During our drive to the first premises in the town centre, Kate chatters away as though her lips have no control as she has come up with more ideas for her wedding and is eager to seek my opinion. The wedding ideas are infused with ideas about the new cafe, blended together making a pot of aromatic coffee strongly burdened with too much caffeine.
On arriving at the town centre property, we take in the surroundings and the appearance of the shop front and both mentally have the same thoughts without revealing them to one another – as you can with a friend who’s known you since birth. The property is on a busy road on the outskirts of the town without any charming or quirky features – it feels soulless.
“Well that’s a definite no,” Kate says as soon as we are alone.
“True. It didn’t have the right feelings inside and I am not sure the location is right for us,” I reply.
We disappointedly trudge back to the car to check out the barn premises; some of Kate’s earlier enthusiasm has now been extinguished. “I hope the next one’s better,” I say.
“I’ve a feeling the next one might be right up our street – it all depends upon the rent. I think there’ll be a lot of potential there, but we’ll have to see if it has the right ambiance for what we want to achieve,” Kate replies.
As we approach the barn, I get a rush of adrenalin and can tell Kate is thinking the same as me from her expression. “Let’s not get carried away Kate, but if you’re thinking what I’m thinking – you’re excited!”
The barn is perfect. The exterior features, many stone pots filled with colourful flowers; wooden benches for sitting outside close to a children’s play area and there are some animals in the adjoining fields. Inside are tiny bays displaying various arts and crafts: everything from stained glass, Celtic-styled jewellery to chunky knitted scarves. The area we are interested in is at the end of the barn, which is set up as a cafe and opens out onto a large patio area with a view of the rolling hills on one side and a small woodland area on the other. This is the sort of place where people will come all year to relax and browse, possibly becoming more family-orientated at weekends.
In my mind I’m already viewing the end product we could create in our own style: a few touches here and there and accessories to add to the authentic and natural style of the barn, could transform it to an oasis of calm with a rustic charm.
Kate’s crafts could be sold here and there’s plenty of room for food products. I have visions of pots of chutney and jams, homemade biscuits, locally sourced honey on shelves decorated with pretty bunting matching the table cloths. It’s much bigger than The Tea Cosy, but I’m pretty sure it will fill up at weekends and holiday times. “It’s perfect!” I enthuse.
“I’m so glad you said that!” replies Kate and we both know this is the Tea Cosy No.2 or Tea Cosy 2. What shall we call it?”
“Tea Cosy 2 seems perfect.”
By the end of the week, Kate and I have put things into motion; Kate deals with the lease and finance, whilst I start on menus and hunt for the perfect person to join our crew. Next week I am interviewing. Mary, an elderly lady in the village, has informed me about her granddaughter, Laura, who she says would be perfect for the role. I guess I’ll find out next week.
Back to the present–I am currently waiting for James to pick me up for lunch at mum and dad’s house. In the distance I hear the growl of his Land Rover before it appears, roaring down the road. He smiles as he approaches, causing those pesky little butterflies in my tummy to flutter again. I am greeted with a heavenly kiss, which unfortunately causes us to squash the beautifully wrapped present I have for dad in my arms. For much of the journey, I attempt to straighten the edges and titivate the floppy blue bow on top, whilst we hurriedly update each other on our news. James also has to recruit new staff for his rapidly expanding centre and I explain in detail about our new premises, before we pull into mum and dad’s long, twisting drive. James gives me another full-on snog before we leave the car, but to my embarrassment, Mum and Dad are watching this from the door.
“Hi Mum. Happy birthday, Dad!” I say hugging them both and depositing dad’s present into his arms.
“Come inside before Joan next door sees you making out and reports us for lowering the tone of the neighbourhood,” answers mum, winking at James. Oh my goodness, is the whole lunch going to be as excruciating as this? Making out – what US TV shows has she been watching? “Tabitha and Mark are waiting – Tabitha seems eager to see you Lizzie. I think it’s great you are becoming friends.” I surprisingly find myself agreeing with my mum. Not being used to this, I am starting to worry about why. I wonder if it’s because I’m growing up; however, if I ever get to the point when I start to think scented draw liners are a good idea – please take me aside and have stern words! Actually thinking about it, scented draw liners could look pretty in James’ cottage – STOP THINKING!
After much hugging and banter, dad opens his presents. Mark and Tabitha have got him a new set of spades for his garden, along with various shrubs and bulbs. I love watching people opening presents; in many ways it’s more desirable than opening presents of your own, seeing the happy expressions on their faces. Dad tears the paper off my gift and turns the maps and books over in his hands keenly surveying their content. I can tell he is pleased, because he’s normally very polite and would say thank you quickly, but because he’s so engrossed in them, he has forgotten.
“Why the Lake District, Lizzie?” asked Mark, slightly confused.
“I’ve always wanted to visit there and I was telling Lizzie about it last time you were all here. I very much hope I’ll use these soon Lizzie. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy studying them – you know I love maps. Thank you all of you for my lovely gifts–you know me too well.” replies Dad.
“I hadn’t realised you wanted to go to the Lake District so much – I know we’ve talked about it a few times, but I never realised it was quite so high up on your agenda,” quizzes Mum.
“Well there are so many places to visit and I suppose we’ve never got around to going up there, but I’d definitely would like to go sometime,” answers Dad.
“Well let’s go next spring and make it our new year’s resolution,” Mum says determinedly, and I am secretly happy that I’ve raised this subject, so that Dad gets his wish. However, maybe the weekend away in the Lakes that I’d planned for Dad’s 60th present will have to be for their Christmas present, now that mum is on the case. I’ll have a chat with Mark some time to see if he fancies going halves.
“Lizzie do you fancy sitting outside – I wanted to talk to you about making a cheesecake and I’m sure Mark and James won’t want to listen to recipes?” asks Tabitha, so we both head out onto the patio, which overlooks Dad’s pride and joy – his garden. It’s currently a floral array of blues and pinks interwoven with various shades of green.
“So what type of cheese cake are you making?” I ask. “I enjoy a baked white chocolate one myself with summer fruits, but I have a cracking lime cheesecake recipe which is sooooooo easy if you’d prefer that.”
“I’m not making one, Lizzie – I couldn’t care less how to make cheese cake, if honest, not when I’ve got a Waitrose down the street.” Tabitha must see my disappointed face. “Oh Lizzie, don’t get me wrong, homemade is much better and yours is fabulous – I keep telling all my friends about you and your baking at The Tea Cosy, but seriously, can you ever see me making cheese cake?”
I ponder over this for a while, having images of Tabitha in her heels and a little black dress, crushing biscuits. “No I couldn’t, so why mention cheese cakes?”
“Sometimes I want to shake you Lizzie! It was just to get you out here, so you could tell me all about James and what’s happened. You haven’t called to tell me in case you’ve forgotten,” she says with an annoyed expression and wagging her finger at me.
I fill her in on the details (well most of them – not quite as much
as I have told you) and she is genuinely thrilled. “Oh I can’t wait until next weekend when we are staying at James’; it’ll be a double date.”
“Lunch is ready!” Mum shouts from the kitchen, resulting in a mad scramble to our chairs – we’re starving. Dad as always sits at the top of the table facing out to his garden. I swear this is so he can switch off and admire his hard work when the conversation bores him. Unlike last time I came for lunch, I enjoy myself immensely, what with the banter between James and Mark and my friendship with Tabitha. Even Mum isn’t annoying me. Why is this? Am I growing up or is it my list, because that’s changing my thoughts more and more? Is it Dad explaining my family dynamics to me last time I was here? Is it all of these things–I’m not entirely sure I know the answers myself.
During the chatter, I take a moment to study Mum and Dad. Dad looks older somehow, but has a twinkle in his eye. Sometimes you see your parents regularly without actually looking at them properly. My reflective moment has shocked me into realising that Dad is getting older. That may sound strange, because of course we’re all getting older, but this is as though it has suddenly dawned on me. Don’t get me wrong, Dad is still fit and able – I’m not suggesting he’s past it, just greying a little, but then so am I. I’ll discuss that with you at some point.
Mum is absolutely buzzing, having us all around – she positively loves it. My heart softens a little – why have we never had the relationship like some mothers and daughters who go shopping together or for weekends away? Perhaps because I’m not big on shopping – Mum and I are very different. Nevertheless, watching Mum today, I can see that she thrives off both of her children.
“Lizzie did you see the potential cafes with Kate?” asks Dad.
“Yes, and we are very close to signing the lease on the one in the barn on the farm. It’s a great spot and the rent isn’t too pricey as they are still in the developing stages of the business, so are keeping it low for now. But the place has so much potential that Kate and I feel really positive about it,” I reply.
“Will you take me to see it before you sign the lease – any time? As a valued customer of The Tea Cosy, I’d like to see if it ticks my boxes,” replies Dad.
“I’d love to see it as well, if you don’t mind,” adds James.
“Me too if there’s cake on offer,” says Mark.
“And me!” Mum and Tabitha both say at the same time. I am completely shocked at their interest and this really please me.
“Erm ... well, if you really want to see it, we could go next weekend when Tabitha and Mark are staying at James’. James has extra staff in that weekend, and I am free on the Sunday.”
Following the meal, we all sit out in the garden and continue with the chatter and banter. I show James around Dad’s garden, which is quite long and ends at the border of a wooded heath. Once out of view, James puts his arm around me. He has been very careful with physical contact since our public kissing show in the car earlier.
“Come here and let me kiss you!” he demands pulling me behind a huge clump of bushes. “Your family are great, Lizzie – I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed their company, but every time I look at you, I have to concentrate on serious things to calm myself down.” I giggle as he pulls me into his arms kissing me firmly. Just as his hands slide around to my breasts, Mum appears from out of nowhere with cups of tea.
“Can you both get a room please – what will the neighbours say?” she asks. Get a room–where is she picking up these phrases?
Note to Self
Email Mark about a Lake District Christmas present for Mum and Dad.
Never ever kiss James in front of my mother again – she mentioned it eight times during our stay– eight times!
Email Tabitha for grey hair advice, since I have a few appearing.
Chapter 15
To lift or not to lift – that is the question
This morning I am interviewing people for positions in the Tea Cosy 1 and Tea Cosy 2. The most important of all will be the person who runs The Tea Cosy here in the village as we need somebody who understands our vision and has experience, not somebody who simply wants to serve cakes. We will require two people to help Kate run The Tea Cosy 2 Our aim is to recruit more staff once we get up and running, but in the meantime Kate and I will have to work hard until we reach this point.
I have arranged six interviews today whilst The Tea Cosy is closed. Kate is coming along soon to help me.
“Hi, sorry I’m late,” apologises Kate looking very smart and business like. I glance down at my own attire, covered in jam from making my earlier creations, which I thought I’d pop into the oven to multitask whilst I’m here. I am about to head upstairs to change, when our first candidate arrives.
After interviewing the first four people, we are positive about two of them, but due to their lack of experience, they would only be suitable for Tea Cosy 2, so we are getting slightly anxious about who can fill our shoes here at The Tea Cosy. As we discuss this, our fifth candidate, Laura, the one who Mary (from the village) told me about, arrives.
Within one minute, I’ve mentally got her recruited, but persevere with the list of questions anyway. She’s perfect for us and The Tea Cosy. Although not professionally trained, she has been on several foodie courses and like me, has a passion for baking. She’s been working as a waitress (in a cocktail bar – sorry the song just naturally went off in my head) in Avington, but wants to become more involved with a business and even more importantly, she can start straight away. Not only are her credentials superb, but she has attention to detail and a strong ability to quickly notice what needs to be done – the type of person who will effortlessly ‘get on with things’.
After everybody has left, we decide to call Laura straight away and ask her to start as soon as possible, so that once she’s settled in, Kate and I will have more time to commit to Tea Cosy 2. We are also hoping to recruit somebody to help her from next week onwards. It all seems to be coming together and feels slightly surreal. Have you ever felt like you are looking down upon yourself in a dream – as though it’s not actually you everything’s happening to, but someone else? Well that’s how I feel right now.
As the week progresses, Laura is fast becoming indispensible and can make a mean Victoria sponge. I can’t decide whether I’m a bit miffed because hers are actually better than my sponges, or elated that she is baking them in my cafe! What helps, is the fact that I enjoy her company and honesty making me feel as though I’ve known her far longer than I have.
By the weekend, I am shattered and looking forward to curling up on James’ sofa with a glass of red wine before the arrival, on Saturday, of Tabitha and Mark. Staying at James’ at weekends is becoming a regular thing – almost an unwritten rule. We both tend to work on Saturday, but try to keep Sunday as our day together. Most of our time is spent taking Jack for long walks whilst we chat over a range of topics; sometimes about our plans and at other times simply teasing one another.
I will admit that during our walks, James has insisted on that I recreate my naked pose in Bluebell Woods for him again. He claims it is because that particular memory means so much to him, but if honest, I think he just wants to make love outdoors (against the Oak tree for nostalgia) and says that he has now achieved HIS number one from his list of things to do before he’s 40, even though that’s only in five years time. I was delighted I’d inspired him to make a list, but then when I pushed him for details of his list, I think he was just making it up because most of the things on it involve my being naked – little creative thought had been given to it!
“Lizzie, when are you going to sing in public – it was on your list? We’re in August now and you’ve gone all quiet about it.” James says as we sit comfortably at his kitchen table eating a chilli that we’ve made together.
“Well, I’m over half way, and still have nine months left until I’m 30, so there’s no hurry, is
there?” I ask.
“Just checking you’ve not chickened out, because I was thinking, what with Tabitha and Mark coming down this weekend, perhaps you’d like to sing with us all there to support you,” he says as though this is for my benefit, but I know him better.
“Don’t pretend you are thinking of me James Colley! I know you better than that and Mark has also been emailing me about it. I know you told him about it and both want a laugh at my expense. I can see that having my brother’s friend as my boyfriend is going to make life difficult,” I reply in my stern voice, but I really find it funny. They are like two cheeky boys when they get together, always winding one another up or other people.
“Oh go on Lizzie – yes it would be funny, but we’d all be behind you. You’ve even inspired Tabitha to make her own list,” he begs, with puppy dog eyes, knowing full well this will cause a melting sensation in my tummy, therefore I’ll give in.
“Well, where could I do it?” I ask, thinking it’s my list, my item, so my fault at the end of the day that I am even contemplating it.
“How about we go to the pub on Saturday night and you could sing there – people will just think you’ve had too much wine.”
“I’ll think about it!” I answer firmly showing the matter is closed – for now.
The following day after work, I head over to James’ cottage with my own key. I’m sorry, did you read that clearly? I said, “My OWN KEY!” Okay, I’ve got over that now – back to the story. I am becoming so used to this drive, that I feel as though my car has its own tyre imprints gradually wearing down the roads on route to James’, although I’m not sure how much longer it will carry on panting up the bumpy path on the approach.
Tabitha and Mark are already there and are sitting happily in the garden, sipping wine and beer as I arrive. “Hi Lizzie,” shouts Tabitha as I walk towards them, “here’s a drink for you we thought we’d have dinner at the pub later – if you fancy it.”
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