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“You too, Mr Wickham. And if you’d like to join our mailing list, I’ll keep you updated with property listings as and when they come in, alright?” Ms Jenkins smiles. “All the best, Mr Wickham.”
Outside, I open the car door and I’m about to get in when I remember something. Molly loves flowers. She said something at the fair about having all those flowers in her house. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful,” she said. And Ernie told me to tell Molly how I feel. I can still do that without seeing her. I can just give her something. Something beautiful so that she will know no matter where I am, or what the future holds for us, she will have a place in my heart. I close the car door and head off down the street to Blossoms in Blooms.
The door to the florist rings a string of little bells when I push it open. The scent of the various blooms and buds hits me with a floral fragrance that is almost overpowering in the confines of the little store. Buckets and vases containing stems and bunches of every shade are arranged on shelves on either side and the whole back wall behind a counter. Rolls of satin ribbons and presentation bows in every color are stacked on poles beside the till. A pink beaded curtain masks a narrow doorway that’s only partially visible behind buckets of flowers. I’m overwhelmed by the variety of petals and leaves; mesmerized by the colors and smells.
“Hello there.” A voice calls out. “How can I help?” The beaded curtain jingles and rattles as Lydia steps through. “Hey, Cam!” She stops for a moment then scoots around the counter to hug me. “What a lovely surprise!” she says beaming. “I thought you had skipped town already.”
“Hi, Lydia. I’m actually on my way, um. Um. But…” I think for a minute about what I want to say. “I want to get Molly something. And I thought maybe she would like some flowers.”
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.” Lydia claps her hands together and begins wandering around her store. Her elegant fingers tap her pink lipsticked lips. “Do you have something in mind?”
“Well, something pretty.” I point to a bucket of white daisies with yellow centers. “Like those, maybe?”
“Gorgeous. That’s a good start. Can I suggest peonies?” Lydia reaches up to a flower with luxuriant pale pink petals. “And perhaps sweet peas? They have a lovely light fragrance…”
“Lydia.” I feel out of my depth. I want to give Molly everything in the store. My head is beginning to swim. “I think you know what Molly would like, so I’m going to leave it completely up to you.”
“I understand.”,” Lydia says as she walks to the counter leaving her arm-full of flowers in a bucket. “It’s a shame you missed the battle yesterday. And the fireworks. Molly said you had a callout. Nothing too serious, I hope.”
“Well. It was, yes. The flour mill, out past Waverly. It was pretty serious, but no one was hurt. The building was destroyed. We’re not sure of the causes yet. There’ll be an investigation.”
“Oh my! That’s a tragedy.”
“Yes. And I missed out on the main event. I was looking forward to the battle re-enactment. I guess I’ll have to wait until next year.”
“Oh well. Yes. Next year. I’m sure the battle will happen again. It’s fun. People enjoy it. The Spring Fair is certainly an institution in Oak River.”
“I realize that. It was an honor to be a part of it in a small way.”
“Small way? Cam. Don’t be so modest. Your role as fire department representative was vital to the event.”
“I was happy to be able to offer my services, ma’am.” I remember how Dex twisted my arm to get me to agree. “I’ve got to be honest. At the start, I was kind of pushed into it. But I had the best time. Really. Meeting you and Molly and, you know…”
“Well, as Molly’s best friend, can I say that it was lovely to see her so happy? I mean you two really hit it off, didn’t you?”
“Hit it off? Yes. I would say that was correct.”
“You will be missed, Mr Wickham.” Lydia smiles kindly. Her eyes twinkle, then she says brightly, “Would you like to write a card to go with the bouquet and I’ll make sure it’s delivered to Molly’s home this afternoon.”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
Lydia shows me a selection of greeting cards. I choose one with a simple daisy design and open it. Lydia hands me a pen. The small white square of card shouts at me to write something. I hesitate.
For Molly, with all the love in my heart. From Cam x
Chapter 17
Molly
Cam’s gone. I didn’t want to say goodbye, but I almost ran home to see him before he left today. But what would be the point of that? He was always going to go. His time in Oak River was only temporary. These things I know. But my heart still aches as if there’s no connection with my brain and I can’t make it understand. It feels like the end although nothing really began.
I walk home the long way round, through the formal gardens which are beautifully in full spring bloom. Cherry blossom cascades, dropping tiny petals like wedding confetti in the breeze. I stop and bend down to inhale the scent of the blue and white hyacinths, and bright yellow jonquils and daffodils. Just gorgeous. I’m in no hurry to get home. I greet people on the way down the street to the river. I pass the garden center, which is closed now, and continue, listening to the sounds of water rushing past behind the trees. I walk on past Westie’s Quality Motors but stop at the padlocked gates. This was where I first met Cam. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was only a few weeks. I was so annoyed with him. And the fire that had blown itself out. I laugh at myself now.
I push my hands deep into my coat pockets and keep walking. It’ll be strange not to have Cam as a neighbor at number four. I wonder who will move in next. Maybe it’ll be another hot firefighter. I keep walking, down the road, around the corner to the spot where I asked him to come for a walk with me and Sinatra. I was so miffed when he declined. He looked as if he wanted to and then didn’t. Men are so complicated.
It’s no wonder that I’m single. And happily so. Gosh. Imagine if Cam had decided to stay. I might be in a position to change my perfect life. I feel as if I have sidestepped a big old emotional mess. I’m actually lucky that he isn’t here. I‘d be all anxious around his house. Wondering if he was home. Thinking that maybe I could call round to say hi and then feeling all weird about that. And wanting to kiss him. And wanting him to kiss me. Thank goodness I don’t have to deal with that whole debacle. I shake off any intimate thoughts about my hunky ex-neighbor firefighter and keep walking.
I pass Ernie’s house. Then I think about stopping by. I haven’t had a chance to properly congratulate him and Sinatra on their performance. It’s a nice evening, maybe I’ll take Sinatra out for a walk. I turn onto the path in Ernie’s front yard, but it’s not until I’m past the hedges to the back gate that I notice something different about the place.
