‘Then why don’t you give it a go with him?’ she asked. ‘You know I believe the CD but I can also see that your Auntie Kay was right about you two. What if Madame Louisa got the name wrong? What if you push Nick away and Steven never materialises? What if Nick’s moved on and found someone else by the time you accept that?’
‘And what if I go for it with Nick and Stevendoesappear? The poor guy’s best friend ran off with his fiancé the day before their wedding. He’s been wary of relationships ever since. Imagine if we had a few dates and things were going really well and then Steven walked into my life and swept me off my feet. If Nick’s as keen on me as you and Auntie Kay seem to think he is, imagine what that would do to him. I couldn’t put him – or me – through that. Plus, selfish as it may sound, I really like him as a friend. You’re the only friend I have who still lives in Whitsborough Bay. I like the idea of having two.’ The more friends I had, the less likely I was to end up alone like Uncle Alan.
Elise nodded. ‘Perhaps it’s too soon to rush into things with Nick. But I think you should seriously consider his suggestion of putting a timescale on it. How about two months starting from the New Year? That would mean you’ve been home for about five months. If Steven doesn’t appear in that time, I suspect he never will. And maybe then you can start considering people with other names. Like Nick. Agreed?’
‘Okay, okay. It’s agreed. Two months from New Year it is, then.’
But as I flicked through the portfolio after Elise had left, I couldn’t help thinking about Nick and wishing he had the right name.
18
?? From Nick
Hope your first day is perfect and you sell loads. Can’t believe how much you’ve done to the place. Look forward to hearing about it all on Monday xx
?? From Auntie Kay
Thanks for photos. The shop looks amazing. You’re amazing. So proud of you. Let me know how it goes xxxxxxxxxxx
?? From Clare
Keep the customers locked in till they spend a fortune. LOL! Wish I could be there doing PR for you instead of for this bunch of numpties. Good luck! You can do it! xxx
‘I’m nervous.’ I squeezed Mum’s hand on opening day a week later. ‘What if nobody comes?’
‘They will. I know of at least a dozen of Kay’s regulars who’ve said they’ll be in today to give you their support.’
‘What if they’re the only ones?’
‘Sarah,’ Elise scolded, ‘you can’t fail. The place looks amazing. You’ve sent discount vouchers to all Kay’s regulars. You’ve done a stack of advertising. You’ve even been on Bay Radio. I think you’ll be run off your feet. I’ve already seen several people looking through the window this morning.’
‘So have I. Squashing their greasy noses on my nice clean glass.’ I turned to Mum again. ‘Do you really think Auntie Kay would like what I’ve done to her shop?’
Mum squeezed me tightly. ‘She said so in her text, didn’t she? We’re all so proud of you.’
‘And keep remembering that it’s not her shop anymore; it’s yours,’ said Cathy who’d jumped at the offer of her old job back. ‘She deliberately gave it to you as an empty shell so you could create this. I’m so excited to be working here with you. I bet Kay wishes she was here. She’d be beside herself with excitement and pride.’
I swallowed hard on the lump forming in my throat. Today was not a day for tears; I’d scare the customers away if I started. I surveyed what the last five weeks of hard work had achieved and couldn’t help but be impressed. Half the shop was devoted to fresh flowers including a range of more daring modern blooms that I wanted to test on the market. The other half of the shop was now devoted to gifts. My teddy bears had arrived and looked so adorable with their pudgy tummies and cute faces, ready to be hugged. I’d spent the last week unpacking deliveries, arranging any surplus in the stockroom, and doing a final clean before a busy day of bouquet preparation.
Christmas was a month away so I’d ordered some Christmas gifts and made the shop look festive with red and white poinsettias, holly, wreathes, and beautiful Christmassy-looking bouquets and baskets. I’d decorated a small tree and hung a stack of red and white fairy lights around the shop to create ambiance.
Mum looked at her watch. ‘Nearly time. Are you ready to face your public?’
‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’ I took a deep breath, wiped my sweaty palms down my uniform – a dark green apron with the shop name and a white rose embroidered on the bib part – and picked up the keys. Placing them in the lock, I grinned at my team as I announced, ‘It gives me great pleasure to declare the newly-refurbished Seaside Blooms open.’
Mum had been right; I needn’t have worried about a lack of customers. All my hard work in promoting the shop, plus loyalty to Auntie Kay, meant there was a constant stream of customers, old, new, and just visiting the town for some Christmas shopping. I’d prepared twenty or so simple inexpensive red and white Christmas bouquets and displayed them on a wooden barrow outside the shop. They sold out within an hour so Mum and Cathy spent the next hour or so making more that sold out again by lunchtime.
The cards and gifts also sold really well, I took bookings for two wedding flower consultations, a request for a large floral arrangement for a couple’s Golden Wedding Anniversary party, and a booking for a funeral.
Dad dropped in to see how it was going and ended up staying for three hours to help us out. He became quite tearful, muttering about how proud he was that I’d returned home and accomplished so much, which set me off.
‘I don’t know about you three, but I’m exhausted,’ I said as the last customer of the day left and I was finally able to lock the door. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard in my life. Thank you all so much for your help.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Elise said. ‘I’ve really enjoyed it.’
‘Busier than I’ve ever seen it,’ Cathy gushed. ‘Well done, you.’
I stretched and rolled my head to try and relax my stiff neck and shoulders. ‘I have a proposal for you all. How about I get cashed up, one of you sweeps the floor, one of you puts some fresh water in the flowers and one of you washes the mugs, then I take you all out to Mario’s – my treat.’
