By mid-morning Nell and Bea had been run off their feet. The beef and horseradish rolls were a hit and had sold out in no time at all. There were a couple of loaves of bread left and Nell was already baking her third batch of scones.
‘I’d a feeling today was going to be busy,’ Nell said, wiping her hands on her pinny and exhaling sharply.
‘Where did all those people come from? You’d think there was going to be a food shortage with the amount everyone has bought,’ Bea exclaimed, leaning against the counter and taking a breather. ‘We’ve not even had a tea break yet.’
‘It’s the weather. It’s difficult for the boats to move so I think everyone is panic-buying, just in case the snow fall gets heavier.’
‘Let’s just hope our supplies get through okay, but I think we have enough ingredients in the pantry to keep us going for a few days at least.’
‘According to the weather,’ Nell flicked on to her phone, ‘It’s forecast rain from this afternoon, so hopefully the panic buying will settle down.’
‘Here’s hoping. Did you remember to take the last batch of scones out of the oven? I’m not sure I heard the timer buzz in the mad rush?’
‘Oh shoot,’ Nell replied, quickly grabbing the oven gloves before hurrying to the back of the kitchen and flinging open the oven door.
‘Double shoot,’ she pulled out the baking tray and stared. ‘Well and truly cremated,’ she looked aghast, ‘That’s my fault. I forgot to set the timer with it being so busy.’
‘Not to worry, it’s just one of those things,’ Bea answered, leaning against the door frame, ‘Pop them on the side and once they’ve cooled down I’ll throw them out to the birds. They are probably in need of a good feed in this weather.’
They both whipped their heads round as they heard the shop bell tinkle, ‘No rest for the wicked,’ Bea rolled her eyes.
They hurried back behind the counter to find the postman standing there for the second time today.
‘Sorry Nell, I missed this one before,’ he smiled, handing over an envelope to her. As soon as the postman left the shop Nell put the envelope down on the counter.
‘Anything important?’
‘Bank savings, annual statement. Ollie’s life insurance.’
Nell had had no idea that Ollie even had any life insurance until she’d had to sell the yard.
‘I’ll put the kettle on, come on. Oh and I’m putting the closed sign up for ten minutes, we deserve a break.’ Bea announced, walking towards the door and pulling the latch down.
‘Here comes the rain now too.’ Both of them looked up to see to see the sleety rain drumming against the glass and boat owners quickly pulling their windows shut.
Nell moved into the kitchen and clutched the bank statement while Bea switched on the kettle and ferreted around in the cupboard for a couple of mugs.
‘I never knew what to do with this money, it was just never important in the grand scheme of things.’
‘You did the right thing bunging it into a savings account, it’ll have gained a little interest,’ Bea said, perching on the table waiting for the kettle to boil. ‘Any ideas what to do with it now?’
‘Not got a clue,’ answered Nell, watching Bea make the drinks and settling in the chair opposite her. Nell hadn’t really given the money a second thought up until now. ‘I don’t particularly need anything, maybe in time I could invest it in property or a business.’
‘Are you going to open it?’
Nell nodded, then carefully opened the envelope. Her eyes flitted over the numbers on the page and exhaled, ‘Sixty-five thousand pounds.’
Bea gave a low whistle.
‘Why did I ever ask him to go out that night, Bea? If only …’
‘Oh Nell, I don’t know what to say, we all miss him and I know it’s not the same but we are always here for you.’
‘I know.’ Nell flashed Bea a grateful smile. ‘No amount of money will ever replace him.’
‘It won’t and look …’ Bea paused, ‘you don’t have to do anything with the money, leave it where it is for now.’
Both of them sipped on their tea before Nell pushed the letter to one side, then skimmed over the pages of the local newspaper.
‘What you need is a little company,’ Bea suggested, thinking that one of Gilly’s kittens might just be the thing for Nell.
‘Mmm, I believe you are going to have a new addition to the family very soon,’ Nell lifted an eyebrow and gave Bea a knowing look.
Bea sat up straight in her chair, ‘Wait, how do you know about that?’
‘Call it my psychic powers.’ Nell grinned, remembering Jacob’s little face when this morning he literally let the cat out of the bag.
‘You saw it, didn’t you?’
‘Saw what?’ Nell eyed Bea suspiciously.
They held each other’s gaze and no one spoke for a second.
‘Saw what?’ Nell repeated with a confused look on her face. She leaned forward and folded her arms on the newspaper and stared straight at Bea, who promptly blushed.
Bea opened her mouth and closed it again.
‘Spill Bea Green,’ Nell insisted, nodding encouragingly. ‘All eyes are on you!’
Bea looked suitably composed, ‘I think we may be talking about two different things.’
Nell lifted an eyebrow, ‘What are you talking about, then? Come on.’ Nell drummed her fingers on the desk in jest.
Bea swallowed and managed a nod, ‘At this moment in time I’m trying to ignore the queasiness in the pit of my stomach.’
It took a second for the penny to drop, ‘Sweet Jesus, you’re pregnant! You are, aren’t you?’
A huge beam spread across Bea’s face, ‘I am.’
Nell squealed, ‘Come here, let me give you a hug,’ she said as she squeezed her friend tight.
‘I thought you’d spotted the test I left in the toilet the other day.’
‘Ha no, but congratulations!’
‘Thank you, we are both delighted, but we’ve not told Jacob yet as it’s still early days.’
‘Mum’s the word!’ exclaimed Nell.
‘For the time being anyway,’ Bea grinned, ‘Now what was it you were on about?’ She sat back down on the chair.
‘Oreo!’
Bea gasped, ‘Has Gilly spilt the beans? I’ve not run it past Nathan yet.’ A worried look flashed over Bea’s face.
‘Don’t panic, Nathan took it all in his stride.’
‘Nathan? Oh God, how does he know?’
‘Well he’s about this big,’ Nell gestured with her hands, cute chubby cheeks, clomps around in the brightest pair of wellies and is not very good at keeping secrets!’
‘Jacob, the little monkey.’ Bea rolled her eyes and shook her head laughing.
‘Anyway, back to Baby Green, how far gone are you?’
‘Early days, only eight weeks or so. I’m feeling so-so, a little queasy at times, but I seem to be eating my body weight in anything and everything.’
‘Well don’t overdo it, you know I can help with the early morning baking if you don’t feel up to it.’
‘I promise I will ask if I need any help.’
‘Good,’ Nell replied, skimming the newspaper once more and turning the page.
‘Anything interesting?’
Nell sighed, twisting the paper towards Bea. ‘Now this is what makes me sad.’
‘Nathan and I were only talking about this last night.’ Bea glanced at the paper.
There on the property page of the local newspaper were the details of the old derelict picture house.
‘Such a shame,’ Nell said sadly, a wave of nostalgia washing over her.
‘They could easily throw up a few houses on that plot. How much is it up for?’
Nell stared at the page and then Bea.
‘It’s up for auction. Ollie and I always talked about doing something together, a project that would benefit the community and bring the kids and the older generation back together. Everyone these days spends their life tapping not speaking.’
Nell’s mind began to whirl and she wriggled in her chair excitedly as she read aloud the reserve figure. Nell had a sudden sparkle in her eyes. Bea knew that look on Nell’s face – she was mulling something over.
‘What if? …’ Nell hesitated for a second.
‘Go on, what are you thinking?’
‘No, I can’t, I’m just being daft.’
‘Come on, say what you’re thinking,’ urged Bea.
Nell swallowed and took a deep breath, ‘What if I bought the place?’ Once the words left her mouth her thoughts became reality.
‘What would you do with it?’
Nell bit down on her lip, gazed out of the window then turned back towards Bea, ‘Use Ollie’s money to restore it, turn it back into a picture house in his memory.’
It took Bea a second for Nell’s words to sink in.
‘Are you serious?’ Bea shot her a sideways glance.
‘How much do you think a project like this would cost?’
‘You are serious!’
Nell nodded, ‘I think I am.’
The excitement rose inside Nell. She’d often talked with Ollie about undertaking a project that would bring the community back together and this could be it. Not only would it benefit the whole marina, but it would stop new houses being built.
‘You’ll need to ask someone in the know. Shall I ask Nathan? He might know someone.’
Nell’s eyes grew wide then her face broke into a smile. ‘Would you?’
‘Of course.’
‘I just need to know how much a project like this would cost. I could co-ordinate it myself.’ Nell’s routine had been the same day in, and day out in the last couple of years, this project would be the perfect opportunity to get her teeth into something new which would benefit the whole community.
‘That’ll keep you busy,’ Bea mused, finishing her drink.
‘It would, wouldn’t it. There’s no harm in looking into it.’
‘No harm at all.’