Clare and I exchanged concerned looks.
A young girl in her late teens burst through a door marked ‘staff only’ looking terrified.
‘What did I ask you to do last night?’
‘Clean the oven?’ She cast a sideways glance at us.
‘Does this fucking look clean to you?’ He shoved her towards the oven.
‘I cleaned it last night. I promise.’
‘Someone broke in last night and covered it in crap, did they?’
‘I don’t know how it got like that. I’m sorry. I’ll do it again now.’ Sammie headed for the staff only door again.
‘Where are you going now?’ Stéphan shouted.
‘To get a cloth.’
‘What’s this then? An arma-fucking-dillo?’ He picked up a cloth and threw it at her.
‘I didn’t see it there.’
‘That’s your problem, Sammie. You don’t see anything. Like these customersyou’vekept waiting whoI’vehad to serve. Didn’t see them, did you?’
The poor girl looked close to tears. ‘It’s okay,’ I piped up. ‘We’ll just take these.’ I dropped some coins on the counter and grabbed our drinks.
‘I’m guessing you won’t be messaging him?’ Clare said as we made a swift getaway.
‘Absolutely gorgeous. Absolutely amazing accent. Absolute git. Two down, five to go.’
Having Clare in the shop for the day was an eye-opener. Elise had been friendly and helpful with customers on opening day, but Clare was something different. She was a genuine asset to sales and I was fascinated to see that side of her in action. She could charm anyone and everyone, swiftly adapting her behaviour according to the age and gender of the customer. She managed to secure three wedding bookings, convince five or six customers to spend way more on bouquets than they’d planned, sell an additional product like a card or gift to about three quarters of the customers who’d only come in for flowers, and complete on several gift transactions where the customer was clearly browsing and would likely have left empty-handed without her intervention.
I printed off the impressive daily sales report after locking up and whistled. ‘Can you work here every day?’
She laughed. ‘You couldn’t afford me, but I’ll train you if you want.’
‘I could never be as brazen as you. Besides, I think it’s a lot to do with your accent and your personality. It wouldn’t work with me.’
‘It would. Yes, I play on the cheeky blonde Irish thing, but it’s about reading people and saying the right things, all of which can be taught. With a few lessons from me, you could be a pro by Easter.’
‘Would you really do that for me?’
‘Of course. I know you’re going to be a huge success anyway, but if I can help in any way, I’m more than happy to.’
‘You’re on.’
‘So what do you want to do tonight?’ I said as we walked back to Seashell Cottage. ‘Takeaway and film?’
‘No way. We’re going on a double date.’
‘What?’
‘You heard me. As you said this morning, it’s two down, five to go. So let’s contact one of the five when we get home and see if he has a nice single mate he can drag out tonight.’
‘I thought you said I should relax and enjoy the business more.’
Clare laughed. ‘You should. But it doesn’t mean you have to call off the search for Steven. Just don’t get so obsessed with it that you ignore the amazing things you’re doing in your day job and don’t get so stressed about the disappointments along the way because they’re inevitable.’
