Page 60 of My Kind of Happy

I turned to Delphine. ‘I know, and most of the time I can accept that. But it’s the unpredictability of grief I find so hard. One minute you’re having fun and then up pops a sudden memory, or you hear a song on the radio and it all comes back as sharp as ever. It’s like being shot with an arrow.’

‘The arrow eventually loses its sharpness,’ she said. ‘Or at least that’s what I’m told. And until then I’m keeping busy.’

‘So am I.’ I held out my arm for her to take. ‘On that note, would you care to accompany me to a party?’

Delphine beamed. ‘I’d be delighted.’

Back inside the shop, Scamp retreated to his bed to dry off while I poured Delphine a drink and left her chatting to Maria and Stanley. I hoped to apologise to Wendy for abandoning her but she was nowhere to be seen. I was disappointed; the most interested of all our corporate guests today and I’d blown it by doing a disappearing act. I hadn’t even given her any prices, let alone arrange a follow-up meeting.

‘Cooee! Fearne, can we buy these?’ called a voice, breaking into my thoughts.

Standing next to the till were the four ladies whom I’d left practising their own arrangements. They’d each got a bunch of the flowers which I’d used in my demonstration.

‘You said you might do us a deal,’ said Paige.

I did a rough calculation; there was about fifteen pounds’ worth of flowers there. ‘Shall we call it ten pounds?’

‘This has been really good fun,’ said Tina, handing over a note. ‘I’ve learned something and had a laugh with my friends.’

‘Yeah, count us in if you do this again,’ said Kirsty.

‘Oh yes, do one at Christmas!’ said Vicky.

‘I might do that. Thank you ladies, goodbye!’

I waved them off, thinking what a good idea that was. A Christmas wreath workshop, perhaps. We couldn’t do it for free, but perhaps if people got mulled wine and a mince pie and went home with a fresh homemade wreath, they wouldn’t mind paying. I’d suggest it to Nina. My happy list might still only have one thing on it, but what did that matter if I was making a good job of it, I thought.