Page 59 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

2 eggs (at room temperature)

Juice and zest of 2 medium lemons

4 tbsp milk

150g (5oz) blueberries

Makes 12 medium muffins or cupcakes

Method

Preheat oven to 170°C/Fan 150°C/Gas mark 3. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with cupcake or muffin cases.

In a large mixing bowl, slowly whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, and set aside.

Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs, one by one, slowly mixing. Add the lemon juice and zest, and mix until well combined. Add the dry ingredients in three stages, with a little of the milk at each turn. Mix thoroughly.

Finally, gently fold in the blueberries with a wooden spoon until evenly dispersed.

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases (two-thirds full) and bake in a preheated oven for 25–30 minutes until golden brown. The tops should spring back when lightly touched, and test that a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Ah, baking therapy!

31

EVE

‘Oh hi, Rach, what’s up?’ said Eve. The sight of her friend’s face popping up on her mobile always cheered her.

It was Friday, late afternoon, the day of Aiden’s art exhibition launch. Eve’s stomach was already feeling churned up. She moved out into the hallway away from Ben, fearing that her voice might tremble and give her away.

‘I’m okay … I was just wondering whether you were going to go to the exhibition tonight? Have you thought any more about it?’

‘Ah, yeah, I thought I would.’ She was trying her best to sound casual.

‘Are you sure that’s wise, Eve?’ Her friend’s tone was caring, rather than judgemental.

‘Umm, well, he’s just a friend, after all.’ She was speaking in hushed tones and had wandered into the dining room now. ‘It’s for the launch of his new collection, at the gallery. There’ll be loads of other people there …’ Her voice dipped to a whisper as she checked the hallway and ducked back out of earshot.

‘I suppose … but just be careful, and look out for yourself, okay?’

‘I will. Hey, and thanks.’

‘Well, you know where I am if you need me. Or, if you need an excuse for a quick getaway, I can call you … get you picked up. We can have a CODE X or something … like in the movies. You can text me from the toilet and I’ll make the emergency call, you know, like Amelia’s been throwing up or something, and you need to get back immediately.’

‘Hah, okay. But I’m sure I can manage an hour or so at an art gallery without incident. I’m not sixteen you know.’ (Okay, so yes, she did feel a bit like a giddy teenager with a crush right now; it was weird how those feelings didn’t change with time. They could still feel as intense and chaotic at twenty-seven, like your heart was on spin-cycle. But she was a mature adult with a child … and a husband, and she had it all under control.)

‘Okay, fair enough.’

She could do this thing. Go and see an exhibition, appreciate a fellow art lover and creative’s work, make some constructive comments, and then come on home. Easy.

But she couldn’t help the frisson of excitement she was feeling at the thought of seeing Aiden again. And then there was the haircut that she’d finally got around to having done this week, and the new top she’d bought online. But she’d needed those things anyhow. It was nothing to do with Aiden, she told herself.

‘Right, well, I’d better go.’ She was wandering back through to the kitchen. ‘Ben’s home now,’ a warning that the conversation needed to play safe from here on, ‘and we need to grab a quick bite of tea before I head off out. You all okay?’ She deftly switched the conversation. ‘Oh, any more news on the trolling situation? I put a fab review on TripAdvisor for you today, by the way.’

‘I saw that, and thank you. And, so many of the Pudding Clubbers have been adding great reviews and comments too. You’re all stars. The Pantry’s overall rating has come right back up again.’

‘Well, that’ll show Caitlin.’