Page 16 of Love in the Air at The Cornish Bakery

‘Nina.’ Clearing her throat, she spoke louder. ‘Nina.’

‘Lovely to have you here in the bay, Nina.’ Turning back to his audience, he raised his microphone to his lips again. ‘Nina, everyone.’

‘Thanks.’ Looking down, she weaved her way through the tables and back to the table by the window, slipped into her chair, and placed the envelope on the table. ‘Well, that was embarrassing.’

‘Aw, no, it wasn’t. You did well.’ Wendy rubbed her forearm. ‘Anyway, don’t worry, Gerald should be calling the winning team of the quiz now. The promise of free drinks always stirs a lot of excitement.’

Nina looked around the table and smiled. She felt more comfortable here, amongst these people, some of who she’d only met for the second time that evening, than she had for a long time.

Chapter Nine

‘Are you still here? I thought you had your balloon ride at ten?’ Elsie placed two trays on top of the counter.

‘Yes, I do.’ Nina passed across the customer’s change before checking the large clock on the wall behind her. It was quarter to already.

‘Go on then, love. Off you go before you miss it.’ Holding out her hand for Nina’s apron, Elsie smiled.

‘You’re sure you don’t mind me going? I mean, I am supposed to be working here.’ She slipped her apron over her head.

‘Go on, enjoy it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.’ Taking her apron, she wrapped her arms around Nina and pulled her tight. ‘Enjoy yourself. We’ll be fine here.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ Nodding, Nina slipped into her coat and waved to Diane, Brooke, and Teresa as she made her way through the customers and towards the door. Elsie was right. This would likely be the only time she’d have the chance to go up in a hot air balloon, and it had always been on her list of things she wanted to do. Her gran had taken her brother, Finley, on a balloon ride when he’d been fifteen, and he’d spoken about it for months. She’d supposed to have been going too, but she’d come down with food poisoning from her best friend’s birthday party and had missed out.

Turning up the hill, she checked her watch. She had five minutes to get to the school playing field where it was taking off. She frowned. Was that the right phrase? Did a hot air balloon take off? Maybe drift off. Shaking her head, she grinned. Whatever it was, she only had five minutes to get there. Zipping up her coat, she began jogging up the hill. Nothing was going to make her miss it this time around.

There was the school. The instructions in the envelope had said to go through the gates leading straight into the field so she didn’t have to wander through the school. She assumed she’d be able to see where to go from there. Slowing down to a walk, she passed the school reception and continued up the hill until she came to a green gate.

Yes, there it was. The balloon was huge. It had some sort of writing on it in big, bold letters. She couldn’t read it as the balloon hadn’t been inflated yet, but she presumed it would be the advertising for the brewery Gerald had spoken of.

Clicking the gate open, she made sure to close it properly and made her way across to the group of people standing next to the deflated balloon. Holding her hand above her eyes to shield the low autumn sun, she searched the group of people for Gerald. Was he even there?

She sighed. She couldn’t spot Gerald, but Rowan was definitely there, and he was making his way towards her now. She glanced behind her, part of her longing to walk straight back out of the gates and back down the hill towards the bakery, but she’d miss the balloon ride if she did that. Gerald must be running late.

‘Was it you who won the balloon ride?’ Rowan held his arms out, a slow grin spreading across his face.

‘Yes. Where’s Gerald? I thought he was coming up there with me?’

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