The May sun was quite warm, but there was still a bit of a chilly breeze, so I was glad to see that Stella was wearing her little purple corduroy coat. She must have put it on herself, because only one of the big buttons was fastened and it was in the wrong hole.
Mas ample derrière rested on her ancient and ingenious fold-up sketching stool, which incorporated an easel in front, and she had obviously been working for some time, for oil pastel and charcoal sketches of Stella littered the grass around her. Toto and Moses featured in some of them, though I dont think Moses was feeling very co-operative since I could see the tip of his tail from underneath one sheet of paper, where he must have decided to go to sleep.
Mummy! Stella exclaimed, and Ma looked up.
Had a nice time? she asked.
Yes, and Im sorry I was a bit longer than I expected, I said guiltily. I did the shopping and got the flake white paint and the linseed oil, and Ive brought you a vanilla slice from Greggs and a gingerbread pig for Stella from the Happy Macaroon.
Lovely Ma said absently, adding a touch or two to the sketch in front of her.
I had a sandwich in a café and shared the table with Jago from the Happy Macaroon remember I told you about him? He makes croquembouches and wed met before, when I went to Gilligans Celebration Cakes where he used to work.
Now I was closer I could see that Mas current sketch was of Stella, who seemed to have sprouted little white feathered cherub wings, as had Toto, and even Moses the cat, and were all three whirling about among a lot of clouds.
Ma finished edging the bottom of the picture with giant foxglove spikes and started to collect her stuff together. Yes I remember, she said vaguely. I expect it was nice to meet an old friend.
Hardly that, because I only saw him that once very briefly in London, but I got to know him a bit today while we were chatting and hes such a nice man.
Stella looked up and asked, Can I have my gingerbread piggy now, Mummy?
Did you eat the little dinosaur sandwiches I left you for lunch?
She shook her head. We havent had lunch, have we, Grandma?
Havent we? Ma looked surprised, but when I checked the fridge the sandwiches were untouched under their cling film, as were the two little dishes of chocolate mousse.
I went back outside. Come on in, Stella, and eat a sandwich, and then you can have your gingerbread pig. Ma, do you want your sandwiches out here, or are you coming in?
Ill be in in a minute. Ill just take everything back up to the studio and fix the charcoal drawings.
Stella got out of the sandpit and I closed the lid in case Moses took it into his head that it would make a super cat litter tray, and we went in the house holding hands. Ma wandered off up to the studio and I knew she would forget to come back, so I took her lunch up there after wed had ours, along with the vanilla slice. There was a steaming mug of tea next to her, so Hal must have been around somewhere.
I should have got another cake for Hal, shouldnt I? I said. Does he like vanilla slices?
I dont know. He likes Nice biscuits, garibaldi, gingernuts and fig rolls, though, she said, taking a big bite out of a ham sandwich. Im ravenous, she added, sounding surprised.
Well, its after two. Stellas eaten a dinosaur sandwich and she started on the gingerbread pig, but got too sleepy, so shes gone for a nap. I expect shell eat the rest when she wakes up. Her appetite really seems to be picking up since we moved here.
Theres magic in the air in Sticklepond, Ma said.
Jago
Davids eyebrows had gone up when Jago and Cally walked into the Happy Macaroon together chatting comfortably like old friends, and Jago knew hed be in for a bit of merciless teasing later, when the shop was quieter.
He was right, too, because David told him he was glad to see his broken heart was on the way to being mended.
Dont be stupid, Callys just really nice and were interested in similar things, but mostly weve been talking about her little girl. She was born with a very serious heart condition and Callys trying to raise money to send her to America for an operation in autumn.
Oh, poor little thing, Sarah said.
Shes set up a charitable website, called Stellas Stars. Im going to have a look at it later.
Well, I hope youre not going to give them all your lottery winnings, Jago, David said forthrightly, because he knew his friends soft heart. Being bullied at school because of his dyslexia, and being always in the shadow of his older and academically gifted brother, had dented Jagos self-confidence, so that he always felt for the underdog.
Shes already raised the bulk of it by selling her flat in London, so she only needs about another twenty thousand and I did offer, he confessed, but she turned me down, because she knew by then Id only just won enough to set myself up in my own business. She told me not to try anonymously donating it either, because shed guess it was me and give it back.
Shes certainly got your measure in a short space of time, Sarah said admiringly. I like the sound of her.
Yes, and shes much more your type than Aimee ever was, David agreed. I cant imagine why she ever agreed to marry you. Unless its like Sarah says, that it was just to pay her dad back for getting engaged to his PA.
Oh, once she was the wrong side of forty she probably found good-looking straight single men willing to settle down were thin on the ground. I expect panic had set in by the time Jago proposed and that was part of it too, Sarah said airily.
I keep telling you, shes younger than me, Jago protested.
No way: you only had to look at her knees.
Her knees?
Baggy, saggy knees.
She has the longest legs in the world Jago sighed reminiscently. I cant say I noticed her knees. And gee, thanks for the confidence boost, by the way.
Still, it was true that he hadnt been able to believe his luck when the tall, elegant, beautiful, sophisticated Aimee had accepted his proposal which actually he would never have had the courage to make if she hadnt prompted him into it.
Youre a good-looking guy, dont get me wrong, Sarah said kindly, but you had absolutely nothing in common.
I know, he said humbly.
All that late night partying followed by the early starts for work ran you ragged and made your friends worry about you, David said.
And while were speaking of the devil who wore Prada, Sarah said, you had a phone call when you were out. Shes back.
Whos back? Jago demanded, startled.
Aimee.
Aimee? Aimees back in the UK?
Yes, shes been back a while, but shes only just tracked you down. I expect she heard about our winnings, David said drily.
Her new stepmother uses the salon and she told me weeks ago that Aimee was back. Shes pregnant, too, because she didnt want to have her hair coloured, in case it harmed the baby.
Aimees pregnant? Jago exclaimed.
No, you idiot, its her new young stepmother whos pregnant.
Right He looked at his friends. You both knew all this time she was back and didnt tell me?
You said you were over her and wanted a fresh new start in a different part of the country, Sarah pointed out. Anyway, shes bad news.
Yes, we didnt want her messing you around again, David said.
I think Im old enough to decide for myself, Jago said with dignity. And of course Im over her Anyway, I expect she just wants to get back in touch to be friends.
Yeah, right, Sarah said acerbically, but Jago wasnt listening. Hed thought he was over her, and his friends were probably right that breaking up had been a good idea, but still knowing she was back unsettled him.
Did she leave a number? Or did you give her my mobile number?
Neither, because we were a bit busy at the time. You were having an extended lunch, if you recall?
Oh, yes Did she say anything else?
Something about things not working out with that bloke she chased off after to Dubai, so I expect shes been dumped and now youve won all that money youre a much more interesting prospect.
Youre such a cynic, Jago said. But I cant believe you didnt even get her number.
She said shed ring you again and why the interest? Didnt you just tell us you were over her?
I am over her, Jago insisted, though he suspected that a few embers of his love still smouldered deep in his heart and might just reignite at the sight of her.
In the late afternoon, just as they were clearing up the shop ready to close, the phone in the back room rang and Sarah stuck her head in the door and said it was for Jago.
He went past her into the back room and returned ten minutes later looking sheepish.
David and Sarah exchanged glances.
Dont tell me, David said, it was Aimee again. She really doesnt let the grass grow under her feet, does she? So, what happened to the new life with whats-his-face in Dubai?
She said she knew it was a mistake almost the minute she got there and Dubai was a tricky place if you werent married and he certainly didnt want to get married. And she missed me.
Not enough to look for you as soon as she got back, Sarah put in.
She didnt know Id left London and it took her a while to track me down, Jago explained.
Your post is being forwarded on, and anyone at Gilligans could have given her your new mobile number as well as the one for this place, David said.
Yes, someone at Gilligans did give her our number eventually, but they were a bit reluctant.
Considering that after she took off we all ate your wedding cake and commiserated with you, its hardly surprising, David said drily. And she could have asked Sarah in the salon.
She did come in, but I expect shed forgotten about me, Sarah said mendaciously, crossing the fingers of both hands behind her back.
I think she was nervous about contacting me in case I was still mad at her, but its like I told you: she just wanted to say she was sorry about what happened and she hoped we could be friends now she was back.
Ill bet she did, Sarah said. I suppose whoever she spoke to at Gilligans told her youd won the lottery?
No, not until I mentioned it, so it was a complete surprise to her shed wondered what we were doing up here. I explained about helping you set up the Happy Macaroon and then that I was going to start my own wedding croquembouche business.
David flipped the closed sign over on the door and lowered the window blind.
And how did she take that? he asked, turning.
She thought it was a great idea and shed love to meet up with me to hear all about my plans. Only that wont be for a while, because she cant leave town at the moment and I havent got time to go down there.
Thank heaven for small mercies, muttered Sarah, starting to cash up the till.
Im not stupid enough to fall for her twice over, Jago said with dignity. But still, it had shaken him to hear her soft, contrite and honeyed voice.
Good, because shes like Julia Roberts in that Runaway Bride film and shed just keep dumping you for a better option, Sarah said frankly.
Thats a bit harsh, he said, wincing, but her words dispelled a little of the enchantment that Aimee had managed to cast over him again.
Were only saying these things because were your friends and we dont want you to go through the whole thing twice, David said.
I know. Jago sighed, and then smiled wryly. Maybe Ive watched too many romantic comedy films where its all turned out right in the end.
It will turn out right in the end, Sarah assured him. Only not with Aimee Calthrop. She belongs in an entirely different kind of film.
Luckily she didnt say exactly which kind, but mention of romantic films had made Jago remember his earlier conversation with Cally and gave his thoughts a different direction.
You know I was telling you about Cally trying to raise money to take her little girl to America for that life-saving operation? Well, Ive just had an idea for how we could help
Chapter 10: Sweet Perfection
Later, while Stella was still asleep, having gone down for her nap so late, and I was doing a little research on the history of madeleines (I thought I might get a long piece for my Diaries page, as well as a quick and easy recipe for Tea & Cake out of it), my phone buzzed and it was Jago.
Weve just closed the shop, so Ive emailed you the madeleine recipe I mentioned.
Oh, great thanks, I said gratefully. Funnily enough, I was just doing a bit of research into them.
I hope Im not disturbing you?
No, not at all. My mothers working in her studio and Stellas still asleep, so I thought Id make a start. She was so tired she only managed to take one bite out of the gingerbread pig, but shes still holding it.
Its strange how many children love gingerbread, he commented, then added, I just got my third wedding croquembouche order.
Oh, well done!
They want it to be flanked by two of Davids white and pink macaroon pyramids too, so expense no object.
I can imagine how good that would look at a wedding reception. You know, I think your croquembouche business is going to be a huge success.
I hope youre right, but maybe it will because, Davids has taken off so well, and macaroons are another expensive luxury.
People are prepared to pay for a special cake for a wedding, I assured him. Then I added tentatively, Are you all right? Only you sound a bit I dont know stressed?
Knocked for six, more like, he confessed ruefully. Aimee, my ex, just rang me at the bakery. Things didnt work out with the other bloke and shes back. In fact, shes been home for a while and my friends knew and didnt tell me.