Page 2 of Love in the Air at The Cornish Bakery

‘That’ll be nice, thanks.’ Nodding, Nina watched as Elsie picked up a mug and lifted the lid on one of the slow cookers, a comforting rich chocolate aroma suddenly filling the air. Taking the mug, she sipped the warm liquid, savouring the taste in her mouth before swallowing. ‘Thank you. That’s delicious.’

‘It’s Daisy’s recipe.’ Grinning, Elsie picked up her own mug before leading the way towards the nearest cluster of people chatting and laughing together. As they neared, the conversation lulled, and people turned to them. ‘I’d like you all to meet Nina. She’ll be volunteering in the bakery for the next few weeks.’

‘Lovely to meet you, Nina. I’m Daisy and this is my husband, Ollie.’ Stepping forward, Daisy touched her forearm.

Nina nodded and raised her mug. ‘Good to meet you both and thank you for the hot chocolate. It’s delicious.’

‘You’re welcome. Glad you like it.’ Daisy grinned and turned to another couple. ‘This is Olivia and Scott.’

‘Hi, nice to meet you.’ Nina waved.

‘Great to meet you, too.’

‘I’m Ian. Don’t worry, love. We won’t expect you to remember all our names. Elsie’s bakery family is pretty big.’ Ian chuckled and waved a couple towards him. ‘Talking of which, here are two more, my beautiful granddaughter Brooke and her partner, Max.’

‘Thank you.’ Nina frowned. Ian? No, it couldn’t be the Ian from her gran’s letter. She glanced across at the lighthouse. Could it? And Brooke. The letter had spoken of Brooke, Ian’s granddaughter, her gran’s granddaughter, her cousin. Was it them? ‘Good to meet you.’

‘Come on, love. Let’s go and meet the others. Most of our volunteers meet everyone in dribs and drabs, but this way you’ll have got all the introductions done and dusted in one evening.’ Linking arms, Elsie led the way across the beach to a group of people sitting and lounging on picnic rugs.

Looking over her shoulder, Nina watched as Ian began refilling Brooke and Max’s mugs. It would be a massive coincidence if it was them. If she’d literally just met them on her first evening in Penworth Bay.

‘Are you okay, love?’ Elsie patted her arm. ‘Have you eaten? We can pop something on the BBQ for you.’

‘No, I’m fine, thanks. I had something on the way down here.’ Nina swallowed as her stomach grumbled. The packet of crisps she’d shared with Steph felt like a long time ago now, but she was already putting these people out. She couldn’t very well demand food, too.

Chapter Two

Opening her eyes, Ninafocused on the bedroom door. Had she heard something? Yes, a quiet clicking. The clicking of a door. The muffled sound as someone tried their best to keep quiet, to not disturb anyone. Bile stung the back of her throat, the familiar feeling of helplessness and terror filling her body. She forced herself to sit up, to take the bottle of hairspray she now kept by her as she slept. The bottle of hairspray she wished she’d had that night. The bottle of hairspray she’d always keep by her side from now on.

Flinging the duvet to one side, Nina took a deep breath and stood up. She wouldn’t feel like this again. She wouldn’t let Elsie get burgled. Not after she’d welcomed her into her home so warmly. No, she couldn’t.

With her knuckles white from her tight grip around the can of hairspray, Nina tiptoed out into the hallway. As she made her way to the stairs leading down to the bakery, she tried to push all thoughts and memories away. It was different this time. Back home, she hadn’t been prepared. She hadn’t even thought to pick up something to defend herself.

At the bottom of the stairs, she placed her hand on the door handle. It was cool beneath her clammy skin. Keeping her eyes fixed in front of her and her index finger hovering over the trigger on the can, she pushed it down and peered out into the bakery. The light from the hallway she was standing in illuminated the dark bakery, shadows dancing across the counters and floor tiles.

Squinting into the dim light, Nina glanced around. Almost as soon as she spotted a sliver of light escaping the bottom of the kitchen door, quiet voices seeped through into the bakery. Two people were chatting and laughing in the kitchen. Voices she recognised. Elsie’s voice was definitely one of them. The other belonged to someone else she’d met yesterday evening on the beach. She could picture her face, but the name escaped her—Tina? Teresa? Tracy?

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