Page 35 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
‘It must be hard, trying to meet anyone when you don’t have a lot of time.’
Gillian shrugged. ‘I did go on some online chats and made plans to meet up with someone in Glasgow. But then I had to cancel because Mum couldn’t babysit and she quickly lost interest.’
‘You know if you want me to look after Millie, I would be more than happy to.’
‘Thanks,’ she said gratefully. ‘But flying up from London to babysit is perhaps a wee bit extreme.’
Jessica laughed suddenly, feeling a bit foolish at her rash offer. She had to keep reminding herself that she lived in London now and was just here for a visit. ‘What about work then?’
‘Well, for that I will need another coffee.’ She stood up. ‘Same again?’
Jessica nodded and waited for Gillian to order and come back to the table.
‘It’s just nice to chat. Thanks, Jessica, for listening.’
As they drank their coffees, she told how the weeks leading up to Christmas were traditionally some of the bakery’s busiest and most profitable. But that during these past few months, there had been one drama after another and sales were being impacted. Gillian had been doing as much as she could to help Struan, who owned the business and was the main baker, but he wasn’t getting any younger and told her most days that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep going. He was always complaining about the early starts, the rising cost of ingredients, and all the admin that came with the job. ‘I feel for him, I really do, but the thought of no bakery in the village is awful. It has always been such an integral part of Rowan Bay. And now...’ She choked back a small sob. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about.’
‘What are the options then?’ said Jessica, watching Gillian grip the sides of her coffee cup.
Gillian shook her head sadly. ‘Believe it or not, staying in the village was never one of my life ambitions. It was really hard to move back here after living in Glasgow but I was on my own and Millie was just a baby. You know, I think back to those days when I was heartbroken and terrified at the prospect of being a single parent and becoming homeless and jobless. Moving back here was the best thing I could have done at the time. Then lockdown happened and I was stuck. But the job with Struan wasa lifeline. It gave me the chance to earn my own money again, knowing that Millie was in safe hands with my mum. I’m so grateful to Struan for all that he’s done to help me these past few years and hate to see him so stressed. He told me the other day that he was at breaking point.’
‘And could he take anyone else on?’ said Jessica, leaning forwards and steepling her fingers together.
She nodded. ‘Yes, he did actually. He hired an apprentice baker who did an amazing job but then left to go travelling. Prior to that his head baker, Carl, decided to return to Germany after the implications of Brexit began to cause him visa-related stress.’ She closed her eyes briefly and sighed loudly. ‘I wish I could do more to help but I’m not sure what the answer is. Struan has been running the business for almost twenty years. I think he’s just completely scunnered with it all. And if things don’t turn around by the end of the year, then he’ll close the bakery, and from a selfish point of view, I will be out of a job and the hub of Rowan Bay will be gone.’ She paused. ‘That’s what bothers me most of all. Some of our older customers come in every day and buy something. They might only want a scone or a sausage roll but going to the bakery each day gets them out and gives them a purpose and the chance to meet up with other villagers. What about the local businesses we supply too?’ She lowered her voice. ‘This café and the Rowan Bay Inn? What will they do? And we’re the only place that does takeaway coffees. They tried it here but it didn’t work. They don’t have the capacity.’
Jessica listened silently and watched Gillian as her shoulders slumped and her eyes dulled. Her mind was also whirring as she thought about options and ways in which she could help. Being back in the village had reignited her sense of nostalgia and she wanted to help. She wasn’t yet sure how or what she could do. She had some work contacts she was going to call, not thatshe’d tell Gillian any of this quite yet. ‘Don’t despair. Sometimes things have a way of working out.’
Gillian looked at her with a tight smile as though to say,aye and pigs might fly.
‘Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a Christmas miracle,’ said Jessica brightly.
‘Don’t you worry,’ Gillian said drily. ‘I’ve already written to Santa and told him what I’d like for Christmas this year.’
Jessica briefly placed a hand on Gillian’s. ‘Just don’t rule anything out yet. How about I come in and help out?’
‘Really?’ Gillian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
‘Yes. I learned how to bake bread a few years ago. And I’m keen to utilise my skills.’
‘But you’re here for a break.’
Jessica chuckled. ‘You know my mum and what she’s like . . . There’s not much chance to sit still in our house. She likes to run a tight ship and delegate tasks. Seriously, I would love to help. You’d be doing me a favour too.’
‘How?’
‘It will give me something to focus on. Volunteering will be good for me. And get me out of my mum’s way.’
Gillian squealed and jumped out of her chair to hug Jessica. ‘You’re on!’
Jessica grinned. She couldn’t wait to get started.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The countdown was now officially on for the arrival of Murray, Carolyn and Lexi. In five days they would all be back in Rowan Bay and her mum was getting more and more excited by the second. She was like a whirlwind as she worked through her to-do list and crossed off all the tasks. Jessica had watched in awe as she iced several Christmas cakes, baked shortbread and batch-cooked lasagnes and soup, which she then put in the freezer at Primrose Cottage.
Jessica hadn’t seen Reuben since the weekend. Her mum told her he was back in Glasgow for a few days. The fact he hadn’t told her himself hurt. But then again if he was the same player he had been in high school then he was probably with Belinda. Jessica sighed, frustrated at herself for getting caught up with Reuben. She had fallen for his charm and was kicking herself for being so stupid. But she wasn’t about to sit around waiting for an explanation from him and, true to her word, she had started working in the bakery the day after she met with Gillian. When the alarm went off at three in the morning, she did wonder what she had signed herself up to. Especially as it was cold, dark and damp when she walked to the bakery in what felt like the middle of the night. But she reminded herself that she was living a privileged existence and had a choice to do this. Struan had been doing this for years in order to earn a living.
It took a couple of days to find a rhythm with her new routine. But now it was the end of the week she was finding the early starts actually invigorating. She hadn’t realised what a delight it would be to work with a real sourdough starter again. She appreciated the tips that Struan taught as he kept a watchful eye over her. She could hardly blame him for being cautious. This business had been his life, especially these past few years in particular. Struan was well into his sixties, with a rotund, ruddyface and thinning hair. He didn’t talk about it at all, but his wife had left him eight years ago for her personal instructor. It had caused quite the furore at the time and everyone in the village knew what had happened. Jessica wasn’t quite sure what Gillian had told him but he did seem grateful for the extra pair of hands.
