Sure enough, her friend Ava Tucker, recently married to Jace and with ten-month-old William in a pushchair, came in at quarter to eight to buy both items.
“I’m on the way to the childminder’s,” she explained while Olivia poured her coffee from the pot she always kept brewing. “I’ve got a big meeting in Oxford today—a partnership with an employment agency.”
“Sounds very promising.” A little over a year ago Ava had started her own business, training and equipping women to return to the workforce. As a not-for-profit, she helped women not only with obtaining the necessary computer and administrative skills, but also with the right clothes, confidence, and interview techniques.
“I hope so,” she said as she reached down to wipe a bit of drool from William’s adorably chubby chin. “It would be wonderful to make some more connections.”
Olivia handed her the coffee and muffin, leaning over to give William a coo. He was adorable, with round red cheeks and a tuft of wheat-blond hair. Olivia had given up on having children herself a few years back when it looked as if there was no one in the offing—and there hadn’t been—but she still loved a good cuddle. Fortunately, William was always available.
“I love the cupcake banner,” Ava remarked as she broke off a piece of the muffin and handed it to William to gum. “Twelve Days of Cupcakes! Very catchy.”
“I hope so. It was Mallory’s idea, actually.”
“Was it? She’s a clever one, isn’t she? Too clever by half, I think.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Olivia answered with a laugh. “She’ll run rings around some poor bloke one day, I don’t doubt.”
“And Harriet and Richard as well.” Ava glanced at her son with a smile. “Thankfully I’ve a few years to go before I have to worry about such things. I’ll be applying for my OAP bus pass before William’s dating.”
“Not quite,” Olivia said lightly. Ava was three years younger than she was.
“Almost,” Ava answered with a grimace. “In any case, Jace would like a baby, as well.” She looked away as she said it, making Olivia pause. She knew William was the son of Ava’s first husband, who had died precipitously of a heart attack months before she met Jace.
“Is that something you want?” she asked carefully.
“I don’t know. Babies are bloody hard work, you know?”
“I don’t, but I can imagine.”
“Oh sorry, Olivia, am I completely putting my foot in it?” Ava cried, aghast.
“Now you are,” Olivia returned, smiling to take the sting out of the words. “Not everyone wants babies, Ava.” She’d never been particularly maternal, but then she’d never given herself the chance to be, because it hadn’t seemed like a possibility.
“Exactly. And I never thought I was the maternal type, to be honest. I love William to bits, but the thought of going through it all again…” She shuddered. “But it also seems so unfair to deny Jace the chance to be a father.”
“He’s a father to William.”
“Yes, but his own… It does make a difference, don’t you think?” She shook her head. “It shouldn’t, I know, but I suppose it does.”
“I don’t know if it does or not,” Olivia said slowly. “My father walked out when I was two years old. Biology didn’t matter much there.” She spoke matter-of-factly, without a hint of self-pity or sorrow. Her father’s abandonment had been a part of her life for so long she didn’t think it had the power to hurt her. Besides, Tina had more than made up for any deadbeat dad. She’d been—and still was—the most wonderful mum.
“Yes, too true,” Ava answered on a sigh; Olivia knew she had a troubled family history. “Biology isn’t everything, certainly.”
William was starting to grizzle, and so Ava hoisted her coffee cup and gave Olivia a cheery wave. “I’d better get on. Are you coming to Harriet’s on Friday for our girls’ night in?”
“Yes, I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Every month all five of them got together for a gossip and a drink, with much hilarity ensuing. Olivia had started to be included in these gatherings a little over a year ago, and she made sure never to miss a single one.
“Great, see you then,” Ava chirped, and then she was out the door. From then until late morning Olivia had a steady trickle of customers, so she didn’t get a chance to finish her window display until nearly lunchtime.
She nipped out back to the tiny garden behind the shop to cut some holly from the overgrown bush by the gate that led out to the river and the muddy footpath alongside it, and then she rustled up some red velvet ribbon, as well. On Sunday she’d do her big Christmas shop and get a few more bits and bobs to make the window display the best it could be.
The Twelve Days of Cupcakes. Outside, in the cold, crystalline air, she stepped back from the bow front of her shop to survey her work. Would people be tempted by the plate of gooey caramel cupcakes in the window? So far she hadn’t sold one, but she had high hopes for this afternoon. If Mallory came in with her friends…
If Simon Blacklock came back…
He had, rather ridiculously, been at the back of her mind for most of the day. She’d gone over their few minutes of banterous chit-chat and decided she needed to stop remembering every single thing he’d said. He was a stranger, for heaven’s sake, and he’d just been polite, in his own, charmingly eccentric way. The fact that he’d made her heart tumble right over was testament to the exceedingly single life she’d been living rather than any possible spark between them. She hadn’t had a date in… No, she really didn’t want to tot up the time. It had been years, at any rate. A lot of years.
With a sigh, Olivia headed back into the shop and its baking-scented warmth. This was her quietest part of the day, after her lunch rush (that was putting it
