I’m breaking it down into tasks. ‘And let’s have Kathleen to spoon the buttercream into the holes. And then Madge and Ian can come and cut the sponge discs into halves, and stick them in the icing so they look like butterfly wings. And then I’ll help Roger sprinkle them with icing sugar.’
There’s a voice from the back. ‘Aren’t you piping the buttercream?’
After last week’s icing explosion, I know better than to let this lot anywhere near a full piping bag, which is why I stuck to the spoon method. I know I’m trying to be honest, but sometimes you can’t be. ‘We’re doing the fast cheat for this week because I was saving piping for next time.’ And damn if I’ve just committed myself again there.
Jen’s beaming. ‘We knew you’d want to make this a weekly event once you got started.’
At which point someone arrives from the kitchen with more boxes of cakes, and before I know it I’m stalling Walter and making up more buttercream instead. By the time the tea trolley trundles in half an hour later, we’ve got plates of butterfly buns stretching right along the table, and everyone is starting to chat amongst themselves. I’m just neatening the final plate of buns, thinking how pretty their icing sugar dusting looks on the cocked sponge wings, when a voice by the window makes me look up.
‘That went well! I’ll just come in closer for a couple more shots of Walter with his icing bowl.’
I get the goosebumps on my spine before I fully recognise who it is. And then there’s a flick of a curtain and as a figure in jeans and a purple St Aidan vet surgery polo steps out onto the lounge rug, my jaw drops. The only good thing about any of this is the speed of my recovery. ‘Ross, what the hell are you here for this time? Is it a runaway tortoise or a gerbil having a heart attack?’ Then as he arrives and I catch sight of his phone screen my heart drops in horror. A moment later my voice is soaring. ‘Please tell me you aren’t filming?’
From his tone he doesn’t give a damn. ‘Don’t knock it, Egbert, it’s come out really well.’
I’m so cross I’m spitting. ‘Most decent people would have asked permission first.’ I bring out my scariest scowl. ‘And if you uploadanyof thisanywhereon the internet, I’ll sue your butt off!’ It’s bollocks but at least I sound like I’m not to be messed with.
But instead of backing down, or – perish the thought – apologising, he just laughs. ‘That’s just the same face you used to use when you were fourteen and Charlie teased you to distraction.’ There’s a twist to his lips. ‘It’s a good thing I was there to defend you.’
‘Excuse me?’ I don’t appreciate him bringing this up now. In any case, if we’re talking about teasing, he dished it as much as the rest of them.
He sniffs. ‘And I know you’re used to the spotlight being all yours, but this is for Walter’s son in Australia, to show him how his dad’s settling in here. Andof courseI’ll run it past you before I ping it off around the world.’
I’m kicking myself for walking into another of Ross’s traps. I reallydon’tthink it’s all about me, but I feel about two inches tall. Again.
He clears his throat. ‘You did a pretty good job there, making him feel at home.’
‘So is there anything else?’ I’m not going to back off if he looks like he’s in the wrong, but I will tread more carefully in future.
He shrugs. ‘Elise says Pancake seems to be making a good recovery.’
‘Thanks for your help with that.’ I wince as I think of how he and Elise will have to breathe in to pass each other in that tiny surgery office. Especially with the way the fabric of his jeans is stretching across his thighs.
‘And it might be worth making an extra unicorn cake or two.’
And some people sound like they rule the world. Just saying. ‘And why would I do that?’
‘I’ll be moving in on Friday. Rainbow buttercream sounds like as good a way as any for me to donate to the Kittiwake Court cause. If that’s okay with you?’
Damn, damn, damn.‘Absolutely tickety boo.’ It couldn’t be further from okay and I’m talking like my mum again. But it’s happening. I can’t fight it, so I’ve got to deal with it.
His eyes darken. ‘And just so you know, any icing bowls, I’m exactly like Walter.’
If I could cock one eyebrow this is where I’d do it. ‘And your point is?’
‘Put me down for licking them out.’
Which is terrible news, but it’s not my main worry right now. Because I’m another four days closer to the end of my cash and still haven’t come up with a way to earn.
10
In the garden at Siren House
Panic buying and wild claims
Saturday afternoon
‘The bakers of St Aidan certainly know how to fill a cake stall. If we sell this lot it should be enough to pay for a good few blocks in the extension wall!’
