‘Thank you so much, Lucy. You’ve been such a great help. It would have been back-breaking to do it on my own.’
‘You’re more than welcome. See you soon.’ She blew kisses and left.
‘Have you thought of asking Mr Ives from Odds’n’Sods?’ asked Gracie. ‘He’s amazing at finding all kinds of crazy stuff.’
‘No, I haven’t actually but that’s a great idea, thank you. I’ll pop over and see him later.’
Gracie got up from her tyre stool and stretched her back. ‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to love you and leave you too as I have to take Matty to swimming lessons, but before I go, I’ll just show you how to change the sanding disc.’
‘Oh, do I need to change it? I thought we were finished now the rust has gone.’
‘I’m afraid not. You’re going to have to sand down the rest of the paintwork ready to repaint it.’ Gracie smiled. She replaced the sanding disc and hugged her goodbye. As she was about to drive off, she wound her window down. ‘By the way, Finn said that there’s room for you to park up at the marina for when you’re ready to paint it.’
‘That’s fantastic. Please thank him for me and thanks again to you. You’ve been amazing.’ Camila waved her off, swigged down the last of her tea and climbed back up the ladder to begin sanding down the paintwork. The sun had gone down by the time she’d finished, and the street lamps had come on. Ron had returned and primed the patches where the rust had been. Camilla had a banging headache and joints she hadn’t known she had were aching.
‘You look shattered,’ said Ron. ‘Why don’t you finish up now. We can store the sander in the van until tomorrow.’
‘Yes, I think you’re right, Ron.’ She cleared her throat, which felt dry and raspy from the paint dust, despite wearing a mask. ‘It’s been a long old day.’
‘Come on, I’m off home. I’ll give you a lift.’
Camilla wanted to cry from the weariness she felt in her bones. ‘Thanks, Ron, that would be just terrific. Oh sorry,’ she said covering her mouth with her hand as she yawned.
Chapter 11
A few days later Camilla sat behind the wheel of the van and cautiously drove to the marina. She had spent hours scrubbing and cleaning the inside of the van until she could have eaten her dinner off the floor. Having only been used to a tiny car before she accidentally bumped up and down the corners of a few pavements on the way but gradually got used to the size of it. She pulled into the back of the marina, then navigated her way around several cars and a large blue crane that was hoisting a canal boat from the river.
Gracie and Finn waved to her from outside the boatyard and gestured to show her where to park. She turned the chimes on to make them laugh and her heart melted as Matty kicked his legs and waved to her, a look of pure joy on his face.
Camilla greeted her friends warmly.
‘So, you’ve got the paint then?’ asked Finn.
‘Yes, it’s all in the van. Mr Ives came up trumps and got it for me for next to nothing as it was a discontinued colour. He really can get anything. Thanks for the tip-off, Gracie.’
‘I’m so glad he could help you and I can’t wait to see what colour it is.’
‘It’s my new favourite colour: peppermint green,’ Camilla said as she gently bopped Matty on the nose, making him chuckle. She gave him a present, which he tore the wrapper off.
‘Boh,’ he said.
‘Yes, that’s right. It is a boat, you clever boy. Say thank you to Auntie Camilla.’
‘Ta,’ he said, throwing the paper at her for good measure.
Finn had unloaded the van, prised open the lid from one of the tins and emptied it into the paint sprayer.
‘Oh, Camilla, what a gorgeous colour. I love it,’ said Gracie.
‘Isn’t it beautiful?’ Camilla gushed. ‘Just looking at it makes me so happy; it lifts my soul.’
‘I can tell,’ said Gracie. ‘Your eyes are shining.’
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and help?’ Finn asked.
‘No, I’m fine thanks, Finn. You’ve done enough by letting me use the space. Besides I want this job to be carried out by girl power.’
He laughed as she flexed her muscles and waved to him and Gracie as they headed off along the river with Matty in his pushchair. Camilla took some masking tape from her bag and began protecting the lights and windows of the van.
Two hours later Camilla stood with hands on her hips and surveyed her handiwork. Her muscles were still throbbing from the strange positions she’d forced her body into whilst sanding and now everything felt as though it were about to seize up. The colour was delightful and made her heart sing. She took out a flask of tea and a sandwich wrapped in foil that Carrie had made her and sat on a tree stump overlooking the river. The air was crisp, but the sun shone from a cornflower blue sky and warmed her face. She threw her crusts into the still water and watched as swans and geese squabbled over them.
‘Wow, it looks amazing.’ Gracie appeared behind her. ‘You should be very proud of yourself.’
‘I really am. It’s been a labour of love, as you well know.’ She stood up, brushed twigs and leaves off the back of her joggers, and linked her arm through Gracie’s. ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done to help.’
‘You’re absolutely welcome. That’s what friends are for.’ They made their way over to the van.
‘It’s really starting to take shape, isn’t it? Although—’ She tapped her finger on her cheek. ‘I feel as though there’s something missing; maybe a little bit of sparkle.’
‘Mmm I know what you mean,’ agreed Gracie. ‘Maybe it will look more finished when you take the masking tape off.’
‘I’m sure you’re right. I’ll have to find some sort of sign for it; maybe one of those stick-on graphics but they’re so expensive.’
‘I’ll see if I can think of any ideas, so leave it with me.’
‘Will do.’ She yawned. ‘I must get back as I need a nice hot soak in the bath.’ She scraped at her hands. ‘I just hope this paint comes off. I’ll be back in a couple of days.’
‘No problem, see you then.’
‘See you and thanks again.’
Camilla headed back to the B&B feeling lighter than she had for a long time. The walk along the river added to her feeling of contentment as colourful canal boats glided by, cheery passengers waved to her and dog walkers smiled hello. It was a complete contrast to where she lived in her flat, which had been in a built-up area where nobody really knew their neighbours as they were out at work all day. Although she’d popped in and out of Bramblewood she’d never really appreciated the true beauty of it. Maybe when she could afford to, she should look for a place here. That thought warmed her heart immensely.
A couple of days later whilst Camilla was caught up in a whirlwind of icing sugar, cocoa powder and desiccated coconut, she heard a commotion outside. It sounded like a car horn beeping. She washed her hands and was wiping them on a towel as she headed out of the kitchen towards the door, just at the same moment as Lucy and Gracie appeared inside the café.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked, not terribly worried now as she could see the expressions on their smiling faces.
‘Wait a minute, you can’t look just yet.’ Lucy took the towel from Camilla’s hand and tied it around her head like a blindfold. ‘Now walk carefully this way.’
Camilla trod as carefully as she could as Lucy and Gracie took an arm each and guided her outside. ‘What are you two up to?’ she said. The cold air bit at her hands, though her face was nice and warm from the towel.
She could feel them gently untangling the knot in the towel, trying not to pull her hair and they shouted, ‘Surprise!’ in unison. When the material fell away and after blinking a couple of times, her eyes focused on the cutest thing she’d ever seen in her life. Ron was sat at the wheel of her little van. The peppermint green paint had transformed it and looked wonderful now the masking tape had been removed but the icing on the cake for Cami
lla were the delicious sparkly pastel-coloured cupcakes painted all over it.
She looked up to see a sign saying Camilla’s Cupcakes that lit up at the top of the van.
‘Well isn’t that just the cherry on the top.’ Her hands flew to cover her open mouth; she could register Lucy and Gracie’s ecstatic faces and was completely speechless. Ron got out of the driver’s seat and walked towards her, holding out the keys. ‘There you go, you’ve now got your very own little cupcake van.’
Thank you so much, everyone. It’s just absolutely perfect. Better than I could ever have imagined. Her eyes brimmed with tears of joy as her friends hugged her. They said goodbye to Ron, and Camilla climbed into the back of the cupcake van. Lucy joined her whilst Gracie stood outside and knocked on the window. Camilla slid it open, a huge smile on her face.
‘Can I have a ninety-nine please?’ Gracie laughed.
Camilla lifted the lids off the refrigerated part where the ice cream would normally go. Ideas were flying around her head like clothes in a tumble dryer.
‘I’ve just had a brilliant thought,’ she said.
‘What?’ said Lucy who was now in the driving seat.
Gracie was too cold outside so had joined them in the van. ‘Ooh it’s so cosy in here, isn’t it?’
‘It really is. It’s my cosy little cupcake van and I love it. Thank you, ladies, so much,’ said Camilla warming up as the heater was now on.
‘Don’t even mention it. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Now what was your idea?’ Lucy asked.
‘I was thinking that I could take this to events, school fetes, et cetera and I could offer a choice of toppings on the cupcakes. The buttercream could go in those two boxes where the ice cream is meant to go and I can swirl it onto the cakes.’
Lucy clapped. ‘That is such an amazing idea. I love it. So, it’s official then: Camilla Cupcake is going mobile.’ She switched the ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ chimes on and laughed as they sang along to the tune, replacing the word ‘picnic’ with ‘cupcakes’.
Chapter 12
As part of her meditation and relaxation process, Camilla had been getting into the habit of thinking of what she was thankful for. Sometimes it was something as simple as the sun shining for her or a beautiful sunset the night before. Other times she was thankful for having had such a wonderful mum, even if it was for only a short time. When her mum had lost her own mum, she told Camilla that grief was the price you pay for having loved so greatly. Camilla understood that now and knew that the price she was paying, though unbearably painful, was testament to how much she had loved her mum. She knew if she could go back and love her mum less to minimise the pain of grief that she wouldn’t and couldn’t do it; she had been truly blessed.
This morning she was thankful for the wonderful people she had in her life and was at a loss to know how to repay them for what they had done for her. She picked up her phone and flicked through the photos of her cosy little cupcake van, which brought a huge smile to her face.
She had loved her little pink car with everything she had and had been broken-hearted when she lost it, but this one was her precious baby, made with pure love. She clicked on the video and watched and listened to the three of them singing along to the chimes. They all looked so carefree and happy.
This was the first morning where she didn’t have that awful gnawing at the pit of her stomach. She had been offered two lifelines here and she wasn’t going to pass either of them up. Lucy had had to double her order of cupcakes for the Signal Box Café already as customers were buying enough to take home for their families. Lucy had also been taking more orders for bridal cupcakes as people were starting to hear about Camilla being back. She knew she would have a job on her hands to win back all of her customers as other cake makers had taken over when she had to let customers down. However, her beautiful little cupcake van would now introduce her to a whole new customer base.
Jackson had given her a leaflet about their upcoming school fete as they were always looking for interesting new stalls there. Camilla had decided it would be the perfect first outing for her little cupcake van. She had finished working at the Signal Box Café now but Lucy had given her a set of keys so that she could use the premises during the day when they were closed. She couldn’t thank Lucy enough for helping to get her back on her feet slowly but surely; she had been so kind and patient with her.
She decided she had better start making a list of things to do. First and foremost, would be to get some new leaflets printed up. Gracie was a professional artist and had pre-empted this idea for her and had drawn a cartoon sketch of the little van and across the top had written.
‘The Cosy Little Cupcake Van’
presents
Camilla’s Cupcakes
Available for parties, fetes, weddings and all your celebrations.
Call now for details.### ####
‘Gracie, these are amazing. The picture looks just like her. You’ve even got the sparkly bits on the cupcakes.’
Gracie laughed. ‘She is definitely a girl isn’t she. Have you named her yet?’
Camilla replied with the first thing that entered her head. ‘It has to be Cora doesn’t it? Cora the cosy little cupcake van.’ She nodded her head decisively.
‘Perfect,’ agreed Gracie.
Camilla popped in to Odds’n’Sods, the shop opposite the B&B, which sold absolutely everything and had a photocopier. The leaflets were printed in no time and Sandra Ives – one of the owners – asked if she could keep one to display in her window. ‘Of course,’ said Camilla, ‘that would be wonderful. Thank you so much for your support.’
On her way round to the Signal Box Café she popped into the shops along the high street and all were happy to display her leaflet. She also delivered them through letterboxes of all the houses she passed.
Lucy had allowed her to park the van outside the Signal Box Café for now until she found a better place for it. She crossed over the railway track and her face broke into the hugest smile when she saw it sitting there. Her heart fluttered with joy; it was the prettiest vehicle she had ever seen. She still had some pictures of what it looked like when she had first set eyes on it. Seeing such a rust bucket, unloved and abandoned, really tugged at her heart. From first sight she had felt an affinity with this vehicle and luckily after a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and Gracie’s incredibly artistic touches, the cupcake van was restored. It was now even better than the one she’d seen in Canada.
She stroked her hand lovingly along the pastel green bonnet and admired the sparkle on the various cupcake toppings when she heard a window opening and someone call her name. She looked up to Railway Cottage to see Lucy hanging out of her bedroom window waving to her.
‘I’m so glad it’s parked here because I can’t stop looking at it. Hasn’t Gracie done a marvellous job with those finishing touches.’
Camilla grinned at her. ‘You did too. It’s amazing and I’ve got to admit I feel like I’m cheating on my old car but I’m totally in love with this one.’
‘Have you got a name for her?’ asked Lucy.
‘Yes, I do, she has to be called Cora Cupcake don’t you think? There’s just no other name for her.’ She laughed.
‘That’s perfect and you’re so right – no other name could come close. Can you put the kettle on and I’ll come over and have a cuppa with you? That’s if you’ve got time of course.’
‘I’ve always got time for you, Lucy, and then maybe we could go for a spin later.’
Lucy gave her the thumbs up and shut the window.
Camilla entered the café and headed straight for the kitchen, put the kettle on and lit the ovens; she washed her hands, put on her apron and began weighing out the ingredients for her cupcakes. The familiarity of the cake-baking mode helped her body to relax. She could cope with cupcakes. Lucy came over soon after and she sat on a stool watching Camilla at work, totally in her comfort zone. They enjoyed a cappuccino together and then Camilla went to the van to collect t
he boxes that originally held ice cream. She cleaned them thoroughly and put vanilla buttercream in one and chocolate buttercream in the other.
‘I want to test my theory to see if I can ice the cakes on demand.’ She explained to Lucy.
‘I cannot wait to see this,’ she replied. They put the boxes back into the refrigerated part of the van. The nozzle had already been taken apart and gone through the dishwasher so they reassembled that too and packed some of the cooled cupcakes into a large plastic box and went back to the van. There was just enough room for both of them to stand inside it. The place had been scrubbed and was spotless and smelt lemony fresh.
‘Right, here we go,’ said Camilla as Lucy passed her the first cupcake. She held the chocolate sponge underneath the nozzle and pulled the handle down with the other. She looked at Lucy, puzzled. ‘Nothing happened.’
‘Try again,’ said Lucy, ‘maybe give a little jiggle.’
Camilla jiggled it, lifted it up and down a few times and just as she was about to give up there was a huge splat and vanilla buttercream practically farted noisily onto the cake, all over her hand and a bit on her face for good measure. She licked her cheek.
‘Oh, yum it tastes delicious but isn’t looking that pretty. I think it’s an airlock.’ After a few more farting noises and a little more splattering, which caused them both to jump and giggle, Camilla could feel pressure behind the handle and realised the buttercream was now coming through as she’d hoped it would. She quickly grabbed another cupcake and swirled it under the nozzle until it was covered with a perfectly piped buttercream rose on top.
‘Hurray,’ shouted Camilla gleefully, ‘it worked.’ She placed it on the small worktop and took another. She tried the chocolate one this time but now she knew she had to get rid of the airlock and then the buttercream piped like a dream.
‘Wait a minute,’ said Lucy as she jumped out of the van and ran round to the hatch. She knocked on the window and Camilla slid it open, smiling at her crazy friend.
The Cosy Little Cupcake Van: A deliciously feel-good romance Page 7