Page 94 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Chapter 38

A PUDDING STALL

The first ever Pudding Pantry stall was ready to roll in the big white food marquee of the Kirkton Country Show. Rachel had had plenty of other things to focus on in the days after seeing Granny Ruth, and she was more than happy to let the pressure of the show distract her.

Their stall was wedged in between ‘The Porkie Pie Man’ and ‘The Chocolate Shop by the Sea’ stand – the chocolates there looked divine, and that stall was so pretty. The other stallholders throughout the tent seemed really friendly, and were selling the most delicious provisions: local cheeses, ice creams, cakes, honey, jams, chutneys, sausages, and more.

Emma, the chocolate stall lady, was lovely. It was her first year there too, she’d said, coming back to the stall with steaming cups of coffee for Rachel and Jill. She also admitted to feeling a little nervous, not knowing quite what to expect.

As well as hoping to have a good day of pudding sales, Rachel and Jill really hoped to raise visibility for the Pudding Pantry, letting both local people plus those from the wider area know where to find them. Rachel had a batch of professional-looking flyers that she’d created herself, ready to distribute around the show.

They had a Pudding Pantry sign strung up behind them – a new portable wooden plaque that Eve had made and hand-painted especially – and a mini blackboard that Rachel had carefully chalked up with a price list of all the puddings and bakes for sale. There was a table-top fridge (borrowed from the lovely Brenda at the Deli) with the chilled puddings in, set upon a green checked tablecloth, with more puddings stored in cool boxes below the table to top up from. Jill had also made a selection of traybakes – Malteser-flavour and rocky road being the most mouth-watering – along with chocolate brownies and a variety of cupcakes.

They hadn’t wanted to lose custom back at the Pudding Pantry on the farm either with it being the August bank holiday weekend, so they’d decided that Rachel would head back with Maisy for the morning shift, once the stall was set up. Eve, who had her own stall in the craft tent, would cover an hour over the lunchtime for Jill and Rachel to swap over, with Ben assuring he’d give her a hand to cover her own stall.

Jill and Rachel had been baking for days now, putting in lots of early mornings and late nights. The Country Show event was very much trial and error but they were feeling positive. They still needed a big boost and were willing to try anything – the Pudding Pantry had brought in a nice steady income so far, but not quite a bank-balance altering flow.

The show officially opened to the public at 11 a.m., and before they set off back to the farm for the Pantry morning shift, Rachel had a chance to take Maisy around the various tents. The Kirkton Country Show was a fabulous end-of-summer event that had been held for over one hundred years. Traditionally, the farmers had gathered to show their finest animals, their tractor skills, sheepdog trials, with the women of the WI active with baking, flower arranging displays and more. As they weaved through the various stalls, it felt good to know that they were a small part of a bigger history – the show was a huge source of pride in the local area.

Baking was still a large part of the proceedings today. Rachel had eventually convinced Jill to enter her sticky toffee pudding into the ‘Best Baked Pudding’ category. She had been hesitant to put herself forward, in case her pudding didn’t even get a mention in the top three, but Rachel was sure it would get a place. After all, Jill had been making the best ever puddings for years. She could see it now: ‘Best in Show’ and ‘Prize-Winning Puddings’ on the Pudding Pantry counter. But she was careful not to share her hopes with her mum, not wanting to add any further pressure.

Jill had also persuaded Rachel to enter her carrot cake in the ‘Cake Made with Any Vegetable’ category. Okay, so it hadn’t gone down too well with the abominable Vanessa P-P at the launch party, but then not a lot did. This prize was judged by members of the show committee, and it was Rachel’s own small chance to shine. Jill ensured she gave her a tip or two when she made the cake yesterday back in the farmhouse kitchen. And, as they say, the proof of the pudding …

As Rachel and Maisy passed the horticultural and industrial tent where the bakes would be judged, the flap doors were closed with a small sign that read ‘Tent Closed. Judging in Progress’. Rachel’s heart gave a little anxious skip. How would she and Jill have done? Who would be claiming the red, heart-brimming, first prize rosettes?

Moving on past this big marquee, there were coffee cabins, fish and chip stalls, ice-cream vans, tractors and quads for sale, and all kinds of new, shiny and impressive agricultural machinery. They were headed for the craft tent, where Eve was running her stall. They eventually spotted it, over near the fair rides. Rachel promised Maisy a go on the ‘Tea Cups’ later on when they were back that afternoon.

It felt like they were entering an Aladdin’s cave of arts and crafts in this marquee, with jewellery, woodwork, paintings, photography, and ooh, there was Eve’s stall all set out beautifully – with her trademark soft toys, plaques, cards, knits and hearts and stars.

‘Wow – this looks amazing, Eve. You must have spent hours and hours making this lot, for sure.’

‘Yeah, there’ve been some late nights for me and sore fingers with all the stitching and knitting, but I’m pleased with it all. Let’s just hope it sells.’

‘Well, I hope it goes really well for you today, hun.’

‘And for you, too. How’s it going over in the food tent?’

‘Great, we’ve got Grandma Jill all set up, haven’t we, Maisy? Just hard to know what to expect customer-wise.’

‘Yes, last year I did pretty well, which is why I’m back, but you never quite know. And it costs a fair bit to get a stand, so you have to cover that much at least.’

‘Well, good luck!’

‘Yes, you too. Let’s hope they all love puddings, soft toys and crafts. And I’m still fine to cover at lunchtime for you. I’ve got my mobile on me if you need anything else too. Oh and yes, once Ben’s free this afternoon he said he’s happy to take Amelia and Maisy around the show for a while.’

‘My daddy’s coming too,’ Maisy piped up. She hadn’t forgotten the promise that Jake had made on their last phone call.

Yes, Jake had finally called back a week ago now. He and Maisy had had a five-minute chat with Maisy telling him excitedly all about the show. He was meant to be coming up for the whole bank holiday weekend, but with Saturday and Sunday already having whizzed by, well, Rachel was doubtful to say the least. They’d heard nothing more from him since, and Rachel’s texts had gone unanswered.

‘Oh, well that’s lovely, Maisy,’ Eve said, trying to sound upbeat. She looked at Rachel questioningly though, sharing her friend’s doubts.

Rachel pulled a face, silently mouthing, ‘Not heard from him since,’ whilst shaking her head in frustration.

‘Right, well then,’ she continued out loud. ‘We’d better get back to Grandma at the stall, and then head home where you can be my top Pudding Pantry waitress this morning. Say goodbye to Eve.’

‘By-ee,’ Maisy said, with a cheerful wave.

‘See you later.’