Page 46 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘Called him Bolster. Remember him?’

‘Rings a vague bell. Remind me.’

‘The giant who came a cropper up against St Agnes. You know, in the old Cornish legend.’

‘Oh yes. Mum took us to the festival procession at Chapelporth one May Bank Holiday. I remember the huge Bolster puppet and the noise of the drums. It was exciting. Dad, of course, was working in here.’ Chloe frowned as she thought back to the lessons on Cornish folklore she’d had in school. ‘Didn’t he eat children? Bolster I mean, not my dad. Fell in love with St Agnes and bullied her?’

‘Yup.’

‘Lovely,’ Chloe said drily, wondering if she’d time travelled back to when giants and knights roamed Kernow. She’d be seeing some of Pinky’s piskies next. ‘Make mine an extra-large cinnamon latte, then, and I’ll have a couple of biscuits.’

‘Coming up, boss.’ Amber began expertly flicking levers and heating milk. ‘You staying around?’

‘No, thought I’d get myself to Polveanan to do a bit of shopping.’

‘Sweet. How did the sourdough bread go?’

Chloe groaned. ‘It was awful. Rock hard. Until I’ve practised more, I think we’ll stick to white bloomers and the wholemeal farmhouse. Did Pammy say anything about the kitchen? I cleaned up as best I could, but it was getting a bit late in the day, or should I say early in the morning.’

‘She was thumping around a bit when I got in, like, but no more than normal.’ Amber slid two sugary biscuits onto a plate covered in an orange paper serviette. ‘There you go. Sit yourself down and I’ll bring your coffee over.’

Chloe spent a contented twenty minutes sipping an excellent coffee. The couple outside lingered, obviously enjoying the October sun. She thought them brave as the wind was keen. Looking up as a shadow passed by, she saw it was Liam. He stared furiously at them and then crashed into the café.

‘Got permission for that table out there?’

‘And good morning to you too, Liam.’ Chloe smiled sweetly up at him.

He stood too close, looming over her. ‘I said, have you got permission to have a table and chairs out on the pavement?’

‘I wasn’t aware I needed it.’

He sighed heavily. ‘Of course you need it. You’re trading on public space. You need to provide public liability insurance and pay a fee. You can’t just stick any old thing out there.’

‘Then I’ll get it sorted.’

He deflated, obviously expecting an argument. ‘An apology would be nice.’

‘I said I’ll get it sorted. Who do I apply to?’

‘Town council.’

Chloe shrugged, refusing to let him think he’d intimidated her. ‘That’s handy. I’m heading into Polveanan this morning. I’ll pop into the council offices. I’m assuming they’re still in the same building, the one on the square. Can we get you anything, Liam? A coffee: a latte to sweeten you up, or an espresso, maybe? To go?’ she added meaningfully.

‘Christ,’ he muttered, banging his way out again. ‘Just get that table gone until you’ve got the paperwork sorted.’

‘He’s a right charmer, he is.’ Amber came to stand beside Chloe. ‘I hate doing any shift down the pub if he’s on. Bit handsy, like, if you know what I mean.’

‘I know exactly what you mean.’

‘I’d better move the table then, hadn’t I?’

‘No, leave it until the Scarecrow Competition is over. I mean, where else will Pinky sit?’ Chloe stared at the table and chairs. The pavement widened in front of the café, so there was plenty of room for everyone to get past. ‘He’s just flexing his muscles.’

‘He’s not one to make an enemy of.’

‘That’s been said to me before. Don’t worry, Amber, I’ve dealt with men like Liam in the past, they don’t scare me.’

‘You’re a right St Agnes, you are,’ Amber said admiringly.