‘Where?’
‘The Apple and Peach.’
‘Wow! It’s supposed to be amazing there.’ The Apple and Peach was a Michelin-starred restaurant about twenty minutes up the coast.
‘Oh, it was,’ she gushed. ‘You should get Nick to take you if…’
‘If we ever get back together,’ I said when she tailed off, looking horrified at what she’d said. ‘I don’t think that’s going to happen anymore, Cathy. It’s been too long.’
‘Erm… Shall I just go to The Outback and pop the kettle on then get a box for this lot?’
I nodded. Poor Cathy looked relieved to make her escape. I fiddled absent-mindedly with a small piece of discarded ivy as I gazed at the bouquet and wondered what the bride was doing at that very moment.Hair? Nails? Make-up? Sipping champagne with a huge grin on her face?I wish it was my wedding day. I wish I was thebride and Nick was the groom. I knew he looked gorgeous in a morning suit. Closing my eyes I imagined us at the altar together.
The bell tinkled as the door opened and closed. I reluctantly opened my eyes to see a tall slim woman walking slowly towards the counter.Oh my God! It’s Blonde! She’s a potential customer. Be friendly and professional even if you have just been fantasising about marrying her boyfriend and really want to slap her about with a long stem of gladioli. Still in its metal tub, of course!
‘Morning!’ I said a little too brightly.
‘Hi,’ she said. ‘Are you Sarah?’
She knew my name?‘Erm, yes.’ My stomach clenched. Did she know about Nick and me? Had she come to warn me away? I studied her face for some sort of clue and noticed that she wore minimal make-up. I could see that she was naturally very pretty, but she looked tired. Large bags under red-rimmed eyes indicated someone who’d either been burning the candle at both ends or crying. Maybe she’d split up with Nick. He was certainly worth crying over. I should know.
‘Great. Nick said I should ask for you.’
‘Nick Derbyshire?’
‘Yes. He recommended you. He said you’re the best and nicest florist in town. He obviously thinks very highly of you.’
I didn’t know what to say. Was that a dig or a compliment? ‘Is there something I can help you with?’
‘I’d like to order some flowers for a funeral, please.’ She ran a slender hand through her long hair and I couldn’t help noticing that her hand shook.
‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ I said gently. ‘Someone close?’
‘My husband, Alex.’
Husband?
Her pale eyes filled with tears. ‘He lost his fight with cancer last Tuesday. He was only thirty-three. It’s too young, isn’t it?’
I nodded and swallowed the lump in my throat that always formed when I heard about bereavements. Regularly encountering death was a big downside to my new career and I hoped it would get easier with time although I suspected it never would.
‘Do you have a date for the funeral?’And tell me why you were kissing Nick if you had a dying husband.
‘Next week. Monday.’
‘Do you want a wreath or something else?’
A tear slipped down Blonde’s cheek. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, her voice cracking. ‘I thought I was strong enough to do this but I don’t think I am just now.’ She dropped her bag on the counter and started rummaging. I watched in alarm as her tears flowed freely. ‘I can’t find my tissues.’
‘Here.’ I grabbed a box from under the counter and offered it to her. ‘Help yourself.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Would you like to sit down for a moment? Can I get you a glass of water?’
‘Yes please. To both. If you don’t mind.’
I led her to a wooden chair near the entrance to The Outback and removed a few teddy bears displayed on it. Cathy appeared with a couple of mugs of tea. ‘Cathy, you couldn’t get a glass of water for this customer, could you?’
