Jade only just swallowed in time before she laughed. Otherwise, it could’ve been very embarrassing when her wine ended up spraying everywhere. ‘There are some conversations you really should have in private. I wonder if he was even aware that you’d heard.’
‘I don’t think he cared. He wasn’t making any effort to be discreet.’
‘Perhaps he’s proud he managed to have it done,’ she sniggered.
They didn’t get to talk much more because Carly, who was Nola and Terry’s daughter, came over and asked to join them. ‘Seriously, I can’t take much more of Mrs Filligree’s interrogation,’ she said, elbows on the table and the base of her hands against her forehead.
Jade looked to where Mrs Filligree now had someone else’s undivided attention. ‘What’s she interrogating you about?’
‘The damn eggs.’
‘Eggs?’ Linc wondered.
Jade stepped in to explain. Probably easier with Carly still sitting low on the bench and hiding. ‘Once upon a time, Melissa’s family kept chickens and supplied locals – including Mrs Filligree – with eggs, then Nola took over the job and kept the chickens at Carly’s cottage because she couldn’t keep them here at the pub. These days, it’s Carly’s job to look after the chickens and the locals.’
‘Don’t tell me, you’re not that into it?’ Linc guessed.
Carly shook her head, sending her red curls bouncing. ‘I never minded having them there but that was when Mum looked after the chickens. Nowadays, she and Dad are so busy with the pub that I’m the one doing most of the work. My parents still do all the egg deliveries to people in the Cove but all the rest is a lot of hard work.’
‘Your kids love looking after the chickens,’ Jade reminded her. Her son and her daughter both had the same fiery red hair and came into the bakery after school every Friday for a sugary doughnut. She’d tried to tempt them with cookies last time but it seemed doughnuts oozing with jam were the favourite. ‘They tell me about them all the time – when they’re naughty and don’t want to go into their coop, whenever one escapes and you have to chase and catch it.’
With a sigh, Carly admitted, ‘They do love the little guys, but now the kids are settled at school and I’m returning to my job come October, I could do without the extra workload. And really, I’m very OK with buying my eggs from the supermarket.’
A gasp sounded behind them and Carly cringed before turning round to greet Barney, who’d been enjoying a pint with Linc’s father a few tables down but must’ve come over to congratulate the sisters on today’s opening and overheard their conversation. ‘Fresh eggs are infinitely better than anything you get from the supermarket.’
Carly pulled a face at Jade that saidSprung. ‘It’s the extra work, Barney, that’s all. I know it’s good to eat fresh.’ She exchanged a grin with Linc and Jade. Barney did like to keep the community in order.
Terry the landlord picked that moment to jostle Linc out of his seat and back to the guitar playing. ‘He’s filling my beer garden with people,’ he winked at the rest of them as he headed for the inside, different-sized glasses slotted between his fingers.
‘Would you reconsider rehoming them?’ Barney asked Carly after the interruption.
‘I would consider it, although it’s not that simple. As Jade said, the kids love them – I can’t imagine their little faces if I told them they’d lose them.’
‘Who says they have to lose them?’ Barney persisted. ‘I’ve got a lot of land at my place.’
Surprised, Carly sat up a bit taller in her seat. ‘You’re offering?’
‘I am. And Cora and Justin would be welcome to come over anytime to see them.’
‘That would be amazing.’ Carly looked as though this man had made her night. ‘Are you sure?’
The guitar filled the air again, making people smile when Linc began to play an Oasis hit tune. Some were even beginning to sing along, swaying in time with the music. ‘Come on, I’ll buy you a drink and we’ll carry on our discussion. Make sure we bypass Mrs Filligree,’ he suggested when Carly got up, much happier than she’d been when she sat down.
Others filled the table the minute there was a space but Jade didn’t mind and she didn’t feel she had to chat all the time either. She was quite content to sit back and listen to Linc as the skies grew darker and she even shivered.
Valerie was next to come over, apologising she hadn’t seen much of Jade, offering her congratulations. ‘I can’t stay any longer, even though I’d love to.’ Baby Thomas was strapped against her chest in a special carrier. She had hold of his little feet as though feeling him against her body wasn’t quite enough. ‘This one is starting to fuss.’
‘He’s done well.’ Jade could just about reach her finger in to stroke his cheek as he turned his head from side to side, perhaps hungry. With the air growing chilly, she wanted her bed as much as this little one probably did, especially now the music had stopped again.
‘He’s always good in the carrier. We’ve danced, haven’t we, Thomas? We’ve done the rounds to talk to everyone, but now it’s time to head home and say goodnight to Daddy.’ She began to smile at Jade. ‘You can’t take your eyes off him. Want to borrow him one night? He wakes up like clockwork for a 4 a.m. feed. He’s all yours, just give me the nod.’
‘That’s not too early for us, we’ll be baking soon after that time.’
‘Perhaps he’s going to be a baker when he grows up.’ Valerie had her chin lightly resting against the top of Thomas’s head.
‘Send him my way, I’ll teach him everything I know.’
Before Valerie could escape, Tilly and Celeste took an opportunity to fuss over Thomas.
