Read Ivy Lane: Winter: for Free Online

that I could still feel it on the roof of my mouth, but the baker had made the effort and that was what counted.
    All the cakes had been judged, prizes awarded and Toni had gone to chat with a friend over a cup of tea. All that was left to do was the clearing up. Officially the event had ended, not that anyone seemed in a hurry to leave.
    Ollie, by default, had won the boys’ cakes category, although of course he wasn’t aware of the lack of competition, and was very pleased with his chocolate selection box prize.
    Dougie won the ‘tastes better than it looks’ category, which wasn’t difficult: his offering could hardly have tasted any worse than it looked. Karen won the award for ‘best icing’ and Shazza took the prize for most unusual flavour with her dark chocolate and bacon cake, beating Mia’s marmite and fudge cupcakes by the narrowest of margins. Both of them had a sweet and salty thing going on, which should have been wrong, but they were delicious! There were winners from outside our allotment community, too: the cake with the hidden vegetable that we couldn’t fathom to save our lives contained parsnips and came from a neighbour of mine. And the novelty shape award was won by a lady who had fashioned a wellington boot out of sponge cake.
    I spotted a seat next to Gemma and made a beeline for her. She only had four weeks to go until the baby was due and while she was absolutely huge, probably uncomfortable and almost certainly nervous about the impending birth, she looked impossibly beautiful and I couldn’t help feeling proud and envious all at the same time.
    ‘Call yourself a friend,’ she said, pouting at me as I squeezed in beside her. ‘I can’t believe my ginger cake didn’t win.’
    ‘Sorry, Gem, but if it’s any consolation, it certainly was the strongest flavour of any of the entries,’ I said and sipped gratefully at my water. I had a feeling the memory of her ginger cake, not to mention the heartburn, would stay with me for days.
    ‘Anyway, not to worry,’ she grinned and pulled me in for a hug, ‘I still think you’re amazing. This must be the busiest fund-raiser Ivy Lane has ever seen.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Definitely.’ She nodded earnestly.
    I beamed back at her with delight.
    My first event – the busiest ever! I felt a lump-in-the-throat moment coming on as I glanced around at the crowded room. The community had really come together today – not just the plot holders, but people from the neighbouring area too.
    And I was part of it. James would be so proud of me. Tears pricked at my eyes and I blinked them away.
    James
.
    I’d hardly thought of him today, and whilst he would always be a part of me, it was comforting to know that I was putting the traumatic end to our marriage behind me. The old Tilly, who couldn’t see a way through the pain and sadness, had been replaced by a new Tilly, a girl with friends, a good job and a bright future. My new life was almost complete. Almost.
    I sighed happily and leaned my head on Gemma’s shoulder.

Chapter 5
    I sat up with a start. I was still in the pavilion. Gemma was still here too, but the crowds had gone. I must have dropped off. I was only twenty-nine, what was I doing nodding off to sleep in the middle of the day? In public! How mortifying!
    ‘And she’s back in the room,’ giggled Gemma. She rolled her shoulders in a circle where I’d been leaning on her and winced. ‘Am I that boring that I send you to sleep with my conversation?’
    ‘I’m so sorry; of course you’re not boring.’ I rubbed my eyes. ‘What time is it?’
    ‘Two.’ Gemma pointed to my mouth. ‘And you’re dribbling. Anyway, thank God you’re awake, I’m desperate for the loo.’ She rubbed her hand on her tummy and pushed herself up to her feet. ‘What with you on my shoulder and this one bouncing on my bladder, it hasn’t been the most relaxing thirty minutes of my life, believe me.’
    She wandered off to the loo, leaving me, still