DONE YOUR WINDOWS FOR FREE AS TRIAL
IF HAPPY WITH THEM, LEAVE MESSAGE & I’LL COME BACK ON MONDAYS BEFORE YOU OPEN. LET ME KNOW IF YOU PREFER A DIFFERENT DAY
STEVE
I dropped my bags on the desk in The Outback, cursing myself for being so stupid. What on earth had got into me?
Mondays were fine but I couldn’t face calling him just yet in case I messed that up too. I couldn’t face calling any plasterers either.
Auntie Kay had stripped the shop bare but she hadn’t touched the stock cupboard so I’d start on that. Surely that couldn’t go wrong.
I took one more look at the bags.What a waste of time and money. Not to mention dignity.
Elise called at the shop after school.
‘I wish Auntie Kay hadn’t disappeared to York for the day.’ I flopped back on the desk chair and pouted. ‘She could have saved me from making a fool of myself and spending a small fortune that I could have invested in the business instead.
‘I feel your pain,’ Elise said. She adjusted her position on the desk slightly, knocking over a pot of pens in the process. ‘Oops. Sorry.’
‘It’s fine. Leave them. I need to sort the whole desk out. The Outback is a bit of a mess. Like my love life.’
Elise laughed. ‘Whoa! That was a little dramatic, don’t you think? Should I start calling you Clare?’
‘I’m being pathetic, aren’t I?’
‘Not pathetic. Just someone who wants to meet Mr Right and there’s nothing wrong with that, but give it time. It’s only your firstfull day at home.’ Elise leaned against the wall again. ‘Maybe he wasn’ttheSteven anyway. It’s a common name. You might meet a few before you meet the right one.’
‘Maybe. Do you really think it’s going to happen? Or do you think Clare’s right about the CD being a load of rubbish?’ I realised I’d crossed my fingers.
‘I think she used slightly stronger words than “rubbish”,’ Elise said, rolling her eyes at me. ‘But to answer your question, everything else was accurate so why not that? I find the sudden re-appearance of the CD on the weekend you move home a bit mysterious and perhaps even magical, so I can’t help thinking it’s all part of something amazing that’s about to happen to you.’
I smiled and sat forward. ‘I keep thinking that too.’
‘Have you listened to it again?’
‘Three times. Everything’s so accurate. The only unexplained bit is that stuff about the lighthouse picture and the bracelet. I remember Mum losing the bracelet years ago so that definitely happened but, as for finding it… Mum caught me with the sofa pulled out last night, all the cushions off it, and the carpet pulled up. I was too embarrassed to tell her about the CD so I made out I’d lost my earring then felt really stupid when she pointed out I was wearing a pair.’
‘No bracelet?’
‘No. Just 73p in change and a wine gum.’
‘And the photo?’
‘I asked her, making out that I could vaguely remember it from childhood, but she wasn’t aware of one and neither was Auntie Kay. They both said I resemble Grandma, but they’ve always said that. I’m assuming there’s something about this photo that shows the resemblance more clearly.’
Elise shrugged. ‘Maybe it will suddenly show up and you’ll know for sure. Just like the CD did.’
A shiver of delight ran down my back. ‘It all seems so magical, like you said.TheSteven could still be the window cleaner, but if he isn’t, how do you think I’ll meet him?’
‘He could be a customer,’ Elise suggested.
‘I’m not so sure.’
‘Why not?’
‘What will the shop mainly be selling?’
‘Flowers.’
