Page 58 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Maisy peered at the page too. ‘Why?’

Oh my, who was going to tell a five-year-old what a ‘dick’ meant? Awkward moment alert.

Eve gave Rachel a cross-eyed look, trying so hard not to laugh.

‘Just Grandad being a naughty boy, writing on Granny’s recipe sheet, and spoiling it.’ Well, it was mostly the truth.

The girls giggled innocently, with Maisy shouting out, ‘Ice creams’, whilst pretending to lick her lips.

‘Oh yes, we can use the local Doddington’s Dairy ones,’ Jill replied. ‘And pair the best flavours with the puddings.’

‘Keeping it local is such a good idea, Mum, yes,’ Rachel agreed. ‘I think we need something savoury on the menu too, so people can have a lunch or brunch option. Not too many choices, as we obviously want the puddings to be the stars. But say some nice local ham sandwiches, and chutney with Northumberland cheeses, or we could use our own eggs from the farm for Eggs Benedict. People love the home-grown touch.’

‘Or smoked salmon from the Tweed with Primrose Farm scrambled eggs on toast,’ Eve added. ‘That’d be delicious, and keeping it local is an excellent idea. It supports our area and it’s what holiday makers want to taste.’

‘We can use local bread from the Kirkton Bakery too,’ said Jill.

‘Absolutely. I’m loving all this already. The menu’s going to be amazing,’ enthused Rachel.

A little while later, when the flow of ideas was beginning to wane, and the flapjacks were being passed around for the second time, there was a knock on the farmhouse door.

Rachel went to answer it. ‘Oh … Tom, hi.’

‘Just dropping off that push mower you needed.’

‘Ah, right, thanks.’ Rachel found herself blushing. She had finally gathered her nerve the next day after that Poldark moment, and had gone back to find Tom fully clothed in a boiler suit and treating a sheep with flystrike for maggots. That scenario was far easier to handle, though she hadn’t quite forgotten the image from the previous day – still hadn’t, in fact.

‘Oh … well, that’s great. Ah … umm …’

‘You okay?’

‘Yes, fine.’ Her words were clipped; she was aware of trying way too hard to sound normal. ‘Yep, come on in for a second. We’ve quite a gathering here actually.’

‘Hi all.’ Tom poked his head into the kitchen. ‘So, what’s all this in aid of?’

‘We’re having brainstorms,’ Maisy announced seriously.

‘For the Pudding Pantry menu,’ Jill explained further.

‘But we don’t have any boy ideas yet, do we Mummy? Can Tom join in?’

‘I don’t see why not. That’s actually a great idea, Maisy. You can be the token male, Tom. As well as Moss.’ Rachel added, smiling, ‘Who has already advised that he’d be happy to eat the lot.’

‘Mummy, don’t be so silly, Moss can’t talk …’ Maisy crossed her arms, whilst shaking her head.

Rachel laughed. ‘So, erm, would you like a coffee, Tom? I mean, I don’t want to keep you … you’re probably busy …’

‘No, that would be great, I can stay a little while.’ He pulled out the last chair. ‘I’ll get my thinking cap on. Hmm, what would I like to eat at your delicious Pudding Pantry? Obviously, that amazing sticky toffee one.’

‘That was the first pud mentioned,’ Jill responded.

‘Ah, okay, what else have we got so far then?’

Jill read out the list.

‘I’d devour all of that, no questions asked.’

‘Not all in one go?’ Maisy asked, astounded.