He looked at the beautiful woman sitting in front of him, with all her flaws, wearing her heart on her fluttery sleeves. ‘I want everything, Clem, complicated or not. In fact, I think things would be way too boring if there wasn’t a little bit of chaos. Babies are overrated, and if you let me, I’m ready to go all in, from talking donkeys to stalking rogue guinea pigs.’
Clem’s smile was sweeter than the raw honey in his hives, and as he rolled his office chair closer, he thanked the powers that be for giving him a second chance at love.
22
Nothing seemed to run as planned on the morning of the sunflower field open day. The mayor tripped on the microphone cord and had to use her silk scarf as a temporary sling for her injured wrist during the event welcome. A chocolate-brown Labrador wriggled out of her collar and knocked a tray of egg-and-bacon rolls to the ground, and then a gust of wind caught the gazebo where visitors paid their entry fees and sent it sailing down the road and into the Jenkins’ yard.
‘At least we pegged the picnic rugs down,’ Harriet said, feeding Dolly a sliver of bacon and checking that the other rugs and picnickers were all intact.
The roadside running parallel to the Rail Trail was bright and colourful, with the field of radiant sunflowers framed by the blue February sky and the lush grass Kev kept bowling-green perfect. And the dozens of picnic rugs they’d hired had been consistently filled throughout the day with customers.
‘That was a smart idea,’ Clem said, waving to Arthur and Ian, who were happily debating the merits of Aussie Rules football versus ice hockey.
Clem glanced at Kev and Sebastian, who were seated in camping chairs beside Louisa. Like Clem, they were proudly wearing their Sunny Cross Farm Gate Cafe t-shirts, and they’d picked bunches of sunflowers before everyone got there, for the customers who weren’t agile enough to pick their own.
It was only the second occasion where Clem and Spencer’s families and friendship circles had overlapped, and Clem hoped there would be many more.
‘It’s so much easier being around everyone now that things are out in the open,’ Clem said, shuffling across the rug so she could relax into Spencer’s arms. ‘How did you go with Pop before? Was he pumping you for information?’
Spencer laughed, and the sound rumbled through his warm chest. ‘A few questions aboutLove on the Land, and dating his favourite granddaughter—his words, not mine.’ Spencer grinned, dropping a kiss on her head. ‘But he was more interested in telling me about the big dust-up at the coffee shop in town this week.
‘There was a dust-up?’
‘According to Art, Marco fired his barista after he heard a customer took one sip of his take-away latte, tossed the cup straight in the bin and warned every person in the main street they were wasting their money.’
Isobel joined them, nodding eagerly.
‘I heard that too. Doesn’t he realise nobody likes his tasteless plant-based alternatives? I saw half-eaten veggie brekky burgers in the main street bin too, still in their Brew Haven wrappers. I don’t think anyone will be surprised if he shuts up shop.’ She grinned.
‘Now now,’ Clem said. ‘We don’t need to throw shade on other businesses, especially when they do a good enough job of that all by themselves.’
She finished the coffee Selina had made her and checked her watch. ‘Harri, can you please give me a hand to fetch some picnic hamper top-ups?’
‘As long as I can wear my apron when I’m handing the food out, like a proper waitress,’ Harriet chimed, scratching a drip of egg yolk from her yellow Sunny Cross Farm Gate Cafe t-shirt.
‘Absolutely,’ Clem said.
‘Don’t be long,’ Jack called, tapping his phone. ‘Lauren’s mate at the radio station will be calling to do the live cross in half an hour. A girlfriend with an award-winning podcast, endless media contacts and a sister with a show-stopping cafe. We really need to pull our finger out, Pop,’ he joked.
‘Luckiest blokes in the Limestone Coast,’ Arthur replied. Clem headed to the house, her daughters’ hand in hers, smiling as she heard Spencer challenging Arthur for the title.
‘Mummy, are you sure we can’t come to Sydney for the TV show next week? We’ll be really good,’ Harriet said, opening the cafe’s back door.
Before Clem could respond, she spotted a suited man hurrying in her direction.
‘Miss Crossley, err Clem, can I see you for one moment, please?’
He came closer, and Clem groaned inwardly as she recognised Percy Gregurkie, the president of Cockatoo Cove Area School’s parents and friends committee. The one who had torpedoed her pitch to cater for the school canteen when she started promoting South Giddi Giddi honey. Was he going to dig the claws in and list the reasons why she hadn’t won the contract?
She forced her shoulders back and lifted her chin a fraction as he drew to a stop. ‘We’re closed, I’m sorry,’ she said, prompting Harriet to step ahead. ‘How can I help?’
He wiped his hands on his slacks, leaving sweaty marks. ‘I’m afraid there’s been a hiccup with the current canteen provider and we had to part ways. Are you still interested in tendering for the contract? We’d also like to explore the other suggestions you mentioned, particularly the barista training program for our senior students. No need to nut it out now, but I wanted to check if you’re still interested. We’ve heard nothing but good things about your cafe, Clem, and we may have been too hasty in dismissing the application.’
She nodded, unable to contain her happiness, and promised to be in touch the following week, when she was back from Sydney.
‘Does he want you because you’re going to be famous, Mum?’
‘He wants me because our cafe’s the best in town, and he’s only just realised it,’ Clem said with a wink.
