Page 3 of Spring Dreams at the Cornish Bakery

‘That’s Elsie all over, isn’t it, Jasper?’ Robyn glanced over at her partner, who nodded. ‘You’ll love it here.’

Chapter Three

As they reached the bakery, Robyn knocked on the door, and after waiting a couple of minutes, knocked again, this time rapping her knuckles against the glass so hard the noise echoed around the cobbled street. Turning to Lynsey, she shrugged. ‘I wonder where she is?’

Just as Robyn pulled her mobile from her bag, the bakery door opened and an older woman appeared, her white curls a little ruffled and her cheeks pink. ‘Hello, Robyn, love. Why aren’t you at the pub quiz?’

‘Hi, Elsie.’ Robyn frowned at her slightly before holding her hand out to indicate Lynsey. ‘Lynsey couldn’t get hold of you, so we walked her down.’

‘Oh, Lynsey.’ Turning, Elsie looked at Lynsey and held her hands over her flushed cheeks. ‘I’m so sorry. It’s been absolute chaos upstairs. We’re babysitting and Ian, my husband, decided he’d make an obstacle course for the little ones instead of trying to settle them to sleep and, well, yes... It turns out that children don’t have an on/off switch once you wind them up.

Lynsey leaned forward as Elsie hugged her before stepping back again. ‘Sorry to interrupt your evening. And sorry about being so late, too.’

‘No problem whatsoever, love. You’re here now. Although if you were banking on a peaceful evening or an early night, you’re out of luck, I’m afraid.’ Elsie chuckled as she ushered her inside before turning to Robyn and Jasper. ‘Are you two coming in for a cuppa?’

‘No, thanks though, but I think we’re going to head back to Jasper’s.’

‘Okay, take care and catch you another time.’

‘Will do.’ Turning, Robyn waved as they headed back towards the pub and Jasper’s van.

Closing the door behind them, Elsie held her hand out. ‘I’ll take your bag, love. Do you fancy a quick tour of the bakery before we brave upstairs?’ Elsie looked up towards the ceiling as a loud thud sounded, followed by a series of squeals and laughter.

‘Yes, that’d be nice. Thanks.’ Lynsey looked around. A long counter sat to the left of the front door, a small one to the right whilst tables and chairs filled the tiled space between, and a smaller counter sat along the back wall.

‘Great. Well, as you can see, this is the bakery counter.’ After placing Lynsey’s bag on the table by the window, Elsie tapped the counter to the left before leading the way around the edge of the seating space towards the counter at the back of the bakery. ‘Here we have the coffee and cake counter. Teresa works behind here, while Brooke works behind the bakery counter. We’re a little short-staffed as Diane is now on maternity leave before she has her baby and so Ian has been helping behind the counter when he can. So, as you can imagine, you’ve come just at the right time, love.’

‘Thank you for having me.’ Lynsey smiled as they continued to walk around the bakery before pausing in front of the other counter. Looking up at the wall behind the counter, which was stylishly covered with framed photos of couples in wedding attire, she then turned her attention to the wedding cakes on display behind the glass of the counter. ‘You do wedding cakes too.’

‘That’s right, love. Wendy and Molly work on our wedding side of the business. They plan weddings and Wendy createsthese stunning wedding cakes.’ Elsie grinned as a look of pride flashed across her cheeks. ‘And that’s all there is to see out here. I’ll show you the kitchen while we enjoy the last of the peace before heading upstairs.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ She might have been out of work for the best part of a year now, but after meeting Elsie and taking the tour of the bakery, she was glad she’d chosen the bakery to ease herself back into working life. Now she was here and had met Elsie, she had a good feeling about this.

‘Here we go.’ Elsie held the kitchen door open for her.

‘Ooh, this is great.’ Stepping through into the bakery kitchen, Lynsey took in the large stainless-steel table and counters. It was a world away from the cosy shop floor, but just as beautiful in its own way.

‘Thanks.’ Elsie grinned. ‘Teresa and I begin the day’s baking here at half four in the morning but, as I say to all our volunteers, I don’t expect you to be up at that time or to help with the baking. We’re just grateful to have some help on the shop floor.’

Lynsey nodded. ‘I wouldn’t actually mind helping with the baking if you ever need anyone.’

‘I won’t ever say no to a bit of help.’ Elsie chuckled. ‘Have you got any experience working in a bakery or baking? Not that it matters at all, of course.’

‘Yes, I do. I used to work in a patisserie for a while. Just for a couple of hours in the morning before going to my day job.’ She swallowed. She’d loved working there and had enjoyed it so much more than working with Ross at the insurance company. Once their relationship had been over, she’d been tempted to quit her regular job and try to extend her hours at the patisserie, but before she’d had the chance Ross had turned her life upside down once again.

‘Fantastic!’ Elsie grinned, her pale grey-blue eyes lighting up. ‘But only get up that early if you really want to. This is as much about you having a holiday as it is about working here.’

She smiled as she recognised the words Robyn’s had said minutes earlier. ‘Thanks, but I really would be happy to get back to baking. I miss it.’ Lynsey looked around the kitchen. She couldn’t wait to get back to doing what she loved – baking and creating. Even if it did mean a 4am wake up call.

Chapter Four

Pulling her apron over her head, Lynsey joined Brooke behind the bakery counter. Even though she’d been so excited to bake again, she’d slept straight through her alarm and only woken when she’d heard Ian making his way downstairs in time for the bakery opening. Still, hopefully now she’d caught up on sleep, she’d be able to wake up early tomorrow and help Elsie and Teresa with the morning’s baking.

She placed her palms on the counter and looked around. Molly and Wendy had shut themselves away in the office preparing for an important meeting with a client later this morning, Brooke was at the coffee and cake counter busy making caffeine-filled morning drinks for them all and Elsie was in the kitchen, no doubt elbow-deep in bread dough. And Teresa had popped home to do the school run. This was it. Her first morning of work in almost twelve months. Soon the door would open, and they’d welcome in the customers.

Stretching her fingers out, she took a deep breath in. She could do this. She could work here, serve customers, use the till.

‘Hey are you okay, Lynsey?’ Joining Lynsey behind the counter, Brooke passed her a steaming mug. ‘I made you a latte, as I wasn’t sure what you’d like. I hope that’s okay?’

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