by KT King
Minnie tried to take Linnet’s hand again, but it was to no avail. “I only want you to be happy, Linnet, that’s all I want,” Minnie protested.
Linnet shook her head. “No! What you want is a perfect girlfriend who skips about pretending life’s one long tea party! Well, I’m not perfect and I never will be, so why don’t you just stop trying to fix me and leave me the hell alone?”
“But, Linnet, I…” Minnie couldn’t finish her sentence because Linnet began to yell at her like a banshee.
“Get out! Get out of my house! Get out of my life and take your perfect little tits and arse with you! P**s off! Just f*ck off!”
With that, Linnet pushed Minnie out of the kitchen and slammed the door on her!
Minnie felt as if all she wanted to do was go home and cry. But she knew that Alice needed her right now. She took a deep breath, held back the tears and composed herself. She found Alice, who was dressed in her best outfit and putting on her sparkly shoes. Minnie could see that Alice had been crying and she helped her with the buckle.
“You look like a princess!” Minnie told her and gave her a hug. “You’re going to blow them away tonight!”
“Is Mummy coming?” Alice asked hopefully but she knew the answer.
Minnie shook her head. “Mummy isn’t feeling well. I’ll be there, and Lucy and Jack, and Stella will be there. Sophie is coming to watch you especially!” Alice took Minnie’s hand. “Come on! Let’s go and find Tambo and the others, and you can have a final practice at the Café!”
Next door, in the Café, Mrs B was baking her heart out, trying to get batches of hot floury scones done in time for the concert. At the grand piano the kids were practising their song and there were only a couple of hours to go before thousands of Lilly’s fans would be joyfully celebrating her life.
All day, camper vans and cars had been arriving at the park. Tents had been erected and hordes of people streamed out of the Eve Street underground station, eager to find their place at the open-air theatre. Huge television screens had been erected so that even on the other side of the park you could see the performances and the whole of Little Eden would be able to hear it.
Some, without tickets, congregated along the north walls from where they would get a free show, and some residents meant to listen from their rooftops whilst having a rather chilly barbeque and a few drinks with family and friends.
The buzz of excitement was becoming infectious, but India had more serious matters on her mind! She had decided to make the most of the hordes of spectators and had turned it into a fundraiser for the Save Little Eden campaign. She had the intention of squeezing every last penny from the crowds by the end of the evening! She had roped in Peony (who was still trying to make amends) and Vincent, Eric and Iris Sprott (who was fully recovered from her ordeal), Silvi Swan, Devlin Thomas, Tage, Sumona and all the Café staff. Even Mr T had ventured outdoors to collect money (with Cedric in tow, of course).
Stalls had been set up around the park, selling hot drinks and wondrous snacks, and as always, Fudge and Bunny had their ice-cream cart at the ready. Mrs B, along with Tosha and Tonbee, would be serving from Lilly’s retro cream tea caravan which they often used in summer when tourists flooded the Peace Park.
Mrs B was covered in flour by the end of her baking session and the Café smelt divine! “It’s such a shame Robert will miss the concert!” she lamented to Lucy, as she filled baskets full of soft warm scones. “He will be so sorry not to be there. He loved Lilly so.”
Lucy thought for a moment as she spooned clotted cream into a huge silver bucket. She pondered and a cunning plan formed in her mind!
By seven o’clock, the crowds were gathered and the bands were doing their last sound checks. Luckily, it was a clear night and the weather had suddenly turned mild for a winter’s evening. A warm wind had begun to blow - one could almost have said it was the middle of May rather than February!
And, there were some unexpected shenanigans going on at the hospital…
Johnathon distracted the policeman by calling him, on a false pretext, to reception, whilst Jack surreptitiously crept down the shiny corridor and into Robert’s room. A minute later, Cubby nodded the all clear as he pressed down on the fire door bars, and Jack fled out of the hospital pushing Robert in front of him in a wheelchair!
Once outside, Robert was so happy to feel the fresh air again. He felt really alive! And he was unbelievably happy to be so. He had awoken from his near death experience knowing that his life’s purpose was to save Little Eden and to guard the dragon portal. He knew that the next thousand years of human history would depend upon whether Little Eden was kept safe or not. He was determined never to waste another day trying to please his mother. The veil of karma had been lifted and he saw her for what she really was. He was no longer inclined to excuse her behaviour just because she was his mother. Little Eden was his destiny and he would see it through no matter what. He was no longer afraid of death. He had seen Heaven and he was humbled to the core by his existence. He knew that his life on Earth was just one moment in time and he had to use it wisely.
As Jack sped across the car park and out onto the street the two boys felt seventeen years old again as they laughed at the ridiculousness of their situation!
Further up the road, hidden around the corner, Stella opened the back of Jack’s van and helped Robert climb in. Jack folded up the chair and quickly closed the doors behind them. “Drive!” Jack shouted to Minnie. They shot down the street, reaching the crossroads just as the traffic lights turned to amber, but without hesitating, Minnie whipped the steering wheel round and took a sharp left. In no time, they sped through Queen’s Gate and into the sanctuary of Little Eden.
Back at the hospital, Johnathon lay in the bed, taking Robert’s place. In the low light of the room, both having dark hair and being about the same height, to the casual observer - like the policeman outside the door - there was no reason to suspect that it wasn’t Robert peacefully asleep!
The friends arrived just in time to hear Tambo and Alice’s band, Otherworld, open the concert and perform their song, A Thousand Years*. Robert was wheeled backstage and his heart sang at the sight of so many residents, loyal fans of Lilly’s and close friends, who were all gathered together in Little Eden that night. Sophie came and placed her hand on his shoulder and smiling up at her he took her hand in his and kissed it affectionately.
“Look at them all!” she smiled. “All here because they loved Lilly!”
Alice, Joshua, Tambo and Elijah wowed the crowds with their amazing performance and the applause went on nearly as long as the song had done! Alice rushed off the stage and into Minnie’s arms. “I wish we could go and do another one right away!” she said, jumping up and down. Lucy high-fived Tambo and Iris hugged Elijah. Adela Huggins swung Joshua around in her arms. They were beaming with pride at the talent and hard work of their children and had been really surprised how good they actually were!
“I think I had better take your musical talent more seriously now!” Iris admitted to Elijah. “You can have a new guitar for your birthday, no matter what your pa says, to be sure!”
“And, can I have a bigger drum kit?” Joshua asked his mother. Adela smiled. “We’ll see,” was her reply. She winked at Lancelot, who lifted Joshua onto his shoulders so that he could see the next band playing on the stage.
Ginger came up to congratulate the kids and to hurry Tambo into his gospel choir outfit. Alice sadly watched Tambo walk away and she felt very alone all of a sudden. “I wish Mummy was here,” Alice said, looking around hopefully, but there was no sign of Linnet. Then, she caught sight of Robert, who was positioned, in his chair, just behind one of the backstage pillars and she screamed with delight! She ran up to him and jumped onto his lap.
Robert held her tightly and kissed her cheek. “We are one step closer to saving Little Eden,” he told her. “I’ll make sure it’ll
be here for another thousand years.”
Sophie, reluctantly, headed back to Daisy Place, to get out of the crowds and the noise. She felt drained to her bones. She wanted to sleep for a week and all of her body ached from head to toe. Her heart was filled with sadness that she could not stay for the rest of the concert and be with her friends. But, unexpectedly, Stella and Mr T caught up to her, just as she turned onto Eve Street.
“You can’t be alone tonight!” Stella told her. “Come, we’ll sit on the porch swing together and listen to the rest of the concert.”
Cedric yelped in agreement. Sophie smiled as she picked him up and cuddled him. “I think Aunt Lil would have been proud of the children tonight,” she said to them both. “We can’t lose Little Eden, we just can’t.” She looked across the street at the Bookshop, tears welling up in her eyes. “We mustn’t let anyone take this away from us.”
The concert continued for the next two hours and it was a great success! Not least because India had managed to raise another few thousand pounds. She shook the collecting bucket she was holding and smiled at Robert. “We are going to make it!” she told him. “Even if it takes me every day for the next two years - I will find the money!”
Robert smiled sadly and wished he could believe her.
“There’s always the possibility of Uncle Frith!” Lucy reminded them.
“And the buried treasure!” Jack interjected.
“That’s if the inquest…” Lancelot was about to remind him that they were not out of the woods just yet, but Adela stopped him with a (and I might say, dear readers, long overdue), kiss!
Back up on the roof of Daisy Place, Sophie had fallen asleep on the porch swing, under the patio heater, wrapped up in blankets. Stella and Mr T sat next to her and Cedric had curled up on her lap, keeping her legs nice and toasty. All of a sudden, she awoke to feel the presence of her Aunt Lilly all around her. She was overwhelmed by a tingly sensation and the feeling of deep inner comfort, that only an angel can bring. She looked at Stella and Mr T, and she sighed. The future seemed still so uncertain and so dangerous. She knew the war for the dragon portal had only just begun.
How she longed for Aunt Lilly to walk through the conservatory doors right now, carrying a cup of tea and humming a tune as she always used to do. Please, Aunt Lil, Sophie wished, Come back to life and tell me this has all just been a bad dream.
But, of course, she could not.
Stella also felt Lilly’s presence and she patted Sophie’s arm whispering, “Listen, my darling”.
On the night air, the dulcet tones of Ginger and the gospel choir floated over Little Eden. As Sophie looked up at Venus, hanging bright in the night sky above, she heard her aunt’s voice in her mind whispering, ‘No matter what happens, never give up, never give in!’
A white dove came to perch on the chimney across the way and Sophie saw Lilly’s shining apparition, smiling at her from the doorway, as they listened to the last song of the evening…
From a distance
The world looks blue and green
And the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance
The ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight.
From a distance
There is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It’s the voice of hope
It’s the voice of peace
It’s the voice of every man.
God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us
From a distance…*
The End
Recipes
Hello, dear readers,
KT asked me to pop a handful of recipes in the back of the book, so that you can nibble as you read! I’ve chosen some of my easiest tasty treats for you to try at home.
Hoping you enjoy them, my loves,
Mrs B x
Mrs B’s top tips for a great bake…
When I go shopping, my loves, I always try to buy what I need less than a couple of days in advance. As my mother used to say to me, ‘Patricia, she’d say, that what’s fresh, tastes the best!’ But you can use whatever you have in the cupboard, as long as it’s not gone stale, and it’ll still turn out just fine!
I know not everyone can afford Organic and Fair Trade products, but if you can manage it, you will be helping build a web of love and care around the world. When I’m baking, I always do it with love. I thank the animals, for giving up their goodness to feed us, and everyone who helped get the ingredients from the fields to my table. Baking always reminds me that we all depend on each other in some way or another! Finally, I always make a wish, as I pop it in the oven, that whosoever eats it, will feel a little happier for having enjoyed a treat that day.
Exact measurements are the key to a good bake, so make sure you have some scales, measuring spoons, and a measuring jug. Your oven might not be exactly like mine, so experiment a little to find out if your oven bakes quicker or slower. You might need to turn it up or down 10 degrees, or take things out a few minutes sooner or later.
If you sieve your flour at least twice, this will get lots of air into it and create a lighter bake; and fresh free range eggs will add a richer taste. When making anything spongy, leave your butter and eggs out of the fridge, so that they are at room temperature when you start.
To make my recipes you’ll need: a wooden spoon, a spatula, a teaspoon and a tablespoon, (or measuring spoons) a sieve, a big mixing bowl, a jug and a cooling rack (you can use the top of a grill pan). You’ll also need a cake tin, a shallow baking tray for brownies, a muffin tin and muffin cases, a round pastry cutter, some baking parchment and have a skewer or clean knitting needle handy, so that you can check if things are done in the middle!
Oh, and this is a tip I learnt at school; always have a bowl of hot soapy water ready from the start, so that if things get sticky, it’s easy to wash it off as you go along.
I’d love to see your bakes! Pop a photo of your creation on our Facebook group, Little Eden, and share your bakes with other readers and with us at Daisy Place! I hope you enjoy baking, my loves. Never be afraid to try something new!
For more recipes from Book One come and visit us at ktkingbooks.wordpress.com
Arval Bread
Arval Bread
Arval Bread was traditionally presented to guests at funerals in England and is given out at Lilly’s wake in Chapter 4. It can vary from region to region, and is often more like cake than bread. At the Café we always use this recipe, which is rather like the Welsh Bara Brith cake. I was given this recipe by my father’s best friend Peter Johnson, who came from North Wales.
If you like fruit cake you’ll love this one, as it’s moist without being dense, and fruity without being boozy. This is a one bowl recipe so it’s easy peasy, my loves.
You’ll need to start it the day before you want to bake and eat it, but don’t let that put you off. This is only because we soak the fruit in tea for 24 hours. You can soak it for less time if you are in a hurry, but the longer the better.
Oven: 170 C (fan) gas
Time: 1 ½ hours
Tin: Loaf tin - 20cm long, 12cm wide, 9cm deep (2lb) Grease and line with baking parchment. If you don’t have a loaf tin you can make a round or square cake instead.
Ingredients:
455g dried mixed fruit (you can include peel, it’ll make for a more piquant taste)
½ pint black tea (I like to use Lady Grey tea, but everyday tea is fine too)
Pop the fruit into a bowl or jug and pour over the hot tea. Soak the fruit in the tea over night or for 24 hours. Do not put in the fridge, just cover and leave on the side.
455g white self-raising flour
255g dark or light brown sugar
1 - 2 large eggs (beaten)
1 ta
blespoon golden syrup
2 teaspoons mixed spice
Method:
Sieve the flour (twice) into a large bowl. Add the other ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until all combined together. If the mixture is a little stiff, add a splash more tea until smoother.
Pour your mixture into your lined tin and make sure it is evenly distributed.
Bake at 170 degrees C for 1 hour 30 minutes, but check with a skewer or knitting needle at about 1 hour 20 minutes; if it comes out clean it is done. The top of the cake will be risen and cracked. Only take it out of the oven when the skewer comes out clean.
Serve whilst still warm with custard or cream. It is delicious served cold too, with butter or just on its own.
It’ll keep for at least a week in an air tight container and in the freezer for at least a month. I often cut it up into slices to freeze, so that we can take out smaller amounts when we need them, and they defrost quicker too!
Carrot Cake and Ginger Cookie Muffins
Stella’s Carrot Cake and Ginger Cookie Muffins
In Chapter 8 Stella offers Robert one of her all-time favourite bakes; carrot cake and ginger cookie muffins. This recipe was given to me by a dear friend, David Sparke, who likes to experiment with baking and often adds his own little twists!
I use Lucy’s Ginger Snap biscuits (see recipe) but if you don’t have any of these or don’t have time to make them as well, you can use any ginger biscuits you have in.
Oven: 170 C (fan) gas
Time: 25 minutes
Tin: 12 muffin tin
Quantity: 12 large muffins
Ingredients:
