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“Yay!” Beau takes my hand, and we head back to the car and straight back to work. I'm glad it's only a short journey, else I think she would have fallen asleep. As soon as we get in, I see people heading our way.
“Beau, it will get a bit busy, so you need to be super good for Mummy and stay in the office. Do you want a milkshake with your brownie?”
“Yes.” She pulls out a chair in the back office, climbing on with her book bag. She rummages through and takes out her book. “This is my new book. I read the words.” I doubt she will always be this compliant and sitting in the back will lose its charm after a few days.
“That’s so great, Beau, you're so clever. Let me go get your brownie, okay?”
“And my milkshake?”
“And your milkshake.” I laugh, leaving her with her head bent over her book. I serve a few customers, so Emily takes the brownie to my girl.
“She's fine.”
“Thanks.” We all work in tandem, serving, cleaning down tables, taking orders from the customers and keeping the countertop stocked. Most of Danielle’s stock has dwindled. I regret not ordering more, so when I see her enter through the back door with another tray, I want to cry. “Are you a mind reader?” I laugh.
“I could see how many people were coming in and out and thought I would check if you needed more stock. Figured you would.”
“Yes please, can I add this to my next invoice?” I ask.
“Sure, whatever you don't sell, just refrigerate and get it sold tomorrow. I’ve got to head off. I’ve left Carol, and we had a big birthday order for today.” I take a minute to check in on Beau and find her doing the hopscotch in the small office. I lean against the frame as Danielle pokes her head back in. “Place looks great. Congrats, Holly!”
“Thank you.” Danielle was a few years below me in school. I'm sure she remembers me, but neither of us talk about it.When I approached her about the possibility of stocking Beau’s Books & Bakes, she was hesitant at first, worrying she would lose customers, but after negotiating a few things and ensuring her that people were more likely to buy a cake, she slowly relented.
Beau looks up and sees me. “Watch me, Mummy!”
“I am. I used to play that at school too. Maybe we can make one at home on the driveway,” I tell her excitedly. She reciprocates with an open-mouthed smile. God, she is adorable. I collect her up and check for empty tables, then place her on one. “Stay in your seat, okay?” I instruct. She pouts and begins to grumble. I pick up the crayons and roll them onto the tabletop for her, and she trudges to climb up.
“I’m tired.”
“I know, boo, we’re nearly done.”
Huffing, she frowns at the crayons. “I don’t want to!”
“I know, sweetie,” I soothe, but it only brings on her tears.
Emily rushes over with half of a biscuit, and Beau grins and picks it up, her other hand reaching for a crayon.
“Good girl.” I beam, wiping her cheeks and smirking at Emily as we get back to work. The rest of my shift goes quickly. Every now and then I have to attend to Beau, but for the most part, she is enjoying being in a new environment and getting attention from all the customers.
As soon as the last customer leaves, I place any leftover cakes in the fridge and wipe the tables down and Emily appears with the vacuum cleaner. “I figured if I hoover and Keeley mops, we’ll all be out of here sooner rather than leaving you to do it.”
“Oh, Em, thank you, and you Keeley, yes please. Beau looks ready to drop.” I wince. Whilst Emily begins to vacuum, Keeley helps Beau pack her book bag up and moves her to the back office again. We’re done quickly and Beau is eager to get home. When we pull up, I see a bouquet on the doorstep. Beau trudges to the door, and I want to laugh because she looks like sheescaped an apocalyptic event. “Dinner, bath and bed,” I say, picking up the flowers and sniffing them. The fact that she doesn’t argue with me tells me she is running on empty fumes. I check the flowers for a card but can’t see anything, so I find a vase and fill it with water to pop them in. I prepped a pasta bake this morning, so I cook it and we sit at the dining table. Seeing her so worn out, I'm not sure how she will cope with horse riding on Wednesday. School seems to have knocked her sideways.
With an evening completely to myself, I get on top of a few jobs before I sort the dishes and arrange the white roses. I double check out the front for a card, but there is nothing. I'm assuming Marcus sent them, so I send a quick text asking about his day and telling him how well Beau and the shop did. I wait for Marcus’s response with a glass of wine. Firing up Spotify, I play my chilled acoustics playlist, then I remember I have a stash of Jaffa cakes in the cupboard, so I grab a box and pig out on them whilst sipping on my wine. Today has been a good day. It can only improve from here.
I get out and pull on my bath towel, making my way downstairs, where there’s a small white envelope on the doormat I'd expect to see attached to my flowers. Frowning, I peer out of the window, but it’s too dark and I can't see anyone. I slip the small card out, which has a single white rose on it. Turning it over, I read the note.
Congratulations on your opening.C x
The initial can only beone person.
Cameron.
I have no idea why he would send me flowers. It’s obvious he hates that I have returned to Richmond. I place it on the side and forget about Cameron Stone.
Chapter Eleven
Holly
