Page 6 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

THREE

SATURDAY

‘Mum! Mum! I’ve been invited to a party!’ Zak burst through the front door of eighteen Rosemary Terrace, landing in the kitchen on a waft of warm summer air and a wave of enthusiasm, his football tucked under his arm.

Jasmine, who’d been feeding a load of laundry into the washing machine, straightened and turned to look at her son.

She couldn’t help but smile at the expression on his face, the smattering of freckles that grazed his nose and cheeks lending him an adorably mischievous appearance.

‘Morning, Zak, lovey, a party, eh? That sounds exciting. Whose is it?’ She was used to her son’s boundless energy and enthusiasm, but this morning, from the way he was dancing from foot to foot, it appeared to have been cranked up a notch or two.

She headed over to him, throwing her arm around his shoulders and pressing a kiss to the side of his head.

It crossed her mind that if his recent growing spurt continued, it wouldn’t be long before he was towering over her.

‘ Mum ,’ he grumbled, wriggling free of her embrace and scrubbing at the spot where her kiss had landed, making her laugh.

‘He’s called Connor and he’s really cool.

He’s in my class and he’s mad on football like me and his party has a football theme – he said I can wear my Micklewick Lions football strip – and he’s going to the sports week in the summer holidays.

He’s just moved here. I’m his best mate and he’s mine.

It’s his party next weekend and it’s going to be at his house. It’s that massive one on the cliffs.’

Jasmine struggled to keep up with Zak’s words as they tumbled out in an effusive torrent. He beamed a smile then proceeded to bounce his ball several times, earning himself a pointed look from his mum.

‘Not inside, Zak,’ she said, her mind going back to the last time he’d bounced his football in the kitchen and the devastation that had followed.

He’d whacked the ball with such force, it had ricocheted off the fridge and flown across the table, where a newly decorated birthday cake sat.

She’d looked on in disbelief as the fondant replica of a pair of red designer high-heeled shoes in croc leather she’d painstakingly spent hours to perfect was skimmed off, ending up in a ruined heap on the floor.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the cake was due for collection in just over an hour.

Jasmine’s frazzled nerves had been soothed once she’d realised there was enough leftover sugar paste from the fondant shoes to allow her to hurriedly create a new, albeit slightly smaller, pair.

She’d been inordinately relieved when the cake was collected and had left her house.

The customer had been delighted with it and in blissful ignorance of the drama that had unfolded an hour beforehand.

Disaster may have been averted in that particular instance, but it wasn’t something Jasmine was eager to repeat.

Ali Harrington had yet to call to collect her parents’ anniversary cake, which was sitting in three boxes on the worktop beside where Zak was standing and had been bouncing his ball seconds earlier.

She didn’t fancy that cake suffering a similar fate, nor the prospect of having to explain to Ali why it wasn’t ready.

‘Soz, Mum. I forgot.’ Zak ceased his bouncing and treated her to a sheepish grin that made her heart melt.

‘So, what day and time is this party then?’ Jasmine’s mind quickly segued to her calendar, just as Chloe skipped in, followed by Heather whose hands were full of her grandchildren’s backpacks and a variety of other bags.

‘Hi there.’ Jasmine smiled, glancing between her daughter and her mum.

She held her arm out for Chloe, who skuttled across for a cuddle.

She absently pressed a kiss to the top of Chloe’s strawberry-blonde head, glad to see her daughter’s mood seemed brighter today.

Jasmine hoped to get the chance to have a word with her mum when the kids were out of earshot, see if Chloe had let slip about anything that could be bothering her.

‘Now then, lovey.’ Heather smiled warmly. ‘I should warn you, a certain someone’s very excited.’ She nodded towards Zak.

‘So I see.’

‘He’s been talking about the party all the time, Mummy. It’s been party this, and party that,’ said Chloe, shaking her head with a weariness that was way beyond her seven years.

Jasmine caught her mother’s eye and the pair exchanged an amused look.

Zak grinned broadly. ‘The party’s next Saturday, in the afternoon, can’t remember the exact time.

The invitation’s in my school bag, but Connor says I can get there early if I want.

And he says I can stay over, but you have to call and say it’s okay with you.

There’s a phone number on the invitation.

And guess what? His house even has a cinema and a swimming pool. How awesome is that?’

‘That’s very awesome, Zak.’ Her thoughts went back to the conversation with her friends the previous evening, and their curiosity about the owner.

She peered at her calendar, noting she had a ten-year-old boy’s football-themed birthday cake to have ready for next Saturday morning.

She fleetingly wondered if it was for Zak’s new friend – Jasmine recalled not recognising the name – Osborne – when the order had been placed and had assumed it was for a family out of town.

Her next thought was that she had a shift from twelve till four at the bakery that same day.

‘I’ll need to know the time you can be dropped off, but I can’t see a problem getting you there. ’

‘Cool!’ Zak beamed at her.

‘Right then, rascals, can you take your stuff upstairs, please?’ She didn’t want the house to look messy when Ali called to collect her parents’ cake.

She watched as they gathered their bags and headed into the hallway, the sound of Zak thundering up the stairs in his usual way following seconds later.

She listened, waiting for the familiar sounds of them going into their respective bedrooms, before turning to her mother.

‘Thanks for having the kids again, Mum, I really appreciate it.’

‘No problem, lovey, they were good as gold, as always.’ She set the children’s bags down by the back door. ‘Your dad and me’d be happy to help out getting Zak to and from the party next Saturday, if you’re stuck.’

Jasmine groaned inwardly. She already needed to ask her mum if she’d be able to cover her shift on Tuesday so she could make her meeting with Lady Caro at Danskelfe Castle and felt uncomfortable asking for more help.

As if sensing her daughter’s hesitation, Heather said, ‘Wouldn’t mind an excuse to have a sneaky peek around that particular property.

Mind, I’ve been hearing all sorts of rumours about the new owner, ranging from him being a famous artist, to a sports celebrity to a lottery winner – oh, and an opera singer.

Someone even reckons he’s a spy for MI5. ’ Heather chuckled.

Jasmine laughed. ‘Wowzers, that’s some wild mix. Whatever it turns out they do for a living, they’ve generated a load of interest, so let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint the gossipmongers. Though, I daresay, after Zak’s been to the party we’ll be a bit more enlightened.’

‘Or even more confused,’ said Heather, making them both chuckle. ‘So, did you enjoy yourself with the lasses last night?’

‘I did, thanks, we had a laugh.’

‘Good.’

Jasmine inched closer to her mum, lowering her voice.

‘Very quickly, before the kids come back downstairs, I’ve been meaning to ask if you’ve noticed anything different about Chloe?

She hasn’t been herself this last couple of weeks, seems to have lost her sparkle a bit.

I know she’s not naturally as exuberant as Zak, but she’s been quieter than usual. It’s been worrying me.’

‘You beat me to it, flower, I was going to mention something once they were out of the way, but I did notice she seemed to have something on her mind, wasn’t her usual chatty self – your dad picked up on it, too.

I asked her if she was okay, and tried some subtle questions to see if they’d reveal anything, but it just made her clam up so I thought it best to stop.

But I did get the feeling it was something to do with school.

The name Nina cropped up a couple of times and not in a way that made me think Chloe was fond of her, more like she was bothering her.

Didn’t catch this Nina’s surname though. ’

Jasmine’s heart twisted. ‘Poor little Chloe. I had a feeling it was something to do with school, not that she’s mentioned anyone in particular to me.

She complained of having a tummy ache a couple of times last week, tried to convince me she was too poorly to go to school but I could tell it wasn’t genuine. ’

‘Ah, bless her, that’s a shame. Sounds like this Nina girl’s the root of the problem if she’s trying to get out of going to school,’ said Heather. She looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Zak might have a better idea about it. You could maybe try asking him a few discreet questions.’

‘Yeah, that was my next plan.’

Their conversation was interrupted by an urgent knocking at the door, startling them both.

‘Bloomin’ ’eck!’ said Jasmine.

‘Oh, my days! Who on earth’s that?’ Heather pressed her hand to her chest.

‘It’s probably Ali Harrington come to collect her parents’ anniversary cake.’

‘Talk about having a knock like a policeman.’

‘S’probably cos she’s running late,’ said Jasmine, on her way to answer the door.

‘I’m so sorry I’m late, Jasmine. I hope I haven’t spoilt your plans,’ Ali said, out of breath and looking slightly dishevelled.

‘Come in, and there’s no need to apologise, I had no plans to be anywhere this morning,’ said Jasmine. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Long story, but it’s been one of those mornings. Grandad went AWOL from the care home; had us all searching everywhere for him. Poor Mum was frantic with worry.’