Millie Vanilla’s Cupcake Café

Once they got the okay from Jed, they carried it all back inside. It had been the quickest of make-overs and not the most thorough but it was a definite improvement. As Millie had hoped, once the brightly painted tables and chairs were in place, the whole look came together. The shabby-chic effect even disguised some of the more hurried paintwork.

They stood on the sun terrace, gazing in at their hard work.

‘It’s absolutely gorgeous,’ Millie breathed, hardly able to believe they had achieved so much in just two days.

‘It’s mint,’ Zoe put in. ‘Biddy’s getting the cushion covers over tomorrow,’ she added in a whisper, as Arthur came to stand with them to admire their handiwork.

‘My dear girl, what an alteration!’ he said.

‘It certainly is and I couldn’t have done it without you guys.’ Millie put her arms around Zoe and Arthur. ‘You’ve been brilliant,’ she managed, before her voice broke with emotion.

Jed slung an arm around Sean and added, ‘Can’t beat teamwork.’ He grinned over at her making her feel happy and a bit dizzy all at the same time.

The café did, indeed, look transformed. The white floor and walls gleamed against the pink-and-green furniture and the touches of gold that Ken had applied to his pink-and- turquoise mural added glamour.

‘It just looks all pulled together,’ Millie began, ‘without seeming too –’

‘Contrived,’ Jed finished for her.

‘Exactly!’

They gazed happily at one another.

Arthur, as if sensing the intimacy between them, coughed and disentangled himself. ‘Well, I’d best be off. Don’t like to leave Daisy on her own, even if all she does is sleep at the moment.’

‘Oh Arthur – and everyone else, before you go,’ Millie said, ‘I’ve got a present for you all. It’s only a gesture, I’m afraid, but I thought, no I needed to do something to thank you for all your hard work. Just hang on for a minute, will you?’ She disappeared into the café, carefully avoiding some of the still-wet paint and went through to the kitchen.

She returned a minute later, carrying a tower of cake boxes and with an excited Trevor dancing around her ankles. ‘Like I said, it’s only a gesture and doesn’t in any way …’ her voice trailed off. She’d been up half the night baking the cakes. It was the only way she could think of, or afford, to thank them, but it seemed too little a reward.

Putting the boxes carefully on one of the tables they’d left outside, she handed Jed the first one. ‘Victoria sponge for you. I know how much you like it. Fresh cream, of course.’

Beaming, Jed opened up the box. ‘Millie,’ he exclaimed, ‘you’ve iced the top in Millie Vanilla’s colours!’

He folded back the card lid for the others to see. Iced in pink and turquoise were the words, “Jed, I can’t thank you enough, but hope this sugary sweetness will.”

‘I love it,’ he said, his dark eyes warm.

‘A special apricot, brandy and almond tray bake for you, Arthur, and I’ve done some doggie biscuits for Daisy too.’ She handed him his boxes.

‘Oh, my dear girl, you shouldn’t have! My favourite! And Daisy will love hers too.’

‘Chocolate and marshmallow for you, Zoe. Natch!’

‘Natch!’ Zoe answered and took her cake. ‘Thanks, Mil, that’s ace. Think Mum might nick a bit of this.’

‘She’s more than welcome.’

‘And Sean, I hope you don’t mind sharing but I’ve made you all some cupcakes. I know Tessa and the boys like them too.’

Sean took his box, then put it back down on the table and enveloped Millie in a bear hug. ‘Thanks so much, Millie,’ he whispered in a voice gruff with emotion. ‘What Mum did to you was wrong. I told her, you know. I’m dead against this new job.’

For the first time Millie could see what Zoe saw in him. Letting him hug her in his scrawny grip for a second, she fought against tears. ‘Thank you, Sean. I appreciate that.’

Millie picked up the last boxes and handed them to Zoe. ‘Scones with cream and jam for Biddy and shortbread for Elvis. Could you get them to her?’

‘No prob. Sean and I will drop them off on the way home.’

‘Thanks, Zoe, and thank you all so much.’

‘Yeah yeah, we get the picture,’ Zoe said, stopping the mood getting maudlin. ‘What does Biddy always say about people who cry too much?’

‘Eyes too near the bladder,’ Arthur supplied.

‘That’s it. She wants to see you, Granddad, by the way. I think flowers are the order of the day, don’t you? Come on,’ she slipped an arm through his. ‘We can order them online. Next-day delivery and she’ll be made up. After you’ve said sorry, of course.’

‘Zoe, my girl,’ Arthur laughed. ‘How did you get so wise so young?’

‘Dunno,’ she replied wide-eyed. ‘It’s just a genius talent I have.’ She kissed his cheek. ‘Or good genes.’ With Sean trailing in their wake, carrying the mountain of cake boxes, they wandered off in the direction of the promenade. As they went, Millie could hear Zoe instructing Arthur on just how best to win Biddy round.

‘Well, Emilia Fudge,’ said Jed coming to her and slipping his arms around her. ‘I think this weekend has been a success.’

Glancing into the café and then refocusing on him, she agreed, ‘Well, Jed Henville, I think you might just be right.’

The kiss that followed was as sweet and satisfying as any of the cakes she baked.

Sweeter.

Chapter 21 (#ulink_30b4cf09-6c4e-5759-afb1-7c87898a8e76)

‘Can you stay for supper tonight?’ Millie tried to keep it light, not wanting to seem desperate. She’d kept the hurt that Tessa had inflicted to herself all day. Had been too busy to dwell on it, but now all the work was finished, she felt the tension in her shoulders soften and, with it, a need for human comfort. The tears threatened a return.

‘I think that’s an offer I can’t resist.’ Jed grinned boyishly. ‘And of course I’m –’

‘Starving. Of course you are!’ She laughed. ‘Taken as a given. Reaching up, she tweaked a long lock of hair that flopped over his tanned face. ‘You have the most fetching streak of white paint.’

Jed pulled a face. ‘Do I?’

‘And another smudge of it on your nose.’ Millie reached up to kiss it.

‘I might need to borrow your shower.’

‘I think that can be arranged.’

He followed her up to the flat, with Trevor weaving between their legs and getting in the way.

Millie unlocked the door and, feeling self-conscious, led him into the sitting room. It must be very different to the places he was used to. She needn’t have worried. Jed went straight to the window and stood, hands on hips, drinking in the view.

‘What a fantastic place to live!’ He turned to her, eyes alight. ‘You look right out over the sea. You must never tire of it.’