Pepper Lane Sweet Shoppe (Pepper Bay #14)

27

Erin

The old sign above the sweet shop needed a freshen-up. Perhaps some new paint, bold colours.

Erin stood in the quiet road, wondering why she was bothering with the shop. Australia was winning the race since Tyler didn’t bother to make her feel secure about staying in Pepper Bay.

I made a right pig’s ear out of that conversation. What must he think? I don’t even know what to think .

Nothing had come out how she’d intended. Half of what she had said didn’t make sense. No wonder Tyler kept frowning. All she wanted was his arms around her, letting her know staying with him was the right choice.

‘Jeez, Erin, the man gave you a door key.’ She huffed, banging a hand to her side.

It was cold, getting dark, and light snowflakes were falling, but still she stared at her shop. It looked sad without its Christmas lights on. It looked sad anyway. No one loved it like Tyler, of that she was certain. She figured if it could talk, it would tell her it didn’t like her very much right now. Right now, she didn’t like herself much either.

I wish you could talk, because I seriously need someone to put me straight. Oh, bloody hell, Grandad. Why did you bring me here? I’m all over the place. Argh!

The door to the shop next door opened, and the owner stepped out, waving over at Erin.

‘Oh, hello, Anna.’ Erin frowned at The Book Gallery. ‘Are you open today?’

Anna glanced down at her golden retriever, Max, as he plodded to her side. ‘No. I got a call from Molly,’ she replied, pointing up at the flat above Doll’s Gift House. ‘She told me there was a large parcel left on my doorstep.’ Cold air escaped her lips as she laughed. ‘I won’t lie, it was a good opportunity to have a nice walk with Max. I feel like all I’ve done is eat and watch films.’

Erin stared at the tall box, noticing it for the first time. It had to be around seven foot. Had she not been in such a strop, perhaps she would have taken more notice of her surroundings. She bent to pet Max. ‘Hello, boy. I bet you haven’t stopped snacking as well.’

‘Hmm, even he has his limits,’ said Anna, grinning at her dog. She glanced up at the sweet shop sign. ‘Why are you here? I heard you weren’t opening until the new year.’

‘I needed a long walk too. Ended up here, wondering what to do with the place. With my life.’

Anna smiled. ‘I felt that way when I first came here.’ She leaned into Erin’s good arm. ‘I came from London too.’

‘What made you come here?’

‘My husband, Jake. We weren’t married then. I’m surprised no one has told you my story. It’s one of the one’s they like to talk about around here.’

‘Ooh, now I’m intrigued.’

Anna chuckled. ‘Okay, well, long and short of it is, I was homeless, living in a tent on the rooftop where Jake lived. We met, he offered me a place to stay here, ended up buying me this shop so I had an income, and we fell in love.’

‘A tent?’

‘Yeah, that’s the part they talk about.’

‘Wow,’ said Erin. ‘That’s some move you made. I heard you live in the cottage at the top of Pepper Lane.’

‘That’s right. Starlight Cottage.’ Anna beamed. ‘Oh, Erin, if you only knew how much I longed for a home. I was raised in care, you see. I never felt I fitted anywhere. Then I met Jake, and now I don’t feel I belong anywhere else. We have two kids, a beautiful home, this place, our family and friends, but in all honesty, I could be anywhere with Jake and I’d feel at home. Turned out he was the home I’d always been searching for.’

Erin was sure if she could swoon, she would. ‘Aww, Anna, that’s a lovely thing to say.’

Anna smiled warmly at her shop. ‘It’s people that make a home, not bricks.’

Tyler came to mind. Sure, his house was a stunner, but it was his presence that soothed her. Even when in the cluttered flat they shared laughs. And baked beans.

She smiled to herself at the memory. ‘I think I’ve fallen in love, Anna.’

‘Ah, Pepper Bay does that to you.’

‘No, I meant with Tyler Silver.’

‘Oh, well, is that a bad thing? Only the way you said that is making me wonder.’

Erin shook her head as she watched the light snow dissolve on Max’s golden coat. ‘It’s not bad. Just scary.’

‘Taking a chance on anyone or anything is always a bit scary. I’m so glad I took a risk though. This is the best my life has ever been.’

‘I want to feel that way.’

Anna tilted her head. ‘What’s stopping you?’

‘My ex jilted me at the church. It was the worst day of my life. I was mortified and so alone. I’ve been a little afraid to date since.’

‘Oh, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry that happened to you.’

‘Thanks. It was a while back. He’s married to someone else now.’

‘He wasn’t the one for you, Erin. Meaning someone else is.’

‘Tyler was a surprise. I wasn’t looking for anyone.’

‘Happens like that sometimes.’

‘Can anyone join this street party?’ asked a woman, around the same age as Erin.

‘Molly,’ said Anna. ‘Have you met Erin yet?’

Molly shook her head. ‘I’ve seen you around but haven’t had the chance to say hello. I’m Molly Hadley. I live up there with my fiancé, Freddy.’

Erin greeted her. ‘I’ve heard the Hadley name mentioned by the Silvers.’

‘Yeah, there are a few of us.’ Molly bobbed her head towards the large parcel. ‘So what is it, Anna? I’ve been nothing but curious since it arrived.’

‘I have no idea. I haven’t ordered anything.’

‘Do you want some help with it?’ asked Erin. ‘It looks like you might.’

Anna nodded. ‘Yes, please. Let’s check it out.’

‘I’ve been watching from the window,’ said Molly. ‘But you two chatting away in the cold made me even more curious.’

Erin breathed out a laugh. ‘Oh, I was just whining about my love life.’

‘You and Tyler Silver,’ said Molly knowingly.

Erin frowned. ‘Is it obvious?’

Molly grinned. ‘When you live in a small place, everything is obvious. So, tell me, what’s he done that’s brought you down here in the cold and dark?’

‘In all honesty, he hasn’t done anything.’ Erin stopped smiling as they walked over to the tall box. ‘He’s been nothing but lovely to me, and I think I ruined it by talking nonsense when I should have just been upfront about how scared I’m feeling about taking a chance on him.’

Molly swung her arm around Erin’s shoulders. ‘Aw, Erin. We all have to take chances. But, hey, even if you don’t want to take a chance on him, at least take a chance on Pepper Bay. Trust me, you won’t find better mates than us lot, right, Anna?’

Anna was looking around the box. ‘She’s right.’

Molly’s arm slid from Erin’s shoulder as she changed the subject. ‘Why on earth has the delivery driver dumped this here anyway?’

Anna went to shift it but it was too heavy. ‘Flipping heck. It won’t budge.’

‘We could open it out here,’ said Erin.

‘Ooh, look at that.’ Anna stretched her hand around the side. ‘It’s got your name on it, Erin. This is for you.’

All three women stared wide-eyed at the thing.

‘I haven’t ordered anything,’ mumbled Erin.

‘Let’s open it,’ said Molly, her dark eyes glistening as she made a grab for the tape. ‘The suspense is killing me.’

They started to rip into the box, tearing the sides and tape, then tugging away the dark tissue paper inside.

Anna gasped. ‘Bloody hell, look at that!’

They were looking. All three of them.

Standing tall was a six-foot Nutcracker, looking rather proud in his red-and-gold suit.

‘Ooh, he looks good, doesn’t he?’ said Molly.

‘What am I supposed to do with that?’ asked Erin.

Anna wrapped her arms around it. ‘Let’s shuffle him to the front of the sweet shop. He’ll look good guarding the doorway.’

It wasn’t easy, but between them they managed to do just that, and Molly let out a little cheer.

‘There’s a note,’ said Anna, crouching to retrieve the letter from the packaging. She handed it to Erin, who opened it immediately.

‘It’s from my grandad. He says he bought this before he died. He knew he wasn’t going to Perth this year due to being ill, but he also knew I’d be here. Well, he hoped. It’s my welcome present.’

Molly peered over her shoulder. ‘Aww, is that what his letter says?’

‘Yes. It also says that although he doesn’t know me, he believes in me and knows I’ll live a good life in Pepper Bay. Oh, and that the Nutcracker will protect me and always make me smile.’

‘It’s definitely cheered me up,’ said Molly.

Anna leaned closer to Erin. ‘Does he say anything else?’

‘Just one last thing,’ replied Erin, smiling. ‘The Nutcracker is called Chester.’

The women laughed.

‘Good old Chester,’ said Molly.

‘Oi, Molls,’ called a man from the window above the gift shop. ‘Now you’ve got that sorted, you want to get in out of the cold? You haven’t got a coat on.’

Molly waved up at him. ‘Freddy, meet Chester, and this is his owner, Erin.’

Erin laughed as she waved.

‘Good to meet you, Erin. Welcome to Pepper Lane. Now, does anyone need a lift home before I go back to the warmth of my electric blanket?’

‘No, I’m good to walk,’ said Anna.

Erin raised her hand again. ‘I’m fine too, but thanks.’

Freddy brushed back his apricot curls, blew a kiss to Molly, then closed the window.

Molly’s eyes twinkled from love alone, Erin could see. ‘Right, I’m off, and I’ll see you two in the pub for New Year’s Eve.’

‘Oh, we might pop in for an early one,’ said Anna. ‘We’ve got Josh and Joey coming to ours so the kids are all together to see in the new year.’ She laughed as she nudged Erin. ‘It’ll be Joey and me who stays awake.’

They waved goodbye to Molly just as a tall man came walking down to the shop.

‘Anna, it’s snowing,’ he said, leaning over to kiss her pale cheek.

‘Yes, I noticed, Jake, but it’s only a flurry.’

Jake’s azure-blue eyes stood out more than Chester the Nutcracker.

Wow, he’s like a model .

Erin smiled as Anna proudly introduced her husband.

‘Pleased to meet you, Erin,’ said Jake. ‘But we’ll have to get to know each other better another time, as I’m here to take my wife home.’

Anna turned to Erin and winked. ‘He’s got a thing about me being out in the snow.’

‘Hmm,’ mumbled Jake.

‘Would you like a lift home?’ asked Anna. She turned to Jake. ‘I assume you brought the car down?’

He nodded. ‘It’s just by the tram stop.’

Anna held his hand up to her cheek and smiled. ‘Is Stan awake yet?’

‘He is, but the kids are still asleep.’ Jake turned to Erin. ‘It’s a good time for being indoors.’

Anna giggled. ‘That’s his way of saying you should get out of the cold.’

Erin pointed at the doorway. ‘Oh, I’m okay. I’m just going to head inside the shop for a bit now anyway.’

Anna walked over to her own shop. ‘Okay, if you’re sure you don’t need a ride home, I’ll just set the alarm and head off.’

‘Yeah, you go. I’m fine.’ Erin waved them off, waited in the doorway until they disappeared out of sight, checked to see if Molly was watching, then once the coast was clear, she left Chester on his own and walked down the slope to sit on the short wall to stare out at the dark sea gently lapping against the shingles.

Okay, Grandad. You got me. This place, that shop, Tyler Silver. The whole lot. How can anything compete? That’s what you’re telling me, right? That I’m protected here. I’ll be loved right here. It’s Pepper Bay that’s my home .

She stretched her arms wide and beamed at the waves. ‘I’m staying in Pepper Bay,’ she yelled.

‘Thank goodness for that,’ said Tyler, causing her head to snap around to see him looking as cold as she felt.