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Chapter Four
‘Ithink that’s thelast one.’ Holly kicked the back door to the bakery closed behind her and lowered the empty plastic crate she’d brought in from the car to the stainless-steel table.
‘Lovely. Thank you, Holly. And thank you again for coming to help today.’ Elsie took off her gloves and rubbed her hands together. ‘Since Ian retired a few months ago, it’s given me a chance to get out and about a bit more to the various markets and craft fairs. It’s lovely to have the company, though.’
‘You’re welcome. I enjoyed it.’ Unzipping her coat, she shrugged out of it. She had, to a point. Yes, it had been difficult to watch the happy families wandering around the craft stalls, but that’s why she was here. She just had to get used to watching people enjoy this time of the year and then hopefully she’d be able to at some point, too.
‘I’ll get us both a coffee. I think we need one just to warm ourselves up.’ Elsie filled up the cafetière.
‘Yes, it’s freezing out there.’ Holly glanced back at the door, frost was already forming on the small windowpanes and it wasn’t even late, there were still a couple of hours until closing time.
‘Hi, Elsie, love. I thought I heard you come in.’ Coming into the kitchen, Ian let the door swing shut behind him before pecking Elsie on the cheek and turning to Holly. ‘Afternoon, Holly. Someone is waiting for you in the bakery.’
‘For me?’
‘Yes, love. He came in just after lunch asking after you. Diane told him you were out at the Christmas market today, but he insisted on waiting.’ Ian took a mug of coffee from Elsie. ‘Thanks, love.’
‘That’s strange. I don’t know anyone down here.’ Holly frowned. Who could it be? She’d literally only told her closest friends and, of course, Mrs Hatton had insisted on knowing why she’d asked for holiday leave. Unless... No. It couldn’t be Mick, could it? He knew how difficult this time of the year was for her. Would he have come to Cornwall to see if she was okay? She hadn’t told him she was coming, but she had mentioned it to one of Mick’s friends she’d run into earlier in the week before leaving. She’d wanted him to know he wasn’t the only one doing something different, something exciting with his life, and she’d known it would have gotten back to him.
‘Have a bit of a break if you want to spend some time with your friend, love.’ Elsie smiled as she pulled her apron on.
‘Okay, thanks.’ What would she even say to him? Holly touched her necklace before taking a deep breath and pushing the kitchen door open. As she stepped through into the bakery, she searched the tables in the coffee and cake area. If Mick had been waiting for her for hours, he would have found a chair.
Her shoulders slumped as she realised it wasn’t Mick who had travelled to visit her. It was Joe. What was he doing here? Had something happened? Were Lara and Susie okay? She could feel the panic rising from the pit of her stomach as she made her way across the bakery towards him. ‘Joe? What’s happened? Are you okay? Are Susie and Lara okay?’
A slow grin spread across his face as he turned towards her. ‘Holly, I hear you’ve been at a Christmas market? Did you have a good time?’
Holly shook her head. He hadn’t answered her. ‘What’s happened? Is everyone all right?’
‘Everyone’s fine. I just thought I’d come down to see you. I fancied a bit of travelling myself.’ He shrugged.
‘What?’
‘I thought I’d join you down here for a few days, that we could go exploring the local area together.’
‘Why?’ Confusion quickly turned to frustration and the undeniable spark of anger. He knew she’d wanted, no, needed, to do this on her own. Why had he come down to join her? Did he not trust her that she could keep herself safe? Did he think she was suddenly going to fall apart because she could no longer hide from the festive season, from the memories?
‘Because you’re my mate.’ Standing up, Joe’s smile faded a little. ‘I thought you’d like my company.’
‘You don’t think I can do this by myself, do you? When I told you my plans to travel here and stay here on my own, I knew you, Lara and Susie hadn’t thought I could do it, but to come down here, to admit to me, show to me that you have no faith in me...’ She shook her head before turning and hurrying to the bakery counter. She’d show him. She’d show him that she was perfectly capable. That she could survive on her own, could travel on her own, and could face Christmas on her own. He could sit there and watch for all she cared. Or leave. Now that would be the better option.
‘Holly, I...’
‘Don’t.’ She whispered the word as she slipped behind the bakery counter. She knew he hadn’t heard, but what she could she do? She couldn’t very well shout at him, tell him what she was thinking right here in the middle of the bakery, could she?
‘Everything okay, Holly?’ Diane pulled an apron from the hook and passed it to her.
