The same young girl as when she’d called in before was sitting behind the shop counter. She greeted Tammy with a warm smile when she saw her. ‘Hello again. Have you come to replenish your stock?’
Tammy glanced around the shop quickly, looking for Pharis, but he wasn’t there. There was just a middle-aged woman talking with a couple of the same age. Tammy walked towards the counter. Returning the smile. ‘Hello—’ she squinted her eyes as she studied the name tag, ‘—Ruby. Yes, I need stock for my tearoom, but I need extra this time because I promised Reverend Townsend I’d make a batch of cupcakes for the barbeque I’ve been invited to at the farm on Sunday.’
‘Ah-ha! Are you Tammy from the tearoom? The woman my son has done nothing but talk about for the past two weeks?’ said a voice from behind her. Tammy spun around to see the woman who had been talking to the couple walking towards her.
Comprehension at what she’d said suddenly made Tammy feel as if lava was bubbling underneath the surface of her cheeks. ‘Erm yes, I’m Tammy.’ The woman was either the mother of Declan or Pharis, but considering where she was and Pharis’ Mediterranean colouring, there was a 99.9% chance the woman standing in front of her was his mum.
‘I’m the one who invited you to the farm’s annual barbecue...I’m Pamela, Pharis’s mum.’
‘Oh Pamela. It’s so lovely to meet you.’
Tammy extended her hand, which Pamela took in a warm and firm handshake. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Tammy. My, you’re just as lovely as my son described.’
Tammy couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered. ‘Pharis has been talking about me to you?’
Pamela chuckled, a twinkle in her eyes. ‘Oh, he can’t stop talking about the tearoom and how you’ve breathed new life into it... And, well, maybe a few other things too. Goodness, he must have spent three days solid making the sign for it.’ Tammy’s cheeks flushed deeper, and she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘I hope he’s been saying good things.’
Pamela grinned. ‘He has nothing but praise for your hard work, Tammy.’ She then leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ‘Phil, my husband and I actually knew your parents—Nicola and Chris.’
Tammy’s eyes widened with surprise. ‘You did?’
‘Yes,’ Pamela replied, her gaze drifting to a distant memory. ‘Your parents first saw each other in The Cheese Wedge and Pickles, but they got to know each other better here on the farm. Your father was a handsome young man who came to work here. Your mum lived in Seagull Bay, so when the annual summer bar-b-q was held, and Nicola was the woman chosen to be auctioned off for an hour-long date for charity, your father bid alongside the local men. It was quite a to-do. You see, because your father lived outside the community, everyone put their penny’s worth in saying it shouldn’t be allowed—someone from outside the community entering the auction that is. Much like these days, the community sticks together. Nothing has changed in that respect. The downside is, they all still put their penny’s worth in.’
Tammy was captivated by the story. She had always wondered about her parents’ early years, and this was a piece of their history even her Uncle Ben didn’t know. ‘Wow.’
‘Anyway, it was quite the event. Your father bid fiercely, and in the end, he won. Your mother had to spend an hour with him on a date at the barbecue. That was it. The love spell had been cast over both of them. After that, they were inseparable. Phil and I became very good friends with them. We used to double date. I’ve actually got some photos somewhere. I’ll find them out and bring them to the barbecue.’
Pamela continued, ‘Your mother’s parents didn’t quite approve of your father back then. They thought he was an outsider, you see. Your great uncle Ben used to stick up for your father, but they still wouldn’t accept him. But your father, he was determined. He even proposed in front of the whole community the following year at the next barbecue.’
Tammy’s eyes sparkled with interest. ‘Proposed at the barbecue auction?’
Pamela nodded. ‘Yes, it was quite the event. Your father not only won your mother’s heart that day he won the hearts of the whole community. I guess that’s why they all went to their wedding.’
Tammy couldn’t help but smile at the romantic tale. ‘That’s a wonderful story.’
Pamela winked. ‘Love has a way of finding its path, even when there are obstacles. It’s a lesson I’ve seen play out in the lives of many who live here.’
As they chatted further about her parents and the farm, Tammy felt an even deeper connection to her roots and a sense of nostalgia. Pamela’s stories filled in some of the gaps in her understanding of her family’s history, and it was a gift she hadn’t expected.
When it was time to leave the farm shop, Tammy said her goodbyes to Pamela and Ruby, promising to bring the cupcakes for the upcoming barbecue.
Outside, Mina was waiting in her car. Arms full of ingredients for her cakes, Tammy could just about see over the top of them. As she approached Mina’s car, she noticed a familiar car pulling up not far from them. Her stomach clenched into a tight ball. It was her ex-boyfriend. Panic surged through her veins. She hadn’t seen him since their breakup, and she certainly hadn’t expected to encounter him now—not here.
Tammy quickly ducked down beside Mina’s car, her heart pounding. The window on the passage side whirred down. ‘Tammy, are you alright? What are you doing down there?’
‘Mina, it’s Richi,’ she whispered urgently.
Mina glanced at her with concern. ‘Richi? Who is Richi? Are you hiding down there from him?’
‘Richi is my ex. How did he find me here?’
Mina gasped. ‘Youarehiding? Are you in some sort of victim protection programme?’
‘No. Nothing like that.’ Tammy whispered. ‘Has he seen me?’
‘I don’t think so. He’s going into the shop.’
Tammy quickly climbed into the car, putting her purchases into the footwell. She looked over at Richi’s car. He was nowhere to be seen. ‘Quick. Go into the shop Mina and see what he wants!’
