Page 24 of Daydreams & Doughnut Cake

A thought had been nagging at me all morning and I’d been trying hard to ignore it.

But deep down inside, I knew I had to face it.

There was another suspect. Someone else who might be holding a grudge against me. Except I was struggling to accept that he could ever have done something so nasty and vindictive.

It couldn’t possibly be Danny.

Could it?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Maisie Diaries

Something Rosie said to me the other day keeps running through my mind. She said, ‘Faint heart never won fair lady’.

So I’ve decided I’m going to be brave, dear diary.

I’m going to buy those cinema tickets and ask Reuben Taylor out after the rehearsal tomorrow night!!!!!

Aaaaargh!!!!!!!!

(If he says no, or something even worse, I’ll be off in that Tardis myself to another planet.)

Rosie

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I got to the market a little later than usual. But by eleven, I was all set up and doing a roaring trade. Chatting with customers was helping to keep the tiredness at bay, although I knew it would probably hit me later and I’d wilt like the coriander I was attempting to grow on a windowsill at home (but either watering it too little or too much!)

During a pause in serving, I took a breath and glanced around, my spirits restored by the sunny day and the welcome, cooling breeze that was making the market stalls’ colourful bunting dance and flutter.

I smiled to myself. At this rate, I’d be all sold out by three and would have plenty of time to drive home and have a well-earned cuppa before collecting Amelie from nursery around five. (She stayed a little later on market day Wednesdays and she seemed to love it.)

I was checking in the cool boxes, counting cartons a while later, when a familiar voice said, ‘Any of that amazing chicken dhansak this week?’

I looked up and Katja’s new boyfriend Caleb was smiling at me.

‘Glad you enjoyed it!’

‘I did. It was quite spicy but I’m getting more adventurous with my food these days. Thanks to your amazing ways with curry.’

I chuckled. ‘That’s good. And yes, I have some chicken dhansak left.’

‘Great. Two, please. Katja’s coming over tonight.’

‘Did I hear you say the dhansak wasquite spicy?’ scoffed his workmate Ivan, who’d been examining my chalk board showing the dishes available that week. He shook his head at me. ‘Blessthe lad, he was obviously brought up on a diet of milky puddings and all things bland because a dhansak isnot spicy!’

I laughed. ‘Well, itis.There’slotsof spices in my dhansak.But maybe they’re just a little too mild for you, Ivan?’

Caleb grinned. ‘I think what Rosie’s saying is that my palette is superior to yours.’

‘Er, I don’t think so, boss.’ Ivan patted him rather condescendingly on the shoulder. ‘I’m the curry expert around here.’

‘Yeah, right.’

‘It’s true. Give me a takeaway vindaloo, a few beers and the footie on telly and I’ll show you a perfect Friday night.’ He pointed at the beef madras on the chalk board. ‘Be a real man. Try the madras instead.’

Caleb snorted. ‘The thing is, I appreciatesubtletyin a curry. I want to taste all the aromatic ingredients. I don’t just want to be whacked over the head with it and have my tastebuds burned off!’

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