Page 21 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

I smiled. ‘A footballer in the making?’

She chuckled. ‘Imagine. Zak would be pleased.’ Beaming, she indicated the colourful van with a flourish of her hand. ‘What do you think?’

I shook my head, still mesmerised by its sudden appearance. ‘I think it’s... gorgeous.’

‘I know. Sam’s done a great job on it, hasn’t he? It was just an old white van in its former life but it was headed for the scrapyard.’

‘Samdid that?’ Sam was our friend Primrose’s partner.

Ellie nodded. ‘Turns out he’s a dab hand with a paint-spraying gun.’

‘And quite the inventor as well,’ I pointed out, admiring the cherry-topped cupcake sitting on the roof of the van.

‘I know.’ She smiled. ‘I saw the cupcake on ebay and Sam attached it.’

‘Wow. So how on earth did you find it? The van?’

She smiled. ‘I was talking to Primrose about my plan for taking the leftover bakes on the road and she must have mentioned the idea to Sam because next thing you know, he’s phoning me and asking me if I want an old van because his dad was retiring and didn’t need it anymore.’

‘Wow. So your super-entrepreneurial brain immediately pounced on the amazing serendipity of the situation and youdecided you just had to take the café business in yetanotherdirection?’ I laughed, shaking my head in admiration. ‘Despite the fact that you’re due to give birth in a couple of months’ time?’

She smiled sheepishly. ‘Precisely that. You know me too well. Yes, it failed its MOT because it’s rusted underneath, so Sam’s dad was happy to let me have it – and he also gave me the name of his mate, Fred, who’s a whizz at welding and getting rusty vehicles through their MOT.’

‘Gosh.’ I looked at her worriedly. ‘But you’re not planning on going out on the road and selling the surplus cakes yourself, are you?’

‘Er, no! Can you imagine? It would take me so long getting in and out of the van, the cakes would be stale by the time they got to the customers.’

I sighed with relief. ‘Well, thank goodness for that. So who...?’

Her face broke into a mischievous smile.

‘Well, you, of course.’

*****

I stared at her, not knowing quite what to think of this bold idea.

‘Me?’ I managed at last, as we walked over to the café and went in. ‘But I thought you needed me to help out here, in the café?’

‘Oh, I do. Absolutely. But you’d only be out driving the van one day a week... probably a Wednesday... that’s if you decide you want to do it, of course,’ she added hurriedly.

‘Right.’ As I slipped back behind the counter, my mind was turning cartwheels trying to imagine what driving a van around the countryside would be like.

‘Primrose was talking about starting work now that George is at nursery,’ said Ellie, leaning against the end of the counter, ‘somaybe she’d like to cover for you when you’re out on the road. But even if not, we can definitely work something out.’

‘Well . . .’

‘Have a think about it, okay? You don’t need to give me an answer now.’

I nodded, feeling a little surge of excitement inside at the thought of doing something completely different. ‘Okay. Can I let you know tomorrow?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Ellie beamed at me. ‘Right, I’m going to head over to the new house. I just wanted to show you the van. And pick up some iced ginger cake.’ She removed the dome from the plate containing the cake and lifted a slice with the tongs, placing it carefully on a paper napkin. ‘It’s my latest passion and if you can’t indulge yourself when you’re pregnant, when can you?’ Grinning, she leaned down to the napkin and took a large bite of the cake.

I smiled. ‘Absolutely. How’s things over at Bogg House? Have Mac and the crew nearly finished the renovation?’

She nodded, her eyes sparkling. ‘The kitchen island arrived yesterday. They’ve installed it and it fits the space perfectly, according to Mac. I can’t wait to see what it looks like.’

‘Moving day soon?’

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