The Little Village Bakery: A feel good romantic comedy with plenty of cake (Honeybourne Book 1) by Tilly Tennant Read Free Book Online

to be in the shop?’
    ‘I’ll bake everything in the morning before I open.’
    Jasmine blew out a thoughtful breath. ‘That sounds like a long day,’ she observed.
    ‘Long days are just what I need at the moment,’ Millie replied briskly, hauling the bucket of dirty water off the counter. She made her way to the street outside and sloshed the contents down the storm drain before returning and plonking the bucket back down.
    ‘Ignore me,’ Jasmine said, sensing the tension in the air. ‘I should learn to mind my own business.’
    Millie leaned on the counter and her expression softened. ‘I’m sorry. Ignore me , I know you meant well. It’s just that I seem to be getting reminders from a lot of people these last couple of days that I haven’t thought this venture through very well.’
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘Your brother asked me about the building work yesterday. Call me stupid, but I sort of assumed that a lick of paint and some nice gingham bunting at the window would make the place good as new.’ She glanced up at the dusty beams. ‘I might be a bit wide of the mark there.’
    Jasmine gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘I wouldn’t listen too much to Dylan. He’s hardly an expert. Maybe it’s not as bad as you fear?’
    Millie shook her head. ‘I’m afraid he might be right.’
    ‘That’ll be a first.’
    Ruth Evans returned with a tray. On it were three delicate bone china cups, filled with strong tea, and a pot of sugar. Millie and Jasmine shared a conspiratorial smile.
    ‘Staying for a while?’ Jasmine asked as Ruth tottered over to the counter and set the tray down.
    ‘Ooh, thank you, don’t mind if I do,’ Ruth replied as she took her cup and sat herself down next to Jasmine, who raised her eyebrows slightly at Millie.
    Millie took a cup and handed it to Jasmine. ‘It seems a bit hot to be drinking tea in a stuffy old bakery,’ she said. ‘We ought to be in a lovely pub somewhere with ice-cold drinks.’
    ‘Tea cools you down,’ Ruth said serenely. She took a sip of hers and made a smacking sound with her lips.
    ‘Hmm,’ Jasmine replied noncommittally. ‘So…’ She turned to Millie. ‘Do you have a schedule to work to for the bakery?’
    ‘You mean to get up and running?’
    Jasmine nodded.
    ‘I had one.’ Millie sighed. ‘But I think that’s gone out of the window. I had no idea of how much work I’d need to do before I could open.’ She peered over the rim of her cup at Jasmine. ‘I suppose you think that’s a bit idiotic?’
    ‘It’s your first business venture?’
    ‘This big, yes. I made occasion cakes to order from home before, just me and my little bitty oven. Nothing on this scale.’
    ‘Then you can’t be expected to make the right decision every time,’ Jasmine said. ‘I’ve made enough cocks-ups since I started the craft business. It’s a wonder I didn’t go bankrupt in the first couple of months. Things are just getting on an even keel now and I’m only just starting to feel confident in my business decisions.’
    ‘You have a craft business?’ Ruth put in.
    Millie and Jasmine turned to her in some surprise, as though they had forgotten she was there.
    ‘I’ve been doing it for years,’ Jasmine smiled. ‘I thought you knew.’
    ‘I thought you were a barmaid at the Dog and Hare,’ Ruth said with a confused frown.
    ‘That was before I got married.’
    ‘Well,’ Ruth mumbled, ‘I don’t go in there, do I?’
    Jasmine smiled patiently at her. ‘This is a lovely cup of tea, Ruth.’
    ‘Yes, that’s another one I owe you,’ Millie put in.
    ‘Oh, don’t worry, dearie, I don’t mind at all.’
    Jasmine drained her cup and placed it carefully back on the tray. ‘I really should be getting some work done, otherwise I won’t have a craft business.’
    ‘Thanks for calling,’ Millie smiled.
    Jasmine turned to go but then stopped at the door. ‘Tell me to mind my own business, but if you need to chat about anything business related – not that