‘Oh… right,’ I mumbled. ‘You’re the builder.’
He nodded. ‘I need the side gates opening so I can get around the back. Mr Baxter assured me there would be someone here.’
‘Side gates? What do I need to do?’
‘Open them… perhaps?’
My cheeks had become red hot. With a flick of my hair, I turned on my heel, grabbed my boots from inside the hall, shoved my feet into them, pulled on my coat and stormed past him.’
‘What are you doing?’ He asked.
‘Opening the gates for you,’ I snapped.
He arched his eyebrow a second time. ‘They’re electric. You press a button… inside the house.’
To my relief, Layla appeared in the doorway, with Zac on her hip. ‘Rachel, I’ll show you.’
Without looking at him I stormed back into the house and followed Layla. ‘That man is so rude,’ I snapped.
Layla turned to me and grinned. ‘Your face is as red as your pyjamas. I can see he’s pressed all your buttons.’
Once the gates had been opened, I stomped upstairs to get a shower, wash my hair, and put some clothes on so that I could go find Humphrey.
Grandpa joined me in the search for Humphrey. It felt like the filmGroundhog Day;however this time the snow had melted away. ‘I bet he’s gone back to that builder’s cottage,’ I said as we crawled along the gravel drive.
We drove back and forth past the three little cottages peering out to see whether we could see Humphrey again but there was no sign. Once in the village, I parked up and we searched up and down the high street. There was no sign of him. The third shop was a bakery with a small café out the back. ‘Do you fancy a cuppa, Grandpa?’
He nodded and we stepped inside. Grandpa went to sit down, and I approached the counter. The young man behind the counter grinned at me. ‘Hello, what can I get you?’
‘One tea and a flat white please.’ I surveyed the rows of freshly baked loaves of bread and crusty rolls to the right of him. ‘Your bread smells fantastic. Can I buy one of your sourdough loaves?’
He smiled. ‘Thanks. I can’t take credit for the bread as that’s all my wife’s handiwork. I’m the barista of this fine establishment. Are you visiting? I know most of the regulars, but I haven’t seen you in here.’
‘Grandpa and I are dog sitting over Christmas for my sister. Her dog escaped this morning and we’re out looking for him.’
The man smiled and began making my coffee on the silver machine behind him. ‘Leave me your dog’s details and I will watch out for him.’ He reached over and grabbed a brown paper bag and a pen. ‘Write your name and a contact number plus a description of your sister’s dog.’
I scribbled down my details and a description of Humphrey. ‘Her dog has a reputation for escaping so this could be a regular occurrence.’
‘Who is your sister?’
‘Maddie Baxter.’
He cast me an odd look. ‘You’re Maddie Baxter’s sister?’
‘Yes, why?’
With a shrug, he went back to his coffee machine. Once he’d made my coffee, he took out a black circular tray and placed the loaf on it, along with Grandpa’s teapot. ‘You’re new to Harp Brook?’
I nodded. ‘Yes. Maddie and her husband have gone away for Christmas. This bakery café of yours is fabulous. I think Grandpa and I will enjoy coming here. We’re looking for things to do so if you have any ideas…’
The man presented me with the card machine. I tapped my card. ‘Word of advice,’ he said, ‘stay away from the landlady in the pub down the hill. It’s calledThe Harp Brook Inn, and she’s called Vanessa.’
‘Why?’
He shrugged. ‘She’s not a fan of your sister’s husband and she’s not one to hide her feelings.’ Leaning against the counter he placed my coffee on the tray, plus a milk jug and an empty cup and saucer for Grandpa.
‘Oh, I see.’
