Page 52 of Barging In

“Well… I can bake a cake or two.” Clem laughed, a little heat rising in her cheeks.

“I understand I’m helping you for the day, Max,” Clem’s dad said, picking up a bottle from the table and casting an eye over it.

Max nodded. “If you don’t mind. That would be great, thanks. It’s mainly handing out samples with Graham.”

“I promise not to drink them all. Although this stuff looks good,” he replied, admiring the translucent amber liquid in the clear bottle .

“It is,” Graham confirmed.

“That’s our strong vintage cider, The Bodice Ripper. And this is our traditional cider, Hard Pressed,” Max said, showing him another. “Then we have our medium-sweet, Juicy Squeeze, and our light, refreshing A Little Tart.”

Clem picked one up and admired the clear and concise label, noting it was a more reasonable five per cent alcohol now that it was no longer a home-brewed scrumpy. They’d done a fantastic job with the branding, combining clever corset terminology, thanks to Jasper’s suggestion.

Right on cue, Jasper waltzed in carrying a large, brown box.

“Don’t fear, I’m here,” he announced, setting the box down and tearing off the tape.

He patted Graham on the shoulder and kissed Helen on the cheek.

“I was beginning to worry,” Max said, looking at his watch.

“These look great,” Clem said, pulling a leaflet from the box as it sprang open.

“My love insisted on changing his mind a dozen times before finalising the design, didn’t you?” Jasper said, kissing Max on the head as he clocked Clem’s parents.

“Oh! Jasper, these are my parents, Tom and Barbara.”

He shook their hands. “Congratulations on producing one of the best — if not the best — marketing guru in the world. Not to mention baker!”

“Oh, shush, Jasper.” Clem smirked. “Shall we get some work done?”

Everyone muttered their agreement.

“Dad, I’ll leave you with Max. Helen, do you want to come with me? You are on leaflet duty with Mum.”

“Of course. Do you live locally, Barbara?” Helen asked as they followed Clem out of the barn and across the courtyard.

“Yes, we moved in a few weeks ago. We were having some renovations done, but it’s all finished now.”

“And are you from around here originally?”

“I grew up here,” Clem’s mum replied, “but drifted away — as you do.”

“Oh, I know. I was the same. Then you eventually drift back. We returned to look after my mum. If you’re interested, I’ve started a women’s group.

We meet once a week and do something in the local area.

It could be something like a nature walk, a litter pick, or even a drawing class. You should join us.”

Clem smiled, pleased her mum might have made a new friend.

“I’d like that, thanks,” she replied.

“Clem, Max suggested I talk to you about using the café as a meeting place,” Helen said.

“Of course. I can reserve some tables for you or cordon off an area if you prefer a bit more privacy. Ask Max for my number and let me know in advance.”

Helen beamed. “Thanks.”

“Jasper and Max make a cute couple,” Clem’s mum said to Helen.

“Don’t they just?” Helen replied. “We’re so pleased he found someone like him.”

“It’s a shame you can’t find love here yourself, Clem,” her mum said pointedly.

Clem caught Victoria’s eye as they passed by her at the wharf door. Perfect timing, as always, from her mother. She was sure Victoria would have heard.

“You have to have one of Jasper’s tours, if you haven’t already, Barbara,” Helen said. “He’s such a natural orator, and so knowledgeable about corsets. ”

“Oh, I will!” she said.

Clem didn’t miss the broad smile lighting her mum’s face as she took a pile of leaflets from the reception desk. She split them between the two women.

“Ten per cent off at the café on your next visit or twenty per cent off with every guided tour,” Helen read from the leaflet. “That’s generous.”

“We need to drive people in over the next few months,” Clem said, “so hand them to anyone who will take one. Take some for your group, too, Helen. I’ve already distributed a load to the local shops and supermarkets around town.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that. I saw a video on Facebook about today. It was very well done.”

Pleased to hear it after the amount of work the video had taken, Clem thanked her and then checked her watch. It was nearly ten.

“We’ll be opening in a minute. If you could each take a gate, and once things quieten down, have a wander around and make sure no one has been missed.”

As they stepped into the courtyard, she spotted Jasper heading to the public gate from the car park, ready to open it. Her mum joined him whilst Helen continued with her to the other gate.

Although the empty spot where Florence was usually moored momentarily hit Clem in the chest, the bridge and towpath were teeming with people; Clem had never seen it so busy. Judging by the smile on Victoria’s face as she joined them, she hadn’t either.

She looped her arm through Victoria’s and squeezed it, pulling her closer. “We did it.”

“You did it,” Victoria replied. “None of this would have happened without you.”

“This was a team effort, and you know it,” Clem insisted. “An idea is nothing until it’s implemented, and you and I did this together.”

Victoria rolled her eyes playfully and gave a conceding shrug.

“Go on then,” Clem urged. “Don’t keep them waiting.”

Victoria stepped forward and opened the gate. Together, they stood back and watched as hordes of people streamed in, Helen handing them leaflets as they passed. Now it was time to hope and pray there’d be no drama or incidents.

By the time lunchtime passed, with a relieving lack of either, Clem found herself back in the kitchen, cooking up another batch of scones and chocolate brownies to the rhythm of an overworked dishwasher.

Cakes would take too long to mix, bake, cool, and decorate, so she’d opted for something quick and easy for the event.

“There you are,” Victoria said, appearing in the doorway. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“I’m just topping up a few things,” Clem called over her shoulder. “We were running low. I don’t want anyone arriving later to find nothing left.”

“You are diligent,” Victoria said, casting her eye over the cheese scones cooling on a rack.

Clem beamed at the compliment. “Is everything going okay out there?”

“Yes. I came to give you something,” Victoria said, stepping closer and letting the door shut behind her. “I was going to wait until later, but I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“Okay. What is it?” Clem asked curiously, noticing Victoria had nothing with her.

Victoria moved into Clem’s space, making her suck in a breath. She placed her hand gently on the side of Clem’s face. “This.” Her eyes were intense as she guided Clem’s face toward her own, and then she closed the distance until their lips met.

Clem melted into her, unable to do anything but surrender. Her mouth was eager, her tongue even more so, as they kissed deeply.

“Oh, wow,” Clem breathed out as Victoria took a breath and dove back in.

Victoria was taking what she wanted — finally — and Clem wasn’t going to deny this woman anything. The force behind Victoria’s kiss reminded Clem of that evening at her house. Clem had matched her energy, kissed her as fiercely as Victoria was kissing her now — almost knocking her backwards.

When they broke apart for air, Clem stepped back toward the island, pulling Victoria with her.

She tucked her arms around Victoria’s waist, holding her tightly, never wanting to let go again.

Their lips locked, making Clem wish the world would disappear right then and leave her with the warmth of Victoria’s mouth to enjoy forever.

“Clem!” Her mum’s voice called out from across the kitchen. “Oh.” She looked them up and down, eyebrows knitted in surprise as they pulled apart. “Aren’t you married, Victoria? To a man?”

“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 I do know 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.