Page 14 of Spring Dreams at the Cornish Bakery

‘You’ve not had a good time?’ Zac asked quietly. ‘Sorry to hear that.’

‘Of course you are.’ The sarcasm dripped from her words, but she didn’t care, Zac hadn’t exactly been particularly kind to her either. Still, she regretted her response as soon as she’d said it. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. It’s nothing to do with you.’

Holding his hand, palm forward up, Zac shook his head. ‘Please don’t apologise. I’ve not been exactly professional since I’ve met you either, have I?’

She shook her head. ‘No, you’ve actually been quite rude.’

‘I have.’ He nodded before dragging his hand across his face. ‘Rubbish year here too.’

‘Sorry.’ She spoke quietly, suddenly unsure of how they’d got onto the topic of how rubbish their lives were. ‘What can I do for you, anyway?’

‘I was in the area and popped by to see if you’d made a decision about the quote I gave you yesterday, but I see now that you have.’

‘Yep.’ She nodded. ‘Sorry, I don’t have a choice.’

‘Sure, you do. It’s not for the fainthearted though, that’s for sure. Most people only take on a commitment like this...’ He waved his hand around, encompassing the cottage. ‘If they’re seasoned property developers or have a lifelong dream to renovate a place. Not...’ His voice trailed off.

She glared at him, clenching her fists by her sides. ‘Not what? Not stupid enough to bid and buy a property they’d never stepped foot inside?’

Zac had the good grace to look sheepish and focused on a spot on the plaster ridden floor. ‘Well, yes.’

‘Uh-huh.’ She nodded slowly as she picked up the estate agent’s card from the windowsill. ‘Well, not everyone is as knowledgeable as you.’

‘That’s not...’

‘What you were about to say? That’s not what you meant?’ She spoke over him, any manners she had long gone in the heat of the moment. Besides, she only needed to show him the level of respect he had shown her and that had been rock bottom. ‘Of course it wasn’t? Well, I’m sorry master builder extraordinaire Zac Hunter, I won’t be needing your services after all. Thanks for the quote and all, but I’m sorry to say it was a complete waste of both our times and patience.’

‘You really are selling then?’ Stepping further inside, Zac walked slowly around the perimeter of the living room before pausing at the fireplace. ‘That’s a shame as it’ll likely get sold to a property developer whose only interest is to earn money on it rather than take any care or time in to bringing it back to life in a way that honours the history of the cottage.’

Lynsey tilted her head and watched as he pulled the sleeve of his flannel shirt over his hand and wiped plaster dust from a section of the dark-stained oak mantelpiece. She’d assumed he was all about the money, do a quick job and move onto the next.That’s the impression she’d got when he first refused to offer her a quote. Maybe she’d read him wrong. Maybe there was more to this arrogant builder than she’d first assumed. She cleared her throat. ‘What happens, happens, I’m afraid.’

He nodded slowly and looked across at her, seemingly tearing himself away from whatever was playing on his mind. ‘That is a shame.’

Shifting on her feet, she pointed to the door. ‘Right, well, now you’ve made me feel guilty for having to put the cottage back on the market. Did you want to leave so I can get on? Please.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Picking his way across the floor, he held his hand up as he walked out of the door. ‘See you around.’

Making her way towards the front door, she closed it quickly behind him. She just needed a bit of time, a bit of space. A chance to say goodbye to her dreams and the new life this cottage was supposed to bring her.

Chapter Fourteen

With the door closed, she leaned against it and closed her eyes before sinking to the floor. She could feel the grittiness of the plaster dust and debris beneath her, but she didn’t care. She just needed a moment to gather her thoughts. A moment to come to terms with the end of her short-lived move.

Her mobile rang from her pocket, shaking her from her thoughts and filling the small living room. Opening her eyes to pull her phone out, she realised darkness had encased the room. Looking down at the illuminated screen, she inwardly groaned as she read her sister’s name. She couldn’t ignore this call. She’d already forgotten to ring her back. Nina would send out a search party if she didn’t speak to her.

‘Hi, Nina.’ Her voice was croaky after the crying.

‘Hey, sis. Is everything okay? You sound weird. Have you been crying?’

Biting down on her bottom lip, Lynsey wiped her face with the sleeve of her top. Nina suddenly felt very far away. ‘I think I might have a bit of hay fever or something.’

‘Aw, that’s rubbish. On your first week in your new hometown, too.’ The other end of the line became muffled, and Lynsey could just imagine Nina covering her phone mic with her hand as she spoke to her husband, Gary. A few seconds later, she was back again. ‘Sorry, I’ve just asked Gary to take Oscar up to bed. I’ve been trying to call you and you never pick up, so now I actually have you on the line, bedtime duties can go to Gary.’

Lynsey spluttered a feeble laugh. At least one good thing would come out of this horrible mess – she’d be back living in her dad’s office cabin in his garden and be only a ten-minute walk from Nina, Oscar and Gary.

‘Lynsey?’

‘Yes?’ Lynsey drew her knees up towards her chest and picked at a piece of thread from the hole she made in them when after falling on the ice at Christmas. She didn’t like the sound of Nina’s voice. She had that motherly tone, the one she saved just for Oscar and sometimes for Lynsey. Ever since their mum had passed away when Lynsey had been only eight, Nina, fourteen at the time, had taken on the role of Lynsey’s cheerleader and confidant. She’d heard that tone many times before and it usually involved Nina dragging whatever problem Lynsey was carrying on her shoulders out of her.

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