Cam was not budging an inch. She remembered what Dixie had said to her a little earlier.Talk to each other.
‘Why exactly not? With the storm coming, we could be holed up in here for days with barely any customers. This would be the ideal time to perfect your recipe. The mill has delivered the wheat. Put it to good use.’ Molly had no clue what would stop Cam entering the competition, now that Dixie had convinced her this was what Cam had always wanted. ‘We should be getting excited about this, sitting down together, plotting your first recipe just like Great-Uncle Ted!’ She pointed to the recipe bible in the shelf. ‘Don’t you want your own book up on the shelf next to Ted’s in years to come and for George to be standing here, looking up at them proudly?’
But Cam still wasn’t showing any sort of enthusiasm and Molly noticed his mood had shifted considerably. She didn’t say any more and waited for Cam to share the real reason why he wasn’t going to enter. His mouth opened then closed.
‘Talk to me, please.’ Molly didn’t know what to think.
‘I’m not entering because . . . you don’t know what’s going to happen in life.’
Molly was puzzled. What an absolutely bizarre thing to say. She was a little lost for words and didn’t know what to think or say next.
Luckily, Cam was saved by the bell and they both looked towards the shop door as it opened. Dr Sanders walked in looking like he’d just returned from a hiking exhibition in the artic, wrapped up in numerous layers. He unravelled his scarf and beamed. Molly had no choice but to paint a smile on her face.
‘Good afternoon, Ben. Dressed for the occasion, I see,’ Cam said with a smile.
‘It’s chuffing cold out there.’ Ben took off his gloves and laid then on the counter as he blew into his hands then rubbed them together. ‘The temperature is already in the minus. Thank God, I’m going home to a very warm flat. Any pastries or bread left?’ He cast a glance over the counter and pointed to the glass dome. ‘Can I take one of those, and those … oh and put me one of those in.’ He looked towards the shelves. ‘Bread and jam too. Got to love a good doorstop smothered in jam.’
Molly rang up the total on the till whilst Cam placed everything inside a bag.
As Ben paid and put the items in his rucksack, he turned towards Cam. ‘Everything okay?’
The look between them didn’t go unnoticed by Molly as the bell above the shop tinkled again. Molly’s heart was racing. There had barely been any customers all day, and now, just when she wanted to talk to Cam, The Old Bakehouse was suddenly as busy as Glasgow Central. She watched as Cam touched Ben’s arm and nodded towards the door.
‘You’re okay to serve Ash, aren’t you?’ asked Cam.
‘Of course,’ she replied, smiling up at Ash, but keeping one eye on Cam and Ben, who were now in a hushed conversation on the pavement outside the bakery, which Molly found a little odd, since snow was falling heavily. She couldn’t hear what they were saying but, by the look of both their faces, it was a conversation she wanted to be privy to. They looked so serious. What was with all the secrecy? Why did they need to step outside? She watched as Ben patted Cam on the back then took off up the road as a nodding Cam stepped back into the shop.
He still looked serious but he seemed to rally himself when he saw Ash and patted him on the back before joining Molly behind the counter.
‘Where’s my favourite shop assistant?’ Ash asked with a grin, placing his heavy bag on the floor. ‘Today’s round is taking forever by foot. Thankfully, the kind residents of Heartcross keep passing me coffee on the way and I got a lovely hot sausage roll from Bonnie’s teashop.’
‘I think Ash is hinting at a warm drink,’ said Molly, looking towards Cam with a smile. ‘And favourite shop assistant…’ Molly pointed. ‘Do you mean me or him?’
Ash laughed. ‘A cup of tea would be brilliant, and neither. I meant Bree, your new shop assistant. I’m assuming she just works mornings? Has she left already today?’ Ash was looking a little disappointed.
‘Bree? Bree doesn’t work here,’ replied Cam, his words taking Ash by surprise.
‘But I’m sure that’s what the girl said her name was. She was standing right there, behind the counter…’ Ash was sensing he had put his foot in something, but he wasn’t quite sure what. ‘I hope I haven’t said something wrong; she was really kind to me this morning. A warm drink and a croissant were just what I needed in this weather.’
They all looked towards the window. The snow was heavy outside and didn’t look like it was going to let up any time soon.
Ash swallowed, and Molly noticed a tiny blush on his cheeks. ‘I popped back in because … umm… Would you possibly have a number for Bree?’ he asked nervously.
Molly smiled. Ash obviously wanted to ask her out on a date. ‘She’s already left today, but we could possibly pass a message on, if you want to write down your number.’ Molly was playing Cupid.
‘Would you? That would be brilliant!’ Ash sounded excited and Molly pushed a white paper bag and a pen over the counter. ‘So, you do know her then? I wasn’t sure if she was from here. I hadn’t seen her around before.’
‘I’m sure we’ll see her in the next couple of days,’ replied Molly, hoping once again that Sam would ring to say that Bree had made it to the shelter.
‘Usually girls my age have attitude but there was something about her,’ said Ash, now wearing a lopsided grin as he handed the paper bag back to Molly with his number written on it.
‘We’ll make sure she gets it,’ said Molly, folding up the bag and popping it into her pocket. ‘And here, let me get you a hot chocolate. It’ll keep you warm on the way home.’
Within a couple of minutes, with a hot chocolate in hand, Ash thanked them both and picked up his bag. ‘Oh, and I am sorry about the mix-up with your phone.’
The words hung in the air as both Cam and Molly stared at Ash then at each other.
Molly was the first to speak. ‘Mix-up?’ she queried. Her heart was beating nineteen to the dozen as she waited for Ash to answer.
