AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
Switching off her mobile, Evie Phillips shoved it into the glovebox and shut it, the click as it closed more satisfying than she’d imagined. This was it. Four weeks off work. She reached across to the glovebox, pulling her hand away before she opened it again.
No, she could do this. Of course she could. What was four weeks? It wasn’t long at all. Besides, she’d be busy working at a little bakery by the sea. The time would fly by. She glanced out of the windscreen and turned the wipers on, watching as the wiper blades swished the raindrops to the side, only for the glass to be covered in a watery sheen once again. Maybe it wouldn’t be so busy after all, not if the weather stayed like this. It wasn’t tourist season, and she couldn’t imagine they’d be many locals in the small bay.
Still, she was here, and her phone was turned off. She was unreachable. The office would have to send a messenger pigeon if they wanted to contact her. She touched the silver ring her nan had given her on her sixteenth birthday, twisting it around so the small, engraved flower was at the front again.
Flicking the indicator on, she pulled out of the layby and back onto the narrow country road. That’s what Melissa had wanted. Her boss had been very specific. She’d all but promised Evie she’d be promoted to partner when she got back. Melissa couldn’t have implied it any clearer that Evie should take this time to rest before jumping into the role of partner. She was a good one, Melissa. She ran the law firm with a ruthlessness Evie knew she’d never be able to compete with—nor would she want to if she was honest—but she also cared about the clients and her staff, treating them with respect and appreciation.
It was this that had led Evie to volunteer at the little bakery. Melissa had expressed her concern that Evie hadn’t taken any holiday time for the last few years.
Slowing down as she neared a roundabout, Evie clicked on her indicators. She understood Melissa’s argument; she didn’t want Evie burning out, but at the same time, it irked Evie that Melissa was forcing this break upon her. Evie’s work was her life, and she liked it that way. No time for wasting making small talk with a bunch of strangers at pubs or putting the effort into making friends when everyone knew how fickle friendship could be.
No, Evie liked her life as it was. Work, home, bed, repeat. Work was her safe space, the place she felt comfortable, confident. She was good at her job, one of the best. She didn’t need to second guess herself.
Here it was, Penworth Bay. Almost as soon as she’d passed the sign welcoming her, the road turned to cobbles, the tyres of her new Fiesta jumping across the dips and rises.
She glanced across at the Satnav. She was here. The bakery should be just about... here... sandwiched between an ice cream parlour and a sweet-looking café. Pulling the handbrake up, she frowned. The bakery wasn’t what she’d been expecting. It was larger than the image of a small seaside bakery she’d envisioned. It was double-fronted. Large windows on either side of the closed front door, one filled with empty trays which she assumed would be filled with cakes and pastries when the bakery was open; the other delicately decorated with wedding cakes and images of happy couples.
Taking the key out of the ignition, she grinned. This would not be the quiet, mundane holiday Melissa had hoped for her. If the bakery was double-fronted and provided a wedding planning service too, then business must be good. It wasn’t going to be the slow-paced escape Evie had been dreading. Things were looking up.
Stepping out of the car, she dragged her holdall from the backseat and made her way to the door. Although it was closed up for the evening, there was movement inside. Perfect. She knocked on the door and waited for it to be opened. She smiled as a woman pulled the door open. ‘Hi, I’m Evie Phillips. I’ve come to volunteer here.’
‘Hi Evie, lovely to meet you. I’m Nina, and this is Rowan.’ Grinning, Nina looked behind her. ‘And over there are Brooke and Max.’
‘Hello.’ She held her hand up, acknowledging Brooke and Max as Nina stepped aside, ushering her inside. ‘I think I’m a bit early.’
‘No worries. Elsie, who runs the bakery, is out at the moment, but she’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like something to drink and then we can show you around? Have you come far?’
‘Coffee would be great, thanks. I’ve driven down from London, so it’s been a fair trek.’ Evie lowered her holdall onto a table by the window and glanced around. A large counter stood to one side; more empty trays stacked behind. At the far side of the bakery, another counter was positioned. This time a selection of exquisitely decorated wedding cakes and small cupcakes filled the space behind the glass. The large expanse between the two counters was filled with tables and chairs.
‘Is it bigger than you imagined?’ Brooke smiled.
Nodding, Evie gratefully accepted a mug of steaming coffee from Nina. ‘Thank you. Yes, it is. I assumed it would be small.’
‘Same here. It’s great like this though. Lots going on, so you’ll never be bored.’ Brooke laughed. ‘Over the years, Elsie has expanded the business, so as well as the bakery, they also offer wedding planning and here, in the centre is the coffee and cake area where customers can come, sit and eat and drink.’
Evie nodded as she took a sip of her drink, the bittersweet taste filling her mouth.
‘Through here is the kitchen.’ Brooke pushed open a door at the back of the bakery and stood aside to let Evie through first.
‘Thanks.’ As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, she paused. All of her expectations of a quaint little Cornish bakery disappeared as she glanced around the large stainless-steel kitchen. ‘Wow.’
‘It’s a bit different from you expected?’ Brooke giggled.
‘Definitely.’
‘The flat where you’ll be staying, is just through the door behind the bakery. Do you want to see?’ Nina placed the bag she was carrying on the steel table and held open the kitchen door.
‘Yes, okay. Thanks.’ As she followed Nina and Brooke back into the bakery and behind the bakery counter, Evie grabbed her holdall again. With the wedding planning and the coffee and cake area as well as the actual bakery counter, the place must get a fair bit of custom, which would only be a good thing. The bakery hadn’t been her first choice for this holiday, she’d wanted somewhere busier, somewhere she would be distracted, but when she’d discovered her first, second and third choices had been fully booked, she’d resigned herself to coming here. Maybe things had worked out well though. Maybe it wouldn’t be as quiet as she’d worried.
‘Do you want me to take your holdall for you?’ Turning around, Nina held her hand out.
‘Don’t worry. Thank you, though.’ Evie grinned as she looked at the brightly coloured wallpaper plastering the stairway, parrots peeked out from large green palm leaves, their small eyes watching as she tried not to spill her coffee. As she stepped onto the landing, the parrots gave way to wallpapered butterflies fluttering across the walls.
‘So, there’s the living room, kitchen, and then, here, is your bedroom.’ Brooke swung a door open and stood back.
‘Thank you.’ Stepping past Nina and Brooke and into the room, Evie dropped her holdall. This was perfect. The room was an oasis of calm after the colourful busy parrots and butterflies. A feature wall of green and cream wallpapered birds covered the wall behind the bed, whilst inspirational quotes hung from white walls around the room.
