A Spoonful of Sugar (15 page)

After we’d finished, we took our creations out on to the lawn by the cafe, where there were chairs and tables – and more bunting, I noticed with a shudder. All the other contestants were there, along with our families, friends and just about everyone from Claddach.

Peter had a microphone and after a jaunty tune from the pipe band, he stepped up to the front of the crowd.

‘It’s been a funny sort of competition this year,’ he said.

‘You’re not wrong there,’ I muttered to Harry.

‘We’ve had mishaps and accidents and people have lost out through no fault of their own. Our finalists have worked so hard today – against all the odds.’

Harry put her arm round my shoulders, and I rested my head against hers. We had worked hard, Peter was right. But then again, I thought. Everyone had worked hard – it wasn’t the other contestants’ fault that Lizzie had caught up with them.

‘As you all know, I’m the only judge on the competition now,’ Peter was saying. ‘So I had to choose the winner myself. And in the end it was an easy decision.’

There was a murmur of excitement in the crowd.

‘The winner of
Britain Bakes
,’ Peter said. ‘Is everyone! Ronald, Amelia, June, Wilf, Harry and Esme – you’re all winners!’

Everyone cheered and Harry and I were swept up in a huge group hug with all the contestants. This was perfect – definitely the right decision and a good way to end the day.

After a few minutes hugging, I managed to peel myself away. I wanted to go and find Jamie and Clemmie and give them a cuddle too. But as I took a step away from the group, I felt a strange pop between my legs and a warm gush of liquid onto my feet.

I froze.

‘Oh bugger,’ I said to no one in particular. ‘The baby’s coming …’

CARINA™

ISBN: 978 1 474 03589 7

A Spoonful of Sugar

Copyright © 2015 Kerry Barrett

Published in Great Britain (2015)

by Carina, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

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