Page 64 of My Kind of Happy

‘All right,’ I nudged her, ‘keep your hair on.’

‘Think about it,’ she urged. ‘With Nina not there, you’ll have plenty of freedom to put your own stamp on the shop. Do things your way.’

I felt something flutter in my stomach. I was going to do this and if I made the odd mistake, who cared?

‘I guess it would be nice to make a few changes without worrying that I was treading on her toes,’ I admitted. ‘I’d get our flowers delivered for a start, there’s no way I fancy trawling through markets for stock. Then I want to follow up all the leads Sam gave us.’

‘Who’s Sam, another florist?’

‘Sam is … a friend, he’s really nice.’ I felt myself blushing. ‘Well, he’s the landlord’s son-in-law, so I suppose it’s in his interests to help us out.’

He hadn’t come to our event this afternoon even though I’d made sure he’d known when it was. In fact, he hadn’t been back to the shop at all since he’d bought that bouquet for his wife and I was dying to know what her reaction had been.

‘I’m sure it is,’ said Ethel, raising an eyebrow. ‘A young attractive woman like you.’

‘Stop it,’ I warned, feeling even more flustered. ‘I helped him get back with his wife, our friendship is completely above board. Anyway, Nina’s six weeks off: I’m going to do it; you’ve twisted my arm.’

Ethel let out a peal of laughter. ‘You were going to do it anyway. But I’m honoured to have been your sounding board.’

I put my arms around her. ‘You’re much more than that.’

We sat for a moment, each with our own thoughts, looking out over the lake. Scamp’s eyes scanned around for any wildlife. The surface rippled and shimmered in the evening sun.

She patted my arm. ‘You were like an injured bird after Freddie died. But now look at you; ready to spread your wings and fly high. You’re going to be fine, Fearne.’ She paused and took a deep breath. ‘Which is why I know you’ll cope when I leave you.’

‘What do you mean? You’re scaring me.’ I pulled back, looking at her in alarm.

‘Sorry, dear, I didn’t mean to.’ She patted my knee. ‘I’m moving north, to live with my daughter, Carole.’

I blew out a breath of relief. ‘Thank god. For a moment I thought …’

Ethel harrumphed. ‘Nothing wrong with me. Got the heart and lungs of an eighty-year-old apparently, which means I could be driving my poor family barmy for years yet.’

‘But why go? I thought you were happy here?’

She shook her head. ‘It’s not about me now. It’s about what I can do to smooth life’s wrinkles for other people. Staying here will use up every penny of mine and George’s money and that was supposed to be our legacy to the family. And now I’m feeling stronger, I don’t need to be nursed. I miss home comforts and I miss setting my own meal times. It’s hard on Carole to come and visit me here and she’s got plenty of room now that her children have flown the nest. So I’m off.’

I swallowed a lump in my throat. ‘When do you go?’

‘Not for a while yet. Carole wants to redecorate a bedroom for me.’ She gave me a bright smile. ‘I shall be happy there. With my family.’

I was filled with admiration for her. She’d decided to be happy, just as she’d done when she moved into The Beeches. So I’d do the same, I wouldn’t let my disappointment show. But I was losing her as well as Nina and my heart felt leaden.

‘Scamp and I will miss you.’

‘And I you.’ She turned away, pretending to look to her right and wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

I blinked my own tears back. ‘Will you come and visit the shop before you leave?’

She brightened. ‘I’d like that.’

‘We’ll arrange it then,’ I said, squeezing her soft hand. ‘I think it’s a good decision, moving to Carole’s.’

‘I’m not giving up, you know,’ she said, with a flash of her old feistiness.

‘Of course you’re not,’ I agreed. ‘You’re just embarking on the next part of life’s adventure. Like me.’

I helped her up from the bench and together we went back inside in companionable silence. I was thinking about the challenges ahead and I had a feeling she was doing the same.