‘Really,’ Callie said. ‘I’ve never heard him so enthusiastic about anyone before.’
‘Oh. You do know?—’
‘That you’re not together?’ Callie wrinkled her nose. ‘He told me you have a few things to work out with your ex. So how’s that going?’
‘With Andy?’
‘Yes.’ Callie clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Oh. I’m so sorry. Don’t answer that. What an awkward question to ask you. You’re hardly going to feel comfortable telling me that things are great when I’m Nick’s sister, are you? I have this terrible habit of engaging mouth before brain.’
I smiled. I already liked her. What a shame Nick had moved on. I could have imagined becoming good friends with Callie. ‘How’s Nick?’ I asked. ‘Have you seen him recently?’
‘Christmas Day. He was a bit tied up yesterday so I didn’t get to see him then.’
I bet he was. And then my mind filled with this horrible image of him quite literally being tied up while Blonde walked round him brandishing a whip.Ew! Stop thinking that.
‘And he was okay?’ I asked.
‘He put on a brave face with it being Christmas but I could tell he’s really upset. I know you’d only just got together but it was love at first sight for him. He told me that on my wedding day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy. Mum and I were beginning to despair that he’d be single forever then along you came and it was like he’d found his soulmate at last.’
I was saved from responding by the arrival of a young couple who smiled and headed towards the gift section.
‘I can see you’re busy,’ Callie said. ‘And I promise I didn’t come in here to have a go at you for breaking my brother’s heart. Ooh. I didn’t mean to say that either because it sounds like you’ve deliberately treated him badly and I know that’s not the case.’ She stopped and grimaced. ‘I’ve just implied you treated him badly too which I know you haven’t. I think I’m just going to stop gibbering and focus on why I came in. Can I order some flowers for Dad’s, Grandma’s, and Granddad’s graves? We have our annual family pilgrimage to the cemetery on New Year’s Day.’
‘Nick mentioned it. Three bouquets of white roses, is it?’
‘Yes please. Half a dozen roses in each for the graves plus three single roses for Nick. Did you know he throws them into the sea?’
I nodded.
‘It’s really sweet of him,’ she continued. ‘He goes down toLighthouse Point and throws in the roses at two minutes past eleven promptly as that’s the exact time and day that Grandma died. She was the last to leave us. He stays there for about ten minutes then he picks Mum and me up, takes us to the cemetery, then the three of us have lunch. It’s been the same routine for years.’
‘Do you ever go to the lighthouse with him?’
‘No. Never. It’s his thing. He started doing it the year after Grandma died so he’d have been about seventeen or so but we didn’t know about it until years later. Mum and I have always respected his need for a private moment.’
I could picture him standing at the end of Lighthouse Point, lost in thought as he tossed the stems into the water. Suddenly I imagined me in the picture, a few paces away from him to give him space. He’d throw the roses, murmur a few words then turn to me for comfort. I had to stop torturing myself like that. We weren’t together. If anyone was going to be there to comfort him, it was going to be Blonde and I had to accept that he’d moved on.
I turned my attention back to Callie. ‘When do you want them? New Year’s Eve?’
‘Yes please. Sometime in the afternoon.’
‘Will Nick come in to collect them?’ I tried to sound disinterested but I don’t think I pulled it off.
‘No. Just me, I’m afraid. He’s actually in town with me this morning and he wanted to come in but he was worried it would make things awkward for you. He’s so lovely like that, always thinking of others. I have a message from him, though.’
‘Oh. What did he say?’ That he still loved me? That he desperately wanted me to be with him and I should send Andy packing and run away with him instead?
‘He hopes that you’ll start going to Bay Trade in the New Year. Apparently you made a really good impression and they’d love you to join.’
Was that all? He wanted me to go to Bay Trade? Oh well, I guess I couldn’t really expect any declarations of love given that he’d so clearly moved on. Not that I had any right to judge him for that after spending so much time with Andy.
‘I’d like to,’ I admitted. Aside from the fact that I liked them, ithad already proved lucrative for business with Skye’s exhibition confirmed and the potential contract at The Ramparts. ‘But I don’t want Nick to feel uncomfortable. He set it up and they’re his friends.’
‘Don’t be so daft. He’d love you to go.’
‘Tell him maybe February or March. Give things time to settle.’
‘I’ll tell him. I’d better go. I think you’re needed.’ Callie indicated the couple who were approaching the counter with a photo frame and a soft giraffe. ‘It was lovely to meet you. I’ll see you next week for the roses. And sorry about all that stuff about you and Nick. None of my business.’
