Page 58 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

‘You’re not going to be riding it,’ Beth told her.

‘Then what?’ asked Hannah, confused.

‘Here it is,’ announced Lily, with a flourish, bringing out a large blackboard which had been hidden around the corner out of sight.

Beth brought out some twine and after a short while, the sign was fixed on the side of the bicycle.

Hannah moved around to view what it said. ‘The Boathouse Café. Come for the delicious cakes and tea, stay for the amazing views.’

She looked up at her friends. ‘Who did this?’ she asked, delighted.

‘I designed it,’ said Lily.

‘I chose the colour,’ added Beth.

‘And I wrote the sign because I’ve got the neatest handwriting,’ said Ella.

‘Yes, and let us do the painting,’ said Beth, holding up her fingers which were covered in blue paint.

‘I like to view myself as more management material rather than a labourer,’ said Ella with a grin.

‘So?’ asked Beth, turning to look at Hannah. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think it’s lovely,’ began Hannah. ‘Thank you.’

‘Why can I hear a “but” in that sentence?’ asked Ella, frowning.

Hannah shrugged. ‘It looks great. Honestly. I’m just a bit nervous, that’s all. What if someone doesn’t like one of my cakes?’

‘Then so what?’ asked Ella. ‘You can’t keep everyone happy 100 per cent of the time. Say someone doesn’t like carrot cake. It doesn’t mean that it’s not a great carrot cake, just not for them. That’s not a criticism. That’s just a personal preference. Like the way that I don’t like wearing pink. Just me. Nothing against Beth’s skirt which looks great on you, by the way.’

‘Isn’t it fab?’ asked Beth, looking down at her fuchsia miniskirt. ‘Found it in a charity shop at the weekend.’

‘You’ll have to be careful when you sit down,’ said Ella, with a grin. ‘Unless of course you’re looking for your next Mr Right Now, that is.’

‘Oh, stop,’ said Beth, blushing. ‘I told you that Jeremy and I are made for each other.’

Beth had quickly moved on after her relationship with Brad had been as disastrous as all her other romances.

Lily grimaced. ‘That guy from your work? He’s a bit old for you, isn’t he?’

Beth shook her head. ‘Not at all,’ she said briskly. ‘Besides, he’s so much more mature than my other boyfriends.’

‘So mature he’ll be needing a bus pass,’ muttered Ella before holding up her hand. ‘OK. I surrender. Go in peace with your old fella.’

Beth rolled her eyes.

‘Anyway,’ said Lily, looking back at Hannah. ‘Back to the matter in hand. I know what it’s like when someone criticises your work. It happened all the time when I was designing someone’s interior. It doesn’t mean that you’re no good, just that they don’t share the same taste as you.’

‘Literally in this case,’ added Beth.

‘So you need to grow a rhinoceros skin,’ said Ella.

‘Not necessarily,’ said Lily. ‘Hannah can’t change completely who she is.’

‘I hate that you’ve got no confidence in yourself,’ said Beth, coming over to give her a hug. ‘Especially because you’re so amazing.’

Hannah shrugged off the praise almost immediately. ‘Yes, but…’ she began.