Pippa nodded in agreement. ‘So do I. I need you to help me restock the pub’s pantry. We have eleven guests and I have no idea how long they are staying. It could be one night it might be four.’
Pharis tapped the roof of the mini and pointed over to the farm shop. ‘Pull up over there, Pippa, and I’ll see what deal I can do for you.’ Pippa nodded and raised her window. The farm shop looked more like a designer shed with panelled wooden slats vertically cladding the exterior walls. It had a string of white lights along the edge of the roof, which became multi-coloured over the Christmas holiday and orange at Halloween when there was an abundance of pumpkins to sell. Inside was like an Aladdin’s cave with wooden handmade toys supplied by a local toy maker alongside the produce. It was a child’s delight and a parent’s nightmare if all they wanted to buy was food.
Pharis reached the farm shop just as she was climbing out of her car. ‘I’ve just remembered. There’s a surprise in the shop for you, Pippa.’
Pippa closed the car door and turned to him with a grin. ‘Really? What is it?’
Pharis smiled and motioned for her to follow him. ‘Come in and you’ll see.’
Pippa followed Pharis into the shop with a little flutter of excitement in her stomach. There was a young girl about eighteen sitting behind the till who looked up and smiled when they walked into the shop, but there were no other customers, which wasn’t surprising, as it was early closing that day. Pippa was thankful the shop was still open and that she’d made it. She silently scolded herself for taking so long to come and get her supplies. By the time she headed back to the pub, there would only be an hour or so to decide what was on this evening’s menu and prepare the food. Tonight, she would definitely need help in the kitchen.
Pippa stopped in her tracks when she saw what the surprise was. Right at the back of the shop was a poster at least ten feet tall and six feet wide, advertising the farm’s home-grown organic beef. The background picture was a scene of the town’s annual bar-b-q from four years ago, and right in the centre next to Pharis’s parents was Marie, Pippa’s mother, with her head back laughing.
Pippa froze. Up until then, any picture hung on a wall had made her instantly tear up, but this picture reflected that perfect moment from her mother’s last summer alive. It was the epitome of balmy summer happiness.
‘Wow...justwow. You do realise I’ll be in here almost every day now Pharis, just to look at that wonderful poster.’
‘No need. I have a smaller version just for you.’ Pharis walked behind the counter and fished out a cardboard cylinder and handed it to Pippa.
Pippa took it and held it close to her heart. ‘Thank you, Pharis. I’ll treasure it.’
Pharis nodded with a small understanding smile and then clapped his hands together. ‘Okay. What do you want because I need to shut up shop? I have a wonderful home-cooked beef stew waiting for me, curtesy of my Ma.’
It wasn’t until Pippa was in the car and driving back down the lane did she let the tears fall.
Chapter five
Back at the pub andin the kitchen, Pippa was running from one thing to the other, frantically trying to prepare the meals the ramblers had pre-ordered after an anxious re-hashing of the current menu on her laptop and printing them off when she’d returned from the farm.
She was already exhausted, and it was only the start of the evening shift. Vegetables and potatoes were bubbling away, filling the kitchen with steam, and the mixed aroma of fish and meat pasties filled the air.
Oliver walked into the kitchen, but Pippa hadn’t even noticed he was there, slamming into his chest as she turned around. ‘Oh sorry, Ollie.’ She noticed his mouth quirk at the use of the abbreviated nickname she’d given him while they were dating at school. ‘Have you come to help?’ She blew upwards out of the side of her mouth because her hands were covered in flour, trying unsuccessfully to move a stray strand of hair attached to one of her eyelashes, after having escaped the clip she’d used to pile her unruly curls on top of her head.
‘Allow me.’ Oliver tucked the strand of hair over her ear. The heat she’d experienced numerous times today whenever she was around Oliver exploded underneath her cheeks again, but she was already hot and bothered, so she was sure Oliver wouldn’t even notice. ‘I wished I could, Pippa, but all the locals have piled in too.’ He grimaced, ‘I’ve just come to tell you, we have another two orders for pasties, potatoes, gravy and veg.’ Pippa audibly sighed. ‘When do you think Brett and Morgan will be back?’
Pippa shook her head, ‘I honestly don’t know Oliver, but if the food side of the business continuous to grow like this, they will need to hire a proper chef.’
