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‘Thank you. Bye.’ Layla passed across the stack of two cake boxes brimming with cupcakes and watched as Wendy and Molly sidled behind the counter. ‘Everything okay? Did the stain come out?’
‘Unfortunately not.’ Wendy shook her head. ‘Elsie wants to see you both in the kitchen for a moment, if that’s okay? We’ll take over here.’
‘Oh right. Okay.’ Layla nodded. How could she, or Graham for that matter, help with taking a hot chocolate stain out of Diane’s dress? She had next to no experience with things like that. Did Graham? She followed Graham across the bakery.
Holding the door open for her, Graham paused.
‘Thanks.’ Layla walked into the kitchen. The dress was hanging on a coat hanger hooked on a shelf on the back wall. A large brown stain was smeared across the front of the dress from waist height to floor length. She watched as Graham walked across and hugged Diane.
‘How are you holding up?’
‘Okay. I’m at least a bit calmer than I was earlier.’ Diane nodded as she sat back down on the stool at the table.
‘We’ve got a plan. That’s the main thing. We just need a favour from you both in order to be able to pull it off.’ Elsie paced two mugs of coffee on the table and indicated to Layla and Graham.
Stepping forward, she took a mug. ‘Thanks. How can we help?’
‘Molly and Wendy have just spent the past hour ringing around all the bridal shops that stock the dress and they’ve found one who is willing to sell.’ Elsie sat down on a stool. ‘There’s just one catch.’
‘What’s the catch?’ Graham took a long sip of his coffee.
‘It’s in Bath and Ian is helping Brooke and Max with something. Wendy needs to finish the wedding cake and Diane and Harry are going with Molly to a couple of planning appointments this afternoon.’ Elsie sighed.
‘I’m happy to drive and pick it up. No problem.’ Graham downed the rest of his coffee and placed the empty mug back on the table.
‘Great. That’s just what I was about to ask.’ Elsie smiled and turned to Layla.
‘And I’ll cope behind the counter.’ She took another sip of her drink.
‘Oh, I know you would have, love, but that wasn’t what I was hoping to ask of you.’ Elsie smiled.
‘Ah, right.’ Layla shrugged. ‘I’m happy to do whatever helps.’
‘Good, good, I’d like you to go with him.’
Layla opened and closed her mouth. She couldn’t go with him. She couldn’t spend six or seven hours in a car with Graham. They’d hardly said two words to each other all day.
‘I’ll be fine on my own.’ Graham shifted on his feet. ‘It’s only a case of driving there, picking it up and driving back.’
‘I was hoping you’d both agree to go.’ Elsie looked from Graham to Layla. ‘Just in case there’s a problem with the dress and another has to be picked out.’
‘Picked out? I can’t choose a dress for Diane.’ Why would Elsie ask her to do such a thing? Unless... She searched Elsie’s face. She had a feeling she was only being asked to go along so she and Graham had to spend some time together. ‘I can’t. Sorry. I’ll help out here. I’m sure me and Teresa will cope if you want to go, Elsie.’
LAYLA GLANCED ACROSS at Graham. With his hands steadfastly on the steering wheel, he hadn’t said two words to her since they’d got in the car ten miles back. ‘I did try to get out of it. You heard me.’
Graham nodded. ‘I heard. I’m sorry you’re stuck in the car with me.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ She frowned. ‘I only tried to get out of it because you’d made it clear you don’t want to talk to me.’
‘That’s not entirely true.’
She watched the windscreen wipers clear the glass of rain. ‘It is. You made it completely clear you wanted a break.’
‘I tried to speak to you this morning. On more than one occasion.’ He glanced towards her quickly.
‘You did?’
‘Yes, I did, but we were interrupted on both occasions. I assumed you didn’t want to talk to me.’
