The Fresh Start Bakery

Jen passed the final box to Cath at the top of the attic stairs. ‘Last one,’ she said, ‘Time for a cuppa?’

‘Definitely,’ said Cath, ‘and one of those scones you’re pretending you didn’t bring with you, but I can smell from up here.’

‘I was waiting until we’d earned a treat,’ Jen laughed, ‘I’ll go and get them, you put the kettle on.’

She was happy to be helping her old friends Cath and Stu move into their new house. They’d chosen a picturesque town an hour up the motorway from where Jen lived. She was taking a few days' break from work and, if she was honest, from Paul, too.

She didn’t hate her managerial position at a commercial bakery, but she missed the days when she’d worked for a smaller company as an artisan baker, producing goods with her own hands and developing new recipes. The increased pay was welcome, but she felt she’d somewhat sold her soul.

Rummaging in her bag for the homemade scones, she remembered the conversation she’d had with Paul last night. ‘I’ve been thinking I might go it alone and start my own small bakery, perhaps supply a few local places. It’s something I've always longed to do, and it feels like the time is right.’

‘Jen that’s madness!’ he said, ‘You’d be taking a huge risk financially, you’d never achieve the level of income you have now. Let’s face it, you're hardly a young woman anymore. You need stability, not flights of fancy.’

‘Well, that’s me put firmly in my place,’ Jen said, trying not to let indignation seep into her words.

She’d gone on to broach the other subject that had been playing on her mind of late.

‘I was also thinking we could talk about moving our relationship forward. We’ve been together for three years and it might be nice to consider sharing a home.’ After all, as he had pointed out, they weren’t getting any younger.

‘I don’t see we need to change anything dear, we’re happy as we are, aren’t we? Let’s not change what works perfectly well.’

Jen thought people needed to progress to avoid stagnating in life, but she’d kept her thoughts to herself, unpleasantly aware her needs didn’t seem to be a priority to Paul.

#

The following Saturday morning, she and Cath strolled along the towpath. ‘It’s nice to have you over without asking you to help unpack boxes,’ said Cath.

‘It’s such a pretty town,’ said Jen, ‘I feel quite envious of you escaping to a new life in these beautiful surroundings. Just being here is cheering me up.’

‘Oh?’ said Cath, ‘I didn’t realise you needed to be cheered up, what's bothering you?’ She linked her arm through Jen’s.

‘I didn’t want to mention it to you and Stu last week and spoil the mood, but I was hoping Paul would be supportive of my ambition to open my own bakery and he's not, he thinks it’s stupid and risky. He also has no interest in moving in together. I’ve come to see he doesn’t like things to change.’

‘Does he have to approve?’ asked Cath, ‘Couldn’t you do it anyway, the bakery part? You’ve talked about it for such a long time, it’s clearly something you would love to do.’

‘Yes, I could, and the idea has been playing on my mind. I’ve got some money from my aunt Lucy who died last year. I could use it to support myself while I set up my bakery. Aunt Lucy was something of a go-getter in her day so I’m sure she would approve,’ Jen smiled remembering her beloved old aunt’s enthusiasm for life.

‘I say go for it,’ said Cath, ‘you could make a real success of it and if you don’t do it nothing changes. It could be wonderful.’

The towpath opened out onto a marina with a lively market in full swing. They browsed the stalls for a while, enjoying the live music and festival atmosphere before heading back to Cath’s for a cup of tea and Jen’s homemade chocolate fudge cake.

#

Jen began to pay particular attention to her relationship with Paul. She observed she fitted in around his work and hobbies and her interests came second. Once she started to notice, she saw it in everything they did. It wasn’t just big life decisions but also small things like the choice of cookies they had with their coffee. He knew she couldn’t stand gingernuts, but they were his favourites, it didn’t cross his mind to buy something they both liked.

He always assumed she would drive if they went out so he could have an alcoholic drink, but she had to stick to soda and didn’t get to enjoy a nice glass of red with her meal. She didn’t want to nitpick, but she couldn’t help thinking how one-sided the relationship was.

She invited him to visit Cath and Stu so he could see their charming new home and they could all go out for lunch together; there was a pub on the river serving heavenly meals according to Cath. Paul said he fancied a round of golf, so she went alone.

She’d grown fond of the little town which boasted interesting shops, good places to eat and lots of park and woodland areas to explore. Her favourite part was the river with its boat life and families of ducks going about their business. It was quite expensive though, when Cath let slip how much they’d paid for their house Jen had tried not to gasp.

She spent hours online looking for potential premises for her bakery but there was nothing suitable available. She was disheartened when she was still searching a month later. Nothing appeared to be going her way and she wondered if she was heading in the wrong direction.

#

Jen and Cath were strolling along the towpath on the walk they now enjoyed most weeks. They planned to reach the market and have a coffee at one of the stalls. When they arrived, Cath began talking to a man selling houseplants. Jen wandered over to the row of moored narrowboats. Many sold handmade goods at the market directly from their boats. She struck up a conversation with a lady selling artwork.

On the drive home, she mulled over the conversation she’d had with the boat owner. She’d seen an alternative to renting an expensive shop and it would mean she could live where she worked. The liveaboard lifestyle seemed idyllic in the sunshine and she’d asked how it was the rest of the year when it wasn’t as warm and welcoming. She’d learned boats moored at the marina had a constant supply of power and water. They had wood-burning stoves and were cosy and warm even when the river froze over. Jen considered the logistics of fitting a professional oven for baking.

The third time she visited the marina, she went alone on a day when the market wasn’t on so she would see the place in its natural state. It was an overcast day with a chill coming off the water and the threat of rain in the air. Rather than walking the towpath, she parked at the marina carpark noting she wouldn’t need to give up her car if she was to embark upon this mad idea. Except the more she investigated it, the less mad it seemed. It was beginning to feel like something she positively wanted to do.

#

Paul arrived at her flat with his usual promptness and pecked her cheek before switching the television on to watch the golf. ‘I have some big news to tell you,’ she said. ‘I’ve bought a boat, a barge.’

‘You’ve what?’ Paul spluttered. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Very. I’ve bought a beautiful spacious boat and a mooring at a lovely marina in Cath and Stu’s new town. I suppose it’s my new town too.’

‘Jen this is insane behaviour, what on earth possessed you?’

‘It was the idea I could live aboard my own home and run a business while enjoying a relaxed lifestyle in the fresh air. The community is so friendly and interesting, one lady even runs a yoga class from her boat. You should see it in the evening, there are twinkling lights everywhere, it’s so beautiful. And the boat itself…’

‘I've heard enough,’ said Paul, ‘Is it too late to get your money back, are you fully committed financially?’

‘I’m fully committed to this new venture and adventure,’ said Jen. ‘I can hear you don’t approve but won’t you come and see it?’

‘I see very little point,’ he said, his face closing down.

‘I thought you might say that,’ said Jen.

Paul went home soon afterward, no doubt encouraged by the sour atmosphere. She was unsurprised to realise that any sadness she felt soon dispersed and her residual feeling was one of relief.

#

The next few weeks were a blur as she packed up her rented flat, had the barge fitted with the baking equipment she would need, and moved her belongings in. She’d been right to buy a wider barge rather than a slimline narrowboat because she was able to fit most of her furniture on board. It had however been cathartic to get rid of a lot of clutter she’d been holding on to and she felt lighter and more positive than she had for years.

Cath and Stu came over and Stu talked her through the engine and sanitary system, and she was pleased to find it was all straightforward. ‘It’s gorgeous!’ said Cath, ‘you’ve made it so pretty and homely.’

Jen spent a thoroughly enjoyable fortnight planning and practicing recipes and became popular when she asked the liveaboard community to try her creations.

When the day came to set her products out at the open end of her boat, Jen did a roaring trade. She loved chatting with her customers and handing over buns, cakes and loaves wrapped in paper and tied neatly with string. The popularity of the market combined with the inviting aroma of fresh bread provided her with plenty of business. She even talked to a local shopkeeper about supplying a coffee shop on the high street. Throughout the day many of her customers mentioned how much they loved the name she’d had painted on a wooden sign, and which now hung above her display of baked goods. She loved it too and it seemed perfect for her new life – The Fresh Start Bakery.

The End