Page 52 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Chapter 22

MEMORIES AND MUFFINS

Rachel was flicking through The Baking Bible trying to come up with some new inspirations ready to help out Jill once the Pantry was open, when she heard the rumble of a tractor coming up their track, two days later. She looked out of the kitchen window to see the vehicle stop at the field gate, where Tom leapt out to open it, making his way to the first of her hay fields.

‘It’s Tom,’ she told her mum as she turned from the window.

‘Ah, I guessed so. It’s really good of him to help us out cutting the hay.’

‘Yeah, he’s been great, hasn’t he?’

‘A godsend. Right, well, I’m going to get on with making some more puddings.’ Jill was humming along to the radio as she took out her ingredients. ‘I’m thinking of trialling a selection of mini ones for our launch day actually,’ she added as she began to sift some flour.

‘Ooh, they sound good. So, we get to test out lots of them, a mouthful at a time. Perfect.’

She and Rachel had already discussed holding a launch party once the Pudding Pantry was ready, deciding that it was a must. A gathering of friends, family, their community and hopefully the local press – it’d be a fabulous way to publicise their opening and to thank everyone for their support.

Later that morning, Rachel decided to pop up to the hay field where Tom was working and take him some lunch as a thank you.

She made up some ham sandwiches in fresh white bread, along with a pork pie, a couple of apples, and two mini raspberry and dark chocolate muffins that Jill had baked that morning – now that she’d started up baking again, she was like a woman on a mission!

The field had already been cut and the grass was now being rowed up by the machine behind the tractor. It would dry further over the next few days ready for baling and would be ideal for keeping the sheep and cattle fed through the sparse winter months.

Rachel parked the quad at the top of the bank and waited for Tom to turn and come up the field towards her. The view from here was stunning out across the vivid green summer fields, the rolling hills, the gentle valley with its winding stream, towards an ultramarine glimpse of the North Sea on the horizon. The smell of cut grass was lush and strong. Tom spotted her, gave a quick wave from the cab of his tractor, and after completing two more rows he pulled the vehicle to a halt.

‘Hey,’ he called, as he climbed out. ‘Everything okay?’

‘Yeah fine, just thought I’d bring you some lunch; you’ll need to keep your energy up.’

‘That’s music to my ears. My tummy’s been rumbling for the last half hour. Did you hear it from the farmhouse or something?’ He grinned. ‘Just thought I’d keep cracking on though. Get the job done. But, now you’re here …’

Rachel sat down on the grass verge, taking out the sandwiches from her rucksack. She’d made plenty and helped herself to one too.

Tom sat down beside her. ‘Wow – this is just what I needed.’ He took a hungry bite, then another. Rachel handed him a can of Pepsi too.

‘Cheers, this is brilliant.’

‘Just a bit of a thank you for stepping in with this job. It’s given me some time to go and track down the tables and chairs we needed for the tearoom. I’m all sorted now, so that’s great.’

Yes, she’d seen an ad in the local sales and wants, put in her bid for three sets that a local pub was trying to move on, and found another two in a house clearance – with a lick of paint they’d be perfect.

Tom looked up, taking in the vista before him. ‘What a spot.’

‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it.’ She took a slow breath, remembering. ‘I used to come up here to see Dad. Mum would bring him a picnic, when he was working up in these fields, that’s what made me think of it. He used to do his own hay, back when the machinery was still in reasonable condition, when I was a little girl.’ She smiled at the memory. Happier days.

Tom nodded empathetically. They were both quiet then for a few seconds.

‘Thanks Tom, for doing this. I know you have all your own farm stuff to be getting on with. And, well, thanks for everything these past two years, you’ve been brilliant, really.’ Rachel took a long, slow breath. All the emotions from that fateful day were still so heavy in her heart.

‘No worries. I just want to see that you’re all all right, you know, after everything … You, and your mum and Maisy, you’ve been through one hell of a time.’

Rachel felt a lump form in her throat.

‘I’ll pay you back properly, for all this, Tom.’ They didn’t have much money, but if she could ever give her time or lend a hand back, she’d do it in a heartbeat. At least she was going to do the baling for his two fields.

‘I know you will.’ His dark eyes were kind, his next words heartfelt: ‘I saw what you went through, Rachel. No-one should have had to see what you did that day …’

Rachel found she couldn’t speak. His words taking them back to that horrendous, life-changing moment.