Page 32 of The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery

‘Build an extension then. The garden is huge. You could build a big glass extension at the back.’

Louise pictures it – the kind of modern space that you see in magazines, light and airy. It’d have a lovely view over the river too, the perfect place to sit and enjoy tea and cakes or settle down with a good book.

‘That’d be lovely, but I’ve barely got enough funds for the bookshelves.’

Maddie leans against the counter, thoughtful. Then her face brightens. ‘Shame you don’t know anyone who understands the legalities of running a food business and might be willing to invest in it too.’

Louise knows exactly who Maddie means. ‘I haven’t told her yet. Didn’t want to raise her hopes until I was sure. Until I had a proper plan.’

‘Well, perhaps it’s time you did.’

*

‘A bookshop bakery?’ Elizabeth says. ‘But I thought you didn’t want to run the bakery?’

Louise is sitting beside her mother on the sofa in Elizabeth’s cosy sitting room, with Maddie sitting opposite in an armchair, her hands resting on her lap, her fingers crossed.

‘I didn’t think I did. But this is the best of both worlds. I get to fulfil my dream and keep the family tradition alive. It feels right somehow. And in a small place like this, a bookshop needs a draw, a reason for people to come. The bakery gives it that. It’s a USP.’

‘We’re going to call it The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery,’ Maddie chips in, with the confidence of someone who thinks it’s already a done deal.

Elizabeth’s face lights up. ‘The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery! Your grandmother would have loved that. She always liked that rhyme – “Sugar and spice and all things nice.”’

Louise reaches over and puts her hand over her mother’s. ‘I’m so glad you like the idea. And that she would have too.’

‘It’s a wonderful idea. You have my blessing.’

‘Actually, Lou was hoping for more than just your blessing,’ Maddie pipes up.

Louise shakes her head in disbelief. ‘Maddie!’

‘Anything I can do to help,’ Elizabeth says. ‘Perhaps I could do some of the baking.’

‘She needs investment,’ Maddie says. ‘She wants to build a massive glass extension at the back. Think Grand Designs with books and bakes.’

‘I’ll lend you the money,’ Elizabeth says without hesitation. ‘And if you need anything…’

‘Ker-ching,’ Maddie says and Louise frowns at her.

‘Mum, it’s incredibly generous of you,’ Louise says. ‘Thank you so much.’

‘Actually, I have an idea too,’ says Elizabeth. ‘You remember Richard? That old friend of mine, who’s recently moved back to Applethwaite?’

Louise doesn’t, but she nods anyway.

Louise nods. ‘Jack’s father.’

‘Of course, you know Giacomo – Jack – already. He could be your architect.’

‘He’s an architect?’ Louise says. He’d said he created buildings for a living, but she hadn’t realised that was what he meant.

‘Yes, didn’t you know?’ Elizabeth seems surprised. ‘He has a very successful business, by all accounts.’

She should have known this, shouldn’t she? But then he didn’t talk much about work. In fact, that was another thing she liked about him. Some men – her ex, for example, went on and on about their jobs.

‘He might have mentioned something,’ Louise says vaguely.

She thinks about the last time she saw him. Walking away after Maddie appeared. The bottle of wine – the ‘red red’ they never shared. The game of Never Have I Ever that they never played.