam, handing Drew three stacked trays of bread. ‘If we can just drop these off at Starcross Manor on the way?’
Drew agreed and loaded the bread on to the trailer whilst Cam pulled on his coat and grabbed his hat and gloves then turned towards Bree.
‘You do not leave this house, do you understand me?’
Bree nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘And…’ He scribbled a number on a piece of paper. ‘This is Molly’s number. You ring if there’s a problem with anything. The price list for bread is in the book behind the counter. Write down anything you sell on the pad.’
Bree saluted. ‘I can do that.’
Molly grabbed her hat and gloves, popped a kiss on the top of George’s head and said, ‘Be good for Bree.’
Cam looked over his shoulder as he left the bakery. He was giving Bree a chance and he prayed she wouldn’t let him down.
As they stepped outside into the minus temperature Molly huddled deep inside her parka. Cam jumped on to the back of the trailer and extended his hand to help her up.
‘Thank you, all she needs is a chance,’ she said, giving Cam a quick kiss on his cheek before sitting down next to Allie, who handed her a warm drink. Cam took a place next to Fergus.
‘I wouldn’t like to be living on the streets in this,’ exclaimed Fergus. ‘Sam was saying they nearly all froze to death last night with the boiler packing up. Isla’s taken the Land Rover, which is loaded with chicken and vegetables, over to the community centre. Hopefully, it won’t take too long to cook up a broth and warm everyone up.’
Molly buried her chin under her scarf and waved at George who was standing next to Bree and watching from the window. As the tractor pulled away, the wheels on the trailer spun momentarily before they regained traction. Up ahead there were no tyre marks on the road or footprints on the pavement as everywhere was covered with a fresh onslaught of snow. There wasn’t a soul in sight.
‘I’ve been trying to ring you all morning,’ shared Fergus, handing Cam a mug of tea from the flask. ‘Straight to answerphone,’ he added.
‘I can’t find my phone,’ Cam replied, casting a glance back towards the window.
He felt an uneasiness pass through him as the tractor turned off the main road and George and Bree disappeared out of sight.
Chapter Five
