Page 118 of The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery

‘Oh, Jack.’ Louise takes his hand in hers and gives it a reassuring squeeze. ‘What now?’

‘I don’t know. I guess I try and talk to him again. Or I leave it for a few days. Let it sink in.’

‘That seems sensible. I’m certain he’ll come around, stubborn as he is.’ Louise watches Anna as she serves the Geriatric Mean Girls with coffee and cakes. ‘I’m so sorry, but I ought to get back to work.’ Louise gestures to the queue. ‘These aren’t the easiest customers.’

Across the room from the GMGs, her mother is sitting with her cronies, happily holding court, regaling them with a story she heard on the latest episode of the Uncanny podcast.

Elizabeth looks round, as if sensing she’s being watched. She smiles at Louise, then glances round the bakery. Then she gets to her feet, says something to her friends, and heads over to the counter.

‘What are you two whispering about?’

‘Nothing, Mum,’ Louise says.

‘Judging by your faces, it’s obviously not nothing. I’ll take over here, so you two can talk.’

‘No, I can’t let you do that,’ Louise protests.

‘I’d like to,’ Elizabeth says. ‘I miss working.’

There’s something about the way she says it that snags in Louise’s mind. She watches as her mother starts making up a drinks order, expertly working the coffee machine as if she’s never been away.

Then Jack says, ‘Should we go and sit in one of the book nooks?’

*

‘What’s up, Louise?’ All the customers have gone for the day and the bakery is silent again. Elizabeth fixes Louise with a stern look. ‘Are you and Jack having problems?’

Louise sighs. ‘I’m not sure there even is a me and Jack. Not unless we do long-distance, and neither of us wants that.’

‘I was under the impression he was staying here,’ Elizabeth says. ‘So he can keep an eye on Richard. Though I must admit he’s in very good shape for his age.’

‘Apart from the heart condition,’ Louise adds.

‘That’s under control now.’

‘And Jack does want to stay here.’

‘So why doesn’t he?’

‘It’s not that always that simple, Mum.’

Elizabeth mother raises her eyebrows at Louise. ‘What’s really going on, hmm? Tell me.’

‘I can’t. I’m sorry, but I promised.’

‘Is this about Richard pretending Jack’s an architect?’

Louise’s mouth drops open. ‘You know about that?’

Elizabeth tsks. ‘Oh, I had my suspicions. You know, there’s nothing about him online.’

‘You googled him?’

‘Of course! It’s my money invested in this place, isn’t it?’

‘Oh, Mum! Why didn’t say anything to me?’

‘There was nothing to say! I didn’t know for sure, anyway.’