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Chapter Three
‘Here, what do you thinkof this place? They do evening appointments so we could get Elsie an appointment for after the bakery closes.’ Diane held up her phone.
Evie replaced the cake tongs and squinted at Diane’s mobile. A multitude of puffy white and cream wedding gowns filled the screen.
Brooke waved her customer goodbye before turning to Diane. ‘Ooh, look at them! This is so exciting! I literally can’t wait until the big day. I think it’s a great idea. We’ll have to speak to her about it and see when she’s free.’
‘Or we could book the appointment as a surprise? Has Ian got his suit yet?’ A slow grin spread across Diane’s face.
‘Do you think she’d mind?’ Brooke watched as the kitchen door swung open and Elsie walked through, carrying two trays laden with pasties and sausage rolls. ‘Ian’s going tomorrow.’
‘Right, so I’m guessing you’re going with him? So, shall I ring and see if they’ve got any appointments this evening or the day after tomorrow? We can probably rally around most of us girls to come.’ Diane slipped her phone into her apron pocket, picked up a cloth and wiped the counter down.
‘Here we go, loves. Pasties and sausage rolls ready for lunchtime.’ Elsie lowered the trays to the counter and tilted her head, looking at Diane. ‘What are you up to?’
‘Me?’ Holding her hand against her chest, Diane looked around the bakery.
‘Yes, you. You’ve got that mischievous look on your face. The one that tells me you’re up to no good.’
‘Well... I’m shocked that you think I’d be up to something.’ Diane grimaced.
‘Umm... well, just be good.’ Elsie smiled and shook her head.
‘I always am.’ Taking the tray laden with pastries, Diane pulled out the empty tray from behind the counter, swapping it for the full one. ‘Just out of interest, are you up to much tonight?’
‘And there we have it.’ Elsie chuckled and shook her head.
‘So, you’re free?’
‘It depends why?’
‘For something nice.’
‘I suppose so then.’ Laughing, Elsie turned back towards the kitchen.
‘Yes!’ Pulling her phone from her pocket, Diane stepped away, holding it to her ear.
‘I hate to admit it, but I agree with Diane on this. If Elsie was left to her own devices, she really would be walking down the aisle in her normal clothes.’ Brooke shook her head. ‘Besides, it’ll be fun helping Elsie choose her wedding dress, won’t it?’
‘Oh, I’m not sure I should come.’ Evie frowned. She’d known Elsie less than a day, the last thing she’d want is to have a stranger watching her try on numerous dresses.
‘You should.’ With a lull in customers, Brooke leaned against the back counter and crossed her arms. ‘As soon as a new volunteer steps through those doors, they’re part of Elsie’s bakery family, and that’s how she sees us all. She has us all around for a roast every week and she calls it her bakery family dinner. She’d love you to feel part of the family and to be there tonight.’
‘I don’t know...’ Evie looked across at a couple peering at the wedding cakes displayed at the far end of the bakery. It wasn’t just the fact she didn’t know Elsie well, or any of the other members of the so-called bakery family, it was also the fact that she didn’t like the feeling she got when helping others plan their wedding day. Over the years, she’d had various cousins and even colleagues try to involve her in their wedding planning. Probably out of pity. Perhaps subconsciously trying to change Evie’s stance on marriage, working on the assumption that deep down she wanted to get married or that their fabulous wedding would be the one to change her mind that marriage was a wonderful pairing of two beautiful people. She shook her head. All it ever did was reinforce the fact that marriage was more about a big party, a chance to show the world how lucky the couple felt they were to meet their new spouse.
‘It looks as though Wendy and Molly will have their hands full.’ Brooke laughed as she nodded towards the couple opposite, who were now arguing over the wedding cakes.
Evie rolled her eyes. ‘I can never understand why a so-called happy couple who are about to get married end up arguing over something as daft as cake.’
‘I used to think the same. I mean, they’re vowing to spend the rest of their lives together, so why would the flavour or design of a cake matter, right? But now, since meeting Max, I kind of get it. I can understand how these couples get so wrapped up in the day because they want everything perfect to almost prove to that other person how much they love them. Since being here, I’ve learned there’re almost two different sorts of couples, first, there’s the couple who would bend over backwards for their soon-to-be-husband or wife and let them make all the choices and then there’s the other type who will argue over the silly little things because to them, it means that if they’re bothered about the little things, then it’s showing their partner how much they love them. Does that make sense?’
‘I guess.’ Evie shrugged. ‘I’ve never thought of it like that, proving your love for the other person. I’ve always assumed it was to do with trying to prove something to the guests.’
