‘I think I’ll hang back,’ said Etna, managing to raise her voice above the hubbub. ‘I don’t want to get injured again.’
‘Fair enough, sis.’ Joseph grinned. ‘But I’m anxious to get in there. Don’t worry, I’ll make a run for it for all three of us. What do you fancy? Farmhouse loaf? Jam doughnut? Iced bun?’
Linc was about to say he didn’t mind when Jade clapped her hands together again to get everyone’s attention. She’d moved the stool she’d been standing on so that it was near the bakery door while Celeste’s was at the far end of the front window. They were both smiling, their hands reaching up to the paper covering the sign. A photographer for a local paper was clicking away on her camera, moving left and right and reminding the girls to look her way.
Jade managed to raise her voice above the crowd although it took a couple of attempts. ‘And now, without further ado…we give you…’ She grinned at her sister and gave her a nod and they both tore off the paper as they yelled out, ‘The Twist and Turn Bakery!’
Celeste disappeared inside the bakery to get rid of the paper and to pull off the window coverings so the shiny new inside could be seen beyond the criss-cross-glassed windows. Now that you could see the entire bakery, the sign blended in well with the deep timber panels and the Tudor-style exterior.The Twist and Turn Bakerywas written in curly font in an arc with a basket of bread painted beneath, and with its dark-wood trim, a cream background and a cracked effect to give it an antique finish, the new sign and its bevelled edges was perfectly in keeping with a village that had so much character.
The continuing noise of the crowd prevented Jade from saying anything else but she took it in her stride, laughing and grinning and doing her best not to wobble on the stool. Linc was glad all eyes were facing her way rather than only his, because he knew he’d been staring this whole time.
‘Before we declare the bakery well and truly open,’ Jade bellowed the best she could, ‘I’d like to add that we are truly blessed to have a home in the Cove with each and every one of you. And a huge thank you goes to Harvey and Linc for the work they’ve done over the last few weeks.’ She beckoned Linc to come forwards but it took Etna giving him a shove for him to do so.
‘Thank you,’ Jade beamed at him when he drew closer and for a moment he thought she might kiss him until Harvey appeared at his side. Someone else took hold of Harvey’s dog Winnie’s lead as the girls told both men to climb up onto the stools in their place so they could get a round of applause too.
‘I wasn’t expecting that,’ said Harvey when they’d had their cheers and the girls agreed they could get down. He ruffled Winnie’s head and the Labrador’s tail wagged at the attention.
‘Harvey is starting his own renovations business and he comes highly recommended,’ Celeste called out from behind a cupped hand to the crowd.
Harvey leaned towards Linc, their feet safely planted on the ground again. ‘I was about to say I’ll tell the girls off for embarrassing us but maybe she’ll drum up business so I can’t be too harsh.’
Jade was busy ushering everyone into a queue while Celeste manned the bakery door, ensuring nobody went inside until there was a sense of calm.
‘All this excitement for a bakery,’ Linc said to Harvey.
‘Should’ve seen the crowds when my brother opened the waffle shack. What can I say? People here like their food.’
Linc laughed when he saw his dad so quick off the mark he’d managed to bag fourth place in the line outside. He winked over at Linc and waved his three vouchers at him. Back beside Etna, Linc told her, ‘Dad seems to be really enjoying himself. I’m glad he came.’
‘Me too. It was about time. And look, he’s chewing the ear off locals already.’ Barney had either managed to run for fifth place in the queue or he’d played the elderly-resident card and had someone let him in before them and the two men were talking like old friends.
‘Do you think Dad’s asked him what the local beer is like yet?’
‘I doubt Joseph would’ve even had to mention it. Barney is probably arranging to get him to the pub as we speak.’ She smiled as they both looked over to Linc’s dad before she turned her attentions back to her nephew. ‘Where were you this morning? I thought you’d make the most of a lie-in after your efforts here the last few days and weeks?’
‘You been checking up on me? Maybe I lazed in bed all morning at Tumbleweed House.’
Her look suggested she knew full well he hadn’t. ‘I know you’re big enough to look after yourself, but Harvey was helping with all of this, getting the bunting up and the bakery sign, and when I didn’t see you, I asked where you were. I knew you weren’t at the shack. But he said you’d left the house before he did.’
‘I had a few things to do, that’s all.’
‘Hmm.’ She didn’t look convinced. ‘Secrecy, I’m not sure I like that.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not doing anything untoward.’ He didn’t say anything more because his dad came over brandishing a paper bag for each of them.
‘Thought I’d get these cinnamon-and-raisin puff-pastry twists – they’re what inspired the name of the bakery, apparently.’
Linc took the warm, layered flaky pastry from the bag and smiled as he bit into it because he could remember the look Jade had given him when he’d suggested he’d played a part in getting her creative juices flowing when it came to choosing a name for the bakery.
‘You look like the cat who got the cream,’ said Etna as they stood on the pavement on the opposite side of the road from the crowds still queuing, happy faces emerging from the bakery with whatever delight they’d picked.
‘Except he’s the boy who got the pastry,’ Joseph added.
‘He can’t stop smiling,’ Etna persisted, watching Linc. ‘I get the feeling it’s a certain young lady you’ve got in your sights.’
He was about to deny it when Kenneth came over to say hello before he joined the queue himself. Instead, Linc said, ‘Love is in the air, right?’
Etna shot him a look. ‘I’ve no idea what you mean.’
