Page 7 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

‘Yes, it’s wonderful here when it’s quiet like this.’ Lucy took in the expanse of golden sandy bay.

‘Mind you, can’t complain, as long as they come and spend a few of their pennies at my shop.’

‘Hah, yes, of course.’

‘Lovely day,’ Cathy added, as she moved on.

‘Yeah, it’s beautiful.’

And it was, the glow of the sun was warm on her cheeks, the sea view – a glorious wash of greys, golds, blues and white – was just stunning, and walking this bay that she could now call home was so calming. Despite the heartbreaks and hurts of the past two years, and the fears that her new business might yet struggle to get going, she felt a sense of hope. That life could and would get better.

Onwards and upwards, Lucy, she told herself. Onwards and upwards.

Behind the counter of the Driftwood Café, owner Louise was cutting into a rich velvety chocolate cake and then plating a slice of citrussy lemon drizzle loaf. Lucy and her friend, Becky, were happily chatting away, sat at a pretty white-chalk-painted table, with mugs of swirly-cream-topped hot chocolate in front of them. (Okay, so it was nearly summer but some things were worth having all year long!) The cakes had their names on them – it was most definitely treat-time, and why not?

The tea room was decorated with driftwood-framed coastal prints, and various arts and crafts for sale, including cute wooden puffins and seabirds carved and painted locally. There were even little rows of tiny colourful beach huts. Lucy had bought several gorgeous bits and bobs from here to cheer up her nearby cottage over the past few months.

‘So, tell me more about last night?’ Becky was curious. ‘What was the big country pad like?’

‘It was an amazing house. Huge garden, massive driveway. And inside … well, it was pretty much a mansion. You could get lost looking for the loos. In fact, I did!’ She grinned, pausing to take a sip of her creamy drink. ‘And yeah, it went off pretty well … overall. Only, I do have to confess I was bloody well late getting there. That was embarrassing, and not the best of starts.’

‘Oh no, were the organisers okay about that?’

‘Um, no, not at first, the mother gave me a bit of a dressing down when I got there, but I just got stuck in, made the best pizzas I could, and thank heavens they seemed really happy by the end.’

‘Well, that’s good. So, what was the new girl like? How did that work out?’

‘Tamsin, yeah, ah, I’m not sure. She was okay. She got going in the end and we both worked bloody hard, we had to, making and serving sixty pizzas in all. It was like a bloomin’ production line, and I’d only just enough ingredients. It was really full on, and I don’t know … I got the impression that it was harder work than she’d imagined. We’ll see how it pans out … if she wants to come back, that is.’

Lucy really wasn’t sure which way that would swing. She couldn’t afford to pay her much above the minimum wage whilst she was finding her feet and trying to balance the books, and the girl might be able to earn more doing her waitress work. Oh well, time would tell. One more little hurdle to leap.

She then remembered the incident with Daisy’s bar-side pee stop. She couldn’t help but smile to herself, thinking back to how it had rolled out like a comedy sketch, and the subsequent tirade from the cocky barman.

‘What’s up? You’ve gone off in a little daze there.’

‘Oh, just thinking about this Cocktail Campervan that was there, and the barman getting shirty with me.’

‘What on earth for?’ Becky raised her eyebrows.

‘Hmm, let’s just say Daisy had a bit of a moment. I was just giving her a bit of air, and well … she proceeded to pee all over his blackboard sign! She even managed to wash off two of the listed cocktails.’

The girls started giggling then, Lucy picturing Jack’s reddened face.

‘OMG. Hah, good old Daisy.’

Daisy was in fact snug at home right now, settled in her cosy kitchen crate. Dogs weren’t allowed inside the café; though sometimes Lucy enjoyed a cup of coffee outside at one of the little street-side tables with the dachshund at her feet, both of them watching the world go by.

‘Anyhow, the big question is, do you think you’ve made the right decision jacking in the day job, or is it too soon to tell?’

Lucy paused, weighing everything up, before answering. ‘Hmm, I am enjoying it. Being able to do something I love is brilliant, and I especially love that I’m using Papa’s recipe, so that side of it’s fine. But that oven is roasting, I’m sure I’m going to burn my bloody eyebrows off one of these days. Honestly, the heat it gives out!’

‘Instant eyebrow waxing,’ Becky added with a laugh.

‘Hah, more like eyebrow elimination. But yeah, it’s good being my own boss,’ Lucy continued, ‘but that also has its issues, like it’s all on you. And, I could do with being a bit busier. Getting some regular bookings. I’ve not made that much money as yet,’ she admitted.

Lucy was feeling the pressure, she knew she had to make this work out. She’d paid out on hygiene courses, all the equipment from the (very expensive) oven down to the wooden platters to serve the pizza on. The main set-up costs had now been met, but after having to put a reasonable deposit down on her cottage too, there wasn’t a lot left of her savings now.

‘Well honey, when life gives you lemons …’ Becky started, bringing her back to the here and now.