Page 65 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Chapter 27

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

For a little girl whose wishes had finally come true, Maisy didn’t know quite what to do.

A strange man was standing in front of her telling her that he was her daddy. But he wasn’t like the daddies at school or in the park playground. He wasn’t full of hugs and hand-holds and pushes on the swings. He didn’t even have any sweets with him.

‘Hey, Maisy.’ He switched on a smile, as he leaned towards her to ruffle her blonde hair. ‘You okay?’

The little girl nodded shyly from the safe-zone by her mother’s legs, but she didn’t speak.

‘She’s probably just a bit overwhelmed,’ Rachel explained. Aren’t we all? She heard the tension in her own voice as she spoke – strained and mechanical. Her legs were rooted to the spot. She willed her brain into action, to act normally, for Maisy’s sake. ‘We’ve all had a long day with the opening of the barn as a tearoom today. She’s been great helping out, haven’t you, Maisy? So, it’s been a busy day. And, obviously we weren’t expecting you,’ she added pointedly.

‘Got a week off, thought I’d pop up and see my little girl.’

‘Nice of you to let us know you were coming,’ Rachel fired back sarcastically.

‘Ah, it was just one of those last-minute things. You know.’

Rachel didn’t know.

‘Ah, Maisy, why don’t you run along and find Grandma a minute? See if she needs some more help clearing up, sweetie.’

‘Okay.’ Maisy, in her confusion, seemed relieved to go.

The bloody cheek of him. She would never just turn up unannounced to meet a child she hadn’t bothered to see for over two years. In fact, not seeing her own child for two years full stop was too crazy to contemplate. She was hyper-wary of this guy who’d left their lives almost immediately once Maisy was born, bar one or two casual visits. Jake had never been around when the going got tough, and now he had the cheek to turn up unannounced. Yes, she realised he’d have rights as a father, but he certainly hadn’t earned them.

‘Well, are you going to ask me in?’

‘I suppose …’ Rachel’s tone was reluctant as she gestured towards the barn. He’d caught her completely off guard, and she was struggling to make sense of this. ‘A tea, coffee …?’

‘You don’t have a cold beer, do you? I’ve been driving for hours.’

‘Ah, I’m not sure.’ Was he expecting to be waited on? For her to slip back into an old rhythm where she’d do whatever he wanted? Well, if that’s what he thought, he had another think coming. ‘Umn, there’s possibly one over in the farmhouse fridge. But I’m busy just now, I’ll go check in a while.’

She found that she didn’t want to explain exactly why they were busy – about the launch party and their new business – and didn’t want him knowing about their current lives. In fact, she didn’t want him to go strolling into their home fetching himself a beer, either.

‘Actually, I’ll go get that beer now, if you just hang on here a sec …’ She felt distinctly uneasy and glanced about to find Jill, hoping that Maisy had located her grandma. She spotted them and noted the look of surprise and the frown that had formed across her mother’s face at the sight of their unexpected guest.

‘So, are you just up for the week?’ Rachel wanted to clarify just how long her ex might be around.

‘Yeah, something like that.’ As vague and non-committal as ever.

‘Hello, Jake.’ Jill walked over to them after leaving Maisy in Eve’s care. ‘So, you’re back.’

Most of the guests had now left, bar Tom, Eve and her family, and Granny Ruth who was staying the night with them in the spare room. Oh, and of course Jake, who looked rather too comfortable, ensconced on the garden bench with a bottle of lager whilst watching Maisy and Amelia play.

Ben, Eve’s husband, who’d known Jake briefly from their school years, had been across and had a few words with him, but he and Eve were now helping with the clearing up. Rachel stood for a few seconds as she came out of the barn, and watched. She had enough on her plate today without having to make pleasantries with this guy. She really didn’t know how she felt about this new development … extreme unease was probably the overriding emotion just now.

It was such a shock intrusion into her and Maisy’s world, and she had no idea how it might work out. Did Jake now want a part in his daughter’s life? Was it going to be a regular thing? Might he even want Maisy to go and stay or see him wherever he was currently living? It was all too big and uncertain for Rachel to grasp or deal with right now … she was exhausted and emotionally drained after the energy she’d put into today. The Pudding Pantry launch had gone even better than they could have imagined. They were up and running and ready, and the support from their friends and the local community was wonderful. She felt positive and, yes, happy. She would not let Jake, of all people, put a dampener on that.

‘You okay?’ Tom found her where she stood by the farmhouse door.

‘Ah, yes I think so. It’s just been such a full-on day.’

‘Yeah, you and your mum have done brilliantly here. I’m sure it’ll be a success for you, I wish you all the best.’

‘I hope so.’ She was still keeping a close eye on how Maisy was reacting with her dad around. She’d already ‘shown him off’ to Amelia once the initial shyness had faded.

Tom followed Rachel’s gaze. ‘I feel like I know that guy. Your ex by any chance?’

‘Yes. How did you guess?’ Her tone was flat.

‘Just seemed to add up. He hasn’t been around much for Maisy though, has he?’

‘No, not so far, the bloody idiot. I have to admit I kind of liked it that way though.’ The words slipped out. ‘Sorry, that probably sounds really selfish. But if you knew him, how unreliable he is … I just don’t want to see Maisy hurt, that he’ll let her down again.’

‘Yeah, I can understand that.’

She felt Tom’s hand rest gently on her shoulder. It said, ‘I’m here for you,’ or that’s what she imagined right then. It took her back to that moment in the hay field – that connection between them. Was it just friendship? Could it ever be more than that?

Oh, good grief, what was she even thinking? Whoa, there were so many thoughts spinning in her head, she couldn’t begin to sort through them.

‘Right, well I’d better be going then. You take care, Rachel. Well done on today again.’ His glance strayed to Maisy and Jake. ‘And you know where I am if you need anything.’

‘I know. Thank you.’

If only Rachel knew what she needed herself – that might help.