Page 138 of My Kind of Happy

It still was, I thought excitedly.

‘I wonder …’ He hesitated and in that space I could feel how torn he was: the guilt and the joy and the hope. After all, his wife had only passed away a few weeks ago. It was only natural that he’d think twice before contacting his old love.

‘As luck would have it, I do know someone,’ he said with a smile in his voice. ‘I’d like to buy them please. And I’d like them delivered to Biddy at the pet shop.’

‘Of course,’ I said, trying not to squeal with joy. ‘Any message to go with it?’

‘Oh crikey,’ he muttered. ‘Give me a minute.’

It took several goes for Nigel to come up with the right message but when he did it was perfect.

My darling girl, I deserve nothing, I expect nothing, but know that even while we have been apart all these years, your heart has remained the centre of my world.

Happy Birthday,

Ever yours

Nigel xxx

I was taking down his credit card details when Lucas came back in with our ice creams.

‘She’s going to be thrilled,’ I said, shoving the note under Lucas’s nose to read. ‘She’s had her eye on the orchids for ages.’

‘Oh my giddy aunt, he has just melted my heart!’ Lucas gasped, pulling a swoony face.

‘I can’t quite believe I’m doing it,’ Nigel said.

‘Well,’ I said, teasingly. ‘You only live once.’

‘I used to think that but now I know different,’ Nigel replied. ‘We only die once, we live every single day,’ he said. ‘We owe it to ourselves to get the best out of that life while we have it.’

‘That is a great way to think about it, thank you, Nigel.’ I smiled down the phone. ‘I’ll remember that.’

Nigel coughed. ‘Will you, er, put my number on the back of the card, in case she should want to talk to me?’

‘Of course.’

After I put the phone down, I high-fived Lucas and hoovered up my ice cream.

‘You were a-ma-zing,’ said Lucas, wide-eyed. ‘Now I reckon we’ve just got time to deliver them before we go and plan the wedding of the century.’

I locked up, fetched the bouquet and tucked Nigel’s note in the top.

‘If floristry doesn’t work out for me,’ I said, wiping a smear of melted chocolate from my chin, ‘I think I might become a fairy godmother. I can see my website now: Fairy Fearne – making dreams come true, one person at a time.’

And if I felt slightly glum about the lack of my own dreams coming true, I think I just about managed to conceal it.

An hour later, I’d assembled my wedding team under the shade of an oak tree in the enormous garden at The Evergreens. Dexter had kindly set up a picnic table for us and from where we were sitting, we could see the spot Annabel and I had identified as being where the ceremony would take place in front of a rambling rhododendron bush covered with pink flowers. There wasn’t a rose bower but Annabel had suggested making a willow arch from branches in the garden. So far, my decision to employ her as my assistant was paying off.

I felt a thrill every time I looked up at the house. There was a comfortable elegance to The Evergreens. It would be a gorgeous setting for the wedding: the old stone glowed in the sun and the gardens, although not manicured to within an inch of their lives, were welcoming and pretty and provided plenty of photo opportunities and ample room for the marquee. It was divided into sections so it would be easy to keep the food area hidden from the spot where the ceremony would be held and there were lots of little hideaways for those who wanted a bit of privacy.

Hamish was delighted with it and had already taken loads of photos. Laura wasn’t here yet; Terry had had a hospital appointment which had overrun and she would be joining us as soon as she could. I couldn’t wait for her to see it.

Una brought out a tray of homemade lemonade for us all. Her partner, Bing, a sprightly old chap with a neatly trimmed white beard, placed a gigantic bowl of freshly picked raspberries on the table while I passed round agendas and thanked everyone for coming.

‘This all looks very formal,’ I said, ‘but it helps to know who’s in charge of what and I hope nobody minds but I’ve included everyone’s mobile number. Except Annabel’s and Will’s.’

‘I’ve got an iPhone,’ Annabel said crossly.