Page 40 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

‘Ah.’ She grinned. ‘Not a hands-on-with-animals sort of a person, then?’

I shook my head. ‘Not anymore. Richard had become annoyingly fussy, to be honest. He hated it when I left coffee cups or magazines lying around. He was always tidying my things away and then I could never find them. So he definitely wouldn’t have coped with a dog running about the place, bringing mud into his clinically-clean flat and slobbering doggy breath all over him. But isn’t Judy’s chocolate labgorgeous?’

‘He is. He’s called Twix, if I remember rightly?’

I nodded. ‘Lovely name as well.’

I scratched Twix’s silky head, watched fondly by Judy, who remarked, ‘Those iced fairy cakes last week were absolutelymelt-in-the-mouthdelicious,by the way. I was hoping you might have more on board this week?’

‘We do, indeed,’ I told her. ‘How many would you like?’

‘I’ll take four, please.’ Her smile was tinged with sadness. ‘They were my husband’s all-time favourites. He loved a fairy cake with white icing on top, and it’s a strange feeling eating them alone now he’s gone. But they are gorgeous. And I do like being reminded of him.’ She glanced away at the sound of boots crunching along the lane towards us. ‘Oh, it’s Bob. Hi there, Bob!’ She waved cheerily. ‘Any letters for me today? Hopefully not, because they’re usually bills these days.’

The postman stopped by the van and started searching through the letters in his bag. ‘Let me have a look for you.’

‘Oh, don’t worry about finding mine among all those,’ smiled Judy. ‘You’ll have them all in order, I expect. So I’m happy to wait my turn.’

‘No, it’s fine.’ The sun gleamed on his salt-and-pepper hair as he burrowed in the bag with his tanned, workman-like hands. ‘Here you go.’

‘Thank you.’ Judy shoved what looked like mostly marketing letters into the large pocket of her green waxed jacket. ‘So how are you, Bob?’

‘Fine, thanks.’ He smiled a little awkwardly. ‘You know... just doing the usual.’

Judy nodded and they exchanged a rather stiff smile and Bob turned to leave.

In a rush, Judy said, ‘Have you got time for a little break? These cakes are absolutely marvellous.’

Bob stopped and glanced over. Warm colour had risen to his cheeks. ‘Maybe next time? I’d better get on.’ He paused. ‘Er... nice to see you, Judy.’

Judy watched him go, a faraway look on her face.

Then she seemed to recollect herself and turned to us with a smile. ‘I’ve known Bob for years. We were in the same class at school, would you believe? How time flies.’ She shook her head. ‘Anyway, I’ll take a couple of those darling gingerbread men as well, please. I’ve got my grandchildren coming tomorrow and they will absolutely love them.’

‘Was it my imagination or was there a bit of tension between Judy and Postie Bob there?’ I asked Ellie, as we were setting off for our next stop.

Her eyes twinkled. ‘Yes, I picked up on that as well. I wonder what the story is?’

‘Who knows?’ I switched up a gear. ‘Right, next stop Hawksley Rise.’

*****

The pretty village of Hawksley Rise, which was more of a town really in size, consisted of a cobbled market square with parking on all sides and a small, select range of shops set among the idyllic cottages – including a bridal shop and a country village store. There was also a cute café with a sign hanging by the door depicting an old-fashioned teapot and a pair of china cups and saucers.

‘This is lovely, isn’t it?’ Getting out of the van, I gazed around me. ‘I wouldn’t mind living here.’

Ellie grinned. ‘Especially now that a cake van comes to town every Wednesday.’

‘Exactly.’

We were parked in the square and as we opened the van doors, a couple of people were already walking over.

‘Perfect timing,’ smiled one of the women, glancing at her watch. ‘I’m having a few friends over for tea this afternoon andafter sampling your lovely cupcakes last week, I thought I’d just call by and see what you have on offer this week.’

I was busy explaining – the women were trying to make up their minds – when behind me, I heard Ellie’s muffled exclamation of surprise.

She sounded so taken aback, I swung round, wildly imagining that Ivan and Caleb must have followed us here, deliberately to annoy me.

But when I saw who it was, walking up to a car parked opposite us on the square, my heart lurched in shock.

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