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Chapter 21
Reggie was just closing his shop when he thought he saw Lili in the courtyard. She’d been in the antique shop. It surprised him to see Joseph’s prize orchid in her hands. Was she intending to visit him? He’d understood from Ray that the plan was to leave the orchid in the shop as a surprise for Joseph when he was discharged from hospital the next evening. Ray knew that the curmudgeonly old man would insist on visiting the shop on his way home to check everything. He would not expect one of his prize orchids to be in the shop and in bloom. Reggie didn’t know the first thing about plants, but Ray had told him it had flowered; apparently, it was quite the rare event. Reggie had heard that Joseph wasn’t being discharged as soon as they’d anticipated. Perhaps there had been a change of plan and that was the reason Lili had returned to collect the orchid.
‘Lili?’ he called out. Although he didn’t see her face, he recognised her distinctive raincoat as she hurried towards High Street. ‘Lili!’ he shouted again, hurrying after her. He saw her close the boot of her car and get into the driver’s seat. He called one more time as she sped away, disappointed she hadn’t heard him.
Hannah pulled the hood on the jacket down and glanced in the rear-view mirror. The old man from the shop across the courtyard was too slow to catch up with her.
She had smiled when she’d found the antique shop was in a small, cobbled yard off the main thoroughfare, out of the way of prying eyes and passing motorists. By the time she’d arrived, it was early in the evening; the traffic out of London had been worse than she’d expected.
She’d assumed all the shops in the courtyard would be closed, and she hadn’t expected to see anyone. When she’d heard someone call Lili’s name, she’d felt bad for not turning around to tell the old man that she wasn’t Lili.
He’d only caught her walking out of the shop with the flower – not all the other items. The plant was for Lili.Why not get my best friend a souvenir from her time working here?she’d thought.And something for Maisie too. There was a painting Maisie had talked fondly of. It had been hanging upstairs in the flat – until Hannah took it down. She’d brought it back for her daughter. She had also taken all the amber necklaces from the display case in the window. She’d heard all about the jewellery her daughter had made to sell in the shop. As far as she was concerned, they belonged to Maisie.
Hannah looked at the plant in her hand. She didn’t know what sort it was, but Lili would. It was unusual, ghostly white, and delicate. It wasn’t the prettiest flower in the world, but Hannah told herself that it was the thought that counted. She placed it on the passenger seat next to Lili’s box. She set off.
Hannah answered her mobile phone while she was driving. She didn’t want to pull the car over; she wanted to get home as soon as possible. It was already getting dark. She was taking a chance, so she kept her eyes peeled for any police cars around; she couldn’t afford to be pulled over with a load of stolen goods onboard.
‘Did you find it?’
‘Yes, it’s on the front seat as we speak. I’ll be with you shortly.’ Hannah ended the call to Lili and glanced at the box. Thinking of Alex, she mumbled, ‘What a bastard.’ She was glad she’d picked up the plant. It had only been an afterthought; she’d caught sight of it in the window on her way out of the door. She smiled, hoping it would cheer Lili up when she saw it.
Her thoughts drifted to Kyle. Her smile faded when she thought of the car loaded with stuff from the shop. She shook her head. She’d got a bit carried away. Undecided over what was worth taking, she’d chosen as much as would fit in the boot. There was no shortage of antiques. At least when he saw the amount that she’d brought back with her, he would have nothing to complain about.
‘This is all a pile of junk!’
They were standing on the driveway with the boot open. Hannah’s smile vanished. ‘When you told me to bring some antiques back, didn’t I say it was probably a load of junk?’ She wished she’d hadn’t taken quite so much. Hannah shut the boot and opened the passenger door. ‘Here, help me with this box.’ She put the box in his arms and reached inside for the potted plant. When she turned around, closing the car door with her foot, Kyle said, ‘What’s that?’
‘Oh, this?I saw it in the shop. It’s kind of pretty, so I brought it back for her.’
‘Let me see.’
She watched him put the box down on the driveway and get out his phone. He pointed at the flower. ‘That’s an orchid.’
Hannah looked at the plant. ‘So?’ She glanced at him. ‘What do you know about flowers?’ She was being sarcastic.
‘Oh, you’d be surprised. If they are rare – and valuable.’ He took a photo of the plant.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Just sending the picture to a mate.’
‘Well, don’t think you’re having this. I brought it back for Lili.’ Hannah started walking towards the house.
He got to the front door first, barring her way.
Hannah looked at him. ‘I need you to fetch the box.’ She couldn’t manage it and the plant too.
‘I’ll bring in the box. You can give it to Lili. After all, that’s what she asked you to fetch for her – didn’t she?’
Hannah nodded.
‘You can keep all the crap in the boot.’ He held out his hand. ‘But I want the flower.’
‘Why?’
‘You don’t know what you’ve got there – do you?’
‘It’s an orchid, like you said.’
