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But what if Graham was right? Not that he’d actually said anything, but he’d insinuated that it was strange they hadn’t met up since finishing work if they were that close. And it was, wasn’t it? He’d always given her the impression that the only reason they weren’t an item was because they worked so closely together.
She felt her cheeks tinge with heat as she remembered that evening a year ago. She and Eli had been working an evening shift together, nothing unusual, what had been unusual had been that after eight months of liking him, with the encouragement from Isla one of her closest friends, she’d finally worked up the courage to ask him out.
Of course, he’d been lovely about it. He’d assured her he’d felt the same, but that he valued her friendship too much to risk it by entering into a relationship when they worked so closely together.
Layla closed her eyes, remembering the hug he’d given her just before he’d declined her suggestion of a date. For a millisecond she’d been convinced he’d been going to kiss her, to tell her that yes, he’d been waiting for her to ask him. Of course he hadn’t. It had been a friendship hug, a thank-you-but-no-thank-you hug, a dismissive hug.
When, a week later, he’d begun dating Cheryl, the nurse from the ship’s sick bay, she’d been devastated, but Eli, being the kind, caring person he was, he’d explained to her it was just because he and Cheryl didn’t work alongside each other. She wasn’t as close a friend to him as Layla was.
She sighed. And she’d fallen for it. She’d accepted his explanation and continued to save her heart for him, convinced that one day her turn would come. But now they didn’t work together and hadn’t for three months now. His lack of presence in her life just showed her how he felt, that he’d never wanted to date her, that he’d strung her along. Yes, he’d always been on the end of the phone, up until a week or so ago, but he hadn’t made the effort to visit or to even suggest they meet up. And he would have done, wouldn’t he? If he felt anything more than friendship towards her, he would have wanted to meet.
That was what Graham had hinted at with his questions and his teasing. And that was what Eli’s glaring silence towards her highlighted.
How could she have been so naïve? She opened her eyes, focusing on the surface of the water again, the rise and swell as the ocean made its way slowly up the beach. She’d wasted so much time on him, daydreaming about their future together, hoping he’d wake up one day and realise it was she who he wanted.
Layla began walking across the sand, the soles of her trainers sinking a little into the wet sand as she did so. How had Graham seen what should have been obvious to Layla herself months, no, over a year ago?
Pulling her mobile from her pocket again, she scrolled through to the photo she’d sent him of her in her apron and deleted the picture. That was it. She was here at the bakery in this beautiful part of the world to collect her thoughts after being made redundant. Maybe she could heal herself from Eli, too.
Chapter Eight
As she ran down the stairs, Layla plaited her hair, still wet from the quick shower she’d had. How had she slept in? She’d set four alarms ranging from four-thirty when Elsie started the morning’s baking through to seven. Reaching the small hallway, Layla paused and steadied her breathing before checking her watch. It was five minutes to eight already. The bakery doors would be opening soon.
Pulling the door open, she stepped into the bakery. Diane and Elsie were standing by the kitchen door chatting, and she couldn’t see Molly or Wendy. Maybe they had already started work in the office or else they were on their way to meet clients or something. She cleared her throat, her voice still thick with sleep. ‘I’m so sorry I’m so late. I must have slept through my alarms.’
Looking across at her, Elsie smiled. ‘You’re not late, love. You’re just in time for us to open. As I told you on your first day, I don’t expect any of my volunteers to join me in the early rising, so you’re perfect.’
‘Thanks.’ Layla hurried towards the apron hooks and slipped one over her head. Elsie might not expect it, but Layla had wanted to. She was here to help, after all.
‘I was just telling Diane that Wendy is busy decorating a wedding cake today and we have a market stall in Trestow this morning so it’s going to be a bit of a funny one today, but Molly will help you behind the counter whilst Diane goes to the market.’
‘Okay.’ Layla yawned. ‘Sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.’
‘Do you want to go and have a lie-down, love? We’ll cope until lunchtime.’
‘No, I’ll be all right. I just didn’t get much sleep last night, that’s all.’ Layla shrugged. In fact, she’d hardly slept at all, thanks to Eli. Not that he was even aware he’d caused her this amount of upset. She needed it, though. She needed to wake up to the fact that Eli didn’t feel the same way about her as she did about him. And this was the best place for it. She was here to plan her future. She’d just assumed it would be her future career she’d be focusing on, not her love life, too.
‘If you’re sure.’ Elsie walked up to her and laid her hand on Layla’s forearm. ‘I’ll go and make you a strong coffee but just shout if you fancy going for a rest.’
‘Thank you.’ Layla smiled. Elsie was the sort of boss everyone wished for, understanding, kind and putting her staff members above all else. The management on the cruise ship had been hit and miss. Of course, to the big bosses at the head office, they’d all just been numbers on the payroll, but the head of hospitality had been lovely to Layla and had taken all of her team members under her wing, so to speak.
‘I don’t need to ask if you want a coffee too, do I, Diane?’ Elsie chuckled as she disappeared through the kitchen door.
Diane laughed and shook her head. ‘She knows me too well. I don’t think I’ve ever declined caffeine this early in the morning. Right, I’ll go and open up.’
‘When are you going to the market?’
‘I need to be there for nine, so I’ll just wait until Molly gets here and then go. The van is already loaded up with stock. I’ll likely get there a little after everyone else, but the stall will be set up already, so it’s just a case of unloading.’ Diane pulled the bakery door open, a gust of cold wind immediately lowering the temperature in the bakery. ‘I need to remember my coat.’
‘Yes, definitely.’ Layla pulled the sleeves of her jumper down.
‘Here we go, loves.’ The kitchen door swung open, and Elsie walked across to the counter with two large mugs of steaming coffee in her hands. ‘These should wake you up.’
‘Thanks.’ Taking her mug, Layla took a long sip of the hot liquid, the bitter taste of coffee hitting the roof of her mouth. ‘Just what I needed.’
‘Good, I’m glad.’ Elsie grinned as she set Diane’s mug down behind the counter. ‘You get this into you before you leave. And remember your coat.’
‘That’s what I was just saying to Layla. that I need to take it.’ Diane laughed and picked up her mug just as Molly hurried through the door. ‘Morning.’
