Tammy swiped away the brimming tears before Evelyn walked back in, leaving a crimson streak of lipstick mixed in with silver-grey eyeshadow on the back of her hand. Her mind was made up. She’d find somewhere cheap to rent until she found a job—even if it meant draining the last of her measly savings.
Her hands bunched into fists by her sides as she thought about how naïve she’d been in letting Richi talk her into puttingonlyhis name on the lease of the apartment and on the bank account of the baking business they’d startedtogether.
She’d vowed to herself six months ago, as she sat on her pile of belongings outside the apartment she helped pay for, that it would never happen again. She’d been such a naïve fool—but never again. Once bitten, twice shy, that was her new motto.
Evelyn’s breathless voice from out in the hall pulled her from her trance. ‘Bye Tammy, I’m in a rush so I’ll see you later!’
Tammy turned to look at the door and tried to call out a reply past the lump that had formed in her throat. ‘Yes, see you—’ the front door slammed shut, ‘—later.’
A beep from her phone alerted her to a calendar event reminder. Taking one last look at her reflection, she sighed and turned around, her eyes scanning the sitting room for her handbag because little Toby had a habit of hiding it. Thankfully, today wasn’t one of those times. She spotted the strap sticking out from the side of her couch-bed.
Pulling her mobile from her bag, Tammy’s gut tightened at the thought of receiving an alert for anything related to her lost business. When her life was flying high, she’d pre-set months of business-related alerts on her phone calendar, but since Richi had done the dirty on her, anything concerning him and the business made her feel anxious, so she was still yet to go through her calendar and delete them.
All her friends felt the same way regarding Richi and her lost business. They’d dutifully stood by her side and had boycotted the bakery shop after what Richi did to her. She knew there was no way of claiming back what she’d lost, but it didn’t stop her from not caring about her lost business—but not him—he was a pig.
Tapping in her passcode, the home screen flickered on, showing her screen saver as a lovely tropical beach scene. Less than six months ago it had been a photo of Richi and her standing side-by-side with cheesy smiles planted on their faces, a cupcake in each of their hands as they held them up high in front of their new store, marking the celebration of their opening day. The memory was now bittersweet.
Tammy swiped the screen away and opened her calendar. ‘Wish Great Uncle Ben a happy seventy-ninth birthday,’ she said aloud. She barely knew her great-uncle, but he was the only living relative who kept in touch with her. Her only living grandparents hadn’t even bothered to lay claim to her after her parent’s untimely deaths. They’d never once visited her at her foster homes.
Tammy was non-the-wiser when she was a child, but it troubled her as she got older and was mature enough to understand the dynamics of the family. She’d dissected herself and wondered what was wrong with her that they’d not wanted anything to do with her—never keeping in touch—especially as her Great-Uncle Ben was the only one to have ever sent her birthday cards.
Tammy searched for Ben’s number and hit speed dial. The ringtone purred away, sending Tammy into another dream-like trance. It always took Ben ages to get to the phone. Tammy supposed it was because of his age. Tammy thought of her great-uncle Ben as she waited for him to answer.
The first time she’d ever spoken to him was on her thirteenth birthday when her foster mother had called up to her in her room as she was doing her homework to say that her uncle was on the phone. How surprised she’d been to speak to him in person. Up until then, he’d been just a name on a card and averywelcome ten-pound note, which he never missed gifting her throughout her childhood, increasing to twenty pounds when she’d turned sixteen. In return, she’d send him a birthday card, which also turned into an annual telephone call to wish him many happy returns after that surprise thirteenth birthday call.
‘Hello. Who is this?’
Tammy’s lips curled into a smile on hearing her Uncle Ben’s rugged voice. He’d answered the phone with the same question for the last fourteen years since they’d began their annual calls.
‘Happy birthday, Great-Uncle Ben. It’s Tammy.’
‘Ah, Tammy...what a lovely surprise. I was just thinking of you as I served Pippa with her morning fish order. She’s around the same age as you, maybe a year or two older.’
Tammy couldn’t keep the astonishment from her voice. ‘You’re working today, Uncle Ben? Even on your birthday?’
Ben’s soft laugh spread much-needed warmth around Tammy’s heart. ‘There’s no rest for an old seadog like me. Besides, who would serve the local community their fish if I didn’t? The fish they buy from supermarkets is rubbish compared to the fresh catches I sell.’ Tammy chuckled. ‘I’ve been thinking Tammy. It would be lovely to see you. I know you have your own busy life, but I have a spare bedroom if you ever want to visit...or even holiday here. You can stay as long as you like,’ he paused. ‘Or if you don’t feel comfortable staying with me, Pippa’s family owns a hotel here in Seagull Bay. I’m sure I can bargain a deal with her.’
Tammy sucked in a ragged breath, holding back her tears. It was as if her parents were trying to help her from the other side. She swallowed past the new lump which had miraculously appeared in her throat. ‘Yes... I’d really like that Uncle Ben. I’d love to come and visit and stay with you.’
She heard him chuckle with relief. ‘That is music to my old ears, lass. When shall I expect to see you?’
Tammy hesitated. ‘Is tomorrow too soon?’ she asked, biting her bottom lip, nervous for his answer.
‘Not soon enough, my dear girl.’ Tears trickled down her cheeks. ‘I’ll put clean bedding on in the spare bedroom.’
‘I’m really looking forward to meeting you, Uncle Ben. Is there anything you’d especially like to receive for your birthday gift? A bottle of whiskey perhaps?’
‘The only gift that will hold any meaning for me is seeing your lovely face, lass. I must go. Someone is calling from the hut to be served. Bye lass, see you tomorrow.’
The lump in her throat had doubled in size and Tammy just about squeezed out her reply. ‘Bye Uncle Ben.’
Tammy ended the call feeling brighter than she had in months. She sighed happily. She hadn’t baked since her split from Richi, but now she was filled with hope and optimism, and, bubbling with excitement, she realised she wanted to bake again. This would be the first time she’d baked in six months. She was going to bake a birthday cake for Ben and a batch of cupcakes for Evelyn as a thank you.
An impish grin lit up her face. She’d decorate Toby’s cake with icing to match the surprise makeover he’d given her whilst sleeping.
