‘Okay, best get going then.’ Nick handed a box to the man then grabbed the other.
Auntie Kay pulled the door wide open for them both. ‘Send my love to Callie,’ she said. ‘Tell her I want to see the photos. Good luck with the speech. They say you should picture your audience naked. Helps with the nerves.’
‘Not a pleasant thought. You haven’t seen my Uncle Clive.’ He screwed up his face and shuddered. ‘I can’t dislodge that vision now. I may be traumatised for life. And on that note… thanks again for these, Kay.’ He turned back and gave me a big smile. ‘It was lovely to meet you at last, Sarah. You’re exactly how I imagined. Hope our paths cross again.’
I smiled and waved, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach.Calm down, Sarah. You’re only having a reaction to him because you’re now single and it’s allowed. You’re bound to be attracted to the first good-looking man who does you the courtesy of speaking to you. Especially when he’s wearing a morning suit and has eyes the colour of the ocean and… stop it.
Auntie Kay closed the door and made her way back to the counter. ‘Such a lovely young man,’ she said.
‘He seemed pleasant enough.’ I tried to sound nonchalant. I’m not sure if I pulled it off.
‘He is. Very pleasant. Very lovely. You remember Alma Sutton who lived next door to me when you were little? She was Nick’s grandma.’
‘Small world.’
‘He’s such a sensitive young man, too. He comes in every year on New Year’s Eve to pick up three bouquets of white roses and three loose stems. On New Year’s Day, he puts a bouquet on the graves of his grandma, granddad and dad and he throws the single ones into the sea off Lighthouse Point to remember each of them.’
‘That’s very sweet and thoughtful of him.’
‘He’s single, you know.’
‘Isn’t he a bit young for you?’
‘I don’t mean for me.’
I planted my hands on my hips and gave her a mock-stern expression. ‘I know exactly what you mean and I’m choosing to ignore it. I’ve already told you I’m not ready for dating and, even if I was, someone who lives four hours away wouldn’t be top of my list.’
‘You could move back home.’
‘I think I’d need a slightly stronger reason to move back home than you trying to play Cupid.’ I sighed and shook my head.
Auntie Kay didn’t retort. Instead, she fiddled with my grandma’s engagement ring, twirling it round and round on her finger. I narrowed my eyes at her. ‘Are you okay?’
She stopped twiddling and took a deep breath. ‘I said I was going to ring you tonight. It’s time to tell you why.’
My stomach flipped but not in the nice way caused by Nick earlier – more of a foreboding way. I’d assumed she was going to call to ask me about my birthday, not because she had news. And possibly bad news if this rare display of nerves was anything to go by. Thoughts of terminal illnesses swam round my mind.
‘You’re making me nervous,’ I said.
‘Give me a minute.’ She disappeared into The Outback and returned a few moments later clutching a bright red ring binder, which she handed to me.
‘What’s this?’
‘You said it would take a slightly stronger reason for you to move home than a bit of matchmaking. Well, I’ve got one. You know how I always said you’d inherit Seaside Blooms when I’m gone and Ben would get Seashell Cottage?’
‘Yes. And I always told you not to be so morbid.’Oh God! Sheisill. No!
She twiddled with her ring again. ‘I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to leave the business to you in my will. I want to give it to you now.’
‘What?’
‘I’ve had an unexpected opportunity to travel around the world with my friend Linda and I’ve decided to take it. I want to retire and I want you to become the new owner of Seaside Blooms. Pretty much immediately.’
4
‘So you’ve finally had the sense to dump that eejit?’ Clare unwrapped her scarf, slipped off her coat and handed me both. ‘Could you not have left it there? Why pack in your job as well?’ Without waiting for an answer, she marched into my bedroom.
I hung her coat up then followed her. She was stretched out on the bed, high-heeled brown suede boots dumped in the doorway. I tutted and moved them to the side.
