‘I was right! Mr Budge does like you!’
Caitlin’s cheeks flushed and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. ‘Oh? How do you know? Oh heck, you didn’t ask him again, did you?’ She sincerely hoped this wasn’t the case.
‘No, silly, I haven’t seen him. But Cora said so!’
Caitlin’s interest was piqued, but she tried not to sound too excited. ‘Really? How come? I mean… what was said? How did she bring it up? Have they been talking about me?’Ugh, well done Caitlin, sounding really chilled you are.
Grace pointed a finger. ‘Mum, you’ve gone all pink! You like him too, don’t you? I knew it! I told Cora you did!’
Caitlin covered her eyes with one hand. ‘Grace, you really are going to have to learn that some things should be kept to yourself.’
‘But why? If you both like each other, then you can get married, and Cora can be my sister!’
Caitlin held up her hands and gave a nervous laugh. ‘Whoa! Hold your horses there, girlie. He hasn’t even asked me out yet.’
Grace pondered this for a moment. ‘Why don’t you ask him out? I mean, it is the twenty-first century, you know, not the olden days. You are a strong, independent woman, I heard you telling Jules and Ruby that once when you were drinking wine… or it might have been Ruby who said it… But anyway, maybe you should put your pants on and go ask him out.’
Caitlin glanced down at her jeans. ‘Put my pants on? My pants are on, I can assure you.’
Grace sighed. ‘It’s a saying, Mum. Haven’t you heard it? You put your pants on and get on with it.’
‘Oh! You mean put on my big-girl pants.’
Grace scrunched her face. ‘That’s what I said, durr! Anyway, I’ve got history homework. I can’t believe they’re bothering to give us homework when it’s nearly the holidays. Those teachers insist on ruining our lives.’ She huffed.
Ignoring her dramatic comment, Caitlin said, ‘Okay, sweetheart, I won’t be too much longer. I think I’ll have to close early today. Hardly anything left. Oh, and Cleo is in the garden. She was asleep under the table last I checked, bless her wee heart. Is spag bol okay for dinner?’
Grace’s eyes lit up. ‘Can we have gelato for afters? It is Italian, so it goes.’
‘Aye, go on. I think there’s still some in the freezer.’
Grace had become obsessed with gelato after Ruby told them all about it when she was first in Glentorrin after spending some time in Sicily. And now they had to buy some, every time they did their weekly shop.
Grace disappeared through into the house and Caitlin began to check what stock she had left.
‘Hi, Caitlin,’ Archie said as he walked into the shop.
‘Oh, hi, Archie. How are you?’
‘I’m grand, aye, thanks. I’m needing some rolls if you’ve any left. I’m barbecuing tonight, seeing as the weather’s so good.’
‘That sounds like a good plan.’ She checked the bread baskets. ‘I’ve only a couple of wholemeal left, if that’s any good?’
Archie smiled and nodded. ‘Oh aye, that’s fine.’
Caitlin eyed him for a moment, thinking back to the conversation with Ruby and Jules. When she looked at him now, she did so through fresh eyes. He was an attractive man, if you liked that rough-and-ready type, which, of course, she didn’t, at all.
Realising she was staring, and that Archie was looking somewhat confused, she packed up the bread rolls into a paper bag and rang them through the till.
Archie handed over the correct change and turned to leave but stopped. ‘Oh, erm, if you’re still interested in the speed dating thing, it’s starting at eight on Saturday night. I can pick you up if you fancy it.’
Caitlin was about to answer with a thanks-but-no-thanks when Grace chimed in, ‘Ooh yes, Mum, you need to go to that. Mr Budge is going, and he told Cora that he’s going to see you there.’
Caitlin swung around and scowled at her daughter. ‘I thought you were doing homework, madam?’
Grace blushed and chewed her lip. ‘I am. I just… erm… I heard Archie and…’
‘Go and get your history done,’ Caitlin pointed to the doorway before turning back to face Archie. ‘Thanks, Archie, that would be great.’
