Pepper Lane Sweet Shoppe (Pepper Bay #14)

10

Tyler

Tyler couldn’t wait to welcome Erin into his mum’s kitchen. The hub of the Silver family. It was his favourite place in the whole world, and he often went there for his meals.

Flickering flames in the large brown-brick fireplace made the rustic room toasty and homely, and seeing his mother pull freshly baked farmhouse bread out of the oven made him smile.

‘Smells good, Mum.’ As soon as she placed the bread on the large oak table, he kissed her cheek and introduced his new houseguest.

‘Hello, Erin. I’m Fran. You get your coat off and wash your hands ready for lunch.’

Tyler gestured to the butler sink, following to clean his hands as well.

‘I love your kitchen, Fran,’ said Erin, taking the tea towel from Tyler.

Fran smiled. Her soft features and healthy glow told a happy story, but Tyler could still the see the sadness in her blue eyes for the loss of her soulmate earlier that year.

Fran rubbed her hands together. ‘It’s cold, and I’ve made something hot and hearty for you two and whoever else decides to pop in, so sit yourselves down.’

Tyler noticed Erin’s gaze fall to the door that led out to the side of the house. ‘Mum gets all sorts in and out of here. Although it’s mostly for breakfast.’

Fran shook her head. ‘Not so much now I’m at the B&B most mornings sorting brekkie there for the guests.’

‘Is it always so busy around here?’ asked Erin.

Tyler started slicing the loaf whilst trying not to burn his hand, as it was still so hot from the oven.

‘We have a lot going on,’ replied Fran. ‘Keeps us all on our toes.’

Erin took a plate from the middle of the table so Tyler could drop a slice of bread on it for her. ‘Do you own everything here? I noticed a café. Is that yours too?’

Tyler passed the butter. ‘That’s Vivien’s. Finn’s other half.’

Fran chuckled. ‘Go on, son. Tell her the story.’

Erin sat up straight. ‘Ooh, now I’m intrigued.’

Putting down the pinch of bread he was about to place in his mouth, Tyler laughed. ‘Years ago, one of my ancestors built the Gatehouse for one of Vivien’s ancestors. It was a love story filled with disaster. You see, Neville was under the impression that Abbigail was going to marry him if he built her a house.’

‘And she didn’t?’ asked Erin.

Tyler shook his head. ‘Nope. She stabbed him well and truly in the back. She ended up with the house, but it was on his land, so he got mad, built the gate and fence, hence the name, and divided the Silvers and the Smithsons.’

Fran breathed out a laugh. ‘Not that history repeated itself.’

‘Nope,’ said Tyler. ‘Both Heath and Finn are with Smithsons. Although Rhett is now a Silver. She owns Silver Wish Stables B&B. Vivien has the Gatehouse Café, which is the second one. Built this year. The original burned down.’

Erin let out a small gasp. ‘Oh, was everyone all right?’

‘Yes, lovely,’ replied Fran. ‘All good. Now, tell me all about your shop. What’s the plan?’

Noticing Erin turned to him, Tyler answered for her. ‘Now we know Cody will be Postmaster for a bit, we’re going to take some more rubbish to the tip, put a tree up in the front, and sort some sweet hampers to sell.’ He turned back to Erin. ‘Cody is Willow’s husband. Not sure if you were told. Honestly, even I can’t keep up.’ He chuckled, making her smile.

Fran served some homemade soup, and Erin quickly tucked in, making Tyler smile on the inside. He liked seeing her feel settled in his family home. Half the time, he couldn’t work out what she was thinking, so looking out for reactions was easier.

‘Sorting the flat might take longer than expected,’ said Erin. ‘Turns out my grandfather was a hoarder.’

Fran poured some soup into Tyler’s bowl as she sighed. ‘Oh dear. Poor man. It’s no way to live.’

‘I didn’t know,’ said Tyler, shaking his head at her. ‘Would have tried to help otherwise.’

Fran put the pot back on the oven, then joined them at the table. ‘You know what he was like, son.’ She turned to Erin. ‘Very private man. Bit of a loner.’

‘He liked to mix with someone,’ said Erin. ‘He used to shut up shop each December and go somewhere. So do you know where he went?’

Fran gave a slight head shake. ‘No, lovely. Not sure anyone knew. Not even Nora, and she knows everything.’

Tyler glanced up from his lunch. ‘You never know, Erin, we might find a clue in his belongings. Once we get to anything personal, that is.’ He looked at his mum. ‘So far, it’s just been recycling. I’ve never seen so many empty tin cans in my life.’

‘I’m sure I can squeeze in some time to help,’ said Fran.

‘No, Mum. You do enough around here. We can manage.’

Erin nodded her agreement.

Fran’s face was filled with sympathy. ‘Tyler, I don’t want you running yourself ragged.’

‘Oh, he doesn’t have to help me at all,’ Erin said quickly.

‘I want to,’ snapped Tyler. ‘Sorry,’ he told his mum. ‘I’m happy doing what I’m doing, okay?’

Fran waggled her spoon his way. ‘You’re going through some stuff, son.’

Tyler huffed. ‘I’m not going through anything. I wasn’t the one jilted at the altar.’

Erin coughed, then sipped some water.

‘Oh no, wait,’ added Tyler. ‘They got married anyway, because let’s not allow a little year-long cheating to get in the way.’

Fran scoffed. ‘A year? I had no idea they’d been carrying on that long.’

Tyler held back his surprise. He was sure the whole island knew but him. It wasn’t something he wanted to think about, which was why he was glad to have Erin as a distraction. Throwing himself into work was for the best, as the sooner he could clear his head of all the backstabbers, the better.

Erin didn’t look like she knew what to say, and Fran was still tutting and shaking her head whilst eating.

Tyler felt a flurry of nerves hit his heart, and he lost his appetite immediately. Heat crept up, along with a lightheaded feeling. Erin’s hand slapping down on his snapped him out of whatever was building.

‘Baubles,’ she said, focused on his eyes.

‘Good idea,’ said Fran.

He had no idea what they were talking about. ‘What?’

Erin gave his hand a gentle squeeze. ‘For the shop window display we’re going to do. I’m thinking some of those big ones to sit at the base. What do you think Ty?’

I think I need to lie down. Run away. Something. Okay, breathe. Just breathe. Concentrate on what she’s saying .

‘Or tinsel?’ she added.

‘Heath left the boxes of decorations in the other room,’ said Fran, pointing a slice of bread at the door. ‘Willow and Cody are decorating another room tonight. See what you can use from that lot.’

‘Ooh, can we take a peek now?’ asked Erin.

Fran chuckled and waved them away, and Tyler was glad to move. Erin grabbed his hand again as soon as they were in the hallway, pulling him closer to her side.

‘Hey, I’m feeling festive now, which is unusual, as I’m not really into the whole holly jolly season. My mum didn’t celebrate much. It’s nice to see your family go all out.’

Tyler took a calming breath, trying hard to focus on her soft words, rather than his racing heart. He opened the door to the living room, revealing festive decorations and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree over by the window.

‘Oh, it’s gorgeous,’ said Erin, stepping inside for a closer look.

From out of nowhere it hit him. It was going to be the first Christmas without his dad, and that thought almost choked him. Quickly blinking back tears, he cleared his throat, but Erin had already seen his face.

‘Oh, Ty,’ she said quietly, rushing to wrap her arms around him. ‘Please don’t let them hurt you over and over.’

‘It’s not them.’ He dipped his head to hers and rested for a while, feeling comforted in her arms, even if her cast was digging in his spine. ‘My dad won’t be here this year,’ he mumbled.

Erin pulled back and lightly stroked his cheek. ‘I’m just glad you won’t be on your own.’

He sniffed, pulling himself together as a thought hit. ‘Where will you be?’

‘I, erm…’ Her words faded, so he didn’t catch the last of whatever she said.

‘Here,’ he announced, cheering up at the idea. ‘You’ll be right here with me. Us.’ He caught the slightest of sparkles flash though her eyes.

‘Really?’

‘You’re getting a cheese platter from the Walkers. You can hardly eat that on your own.’

Erin laughed. ‘It does make sense to share.’

‘It’s what we do, you and me.’

‘I’ve noticed.’

He noticed the caramel flecks in her green eyes. There was a real warmth about Erin when she smiled with her eyes, but mostly they held the same hint of sadness as his mum’s, making him wonder about her backstory more and more.

They remained locked until Fran entered with Rhett.

‘I’m just grabbing some lunch,’ said Rhett, looking at Erin. ‘Heard you were here so wanted to introduce myself. Hiya, I’m Rhett.’

Erin smiled. ‘The one with the horses. Heath’s wife, right?’

Rhett tied her loose strawberry-blonde hair up into a bun as she nodded. ‘Yeah, come up and see them anytime.’ She gestured at the cast. ‘I’ll take you for a ride once your arm’s better. Perhaps in the new year. A nice freezing cold January treat for you.’

Erin laughed. ‘I look forward to it, thanks.’

Fran took Rhett’s arm. ‘Let’s get you fed.’

Tyler grinned, then turned to Erin. ‘So, you’ll still be here by then?’

‘Maybe you are stuck with me. Or maybe I’m stuck here because I can’t go back on the ferry.’

‘Ooh, what a dilemma.’

She sat on the floor by the Christmas decorations. ‘Not half as much as this one.’

Tyler joined her side. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I don’t know where to start, Ty. What if I make the shop look ugly and get complaints from the locals?’

‘You won’t.’

‘You don’t know that.’

Tyler pulled out some red tinsel and flopped it over her shoulder. ‘I do know, because I’m going to help you. You’re not alone, Erin.’

‘I’ve never felt alone since I met you.’ She slapped a hand to her mouth as she laughed. ‘Goodness, that sounded corny.’

But Tyler’s heart had warmed at her words, and the palpitations seemed a thing of the past. He too felt less lonely since meeting her, but there was no need to add to her embarrassment.

‘Hey, by any chance did you bring a Christmas jumper with you?’

Erin shook her head. ‘No, why? Do you want us to wear them in the shop?’

‘We could, but no, that’s not why I asked. It’s the reunion. As it’s so close to Christmas, I was told it was the theme.’

Erin glanced at her top. ‘Oh.’

‘Never mind. You can borrow one of Willow’s. Trust me, she has loads, and her clothes will fit you.’

‘Will it take long to get to your friend’s house for the party?’

‘No. It’s only a small island. It doesn’t take long to get anywhere around here.’ He stopped smiling as he wondered if he should bother going at all.

Erin leaned into his shoulder. ‘We’ll have a laugh, I’m sure. And I could do with making some more friends.’

He hadn’t thought of it like that. ‘You’re right. Very soon, you’ll have more Christmas cards to send out.’

Erin laughed. ‘Meanwhile, let’s take some of this to the shop and get cracking.’

‘Good to see the spring in your step.’

She smiled, warming him once more. ‘Let’s hope the shop’s still standing after clearing out another wall of newspapers.’

Tyler groaned, flopping back in a dramatic huff. ‘I’m having nightmares already.

Erin leaned over, looking down at him. ‘Just try to imagine what it will look like once it’s empty.’

The comment was supposed to perk him up, but the thought meant he saw Erin moving in to her new home, which meant moving out of his, and he wasn’t completely sure how he felt about that, as he was used to having her around already.

She was still beaming his way, so he sat up, put on his work face, and helped her sort through the decorations.

Do not start falling for this girl. You’ve been through enough. What is wrong with you? And more to the point, why am I talking to myself? Oh, shut up .

He tossed some silver ribbon her way, then started singing a Christmas song, mostly because he seriously needed to cheer himself up. The fact it made her giggle and join in was just a bonus.