Page 95 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Chapter 39

BEST IN SHOW

Back at the food tent there was a building sense of expectation amongst the stallholders, with the gates due to open in half an hour. Jill was ready with her pinafore on and a broad smile in place, stood proudly behind their stand.

‘Best of luck, Mum. Call if you need anything.’

‘Will do, thanks, love. And, I’ll nip back to the farm as soon as Eve comes to take over. Jan’s all ready to give me a lift. Oh, any news from Jake, yet?’ Mum lowered her voice. Maisy was over at the chocolate shop stand chatting away with Emma.

‘No … he bloody well promised her, Mum. I’ll be so damned cross with him if he doesn’t turn up today.’ Maisy still lived in hope, hanging onto Jake’s every word like it was precious. He hadn’t been back to see her since their opening week in mid-July, and it was now the end of August.

‘Well, there’ll be lots to entertain her today, so let’s hope she’s not too disappointed if he doesn’t show.’

He might just turn up out of the blue, or he might have found something far more interesting to do this weekend than see his little girl, like going after a new woman or watching a motorbike rally. Dipping in and out of her life when it suited him was no way of being a dad, and not what Maisy needed at all. Up until the last, Rachel’s own dad had always been there for her. Well, there was a slim chance that Jake might yet turn up and make Maisy’s day, but Rachel wasn’t holding out a lot of hope for that. A quick glance at her watch told Rachel it was nearly ten-thirty. It was time for her and Maisy to whizz back to the farm.

The rest of the morning back at the Pudding Pantry was steady but not overly busy; no doubt some of their usual customers would be at the show. Maisy kept herself occupied with a colouring book, pencils and a small pack of chocolate buttons, now and again helping to serve. Rachel let her carry a plated slice of cake across to an elderly couple whilst she took the hot drinks.

‘My little helper for the school holidays,’ Rachel explained.

‘You’re doing a grand job.’ The woman smiled. ‘And that cake looks amazing.’

‘My grandma makes them,’ Maisy answered proudly.

‘Well, I wish I could bake like that,’ the lady answered.

The gentleman gave Maisy a friendly wink, adding a cheeky, ‘So do I,’ with a chuckle.

Frank came in for his coffee soon afterwards and ordered a cheese scone. Maisy took the scone across whilst Rachel prepared his drink.

‘Thank you very much. So, little lady, how are you today?’

‘Good, thank you,’ she answered politely, and then proceeded to tell him all about the show, and Grandma being at their pudding stall and the fair rides and farm animals she’d seen there already. Frank slipped her a two-pound coin to spend when she went back that afternoon. Rachel said that he shouldn’t – he’d only be on a small pension for sure – but he insisted. Frank was a regular at the Pantry now; he was a real gent and lovely to chat with, often telling stories of his life in the military.

There was another regular missing again this morning, Rachel realised with some relief. Tom hadn’t called in for his bacon sandwich these last few days, not since their words in the lane. She couldn’t blame him to be honest. It was all so difficult between them. Granny’s words kept echoing in her mind. Had she judged too harshly? She knew she’d upset Tom with her doubts, her anger.

Damn, she should never have let things go so far. Getting romantically involved, as she well knew, came with big risks.

She stared out of the barn window, across the rolling fields towards his farm, and there was an ache inside. She realised she missed him and wondered what might have happened if he hadn’t said anything about her dad. Bugger, it was more than an ache, it was a gaping bloody hole, but life was complicated enough. She had to let those silly romantic notions go. Better to leave well alone. Maybe in a few weeks’ time things would be easier; they could claw back some kind of neighbourly friendship.

‘Excuse me, can I have a refill of coffee?’ It was the gentleman who Maisy had served earlier at the counter. Ooh, she’d been off in a little world of her own there for a moment.

‘Ah yes, of course. No problem.’ She took his cup. ‘I’ll bring it across for you in a moment.’

‘Silly Mummy,’ Maisy muttered. Rachel had to smile.

The morning passed quickly. There was still no news from Jake, no grey van turning up. Maisy hadn’t asked about him again, but Rachel knew she’d still be hoping.

It was just before one o’clock when Jill arrived back at the farm to swap over.

‘How’s it been at the show?’ Rachel asked, curious to find out.

‘Great,’ Jill beamed. ‘It was slowish to start, but then by twelve it was crazy busy. I’ve sold right out of the chocolate puddings and only got two sticky toffees left. You’ll need to take back some more traybakes, brownies and cake slices too. People seem to want something they can eat there and then as well as the puds.’

‘Brilliant, looks like we’re going to be busy then, Maisy. Right, I’ll get the Land Rover loaded up. We don’t want to miss out on any sales at the show.’

‘Maisy, stay close now, darling. I can’t manage to hold your hand.’

The tent was heaving. It was hard to get through the throng of people slowly drifting around the stalls. Rachel raised the boxes of baked goods higher as she pressed on, saying ‘Excuse me’ and ‘Sorry’ as she shifted through the crowd, checking Maisy was still there beside her as she went. The air was warm and it was stuffy in there, with various wafts of food hitting her as she passed different stands: sausages cooking, the ripeness of cheeses, the cocoa richness of sweet chocolate.