The Cosy Christmas Teashop: Cakes, castles and wedding bells – the perfect feel good romance. Caroline Roberts
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they did all take pride in their castle work. They were a good team. And they had become to feel like family to Ellie.
‘Right, well then, there’s still the day-to-day work to get on with; the teashop, the castle tours, the shop, and keeping our regular visitors happy. I need to get across to the farm, to see how that’s all going too, so thanks everyone. Just call my mobile if you need me, and if any further support or advice is required throughout this week, just shout.’ Joe stated. ‘Right, well if there’s no more questions or comments, then it looks like we’ve all got a busy week ahead. So let’s crack on with it, then.’
As the room emptied a small sigh escaped Ellie’s lips. Yes, she’d been doing this for five years now, and the tearooms were becoming second nature, but a big, demanding wedding was still rather daunting.
Irene had stayed in the teashop kitchens baking her daily scone selection, whilst the meeting was on. There was a delicious smell as Ellie and Doris walked back in; sweet, warm and doughy, and a tray of cherry and almond scones stood cooling on a rack.
‘Cup of tea, ladies?’ she asked.
Was that woman a mind reader? ‘Oh yes, that’s just what I need. Thanks, Irene.’ And I might just have to split one of those scones, with a generous dollop of butter. Anyone fancy sharing a half?’
‘Yes, please.’ Doris had no fear of expanding waistlines. No point baking all these lovely goodies if you’re too afraid to eat them, she’d often mutter.
Five minutes later, Ellie was sipping her tea whilst preparing the ingredients for a batch of salted caramel cookies – a new addition to her range. Ellie liked to shake things up every now and again, and they’d been going down a treat with the customers; all chewy toffee with a crunchy, crumbly edge.
Irene had already baked a tea loaf and a chocolate cake to go on the counter display. Ellie would do a couple of lemon drizzles next too. They were expecting a minibus trip from the old people’s home in Kirkton for morning coffee at 11 a.m., so it was going to be a fairly busy day.
The supplies delivery was due in shortly too; her fruit juices, fresh salad stuff, vegetables, sliced bread for toasties, milk and more. The teashop days just seemed to flow. There was always something to keep them active.
Ellie also wanted to make a couple of batches of vanilla cupcakes ready to ice. It was still summery out there, early September and the sun was shining today, so she’d decorate one half with a swirl of butter icing, a chocolate flake and some hundreds and thousands, so they looked like the top of a 99 ice-cream cone. For the rest she’d add some soft-pink colouring to the frosting and scatter the tops with pretty sugar icing flowers. She liked to make seasonal changes to the food on offer so her regulars didn’t get bored with the same old selection, and it kept it fun for her cooking too. She felt so much more experienced now, but she still loved her baking. And, seeing the customers’ faces light up as they tucked in to one of her creations, still gave her a buzz and made it all worthwhile. She hoped to goodness she’d see a look of delight on Bridezilla’s face at some point (hopefully several!) over the weekend.
But, there were so many things that might go wrong … Ellie felt a bit shaky. Normally, she was pretty calm about her up-and-coming wedding events. Over the past four years the castle had hosted over forty weddings, and she had grown into the role of wedding coordinator. She had really begun to enjoy it, trying her utmost to make the wedding couples and their families’ days as special and unique as they wanted. They’d hosted a medieval banquet where all the guests dressed up, and they’d hired in a huge hog roast, they’d had a funfair wedding with clowns, stalls and fair rides, they’d even had a Strictly Come Dancing themed event with plenty of sequins, scooping necklines, and a ballroom-inspired reception. Yes, sometimes there were minor hiccups, but nothing Ellie wasn’t able to overcome with the help of the castle staff and Joe.
But there had been so many twists and turns on the lead up to this particular wedding, not to mention the tears and tantrums already! Ellie was catering for over 200 people with a ‘buffet to die for’ – Bridezilla’s words. Often they contracted out the catering, especially on the bigger events such as this, as it was such a lot to take on, but this time the bride had insisted, so Ellie was doing all that as well as coordinating the wedding day throughout, making sure every last request was met, and, she was certain some new requests would appear on the day too.
They really needed the income from this event. They were being paid far more than any previous wedding they had ever booked, basically as they were providing far more, with all the demands that had kept rolling in. But, if it all paid out, then Ellie and Joe might finally draw some good wages, and have enough to do up their apartment rooms, and finally get the central heating system in there working properly. There was one room in particular that Ellie wanted repainted and decorated, fingers crossed that they might be needing it soon, to make it into a nursery. She could dream still, couldn’t she? And plan a little for now, at least.
Boy, she couldn’t wait for Sunday night to come around – when the whole event would be over, the bridal party and guests all away, and she could curl up on the sofa next to Joe, with a large glass of chilled white wine.
Right Ellie, cool, calm, and collected, she reminded herself of her mantra of old. She had the castle team on her side, and several years’ experience now. She could only do her best for the wedding weekend ahead, and that would hopefully be enough to pull them all through! Go girl!
After a flurry of lunch orders, Ellie popped in to see how Irene and Doris were getting on out front in the teashop. There were still several tables occupied. Ellie waved across at a lovely old couple, who came in most weeks to share a toasted teacake and a pot of tea. She walked over to them.
‘Hello, Jim, Mavis. Are you both keeping all right?’
‘Oh yes, pet. We’re doing grand, thank you. Mavis has finally shifted that cold she had, so we’re back out and about again.’
‘That’s good. I missed seeing you last week.’
‘Lovely cup of tea, pet.’ Mavis raised her china cup with a smile.
‘I’m glad you’re enjoying it.’
‘Our Sarah is coming home for the weekend, bringing the two grandchildren.’
‘Oh, that’ll be nice for you all. When did you last see them?’
‘Over a month now, back at the start of the school holidays. They live down in Lincolnshire, so it’s quite some drive.’
‘Oh well, it’ll be lovely to all catch up.’ That reminded Ellie, she’d have to go and visit her own family soon. The Bridezilla wedding and summer season in the teashop had taken over a bit. Time seemed to rush on, and weeks went by before you knew it. Her parents had popped up one Sunday a few weeks ago, but Ellie had been so busy in the teashop that she hadn’t had long to stop and chat with them. And they’d had to get back sharp, as Ellie’s dad had an early start on a big plumbing job for a housing company in Gateshead the next morning. But they did speak on the phone every few days, and yes, after the wedding of the century was over, then she’d arrange a couple of days off with Joe and go down to Newcastle and see them.
‘Well, we’d better not keep you, pet.’ Jim brought her back to the present.
‘Lovely to see you both. Have a super time with your family. Take care.’
Doris was bustling about refilling the sugar bowls, Irene taking through a new Victoria sponge, and topping up the cupcakes on display.
‘Everything been okay here, ladies?’
‘Fine, thank you,’ Irene answered happily.
‘No problems,’ Doris added from behind the counter, ‘other than a couple of screaming kids … Now we’ve just got rid of all the big ones back to school, we’re invaded with toddlers and babies.’ She gave a grimace.
Irene just raised her eyebrows at Doris’s moaning; there was always some complaint or other.
Ellie