The Little Bakery of Hopes and Dreams

by Kellie Hailes

  Mia, who’d been holding Callan’s hand the whole time while staring up at her father, a look of confusion on her little face, tugged his arm. ‘Daddy, you’re blavering.’

  Callan turned his attention to Mia. ‘Blavering?’

  ‘You’re talking too much. Like the man on the telly that you called a blavering idiot.’

  Callan’s flush, which had shown signs of disappearing, renewed itself, even brighter than before. ‘I have got to remember to watch my language around you. And the word’s blathering.’

  ‘That’s what I said.’ Mia’s brows drew together. ‘Blavering.’

  Callan dropped into a squat and kissed Mia’s temple. ‘You’re right, I was. And if I don’t stop blavering and get moving soon, we’ll miss the big event.’

  ‘In that case, let’s get a wriggle on.’ Josie locked the door and waited for Callan to point them in the right direction. ‘I don’t suppose you can fill me in on why this is such a big deal? Everyone I’ve spoken to keeps saying the event is held every year but that “this never happens”, and I’ve yet to figure out what this great “this” they’re talking about is.’

  The three began walking down the lane. Mia’s hand finding its way into Josie’s.

  ‘It’s an old Sunnycombe legend. Probably ridiculous, but those that’ve been here forever swear it’s true.’

  ‘You’re being as obscure as the rest of them, you know that?’

  ‘What’s obscure?’

  Josie tightened her hand around Mia’s, loving the away her petite gloved fingers followed suit. ‘It means annoying and difficult.’

  ‘Stop being annoying and difficult, Daddy,’ Mia instructed. The same serious frown she’d had on her face earlier had returned.

  Josie couldn’t help but notice how it matched the frown she’d seen on Callan’s face. The same said frown that Callan was currently sporting.

  ‘It means Josie thinks I’m not being as clear as she’d like.’

  ‘Is Josie being impotent, Daddy?’

  Josie clapped her free hand over her mouth to stop the laughter that threatened.

  ‘You mean impatient, and yes, just a little.’

  ‘Are you two going to be grumpy at each other? Like you and Mummy would be sometimes?’

  Callan’s frown softened as he shook his head. ‘No, my princess. We’re not going to be grumpy at each other.’

  ‘I didn’t like it when you and Mummy were cross.’ Mia’s bottom lip protruded, and trembled a little, as her small chest rose and fell.

  Josie crossed the area over her heart. ‘Promise we’re not being grumpy, but I am being impatient. I’m sorry. Shall I work on my patience, do you think?’

  Mia nodded, and a smile found its way back to her lips.

  ‘Wonderful. Now’s a good a time as any.’ Josie looked over at Callan. ‘So, tell me this tale. And take as long as you like.’

  They crossed the lane and began the journey over the sodden field, their wellington boots squelching into mud with each step. The hill above was patchworked with blankets and dotted with villagers. Their chatter and laughter rolled down the hill to greet them.

  ‘Many moons ago, at this exact time of year, not long before Christmas – or so the story goes – a shepherd around these parts was searching for a sheep that had escaped its winter lodgings.’

  Josie grinned at the solemn tone Callan had taken. Like the tale wasn’t just a made-up story, but a piece of Sunnycombe history, told around fires and passed from generation to generation.

  ‘He wandered for hours, not seeing a hint of its cream wool, not hearing a single bleat. The sun was coming down. The wind was whipping around his prematurely bald, hatless head, leaving him freezing and foul-tempered. He’d all but given up hope, when he looked up and spotted the sheep on the hill before us. He trudged towards it as fast as his feet would carry him, puffing and panting, and swearing black and blue that if the sheep ran off it would be destined for the dinner table.’

  ‘Daddy means the sheep would die and become dinner.’ Mia joined the dots for Josie in a matter-of-fact tone that had Josie stemming another laugh, so as not to insult the wee poppet.

  ‘Lucky for the sheep, it stayed where it was, and the shepherd reached it without further hassle. It was then, just as he was about to take hold of the sheep and lead it home, that he saw the sun. Slowly sinking between the “V” where the two hills appear to meet on the horizon at the very end of the village. He watched the sun dip between the hills, struck by its perfect symmetry, and then, thinking nothing more of it, he took the sheep home and went about his usual routine.’

  Callan paused. His chest rising and falling as he took in great breaths as the incline steepened.

  ‘That’s it?’ Josie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘He caught the sheep, watched a sunset, and we’re here celebrating that in the freezing cold?’

  Callan’s eyebrows lifted. ‘What did I say about patience?’

  ‘I need to have some?’

  ‘That’s right. Now if you don’t mind …’

  ‘Tell her the rest, Daddy. The rest is the best.’ Mia swung both their arms with excitement and they found themselves ‘one-two-threeing’ her up the hill. Her giggly squeals as they swung her high in the air on three caught the attention of the locals who waved and began to chant ‘one-two-three’ along with them.

  Finally they reached a spot that wasn’t as steep as other areas, and was relatively free of the rocks that jutted from the ground.

  ‘This’ll do.’ Callan set his picnic basket down and pulled out a blue and green striped, plastic-backed picnic blanket and spread it out on the hill in one flourish.

  ‘You are wonderful.’ Josie settled herself on the blanket. ‘I was worried my bum would catch cold from sitting on the damp grass.’

  ‘Well, your bum is safe. Would you like a glass of wine?’ He wiggled the bottle back and forth. ‘I’ve got water, if you’d prefer.’

  ‘Wine would be lovely. Though I thought you prefer beer? I noticed it’s what you drink when we’re at the pub.’ Josie ducked her head as an embarrassed flush hit.

  ‘Hey, you three! Got space for us?’

  Josie glanced up to see Lauren and Will making a beeline for them, their reddened cheeks puffing out great white plumes with each step. She said a silent thanks, grateful for their appearance, and hoped it would stop Callan extrapolating her interest in his drinking habits and flippant-but-true ‘wonderful’ comment into realising that she might have feelings for him. Feelings that, even if she did have, she knew she shouldn’t have – there was no way he would ever return those feelings, therefore it was better to ignore said feelings completely.

  ‘I can’t believe it’s going to happen.’ Lauren spread the blanket out, and plopped down, then opened the basket she’d been carrying and pulled out a little bottle of gin and tonic. ‘After all these years. Finally.’

  Josie slapped her palm on her forehead and let out an over–exaggerated groan. ‘Not you too? Honestly it’s easier to make the perfect meringue than it is to get this story out of you lot.’

  ‘She doesn’t know?’ Will ducked back and caught Callan’s eye. ‘You’ve not told her?’

  ‘I was telling her, but I got distracted.’ He poured himself a glass of wine. ‘Happy to continue though, assuming you haven’t lost interest?’

  Josie shook her head, zipped her lips, and gave him the silent nod to go ahead.

  ‘So, the story goes … the next morning the shepherd woke up and the strangest thing happened. He rubbed his hand over his bald head and discovered …’

  Josie leaned in as Callan’s voice dropped lower with each word.

  ‘Bristles.’

  Josie sprung into a straight-backed position. ‘Bristles? You’re kidding me, right? You’re having a laugh. Pulling my leg. I’ve heard of ridiculous folk tales, but that’s just … I’m sorry to say, it’s absurd. I’d sooner believe a genie could come out of a lamp than a man could grow a head of
hair overnight.’

  Callan fixed her with an eyebrow raised stare. ‘Patience? Remember that? We talked about it not that long ago?’

  Josie dropped her head into her hands and shook her head back and forth. ‘Fine. Patience mode engaged. Continue.’

  ‘So, he woke to find hair that he’d not previously had but wished he’d had. A hope. A dream come true. The first of three.’

  Josie lifted her head at Callan’s serious tone, at the sombre atmosphere that had thickened around the small group.

  ‘The shepherd went about his business that day. Checked on his flock. Did whatever else shepherds do.’

  ‘City boy.’ Will laughed, his guffaw ending as quickly as it started, like he didn’t want to miss a word of the story.

  ‘Then he went to the local pub for an ale, the same pub that stands today, and the publican, who was notoriously tight-fisted, decided that in the spirit of Christmas he would shout those who’d braved the thundering rain to come to the pub. Not just one drink, mind. But for the rest of the night.’

  ‘Can you imagine Brendon doing that?’ Lauren elbowed Will. ‘He’ll give the odd freebie, even a bottle of wine to newcomers, if he likes them enough. But a whole night of free drinks? Never in a million years.’

  Callan brought his finger to his lips, silencing Lauren, who mouthed ‘sorry’.

  ‘Earlier that day the farmer had wished he had more money so that he could buy more than one drink. Coincidence? We think not. Then, that night his most closely held hope came true. The shepherd, who had a thing for a local lass, found himself standing under the mistletoe, right at the exact time she did. Tradition being tradition …’

  Josie held her hand up. ‘Was this the same tradition the town’s got going now?’

  Callan nodded his head by way of an answer. ‘Tradition being tradition, they kissed. Not just any kiss, mind. This was the kiss … of true love.’

  Will and Lauren clapped their hands together, closed their eyes and went into a swoon. ‘True love,’ they repeated, then collapsed against each other.

  Josie searched for a sign that they were mocking the tale, or that it was all a big joke, but when they opened their eyes again they were as serious as Callan’s.

  ‘If we see the sunset tonight, Daddy, does that mean I’ll find true love?’ Mia shuffled into Callan’s lap and wrapped his arms around her for extra warmth. ‘Will I meet my prince?’

  Callan dropped a kiss on her head. ‘I hope not, my princess. You’re too young to be spirited away by a prince on horseback.’

  ‘Silly, Daddy. He’ll have a car, not a horse. It’s not the olden days, you know.’ Mia rolled her eyes and clucked her tongue, sending the group into a fit of laughter.

  Their laughter became a roar when she put her hands on her hips and let out a grumpy ‘what?’.

  ‘So what you’re saying is that if we see the sun dip below the horizon in the middle of those two hills over there then everyone here is going to get a full head of hair, free drinks at the pub, and then meet their true love?’ Josie set her glass down at her side then stretched out on the blanket, her eyes on the horizon, which the sun was minutes away from caressing with the last of its rays.

  Lauren shrugged. ‘We’re not entirely sure. It hasn’t happened again in living memory, that we know of. According to the oldest folk in the village, it’s always been cloudy or raining on the day that the sun’s due to set in the middle of the hills. This is the first time in ninety-seven years, at least, that there’s been any real point in traipsing up here.’

  Callan brought Mia into a tighter cuddle as a visible shiver rattled through her little body. ‘I’ve heard it’s not always the same miracles. Apart from the true love bit. That always happens. Apparently one woman woke up the next day to find an uncle she didn’t know she had had left her a great deal of money, then one of her onions won first prize at a fair, then she fell in love.’

  ‘And don’t forget that man whose mother-in-law who lived with them, she passed away, then she left the family money, then he and his wife fell in love all over again.’ Will stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘Luckiest bugger out of the lot, I reckon.’

  Lauren playfully slapped the back of his head. ‘Cheeky beggar.’

  Will planted a kiss on her cheek. ‘Joking. I’m a lucky man. Your mother makes the best roast. That, and she made the most beautiful woman in the world.’

  ‘Forgiven.’ Lauren returned his kiss. ‘I guess that means you don’t care if the setting sun doesn’t grant you the three things you hope for most?’

  ‘Nope. I’m not interested. I’m here for the spectacle, not the reward.’

  ‘Good. Hopefully the great “they” are listening and your desire to not be part of this has narrowed the field by one.’ Lauren turned her attention back to the sun. ‘What would you want to have happen, Josie?’

  Josie pondered the question. What did she want? What did she need? Oodles of money would have been the obvious answer, but she wasn’t driven by material things. As long as she had enough to eat, a roof over her head, and enough money to treat herself once in a while, she was happy.

  The only thing she’d long hoped for, dreamed of, was a close-knit family, and that was never going to happen. She’d learned that the hard way by wishing for her mother to return night after night, for months, and then years. Her wish remained unfulfilled, replaced by the belief that it was better to keep to yourself than to hope for others to bring you wholeness, happiness, or love.

  ‘You know, I’m good.’ Josie forced a smile. ‘I’m fine. Which I guess means the field of those who could have lady luck bestowed upon them just narrowed again.’

  Lauren pressed her hands together and rubbed them back and forth. ‘The odds are getting better with every second.’

  A hush fell upon the crowd as the sun hit the horizon, and began to drop lower and lower, until there was nothing but a faint glow along the edges of the valley as the top curve of the sun touched the place where the two hillsides appeared to end in a v–shape, before disappearing out of sight for another day.

  Lights flickered over the hillside as mobile phones and torches were turned on, and the chatter returned, though not quite so loud. The air of expectation, of hope, filled the air.

  ‘Anyone feel any different?’ Josie turned to Callan, Will and Lauren.

  ‘Nope.’ Will shook his head.

  Lauren shrugged. ‘Same as usual, unfortunately.’

  Callan scratched his bare chin. ‘I’m itchy here. Must be about to sprout a full beard.’

  ‘Idiot.’ Will reached round and gave him a small shove. ‘You’re the only man I know who can grow a full beard within a week.’

  ‘In that case, I’m the same as usual. No miracles here.’

  Lauren pushed herself up with a groan and rubbed her backside. ‘All that sitting on uncomfortable ground for what? Nothing. Will? Time to head home before my behind freezes off?’

  ‘Absolutely. We can’t have that. I’m far too fond of it.’ Will tossed their rubbish into the picnic basket then picked it and the blanket up. ‘See you guys at the pub later?’

  ‘I wish I could.’ Callan smoothed back a stray piece of Mia’s hair. ‘But there’s this one to think about.’

  Josie mentally wired her jaw shut so it wouldn’t fall open from the shock of Callan’s readiness to go out. When had spontaneity been his thing?

  Lauren pulled out her mobile and began to tap. Seconds later her phone beeped a reply. ‘Mum can take care of her. Said it would be her pleasure.’

  Callan enveloped Mia’s cheeks in his hands. ‘Would that be okay with you, Mia? Would you mind if Lauren’s mum came over to our house to hang out with you?’

  ‘Will she bring treats?’ Mia’s brows drew together in thought. ‘Because I do like treats. Especially sweets and crisps.’

  Lauren took Mia’s hand and shook it in promise. ‘She will bring many. She keeps a stash at home for when I come round, because I’m quite the fan of trea
ts myself.’

  One baby-toothed grin and a happy wriggle later, and they had their answer.

  They picked their way carefully back down the hill. Josie used the silence to ponder the questions that her mind had thrown up.

  Callan had wished to go to the pub, but didn’t think he could.

  Then just like that, with help from Lauren, his wish had come true.

  Did that mean the sunset legend was more than just a fanciful tale, and that Callan was the one being granted wishes?

  And if so, what other hopes or dreams did he have hidden away that he’d like to see fulfilled?

  A shiver of delight skittled down Josie’s spine as a myriad of possibilities arose.

  Riches. Happiness. Success.

  All things Callan deserved after the trauma of the last year. All things she’d be happy to see him receive.

  Especially the last part of the legend. Last, but never least, and apparently guaranteed …

  Love.

  Chapter 14

  A wave of heat hit Callan as he pushed open the door to the pub and held it open for Lauren, Will and Josie. The place was heaving, and combined with the roaring fire that Brendon started first thing in the morning, The Squeaky Wheel was a furnace. A quick glance inside saw as much bare flesh being flashed around as you’d see at a beach in summer.

  Josie fanned herself as she walked past. ‘Thank God for layers.’

  He followed her in, watching as she divested herself of her coat, scarf, hat, gloves and jumper before they’d made it to the bar, revealing a basic grey T-shirt tucked into belted skinny jeans. Basic … but somehow attractive, bordering on alluring in its simplicity.