‘Shh! I promise I’ll tell you every last detail but you have to be quiet.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’t want my parents to know yet. Mum will tell Auntie Kay and she’ll start planning the wedding. I just want a bit of time to enjoy being with him without the family drama.’
‘Okay. I’ll zip it, but don’t blame me if something accidentally slips out.’
‘Can I have this please?’ A short woman in her mid-twenties placed a soft pink bunny on the counter.
‘Aw. It’s so cute.’ Clare shoved me aside. ‘Will you be wanting this for a special occasion?’
The woman beamed proudly. ‘My cousin’s just had her first baby.’
‘Congratulations. Now I don’t wish to be stereotypical, but would I be right in thinking the pink means she’s had a girl?’
‘Bethany Lily.’
‘What a beautiful name,’ Clare gushed. ‘Have you bought a card yet as we have a lovely selection of unique cards at fabulous prices.’
‘Well, I…’
‘Let’s just leave this little fella here and I’ll show you. No obligation, but you might as well look. Stay in the warmth a bit longer. And I tell you what else would make this gift even more special…’
By the time the customer left ten minutes later, she’d also bought a card, an expensive gift box, a photo frame and a bouquet for the new mum because, as Clare put it ‘baby gets showered with gifts and poor mum who’s done all the hard work and is absolutely exhausted gets forgotten’.
I gave Clare an appreciative round of applause. ‘You could sell ice to the Inuit.’
‘I keep telling you, watch and learn. But I admit I am good. Verygood. In fact, that’s why I was named as Prime’s PR person of the year last night and received a rather fat bonus to say thanks. Hurrah for me.’
‘Clare! That’s fantastic. No wonder you’re so giddy this morning.’
‘It might have something to do with it.’ She looked down the shop towards where Cathy and Mum were still busy with the flower delivery. ‘Seeing as you won’t tell me about your night of passion with your man Nick, I’m going to see if your mum or Cathy have anything interesting to tell me. And I think it’s about time you did some work. I don’t know, just because you’re the boss, you think you can spend the day mooning after your new man and everyone else will do all the hard work.’
‘I’m not mooning and I’ve not stopped all morning but I’m sure Mum and Cathy would appreciate your help. Justdon’ttell them about Nick.’
Less than ten minutes later, my plan to keep Nick a secret was well and truly scuppered. I was making a bouquet for a waiting customer when the bell tinkled.
‘Special delivery for Ms Sarah Peterson. Who can take it?’ I looked up to see a young girl wearing a uniform from The Chocolate Pot,holding a large box tied up in cellophane with a big red ribbon round it.
‘Ooh, what is it?’ Mum asked.
My heart thumped as she took the box and peered at the large card on the front. She frowned, then smiled, then looked across at me. I could almost see the question marks spinning round her like in a cartoon. Cathy, Clare and Jade also gathered round the box, whispering and giggling.
‘Hand it over,’ I said the second my customer left with her bouquet.
‘“I can’t send you flowers so here’s the next best thing. Thinking of you. Nick,” plus lots of sloppy kisses,’ Clare read. ‘Who’s Nick, Sarah?”
‘Yes, sweetheart, who’s Nick?’ Mum asked.
‘Nobody.’
‘Doesn’t sound like nobody,’ Mum said.
‘Is it Nick Derbyshire?’ Cathy asked.
‘It might be. Hand them over.’
Mum passed me the box.
