Chapter two
Awoman wearing aniced cupcake themed apron, with salt and peppered hair and wrinkles in the corners of her smiling eyes came from behind the counter to stoop down and pet Ginger.
‘Oh, my goodness. You are adorable!’ She gazed up at Pippa with a full, open smile. ‘What is his name?’
‘Ginger. As in the hot and delicious gingerbread I’m hoping to eat while I’m back home.’
The woman threw her head back and chortled. She looked admiringly at Ginger as she ruffled Ginger’s fur. ‘Well, you certainly fit in well here at my cafe with a name like that.’ She looked back up at Pippa. ‘What made you decide to call him that? Is it his golden fur colour?’
‘Hmm, not really. Although it suits him well now. He’s named after Gingerbread. It was my mother’s speciality. People came from far and wide to buy it at our pub.’
The woman gasped and stood up, pointing a finger at Pippa. ‘Are you Brett’s daughter?’ Pippa nodded. ‘Hello. I’m Katherine, the owner. We just missed out on meeting each other when I first opened this place. Your father said you’d just bought a place in Ireland.’
Pippa held her hand out. ‘Yes, that’s right. Hello Katherine. It’s been a while since I was last here. You must have opened just after my last visit. My Aunt Morgan raves to me all the time about your herby sausage twists.’
Katherine laughed. ‘When I make a batch, Morgan is my best customer. It’s like she’s got a six sense. She tells me they’re all for Brett, but I swear she serves them up for breakfast to their hotel guests.’
Pippa’s hand flew up to cover her open mouth and stifle a laugh. ‘Oh no. That actually sounds like something my aunt would do, especially if the hotel was fully booked.’ Pippa dropped her hand. ‘Please let me extend my apologies. Although I’m certain Aunt Morgan wouldn’t steal your thunder, I’m sure she’d tell the customers where they came from.’
A man in a baseball cap got up from his finished breakfast and walked up to the counter. He leaned his head close to Pippa’s ear and talked out of the side of his mouth. ‘Don’t worry. Your secret apology is safe with me.’
Pippa swung her head around to see who the rude eavesdropping stranger was, but she was delighted to see it wasn’t a stranger. It was her father’s dear childhood friend.
‘Ned.’ She flung her arms around him and hugged him tight.
Ned hugged her back. ‘Hello, Pip. I thought you were ignoring me. Then I realised you hadn’t spotted me.’
Pippa flicked the brim of his cap. ‘Of course I didn’t see you with this on. Are you in disguise or something?’
Ned grabbed the rim of his cap and pulled it down, giving her a wink. ‘It’s the only way I can keep the swarms of local women at bay.’ Katherine laughed and Ned winked at her.
Pippa shook her head with a smile. ‘You haven’t changed a bit, Ned.’
Ned grinned and looked towards Katherine. ‘How much do I owe you, my dear?’
Katherine walked back behind the counter and looked down at a notepad. ‘Four pounds and seventy-five pence please, Ned.’
