Page 106 of Barging In

“Divorced — or at least in the process,” Victoria replied matter-of-factly, her cheeks lifting into a smile just long enough to make her point. She turned to Clem, pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and whispered in her ear, “We can resume this later. We have lots to talk about, but now probably isn’t the right time. Oh, and I’m not apologising this time.”

“Okay,” Clem stuttered, still in shock that Victoria had swept in and kissed her, not to mention that her mum was still glaring at them.

Victoria left the kitchen, leaving behind an awkward silence. It didn’t last long.

“I thought you said she wasn’t a lesbian,” her mum said, drumming her fingers on the worktop.

“I didn’t say that,” Clem said, “and she’s not, as far as I am aware.”

“How can she not be? Was that little display not evidence enough?”

“Kissing a woman doesn’t make someone a lesbian, Mum,” Clem said, rolling her eyes.

Her mum shook her head. “I’ll never understand the younger generations.”

“It has nothing to do with any generation, Mum.”

She wanted to point out that just because her mum had never bothered to educate herself on these matters, it didn’t mean her ignorance was acceptable. She refrained, tempting as it was.

“Anyway, her sexuality is none of your business.”

“It is,” her mum countered, “if she’s courting my daughter.”

“Courting?” Clem chuckled at the use of the antiquated word. “I don’t know what we are yet, Mum, but Idoknow she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me — as is this place.”

Her mum fell silent for a moment before finally saying, “Then I’m happy. Even if she is a little old for you.”

Clem swallowed her anger, refusing to rise to her comment. “What did you want, Mum?”

“Helen and I have run out of leaflets.”

“There are more in a box behind reception.”

Her mum nodded and left the room.

Clem let out a long breath. She wasn’t going to let her mum’s interruption — or her ignorant comment — get her down. Victoria had kissed her again.Kissedher andwanted to talk. It would be a welcome change to speak to Victoria about anything other than signage, marketing copy, stall layouts, or contingency plans. The thought of finally having a conversation aboutthemsent a rush of adrenaline through her, which drowned out the flicker of lingering frustration at her mum.

She turned her attention back to filling the trays with rich, chocolatey batter and slid them into the oven. Heading out to a thrumming café, she checked in on Emma at the counter.

“Set a timer for twenty-five minutes on your phone,” she instructed.

Emma gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. She seemed to have everything under control. Packaged sandwiches and rolls had been the right call for fast, efficient service, and the new staff were already easing the pressure.

As Clem headed outside, Max passed her on his way in, a broad smile stretching across his face.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

“Great. I have a cider barn, I’m making proper cider, and Jasper’s asked me to move in with him.”

Clem clasped his shoulder. “That’s amazing! Congrats.”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

“Well…” She shrugged one shoulder. “I might have sown a seed or two, but you watered them. What will you do about your boat?”

“I’ll transfer the vinyl into the barn in the next few weeks, now that everything’s set up in there, then get it sold.”

“Wow. Big step.”