Page 25 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

‘The foreman? Hmm. He was quite attractive, wasn’t he?’

I shrugged. ‘I hadn’t really thought about it.’ It was true. That day, I’d been so looking forward to seeing Richard again, I probably wouldn’t even have noticed if the foreman had been Ryan Gosling’s twin brother.

How times had changed . . .

CHAPTER TWELVE

‘Shall we give up on Risley Common, then?’ Ellie looked around her. ‘Oh, maybe not. Here come two likely customers.’

‘Great! I reckon that other lemon drizzle loaf cake will be next to go.’ We scrambled out of the van and I opened the doors with a feeling of pride in Ellie’s little venture, just as the two women reached us.

‘Good morning.’ I greeted them cheerfully. ‘Lovely day for a muffin. And we have no less than three different flavours on board today.’

The women seemed quite taken aback by my hearty greeting. Smiling as if they thought I might be a touch deranged, they hurried on, right past the van, clearly having no idea who we were and why we were there.

‘I guess they didn’t get a leaflet, then,’ I murmured, feeling quite ridiculous now.

I looked at Ellie and her initial expression of surprise had turned into a broad grin. It was all so comical and Ellie was clearly trying hard not to laugh, which was very infectious. My shoulders started to shake as I tried to suppress my own amusement. But then Ellie suddenly let out a really loud snort, and we both had to duck behind the van as we dissolved into laughter.

‘We haven’t made a terribly good impression so far in Risley Common,’ grinned Ellie, as we got back in the van and prepared to drive on to the dreaded Lockley Meadow (where I was convinced Bulldozer Man would be just waiting to get his revenge on me).

‘It was only our first visit.’ I shrugged. ‘Maybe it’ll take a week or two for the word to get around.’

‘Ooh, wait a minute.’ Ellie was looking in her wing mirror. ‘Is this a customer?’

We turned to see a young woman hurrying along the pavement in our direction. She was holding the hand of a blonde, curly-haired little girl who was clutching what looked like a cuddly rabbit.

After our last experience, I was inclined to hold back this time. ‘They could just be running for a bus. Or training for a marathon. Or maybe a lion’s escaped from the local zoo.’

Ellie chuckled. ‘We’d better hang fire rather than embarrassing ourselves again.’

But then the woman waved at us, clearly worried we were about to drive away.

‘Sorry we’re late,’ she panted, when we got out to say hello. ‘Amelie spilled juice all down her dress just as we were leaving. But it’s her birthday today and I’d already promised her a cake from your van.’

I smiled at the little girl. ‘Happy birthday, Amelie. How old are you?’

‘Four,’ said the little girl with a shy smile, holding up some fingers. ‘Have you got birthday cake with a dinosaur on it?’

‘Ooh, I don’t think so.’ I glanced at Ellie.

She smiled and said, ‘I’m afraid not. But we do have the most amazingFrozencake.’

Her eyes lit up. ‘Frozen? A cake with Elsa on it?’

Ellie nodded. ‘Back in a minute.’

She returned with a small figure of theFrozenheroine and presented it along with one of Fen’s ‘cake van’ cupcakes to the little girl, who looked amazed.

‘Oh, my goodness, aren’t you lucky, Amelie?’ The mum’s eyes were shining suspiciously as she turned to us. ‘Thank you ever so much. What do I owe you?’

Ellie shook her head. ‘Not a thing. It’s a present for the birthday girl.’

‘Gosh, I don’t know what to say.’ She looked quite overwhelmed. ‘Except that your cakes look lovely and I’ll be spreading the word all around the village. I’m Rosie, by the way. And you already know Amelie.’ She smiled fondly at her daughter, who was now leaning against the van looking quite enchanted by her new Elsa toy. She held her up to her mum with a cute, gap-toothed smile, and Rosie smiled and nodded.

‘I’ll take that delicious-looking lemon drizzle cake, please,’ she said. ‘Where are you off to next?’

‘Lockley Meadow?’

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