Page 67 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘Get on with you.’ The woman made a strange half snorting gulping sound and turned on her heel. She headed back into the kitchen, but Chloe swore she saw a flush of pleasure on her face.

‘Sounds like it’s the only thing she’s got in her life.’ Chloe sipped Ginger’s excellent herbal tea and helped herself to a home-made brownie. They were sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying the heat Nigella Aga gave out. November had rushed in with a blast of chilly wet weather, which had Chloe battling the steep track to The Sanctuary.

Ginger didn’t answer but swirled her mug of chamomile around moodily.

‘Ginger?’

Ginger looked up. ‘Sorry. Miles away. You were talking about Pammy.’

‘Yes. We’ve agreed on the winter opening hours. Thought I’d have a battle on my hands but Pammy and I worked out something to suit us both. Reduced café hours but keeping the bread baking side of things going. I think it’s important to keep the place ticking over throughout the winter, but I have to balance the outgoings with the lack of custom. Not worth keeping the café open if there are no customers. And, while not wanting to sound patronising, I want to keep Pammy feeling as if she’s important. I know hardly anything about her, but she doesn’t sound as if she has the most fulfilling life. If she wasn’t so, to use a Dulcie word, ornery, I’d feel sorry for her. Can’t believe I’m saying this. If she’d worked for me in London, she would have been given the push weeks ago. Plus, I’m trying to keep her sweet as I’ve sourced some fantastic artisan Cornish pasties I want to sell. Pammy will probably insist she makes her own but she’s got enough on her plate and I want her to concentrate on what she does really well.’

‘Good.’

Chloe gazed at Ginger. She wasn’t sure her friend had heard a word. ‘Any news?’ she asked gently.

‘From Josh?’ Ginger shook her head. ‘Nothing. He’s not even sent through the Captain Titan merchandise he promised for Isaak. I mean, it’s one thing to treat me badly but it’s inexcusable to do it to an eight-year-old boy.’

‘Getting angry yet?’

‘Not sure I have the energy.’ She sighed.

‘I don’t know what to suggest.’

Ginger looked up and met Chloe’s eyes. ‘What did you do when you and Jasper split up?’

Chloe chased a brownie crumb around her plate. ‘You mean when he gave me the old heave-ho? It wasn’t exactly a mutual decision.’ She gave a bitter laugh. ‘Went to ground. Drank far too much. Stalked him on his socials.’ She winced. ‘Not proud of that. Didn’t do any good anyway. All I saw were loads of photos of him beaming and clutching on to the gorgeous blonde who turned out to be Cindy. Then I threw myself into work. Got stressed. Was vile to work for. Drank too much again. Decided all men were bastards and I wanted nothing more to do with any of them.’

‘Fair play.’ Ginger sipped her tea. ‘Trouble is, if Josh walked through that door right now, I’d throw myself into his arms.’

Chloe reached out a hand. ‘What worked for me won’t work for you. You’re a different person. And a much nicer one. Oh, Ginger, I hate seeing you so sad. Is there anything I can do?’

‘I don’t think so.’ Ginger shook off the hand. ‘It’s funny. I’ve not been able to think about anything else. Never thought of myself as a particularly sexual person. I mean, I like sex and everything, but I’ve spent the last few years doing without it and not missed it all that much. But with Josh it was as if I’d turned into a different person. Discovered a different person inside me–’ Chloe went to speak. Ginger held up her hand. ‘No crude jokes.’

‘Sorry.’

‘It was as if I’d become this powerful being, secure in my femininity. That I’d tapped into something bigger, something universal. I had power over him. I could turn him into this quivering mess begging for me. It was…’ A look of awe overcame Ginger’s face. ‘…astonishing.’

Chloe remained silent. She’d never understood this spiritual side of her friend. And she’d never had the kind of experience Ginger was describing. Maybe Jasper hadn’t been all that good at sex either? ‘I don’t know what to say, lovie.’

Ginger came back down to earth. ‘Sorry to go on. I know you haven’t the bandwidth for all that kind of stuff.’

‘It’s just that I don’t understand it.’ Chloe pulled a face. ‘And, to be honest, I’m jealous. Never felt that way with a man.’

‘I’m not sure I’ll ever feel that way with any other man.’ Ginger glanced up, tears not far away. ‘We had such a connection. It can’t surely have been just me feeling like that, can it?’

Chloe blew out a short breath. ‘I don’t know, Ginger. You’re asking the wrong person. I’m definitely not the relationship expert here.’ She reached out a comforting hand. ‘But I’m sure you’ll find someone else if that’s what you want.’

‘Maybe. Not sure I want anyone else.’ Ginger sighed. ‘It’s not just Josh, though. I had Roger the Roof over this morning. He’s warned me if I don’t do something, the roof won’t get through another winter. I had another three tiles fall off last night. I don’t think I can afford to keep Kezia on.’

‘Kezia?’

‘Kezia Spargo. Remember? She’s my housekeeper.’

‘Oh yes, of course.’

‘Does an amazing job. Think I’ll have to let her go. Thing is, Chlo, I’m not sure my heart’s in this anymore.’ Ginger flopped back moodily. ‘I might sell up and try something else.’

Chloe started in horror. ‘You can’t do that. You’ve spent years building the business up. And it’s doing really well. You told me how busy you’d been over the summer. You just have to get through the down season, get the roof sorted and next year will be fantastic.’