‘I honestly don’t know. I can’t get my head around it all, probably because I wasn’t expecting this.’ Disappointed, she placed the birth certificate back in the folder. ‘And that’s it. There’s nothing else.’
Cam shook his head. ‘What are we going to tell Bree about her mother? After all, once upon a time she seemed to be a huge part of this place,’ he said, placing all the items on the bed back into the suitcase.
‘I think she’ll be chuffed, over the moon even, to learn about Lilian’s involvement in The Old Bakehouse and…’ Molly paused, her eyes widened. ‘Those old video tapes that Dixie gave you … Lilian has got to be on those, especially if she was here for ten years! Bree could see footage of her own mother, that would be lovely for her.’
‘It would,’ agreed Cam. ‘I’ll check with Dixie and maybe tonight we could have a film night. After today’s events I think we need to relax, maybe open a bottle of wine.’
‘Sounds like a good plan for you.’ Molly patted her stomach and smiled. ‘It won’t be long until I can join you. How are you feeling after the hospital visit?’ she asked.
‘Relieved, without a doubt. I know us men don’t like talking much about personal stuff but we do need to check ourselves.’
‘You do. I’m just glad it’s all going to be okay.’
For a moment they sat quietly, lost in their own thoughts. Cam was thanking the Lord that everything was okay for him whilst Molly was feeling a little disappointed that her birth certificate hadn’t thrown up a different name.
Should she just let sleeping dogs lie? After all, she had the perfect life and family as it was.
Cam broke the silence, looking around the room. ‘It’s strange to think that Lilian actually lived here for all that time. She’s sat in the living room watching TV, cooked meals in the kitchen…’
‘I know. But why would she choose to give all of this up? It sounds like she had one hell of a baking talent and could possibly have won any baking competition in her own right if she had kept going.’
‘I’ve no idea . . . and I’m not sure we’re ever going to find out why.’
Molly leant towards Cam and kissed him on his cheek. ‘Come on, we best check on the shop and collect George from Dixie’s.’
‘You stay with Bree and I’ll check with my grandmother about that video footage. Maybe she would like to come and watch it with us tonight. We could order a takeaway now the roads are little clearer?’
‘That sounds like a plan, I’ve got so much heartburn with this little one already that a takeaway can’t make it any worse,’ said Molly, standing up and placing the suitcase in the corner of the room.
‘Mol…’ Cam paused and Molly sensed he wasn’t sure whether to ask her whatever was going through his mind. ‘With the road open, when is Bree going to go back to the shelter?’
Molly knew that question was coming and she’d already had the answer mapped out … but then the name on the birth certificate changed everything. Instantly, she felt her eyes welling up at the thought of Bree sleeping in a hall, and she really couldn’t bear the thought of it. But the bottom line was, they weren’t related and Molly had no responsibility for Bree whatsoever. Yet deep inside, she still had a niggle that she couldn’t brush off and she didn’t know why.
‘Just one more night, for film night?’ said Molly, reluctantly.
Cam nodded.
Taking her chance, she asked, ‘How would you rate Bree in the bakery? You’ve been impressed with all of her baking and were prepared to use her recipe for the competition… Wouldn’t she solve all our problems? We wouldn’t have to advertise, and it would help Bree to get back on her feet and give her a purpose.’ Molly was looking at Cam with hopeful eyes, and her fingers crossed in hope behind her back. Unfortunately, she knew Cam and could have predicted what he was going to say.
‘Hygiene, Mol. I can’t have someone turning up to the bakery who has slept goodness knows where. Bree’s clothes wouldn’t be clean, and she might not have even showered.’
Cam had a fair point, but surely there were ways around it. ‘Your Great-Uncle Ted gave Lilian a chance, took her off the street.’
Cam was quick to reply. ‘But Great-Uncle Ted rattled about this place all by himself. We have a family and another child about to arrive at any time.’
‘Would it have made a difference if the name on the birth certificate had been Lilian’s?’
Cam thought for a moment. ‘Possibly.’
Molly sighed. ‘All she needs is a chance. She’s a blooming good baker, young and enthusiastic. Imagine if she could follow in her mother’s footsteps at The Old Bakehouse. Maybe there are other options…’ Molly’s thoughts were racing.
‘What are you thinking now?’
‘What if there was a free van to rent up at Foxglove Farm on a more permanent basis? I know Isla rents out the vintage vans to holiday makers but if there was the possibility of long-term rent… I could ask. Then Bree would have her own little place. Or what about Dixie?’
‘What about Dixie?’
‘There’s plenty of room next door, at Bumblebee Cottage. That would be the perfect solution and Bree would never be late for work.’
