Page 38 of Love in the Air at The Cornish Bakery

Chapter Nineteen

‘Nina?’

Blinking, Nina tore her mind away from her thoughts and focused on the customer in front of her. ‘Sorry, what was it you’d asked for?’

‘Five rolls and one of those cupcakes with the pink swirls on. Please.’

‘Coming right up.’ Turning, Nina began placing five cupcakes in a cake box.

‘Psst...’ Diane nudged her elbow. ‘He asked forfiverolls andonecupcake.’

‘Did he?’

‘What’s up? Since you’ve been back from lunch, you’ve been in your own world.’ Taking the cake box from her, Diane began putting the cupcakes back on their tray.

‘I just...’

‘Here you go, five rolls and one cupcake. On the house. I hope you have a great afternoon.’ Brooke smiled at the customer before turning to Nina and placing her hand on her forearm. ‘We’re worried about you, that’s all. Did you want to go and have a lie-down or get something to eat?’

Tightening her apron strings, Nina looked at them both. ‘No, I’ll be fine. Sorry, I’ll concentrate now.’

‘Okay. If you’re sure.’ Diane raised her eyebrows.

Taking a deep breath, Nina turned to the next customer. She just needed to get through the rest of this shift. When the bakery closed, she could have a bit of time to go over things, to think about what had happened, how Ian had reacted. ‘Hi, what can I get you today?’

‘Hello, Nina. How are you today?’

Realising who was standing in front of the counter, Nina smiled. ‘Hi, Edna. I’m okay, thank you. How are you and your two grandsons?’

‘Oh, we’re just fine. Thank you. Justin is at an after-school art club, so me and Freddie thought we’d wander down here and get us both and Justin a treat for after his club.’

‘An art club? That sounds fun. What treat would you like, Freddie?’

‘Can I have a cookie, please?’ The small boy stood on his tiptoes and pointed to a cookie at the back of the tray. ‘Can I have that one, with the extra bit of chocolate on, please?’

Picking up the tongs, Nina tapped the cookie. ‘This one?’

‘Yes, please.’

Placing it in a paper bag, she passed it across to Freddie. ‘There you go. Is Justin having a cookie, too?’

Sinking his teeth into the cookie, Freddie nodded.

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