17
Rival
‘I wish I’d never said anything.’
A few days later, and Joan was still grumbling about her drunken confession. ‘It’s put a cloud over everything. Mum’s not going to put the sign outside until the end of the season anyway, so I wasn’t going to tell you at all.’
‘I’m glad you did. It gives me time to do something about it.’
‘There’s nothing you can do.’
Grace stopped polishing the pasty oven and turned to Joan, who was on the other side of the counter, replenishing the display of chocolate bars.
‘Look. I have big city experience. I have ideas.’
‘Like what?’
Grace shook her head. ‘I don’t know, like—’
‘Exactly. You don’t know.’ The rumble of a van came from outside, making Joan turn. ‘Hold that thought. The pasties are here.’
A van with a pasty company logo pulled up outsi
