He couldn’t believe the parallels in the stories they’d shared down there on the sands of the cove, his admission and hers. He wasn’t sure where this left them – if it left them anywhere at all. All he could do now was head back to Tumbleweed House and then up to the waffle shack to help with putting up the pergola, and do as she’d asked by giving her the time and space she needed.
Chapter Sixteen
It had been over two weeks since Jade bumped into Linc down at the cove. He’d come into the bakery twice since then and she’d seen him in the tea rooms once, but although they’d had a brief exchange each time, there’d been no mention of their candid talk on the sand that day.
The sisters had been busy with their beautifully renovated bakery and Jade had taken on another two cake commissions, both for weddings in the early part of next year and both as a result of the cake on display at Barney and Lois’s wedding. Celeste had briefly tried to get Jade to talk about the IVF plans but she’d put a stop to it quickly, asking her sister to please give her time to process her decision for herself, because Dario’s arrival and departure had thrown so much up into the air, and, whether Celeste knew it or not, the newcomer in the Cove had a lot to do with it too.
Carly stopped at the bakery just before closing on her way home from a job interview and had already told Celeste all about it by the time Jade came through from the kitchen after washing the last of the cake tins. They were on to talking about the welcome-home bash to be held for Barney and Lois on the beach tonight. It was somewhere totally different to the usual venues for village functions – which were either the barn for the ball or the pub. Tilly had been the instigator, according to Celeste, and had come up with the novel idea to welcome the newlyweds back from their honeymoon in Italy.
Barney and Lois had chosen Venice for their honeymoon and while once the big reveal of their destination might have left Jade’s head spinning, she’d farewelled them from the Cove with a smile and even given them the name and location of Dario’s restaurant. She’d assured them they wouldn’t be sorry if they went along for a meal because the food was some of the best she and Celeste had tasted during their stay.
‘Are you looking forward to rehoming the chickens?’ Jade asked Carly as she took the bread rolls and apple danish round, which Celeste bagged up for her.
Carly found the exact amount in cash and placed it onto the top of the counter in exchange for the bag. ‘The kids still aren’t happy about it but I’ve told them they can go to the barn any time.’
‘Talk to Melissa and Harvey later on,’ said Celeste as she shut the till with a clunk. ‘Both of them practically grew up with Barney for company, roaming the fields around there – it’s a kids’ haven, according to Melissa.’
‘I’ve heard their stories,’ smiled Carly. ‘So, I’ll do that and perhaps get the kids over there the moment the chickens go, then they’ll know it’s not the worst thing in the world,’ she added with an eye roll.
Carly waved goodbye to the girls and once they’d served Mrs Filligree with two cheesy-topped baps and a cream doughnut, and then Kenneth, who came in at the last minute for a simple wholemeal bloomer, Celeste turned the sign hanging on the inside of the door toClosed.
‘Summer holidays are almost over.’ Jade took the float out of the till ready to put in the safe at the very back of the larder cupboard in the kitchen. ‘I love being busy but this summer feels crazier than ever.’
‘We’ve had a lot going on.’ Celeste followed her out into the kitchen. ‘Renovations, weddings, ex-boyfriends, hot locals…’ She leaned against the benchtop watching her sister.
‘I’m impressed.’
‘Impressed?’
‘You’ve been itching to say something since the ball and you haven’t said a word.’
‘I know…it’s absolutely killing me.’
Jade began to laugh. ‘Come on, let’s clear up in here and perhaps over a glass of wine we can talk.’
‘Hallelujah!’ Celeste threw both arms into the air.
They went through the well-oiled routine of finishing a day at the bakery – leftovers were put into bags ready for Celeste to hand to Patricia, who would take them, along with any leftovers from the tea rooms, to a homeless shelter where she volunteered; every surface was cleaned, the floors swept and mopped. They marked off the procedures they followed on the grid pinned to the side of a cupboard – it helped them and everyone else know they observed protocol and didn’t skip steps.
Over the couple of weeks since Jade had seen Linc on the beach and they’d talked, her emotions had stopped swinging like an out-of-control pendulum and she felt ready to see him tonight at the do. In fact, she’d been discreetly watching the clock all day, the time dragging despite the busyness.
Celeste let out a sudden squeal when she saw two familiar faces peering in the window of the bakery and raced from the kitchen to the front to undo the door. Jade followed on and sentences overlapped as they all tried to talk at once.
After they’d hugged, Lois declared, ‘Venice was an absolute dream.’ She clasped her hands against her chest. ‘From the architecture to the alleyways zigzagging everywhere and plagues of tourists, of course – it was everything we imagined it to be.’
‘And we found Dario’s restaurant,’ Barney put in, stopping Jade from having to ask. ‘He sends his love.’
‘Thanks, Barney.’ Jade was glad there were no hard feelings and that Dario had welcomed her friends. She hoped he’d find whatever it took to make him happy. ‘We had a lovely meal,’ Barney went on. ‘His nonna talked non-stop.’
Jade was confused. ‘She doesn’t speak a lot of English.’
‘No, she doesn’t, but that didn’t stop her.’ He pretended to be exasperated but Jade knew he would’ve loved every second. The man thrived on company and it’s likely he would’ve been enthralled with the Italian dialogue plus the odd English word or gesture thrown in.
‘We’re both exhausted now,’ said Lois, ‘so we’ve got one hour to put our feet up before we head down to the cove.’
‘You don’t mind the welcome-home party?’ Celeste worried.
‘Never, I’ve missed everyone,’ cried Barney and with that he waved a goodbye and set off down The Street with Lois.
