‘What is it?’ she asked.
Molly shuffled towards the edge of her chair and took a deep breath. ‘We’ve got something really nice to share with you but it may be something you already know.’
‘Share away,’ replied Bree with a huge beam on her face.
Molly smiled back. ‘Did you know that your mum used to work here, at The Old Bakehouse?’ she asked, and noticed the surprised look that flashed across Bree’s face as soon as the words left her mouth.
‘Here?’ Bree pointed to the floor. ‘My mum worked here?’
Molly nodded. ‘Lilian was Ted’s apprentice. He trained her and crafted her into a brilliant baker.’
‘She lived here, at The Old Bakehouse,’ added Dixie. ‘I knew your mum well.’
Bree was speechless, her mouth opening and closing as she gathered her thoughts. ‘No, I didn’t know that. No way, are you serious?’
‘Yes way,’ replied Dixie with a nod. ‘Absolutely she did. Ted taught her to bake and they worked together for over ten years. He gave her a job and a home.’
‘She actually lived here?’ Bree repeated, struggling to process the news.
Molly smiled. ‘Yes, she did. Just like you did today, your mum used to stand behind that counter and help Ted bake the bread and the pastries, and she minded the shop when he was making his deliveries.’
‘He used to say they were the dream team,’ added Dixie. ‘And recently I’ve been having a big clear-out and discovered numerous photographs from back then.’
Bree’s bottom lip trembled. ‘Have you any pictures of my mother?’
Dixie nodded. ‘We have, but not only that…’ Dixie reached down towards the carrier bag. ‘We also have some video footage.’
Bree let out a tiny gasp. Her eyes had welled up with tears and her tiny body was shaking.
‘Come and sit here,’ said Molly, her maternal instinct taking over as she patted the empty space next to her.
Bree stood up and sat down next to Molly on the settee, hugging her knees tightly.
Molly pulled her in for a hug. ‘Would you like to watch the video?’ she asked gently.
‘If that’s okay?’ replied Bree.
Molly gave her knee a little squeeze as she stood up and took the videotape from Dixie. ‘It’s amazing we still have this old video player; it was here when we moved in.’ Molly switched on the TV and pressed a button on the control. After she inserted the tape it clunked then whirled as the TV screen burst into life.
Cam slipped into the room just then without saying a word and sat down.
Everyone watched the screen eagerly.
‘Look at Ted,’ exclaimed Dixie. ‘He never aged, always looked the same.’
‘Maybe a little less hair,’ chipped in Cam. ‘So why was he filming this?’
‘Would you believe this was for a documentary? They wanted to follow Ted for a few days. I can remember they arrived around four-thirty a.m. Ted and Lilian hadn’t gone to bed much before midnight as they scrubbed the bakery from top to bottom, not that it needed it. There was a buzz in the village in the days leading up to the filming and the villagers were camped out on the green, watching everything that was going on. Ted and Lilian claimed they felt like famous film stars.’ Dixie gave a little chuckle. ‘Ted wasn’t too keen on having his make-up done,’ she revealed. ‘Honestly, he made such a hoo-ha about it, whereas Lilian loved it.’
Cam pointed at the TV screen. ‘Look at The Old Bakehouse. It looks the same yet everything seems different. Great-Uncle Ted did pack those shelves full.’
‘He did.’
‘And what’s that?’ asked Cam, noticing the small cart that had been wheeled into the shop.
‘That was the chocolate stand … Layers Treats, chocolate barrow. Those chocolate slabs didn’t even last until mid-morning. Believe me, they were famous around these parts.’
‘My mum’s chocolate slabs were famous?’ Bree was amazed.
