Page 2 of A New Arrival at Cwtch Cove

Trudy Gray turned the sign on the window of her bakery Buns N’ Roses around then unlocked the door. It was a beautiful September morning in Cwtch Cove. Outside, the sun was glinting on car windscreens and shop windows, the leaves on the trees were starting to change so the summer greens were giving way to orange, red, yellow and brown, and the air had cooled from the summer heat to a more pleasant temperature for a woman of Trudy’s age.

‘Bloody menopause.’ Shaking her head, she turned away from the window, crossed the shop floor and went behind the glass counter that was gleaming from the thorough cleaning she’d just given it. She admired the array of cakes and pastries that she’d set out and checked that she had sufficient recycled cardboard boxes and paper bags ready for when customers came in to get their breakfast treats.

The bakery was Trudy’s baby. She’d bought it ten years ago when her daughter Alice was eighteen and about to go off to university in Exeter to study dentistry. Trudy had encouraged her daughter to go to a university that was further away than Cardiff or Swansea, wanting her to spread her wings and to feel confident about going away from home. What Trudy hadn’t banked on was Alice then deciding to stay in Exeter to work. Following graduation, Alice had needed to do two years of supervised practice and she’d got in with a dentist in Exeter who had then offered her a position at the practice. Trudy loved how brave and confident Alice was, how strong and independent, but she missed her. A lot. However, she wouldn’t have things any other way because Alice was pursuing the career she’d described as her dream job, and Trudy was incredibly proud of her.

‘Penny for them?’ The deep voice came from the doorway leading to the kitchen and Trudy looked over and smiled at her pastry chef, Henry Sinclair. Even though she was twenty-two years older than him, she’d swooned a little when he’d first walked into the shop and asked about the vacancy she’d advertised. He was a dead ringer for Travis Fimmel who played Ragnar Lothbrok in the TV seriesVikings,and Trudy knew that she had him to thank for the growth in sales over the past six months since she’d employed him. But it wasn’t just his Hollywood good looks that had drawn in customers, it was his ability to bake the lightest flaky pastry, the crumbliest shortbread and the most delicious range of cupcakes that Trudy — and many others in the village — couldn’t stop eating. Hence her expanding waistline and disappearing chin.

‘Oh you wouldn’t want to know what goes on in this brain, my lovely,’ Trudy said as she smiled at Henry. ‘The way my thoughts whizz around from the moment I wake until the moment I get into bed is no one’s business.’

‘You should try yoga and meditation,’ he said, and not for the first time. ‘It works for me.’

‘I might. When I have time.’ Trudy shrugged but she knew she was making the same excuse she always did. Time was a luxury she didn’t have much of because of the shop and the online side of the business where she took custom orders for wedding cakes and birthday cakes as well as some corporate contracts. But she’d always worked hard and suspected she would continue to do so until she was taken out feet first, to use one of her mum’s regular phrases.

‘You need to find the time, Trudy. Life’s not just about work, you know.’ Henry gestured at the window. ‘We live in a beautiful location and should make the most of it. How about coming for an early morning swim with me one of these days?’

Trudy sighed inwardly but gave a small nod. ‘Why not? One day soon, all right?’

‘It’s a deal.’ Henry raised his hand and imitated drinking. ‘Fancy a cuppa before the morning rush.’

‘Go on then. I’ve always got time for a cuppa.’

As Henry disappeared to the kitchen, Trudy went back to the window. She knew that Henry was right and she should make more time for enjoying life. And she would do, just as soon as she ticked off some of the items on her ‘to do’ list.

Chapter2

Henry

Henry stirred milk into Trudy ’s tea. He worried about her sometimes, he couldn’t help it. Since getting the job at the bakery six months ago, following his move there from Cardiff, he’d become fond of the older woman. She’d made an effort to welcome him to the village of Cwtch Cove and to help him to meet other locals. Trudy was only twenty-two years older than Henry but she tended to mother him, and as much as he knew he shouldn’t enjoy that, he did. Having lost his own mum over five years ago, Henry had missed having a mother figure and Trudy had stepped into the role. She was one of the kindest people he’d ever met and he wanted to make sure that she took care of herself. Starting with taking some time out from running her business because he knew that she worked long hours and rarely had a break.

Henry took the mug of tea through to the shop for Trudy.

‘Here you go.’

‘Ah thanks, my lovely, you’re a treasure.’

‘Speak for yourself.’ He grinned then walked to the window that looked out onto the street and the village green. ‘We’re expecting a delivery mid-morning, right?’

‘That’s right.’

‘And you’re still keen to develop the gluten free range?’

‘Definitely. So many people have issues with gluten that it seems wrong not to cater for them.’

‘I’ve been experimenting with some of the different brands of flour to see which ones work best for texture and flavour and there are some good varieties available now.’

‘What about the vegan range?’

Henry laughed. ‘Don’t worry, I’m on that too.’

‘I’ve been asked by an online customer to make a vegan wedding cake, so I was thinking about a light lemon sponge with a lemon or passionfruit frosting.’

‘That would work.’ He nodded. ‘With several layers.’

‘Let’s get some ideas down later and then I’ll practise making it tonight.’

‘I can help you.’

‘That would be great.’

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