Millie Vanilla’s Cupcake Café. Georgia Hill

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       Chapter 20

      It was a slightly depleted work party that trailed in an hour later. Not surprisingly, Ken didn’t show up, although Sean did. When Arthur arrived, with Zoe in tow, they made a huge fuss over a wriggling Trevor.

      ‘No Biddy,’ Zoe whispered, when Arthur was busy checking whether the paintbrushes had been properly cleaned the night before. ‘She’s still dead cross over what Granddad said, but she promised to do some sewing at home.’

      Poor Biddy. With all the fuss over Daisy’s operation, her hurt had been overlooked yesterday. ‘Is she okay?’ Millie asked.

      Zoe pulled a face. ‘Seemed like it. Guess she’s used to it, what with once being a sex worker. Must make you hard as nails. I’ll try to work on Granddad. Got a feeling if he does some major-league grovelling, she’ll come round.’

      ‘I hope so. Friendship’s important.’

      ‘Yeah and those two are besties, even though they argue like mad.’

      Millie wondered if her own friendship with Tessa would ever recover. Pledging to keep herself busy, she hoped it would stop her dwelling on what Tessa had done. Hard work had eased the grief once before in her life and it might be the salve again.

      It was a repeat of the day before, in many ways. After Millie had cooked a huge breakfast, they got to work. Jed and Sean worked on the floor once more. They sanded down the white paint from yesterday, giving it a distressed feel and then concentrated on the walls not covered by Ken’s mural, painting them white too. Arthur and Zoe gave the furniture they’d painted yesterday a quick second coat and put it in the sun. Once dry, Millie had a go at sanding edges and corners, to make it look shabby chic.

      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 СКАЧАТЬ