Page 22 of The Plan
Chapter Five
The next week flies by.I spend every minute baking and taking on more cake orders. It seems that as soon as one gets delivered, another two orders come in. It’s crazy and way more than I ever thought.
Today’s cake is a big number one for a baby’s first birthday. It’s almost done—I’ve just got to pipe around the edges and add the icing animals on top. It’s being collected in just over an hour for tomorrow’s party.
“Oh, that’s perfect,” Aileen exclaims when I show her the cake. “Thank you so much.”
She pays me for it before I follow behind her with the cake as she wrestles with her almost-one year old. I’m just waving her off when Aunt Addy pulls on to the drive. I can see from here she’s not looking too good.
“What’s wrong?” I ask when she opens the door.
“Vertigo,” is all she mumbles as she plods towards the front door.
“Get to bed,” I instruct, following her.
“Can’t; babysitting Sinead tonight. I’ll just have a rest on the sofa. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“I can do it.”
“No, you’re busy.” I look around the kitchen as she says this and see the bombsite I’ve created. I’ve still got more to do.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”
“Let me have a lie down and we’ll see.”
When Aunt Addy reappears an hour later, she looks horrendous and is clinging onto the worktop like she’s about to go down any second.
“Go back to bed. I’ll look after Sinead.”
“Really?” Aunt Addy asks, sounding very grateful.
“Of course.”
She walks back to bed after giving me Blake and Sinead’s address, and once I’ve packed up a load of baking supplies, I load them all into Aunt Addy’s car and head off.
I haven’t seen much of Blake this week. He came over during the weekend while Sinead was with his parents to finish the fence, but Aunt Addy was in so it put pay to any gawking out of the window. She may have given me the green light where Blake is concerned, but I’m still not convinced anything but looking is a good idea.
When I pull up to their house, I’m surprised to see the driveway’s empty. I’d psyched myself up to see Blake and I kind of hate that I’m now disappointed he’s not here. It appears his maintenance business is thriving as he rings Aunt Addy to help look after Sinead a couple of times a week.
I jump out the car and ring the doorbell, questioning if I’m at the right house.
After a couple of seconds, I hear footsteps heading my way before the door opens and Sinead’s head pops out.
“Addison, where’s Nan?”
“She’s ill so I offered to come over.”
“Oh,” she replies, sounding disappointed.
“I really need your help though.” That gets her attention. “I’ve got to deliver forty-eight cupcakes to a wedding tomorrow and I’m running out of time.”
That has the desired effect because in seconds, Sinead has a pair of shoes on and is helping me get my stuff from the boot of the car.
I’m impressed by Blake’s house as I follow Sinead through to the kitchen. It’s modern and homely. I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. I glance into the living room and see a giant comfortable looking sofa with loads of cushions on that looks perfect for reading or napping.
“Come on,” Sinead calls when she sees I’ve stopped.
“You’ve got a lovely home.”
