Stirred with Love Read Free Page A

a mum to share her dreams with. Even after all these years she regularly woke up, the images of that night still vivid.
    The mobile phone beeped again as another message arrived. Not bothering to open it, Chloe pushed the phone across the desk and reached for her books again. Four more weeks and it would all be over. At least then she would be able to relax and take it easy for a while.
    Reluctantly, she turned the pages again but her mind kept wandering back to the advertisement she’d read earlier. Someone was after waitresses to work in nearby Somerley. Chloe fancied doing something different over the summer. She stared through the window again while her mind worked its way through the finer details. She imagined the café in Somerley to be a favourite meeting place – and a place where she could make some money of her own. It might not be too boring, just enough to keep her interest until the university term started. And she was sure she could sell the idea of a summer job to her dad, Mr Workaholic.
    But, hang on a minute, Chloe thought. Let’s not get too carried away. How many times had she heard her friends complain about the menial work they did for a pittance of a wage? So was a job waiting on tables really what she wanted to do, even if it wasn’t going to be forever?
    Chloe checked her watch. Seven thirty. It wouldn’t do any harm to ring for some information. Never one to let the grass grow under her feet, she reached for her mobile with eagerness this time.
     
    Lily Mortimer checked over her list and made a few changes before swapping the notepad in her hand for a mug of hot chocolate. Only then did she contemplate what she was about to do. Making decisions again was one thing, but re-opening the café?
    She moved her tiny frame to get comfortable on the chair, becoming more sensitive to the gloominess around her. The room she sat in needed much more than a lick of paint to brighten it up. Once it had been bursting with life. Twelve tables, full of chattering customers all enjoying her homemade cakes and Bernard’s thickly sliced toast. Even without closing her eyes, Lily could see him dashing around, clearing the debris and complaining about the weather, making customers smile with anecdotes of his time working on the railways.
    It had been tough for her to see how illness during the last few years of his life had dragged him down. Only three months had passed since his death in February and Lily could still feel his presence. When she woke up, the first thing she thought of was Bernard. During the day she could sense him watching over her. When she went to bed, she rubbed her hand across his pillow. She knew he was there, watching her every move as she closed her eyes, having endured another long day without him.
    Would he be proud of what she was about to do? Or annoyed with her for meddling? Lily knew what a huge risk it was. What would happen if her plan failed? What if she couldn’t make things work on her own without Bernard beside her? So many places sold food in the town now. Even the newsagent around the corner made sandwiches. Maybe that had been the reason why Lil’s Pantry had dwindled over the past few years?
    No, Lily told herself as she took a sip of her drink. The business had dwindled because Bernard had been dying. It had been left to die with him. But new blood would change that.
    She knew it seemed a strange plan, but what did the future hold for her? Time spent alone was the last thing she needed. Re-opening would be her way of dealing with Bernard’s death. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for herself, she would do something.
    She popped out two aspirins from their silver packaging, hoping to alleviate her aches and pains. Then she picked up the notepad again and, before she could change her mind, added another item to her list.
     

CHAPTER THREE
    Nick hadn’t arrived home that night until quarter to eleven. By that time, Kate’s frustration had turned to blind rage and