Page 61 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘You’re most welcome, ladies. It’s been a delight working for you, though my waistline has suffered terribly,’ Ian jested. ‘And we wish you the best of luck with the new venture.’

‘You are coming tomorrow, aren’t you? To join in with the launch?’ Jill asked.

‘It’d be great if you can,’ confirmed Rachel.

‘We’ll be starting another job, but it’s local.’ Ian looked at Dan who nodded. ‘But yes, we’ll call in at some point for sure. There might be room for one last brownie.’ He patted his tummy as he gave a grin.

‘That’s great. Thank you again.’ Jill was beaming.

‘Well then, we’ll leave you in peace, ladies.’

‘Yes, there’s plenty for us to be getting on with.’

There was indeed – tonight was going to be all hands on deck!

After a quick supper of bacon and eggs, Rachel and Jill set to it, cleaning and ferrying everything to the barn like their lives depended on it.

After popping Maisy to bed, Rachel came downstairs to find Jill back in the farm’s kitchen baking like a Trojan, fearing that the guest numbers might expand and they’d run out of puddings for the taster plates. (The things most likely to expand, Rachel mused, were the guests’ stomachs, but better too much than too little.)

It was past eleven o’clock when Jill took the last tray of bakes out of the oven. She turned to Rachel, ‘Do you think there’ll be enough, love?’ She looked tired and anxious, bless her.

‘Mum, it’s okay, you’ve done enough. More than enough,’ and Rachel meant everything – not just the baking in these past few months – as she looked proudly across at her brave mother who’d rallied and pulled herself from the depths of her despair.

The two of them looked around the kitchen at the cakes and bakes and puddings all lined up in mouth-watering rows, and there were even more in the fridge threatening a landslide when the fridge door opened.

‘Mum, if a whole army turned up tomorrow, they’d all be well fed.’

‘Time for bed then, love, hey. We’ve a busy day ahead.’

‘Yes, I think so. Sweet dreams, Mum.’

‘You too.’

And they gave each other a heartfelt hug, holding on just a little longer than their usual goodnight.

‘Love you, Mum.’

‘You too, pet.’ Jill gave an emotional sniff.

Tomorrow they’d put the final touches to the Pudding Pantry. It would need to look its best to showcase to the world.

Lying in her bed soon after, telling her busy brain to switch off and get some much-needed sleep, Rachel’s thoughts turned to her dad. She hoped he’d have given his backing for all the changes they were making here at the farm. Of course, she’d never know for sure, but she remembered how he taught her to be brave and bold, to be hard-working, and to be kind. And in her heart, she sensed he’d be cheering them on.