Chapter four
Tammy was nervous aboutentering The Cheese Wedge and Pickles. She didn’t know why. But, once inside, her gut warning made sense, because as soon as Ben stepped into the lounge of the pub, the entire room called out in chorus. ‘Happy birthday Ben!’
Tammy smiled self-consciously by his side as men approached Ben to shake his hand and women kissed him on the cheek. Oliver came from behind the bar and walked over to them with a dazzling smile.
‘It’s nice to see you in here, Ben. I don’t think you’ve been into the pub yet since Pippa and I bought it.’ He turned to look at Tammy. ‘Well done for persuading him. I didn’t think you would.’
Tammy smiled back. ‘He was trying to get out of it, but he said he’d come for an hour.’
A pretty woman with long brown hair joined Oliver at his side. Oliver slid his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. ‘Tammy, this is my fiancé, Pippa. Pippa, this is the owner of that enormous mouth-watering cake in the kitchen’s refrigerator. This is Ben’s great-niece.’
Pippa’s face lit up. ‘Tammy. Wow! Ben mentions you often when I go to buy my fish from him.’
Tammy’s heart swelled at the knowledge she was so special to her uncle that he would talk about her to other people.
Tammy chatted with Pippa, immediately taking a liking to her warm, bubbly personality. Someone touched Tammy’s elbow and Pippa smiled at them. ‘Good evening, Katherine. Have you found anyone to rent your café yet?’
Tammy turned around to greet Katherine. ‘Ah, Katherine. I’m so glad you came.’
‘Good evening, ladies.’ Katherine smiled at them both and then turned to look at Ben who was sipping a pint of stout and talking to someone on his left, but he hadn’t noticed her arrival. She turned her attention back to Pippa and glanced at Tammy as she answered. ‘I’ve had two enquiries so far, Pippa.’
Pippa sighed happily. ‘Ah, that’s good.’ She placed a hand on the top of Katherine’s arm and squeezed. ‘You’ll soon be back with your mum. Excuse me, ladies, I can see Oliver waving his arms at me like an octopus. I think he needs some help behind the bar. It’s busier in here than normal.’ Pippa strode off towards the bar.
Tammy offered Katherine a seat and they sat down together. Ben’s face lit up when he saw Katherine. ‘Good evening, Katherine my dear. Can I get you a drink?’
‘Evening Ben. I’d love a sloe gin with lemonade, please.’
Ben looked at Tammy. ‘Tammy? Do you want another one?’
‘Another white wine please, Uncle Ben.’
‘Coming right up.’
Tammy watched her uncle make his way to the bar, the standing customers moving to the side to let him pass. She smiled to herself. She could see how much he was well-liked and respected.
‘I have great news!’ Katherine announced, her eyes twinkling. ‘The other interested party backed out of leasing my café. So, if you’re still interested, it’s yours.’
Tammy could hardly contain her excitement. ‘I’m definitely still interested, Katherine.’
‘Is that what you do, Tammy? Are you a chef?’
Tammy grimaced and lifted her shoulders. ‘Not a chef...I’m a baker. I own—’ She stopped to correct herself. ‘—Until recently, I owned a bakery. I know it’s not quite the same thing, but my heart is in catering—whatever food I might serve.’
‘Well, if you decide to rent my café, you can serve whatever food you like. It will be your business.’
Tammy’s tummy came alive with invisible butterflies. She hadn’t felt the flutter of excitement and hope for a long time. ‘I really am interested Katherine, but what is the rental amount?’
‘With the bills added in with the rent, it will be three hundred pounds per week,’ Katherine replied.
Tammy’s face fell slightly, and so did the invisible butterflies in her tummy. With the savings she had, she could only cover half that amount for the first month.
Ben appeared at the table at the tail end of the conversation as he placed the drinks down in front of the ladies. Seeing Tammy’s disappointment, he placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Don’t you worry about a small thing like money. I’ll gladly cover the whole rent for the month. Keep what you have for stock. You’ll be doing both Katherine and the community a favour by taking on the café.’
Tammy looked up into her uncle’s kind blue eyes and shook her head. ‘I can’t possibly take your money Uncle Ben. No, I-I’ll sort it out one way or another.’
Her uncle’s grip on her shoulder tightened slightly. ‘No. I insist. Please don’t say no. You did ask me what I wanted for my birthday, and this is my birthday wish—to help you out.’
Tammy’s mouth curled into a smile. ‘You’ve got me there uncle.’ She jumped to her feet and wrapped her arms around him, enveloping him in a warm embrace. ‘If you’re sure, Uncle Ben. I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.’
