‘Mum, you make it sound like I’ve gone to the other side of the world, not a few miles down the road!’
‘It feels like the other side of the world,’ Rosemary remarked, ‘what with all those little roads we had to drive down.’
Just as Effie was about to say something about the state of the roads, the café door opened, and she caught her breath at the sight of Jake. Hair damp from the shower, wearing his signature white T-shirt and blue jeans, he looked absolutely gorgeous.
‘Morning, Effie . . .’ He trailed off as he saw her parents, unsure how to greet them.
‘Hi, Jake. This is my mum, Rosemary, and my dad, Brian,’ she said. ‘This is Jake, he’s been helping in the shop.’ She really hoped her blush wasn’t too obvious.
Handshakes were exchanged along with greetings. Lola brought Jake over a coffee and Brian insisted he join them. Effie squirmed a bit inside, but Jake was wonderful, asking questions, telling her parents all about his photography, showing them some of the photos on his phone. By the time the coffees had been drunk, Rosemary had managed to twist his arm into coming out for lunch with them.
‘So that’s Jake,’ her mum said with an encouraging smile as they headed to the car.
‘Yes, that’s Jake,’ Effie confirmed without elaborating further. It was bad enough that she was wrestling with her own suspicions that she had a crush on him, without everyone else muscling in on the match-making. Jake was kind, but he was fresh from a break-up, and Effie didn’t want to get her own hopes up, let alone anyone else’s. Yes, he was gorgeous, but she could still be getting carried away and reading the signs wrong.
‘He’s been a really good friend, he’s helped me out no end with the café, but he’s had a recent break-up so I think it’s best to just be friends,’ she reiterated, hoping her mum would leave it at that, although she couldn’t help wondering if they’d ever be more than just friends.
Chapter Seventeen
‘Effie, take a seat.’ Lola accosted her the moment she pushed open the café door following her Tuesday morning swim. ‘I’ve got something for you. The usual?’
‘Yes please.’ Effie pulled her dry robe around her. It was a damp, cold morning, so the warmth of the café was a welcome reprieve.
Alf patted the spare seat beside him. ‘Been for a swim, love? You’re a brave lass.’
‘Not as brave as you were, I bet,‘ Effie said, ‘at least I can stay in the bay and not go all the way out to the ocean.’
Alf shrugged. ‘That was a long time ago. I miss it. But you have to respect the sea. It can turn in an instant. I used to swim in my youth. Sometimes I wonder why I ever gave up. The sea is a good place to calm the brain. Puts things into perspective.’
Effie nodded her agreement. ‘That’s why I do it. Sets me up for the day. It’s easier to swim here every day now the sea is just across the road. It beats a swimming pool any day.’
‘There you go.’ Lola placed a large mug of hot chocolate in front of Effie followed by a plate of bite-sized hot cross buns. Alf’s eyes widened at the sight of them. Sensing the baked goods, Scruff sat up.
‘I didn’t order any buns,’ Effie said, ‘but they’re adorable.’
‘I said I could cater for the shop opening, here’s my first offering. Mini hot cross buns. Try them, see what you think.’
Effie picked one of the buns up and bit into it. The dough was pillowy and soft, the fragrant spices hitting her palate as the fruit burst on her tongue. ‘Oh my gosh, that’s one of the best hot cross buns I’ve ever had!’
Lola beamed with pride. ‘Freshly baked this morning.’
Effie helped herself to a second one, ravenous from her swim. Alf picked one up and took a bite.
‘Why aren’t these already on the menu?’ Alf asked. ‘It’s two weeks until Easter. At Christmas we had mince pies coming out of our ears.’
‘Don’t fret, Alf. I’ll be rolling out my Easter treats this week. Buns, bunny biscuits, mini simnel cakes. I’ll decorate the café for spring later. Found some gorgeous bunting. It’ll be like an Easter grotto, if that’s even a thing.’ Lola laughed before admitting, ‘I’ve just been tied up trying to get my wedding plans sorted. Tristan and I thought it’d be fun to do it as soon as possible, but I didn’t expect the past few months to go quite so quickly.’ She sighed as she sat down between them.
‘When are you getting married?’ Effie asked.
‘Late May bank holiday weekend. I know! I know! It’s not even two months away. I must be mad.’
‘Don’t believe the panic,’ Alf told Effie. ‘She’s got it all planned out, I’m sure.’
‘Everything other than a photographer,’ Lola sighed, ‘they’re all fully booked. Have been for months.’
Effie’s mind turned to Jake. However, the most she’d seen of his photos was of the interior of the shop and some stunning landscapes. But wasn’t he trying to build up a business doing weddings and events? She fished a gooey marshmallow out of her mug and contemplated putting his name forward.
‘Anyway, enough of my woes. Effie, would you like me to make some buns for the opening? I can also do chocolate nest cakes and oh, what about book-shaped biscuits?’
