Page 3 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Oh well, better to be prepared,’ Eve grinned.

‘Exactly,’ called Jill from the cab.

‘Oh, and there’s one last thing, there’s a lasagne all made ready on the kitchen side. If you could bring that out for me, Rach …?’

‘Really? Oh, wow, that sounds delicious.’

‘Well, I was making one for Ben and the girls to have, so I thought I’d double up. So, tonight’s supper in our cosy lodge is sorted.’

‘Aw, that’s brilliant.’

With the back of the Land Rover finally loaded, Eve jumped in, ready for the off.

‘Sorted?’ asked Rachel. ‘Sure you’ve got everything?’ she added wryly.

‘Yep, sorted!’

‘Great stuff, this is exciting isn’t it,’ added Jill with a wide grin.

‘Let’s hit the road,’ announced Rachel from the driver’s seat.

Within twenty minutes, they were over the Scottish border and winding their way along country roads, through rolling hills. The Land Rover climbed and the moorland road peaked to give them a view down over the city of Edinburgh and the wide grey Firth of Forth. The traffic began to get busier as they skirted the city on the bypass heading for Glasgow. The Land Rover was rattling on well – so far so good.

An hour later on the motorway near Glasgow, they saw a services sign.

‘Anyone else ready for a wee stop?’ chirped Eve. ‘I’ve been holding on for a while.’

‘Sounds a good idea. And a nice cup of coffee wouldn’t go amiss,’ replied Jill.

‘Oh yes, a latte is calling,’ added Rachel, flicking the indicator on.

The services car park looked busy as they pulled to a stop, with people scurrying in and out of their cars like ants. For a second, Rachel wondered where their varied lives were taking them, what journeys they were making today – the holidays planned, family visits, the trips to work. It was a world away from the peace and quiet of Primrose Farm in the Cheviot Hills.

Jill moved to gather her handbag from the footwell, just as Eve exclaimed, ‘Ooh my, eyes at two o’clock, ladies.’

‘What?’ Rachel looked around frantically. ‘Oh, I see.’ Rachel’s mouth hung open, just as Jill moved quickly to see what the fuss was about, managing to bang her head on the dashboard. The younger girls giggled.

‘Ah …’ Jill had clocked what they were staring at now, taking in the guy in the white van parked opposite them who was removing his T-shirt, oblivious to their ogling. He revealed a rather toned and tanned bare chest.

Jill began rubbing the back of her head. ‘Crikey, I haven’t seen a body like that in a long while.’ She quirked an eyebrow.

‘Mu-um …’

‘What do you mean, Mu-um? You two are thinking the same, I’m sure.’

Actually, Rachel had seen a body like that rather recently, and was very much looking forward to getting married so she could see it every night. Her gorgeous Tom Watson.

The man had now peeled off and discarded one T-shirt to replace it with another.

‘Hmm, well, you don’t get to see that every day,’ added Eve cheekily. ‘It’s a bit like that old Coca-Cola advert, do you remember?’

‘Hah, yes. Probably not PC any more, but guaranteed to put a smile on a girl’s face.’

They grinned, grabbed their bags, and got down out of the Land Rover, at the very same time that Mr T made his exit from his van. He fired them a broad smile across the car park, before strolling towards the services entrance. The girls were happy to follow those long legs and pert buttocks, sneaking a glance at each other and then erupting into a fit of the giggles, suddenly feeling like teenagers again.

‘And so, the hen do begins,’ announced Eve chirpily. ‘Not at all a bad start either, ladies.’

After a quick coffee stop, they climbed back into the truck and tucked into the melt-in-the-mouth caramel brownies that Jill had baked as a surprise.