“Wow, this is delicious.” Carl’s mouth was full, and a crumb fell out as he spoke. “What’s that spicy flavour?”
“Probably star anise and lemon zest – a classic flavour combination,” said Vanessa. She took a bite. It was definitely one of the better ones she’d tried. “There’s something else there as well. I can’t quite place it. Perhaps a tiny bit of cinnamon? I’m not sure. We’ll be cooking a load of these next week for Saint John’s Eve. Traditionally they bake Coca de Sant Joan on the twenty-third of June to mark midsummer.”
“Well count me in,” said Carl, his voice clearer now he’d swallowed his mouthful. “As long as you don’t mind me staying until then?”
“Of course not.” Vanessa put her arm around her brother’s shoulder. “You can stay as long as you like.” She sighed. “Which brings me onto my own problem. I promised Gran I’d make a go of this business – opening a Spanish cafe in Birmingham. But I’m going to be honest, every time I look at another set of premises I might be able to use, they leave me cold.” She picked a piece of glace fruit from the top of her sweet bread and popped it into her mouth thoughtfully.
“Did you promise her that you had to do that specific thing? Or was it more general than that?” Carl swung his right foot onto his left knee.
“I guess she wanted me to stick at something, to commit to something. What kind of person would I be if I broke a promise I made to a dying woman?” Vanessa huffed out a breath. “And you know, I think she was right. I’ve flitted from thing to thing, relationship to relationship. Part of me wonders if maybe I’m doing that now. I’ve met Joey and she seems amazing, but I thought Chloe was amazing once, too.”
“And Stacey before her, and Parminder…” said Carl.
Vanessa took her arm from Carl’s shoulders and elbowed him in the side. “Oi! There’s no need to rub it in.”
Carl laughed, rubbing his side. “But, at some point, don’t you think you will meet the right person and commit to them?”
“Hmm.” Vanessa took a final bite of her coca. It melted in her mouth, and she closed her eyes as she savoured the taste.
“And look, I committed to Gem, and look at me now.” Carl gestured to himself. “There are never any guarantees. Obviously, I don’t know Joey or what’s happened between you, but my sense is that she matters to you, if the fact that you’ve now checked your phone seven times in the last twenty minutes is anything to go by. I’ve never seen you like that about a woman before.” He laughed. “It’s usually them banging down your door asking why you’re not replying to their messages.”
“I sort of hate the fact that you may have a point. But I still wonder about how on earth it could even work. Joey seems to have run away to Seville on a ‘work trip’,” Vanessa used air quotes, “but I increasingly think she’s freaking out. And everyone knows long-distance relationships don’t work, in spite of the lesbian urge to hope against hope that they will.”
“My goodness,” said Carl, “you are very glass half empty today. She really has gotten under your skin, hasn’t she?”
Vanessa put her head in her hands. “I know. I hate it.”
Carl put a comforting hand on her back.
“And I am aware of how selfish I’m being, obsessing about my love life when yours has just gone up in smoke,” she said from between her fingers.
“Ah, it’s ok. To be honest it’s quite a nice distraction.” Carl sat back on the bench and stretched his arms along the back. “I mean, I feel sad about it all, of course I do. But it’s good to remember there’s more to life than me and Gem and our breakup.”
Vanessa’s phone pinged. She immediately pulled it out of her pocket and sat up straight. “It’s her!”
It wasn’t a long message, but it was from Joey: “I’m sorry I’ve been a bit incommunicado. It’s nothing you’vedone. I’ve just been freaking out a bit, but it’s my stuff, not yours. I’m back tomorrow – let’s talk then. xxx”
Vanessa let out a long breath. That was a relief. It didn’t make everything ok, but at least she had confirmation that she hadn’t imagined it.
Carl peered at her phone, and Vanessa angled it so he could see for himself. He grinned and gave her the kind of hug that only a brother could.
Vanessa’s voice was muffled by his shoulder. “You’ll find someone – you’re lovely.”
Chapter Forty
JOEY
The moment she got back from Seville, Joey walked straight into the bakery. She knew she needed to talk to Vanessa, and she needed to do it now.
“Good morning, señorita,” said Carmen, folding her arms and glaring from behind the counter. “Can you explain why I was given exactly thirty minutes’ notice that you were going to see Cisco?”
“Is Vanessa here?” Joey wasn’t keen to have this conversation in her presence.
“And now you are answering questions with questions. I don’t know what I do to deserve you, sometimes.” Carmen tutted, but Joey could see a twinkle in her eye. She pursed her lips. “No. She has a guest visiting, so she’s out gallivanting this morning. I’m sure she’ll be back later.”
“Oh.” Joey was momentarily dumbfounded. It hadn’t crossed her mind for a moment that Vanessa might have someone with her. She immediately wanted to know exactly who it was. But she knew she hadn’t earned the right toknow what was happening in her fellow baker’s life, especially not the way she’d fled to Seville without warning.
“Now, come on, time for me to get an explanation on what on earth is going on here.” Carmen grabbed a couple of plates and placed chocolate croissants on them. “Here, you look like you need one of these. Sit down.”
