so hadn’t had chance to look in on Jill before leaving to fetch the girls. ‘Did it get any busier?’
‘Not a great deal. There was a family and then a couple in. The family were staying in a holiday cottage up the valley, they were nice and chatty. The others were on a day trip from Alnwick for a change of scenery, had some tea and shared a scone between them. Oh, and Brenda from the Deli called, they’ve sold six puddings this week, so I need to top up the Sticky Toffee supplies there, so that was a bit of good news.’
A bit of positive news, yes, Rachel mused, and a step in the right direction, but it wasn’t exactly going to cover the mounting bills.
‘Grandma, Grandma! Mummy wants to make a Pudding Club,’ Maisy blurted out. News certainly travelled fast when five-year-olds got to know it! And though Rachel was excited about the idea, she had intended to broach the matter a little later on when she and Jill were on their own and would have the chance to chat it over properly.
‘Well, that’s the cat out of the bag. Thanks, Maisy.’ Never tell a child anything you didn’t want shared! ‘Well, it’s just a thought I’ve had, we can talk about it over supper, maybe.’
‘A Pudding Club? Hmm, sounds like it might be quite fun. Something like a cooking class, do you mean?’ Rachel was pleased that she’d got Jill’s attention.
‘Maybe, but nothing as formal as that. We could have puddings to taste, share baking tips, a chance to chat and relax with a cuppa … maybe themed nights, even.’
‘Okay, but it might be a lot of work. We’ll have to think on it, won’t we?’ Jill didn’t sound totally sold on the idea yet.
Oh dear, did it feel to Jill like Rachel was loading more work on to her? She hadn’t thought of that.
‘Look, I know it’s a big ask, and we can chat some more about it in a while. I still need to pop out and do my last checks around the farm.’
‘Okay, pet.’ Jill lifted a large casserole pot out of the Aga, resting it on the top as she popped in eight round balls of herby dumplings. ‘Supper will be ready in about twenty minutes.’
‘That’s great.’ After baking and looking after the Pantry all day, here was Jill still cooking and caring for her family. Rachel didn’t take her for granted, but maybe she needed to show her gratitude a little more often. ‘And thanks, Mum. You look after us all so well.’
‘Isn’t that what mums are for, love?’
‘Well, some are better at it than others, I’m sure … and you’re up there with the best.’
Jill beamed.
‘Maisy, do you want to come on out with me?’ Rachel asked.
It was already getting dark outside, and the kitchen was a cosy haven. Maisy had her school coat and shoes off and was stroking Moss, who’d sneaked up and joined her on the chair beside the Aga. ‘I’ll stay with Grandma.’
‘Okay, I won’t be long.’
Rachel couldn’t wait to get the last farm chores done and get back in herself, but she could never rest easy if she hadn’t seen for herself that the farm animals were all fine and settled for the night.
Up at the Top Field Rachel’s mobile buzzed into life. She stopped the quad.
‘Hi, Rach.’ It was Tom.
‘Oh hi, you okay?’
‘Yep. Look, when do I get to see you again? It was great in the woods at the weekend with Maisy, but I’d love some time just for us too. Can you make tonight? The other evening was pretty special.’
‘Yes, it was really lovely.’ Her mind wandered back to that sensual night by the fireside at Tom’s house. But she’d already promised to go back tonight and chat further with Mum about the Pudding Club idea; they couldn’t afford to rest on their laurels with the Pudding Pantry. It had needed energy and a huge commitment to get this business off the ground, and would need even more to make it a success.
‘Oh, Tom, much as I’d love to, I can’t see you tonight, sorry.’
‘Tomorrow?’ He wasn’t one to give up easily.
The following night was set aside for the mammoth pile of farming paperwork she hadn’t managed to get around to today.
‘Umm, look, I’ll see you at your elevenses.’
‘Is that it? I can’t make love to you over a bacon sandwich in the middle of the Pudding Pantry.’
Rachel couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Oh, why on earth not?’ She was trying to keep her tone deadpan.
‘For a start, Frank’s false teeth might fall out with the shock, and I don’t think your mother would approve.’
‘Hah, maybe not.’
‘I’m serious though, Rach.’ His voice softened, sounding so earnest. ‘I’d love to see you again soon.’
God, she wanted to see him, to be with him, too, not be stuck under a pile of paperwork, but that wasn’t going to keep the farm afloat. Her life seemed to be a never-ending To Do list right now. It was no wonder it was hard to find time to be together. She wasn’t young, free and single, like other girls her age might be. Well, she might still be young – twenty-four was hardly ancient – but she was a mother, and tied to a farm and a business. Would Tom prefer a no-strings-attached kind of girl, where every night could be date night? That thought made her feel uneasy.
‘Just give me a day or two to get things straight, okay, and then I’ll try and free up an evening. I’ll see if Mum’s all right to look after Maisy, or maybe Eve will step in. We could go out for a drink or something. Or just stay in?’
‘All right, I suppose I’ll just have to wait. And don’t forget our rendezvous at elevenses,’ he added more chirpily.
‘How could I?’
‘See you then’.
‘Bye.’ She turned off the mobile, and found herself smiling. Amid all the To Dos, the chores, paperwork and bills, Tom Watson was a warm beacon of light. She just prayed he’d manage to stay aglow for her.
‘So, come on, tell me more about this Pudding Club idea, then?’ Jill asked, as the three of them were sat around the kitchen table with plates loaded with mince, dumplings, carrots and cabbage, fresh from their vegetable patch.
‘Okay, so I’m thinking that the Pudding Pantry is already a lovely cosy place to meet up. So, the Pudding Club will have to be a bit different. A chance to come in, make new friends, and learn something. It’ll be about all things pudding and baking, with ideas and recipes, and tastings … Ooh yes, we’ll have to have a little taster of something delicious from the Pantry to try.’
‘We can taste cupcakes!’ came Maisy’s suggestion with a big grin.
‘Hmm, it does sound interesting. So, do we charge for customers to come in? How would it work? We’d have to cover our costs and make a little bit extra ourselves, to make it worthwhile.’
‘Of
