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‘AndwhenIwas there too,’Miaput in.Shepulled a face. ‘MrCold-Hartwe used to call him.MrsArnoldtook over a few years ago.Bitof a stickler for looking the partIwas told.Whichis whyIwanted to look as boring,Imean as normal, as possible.Wantedto make a good impression.Iwasn’t exactly a model pupil whenIwas there.’
‘Ah, honeybun, you did okay at school,’Marionsaid.Sheput an arm aroundMia’sshoulders. ‘Yourdad leaving like that would mess up anyone.’
Daisylooked on.Marioncould be the most awful snob sometimes but underneath it all, she was wonderfully caring.Apartfrom her current obsession with matchmaking, of course.
‘Thanks,Marion.AndyourBritstuck by me, you know.Allthrough primary school, even at the grammar whenIreally went off on one and didn’t want to know her cos she didn’t hang with the cool guys.’
‘Well, you’re back friends now, that’s the main thing.AndI, for one, am very glad of it.Youbring her down to earth.Wishshe had your work ethic, sweetie.’
‘Speakingof work ethic,’Daisysaid, ‘have you got time to fit in another job?WhataboutyourA-levels?’
‘Needthe money,Daisy.Thejob at the school is only three afternoons a week.I’mgoing to support a little boy with behavioural difficulties.Ican fit in my other stuff round it and, of course, it’s term time only.’
‘So, are you saying you got it then?’Marionhugged her again. ‘Welldone, you!’
‘Brilliantnews,Mia,’Daisyadded.
‘Yeah,Ican start as soon as myDBScheck comes through.Theysaid it wouldn’t take long.Don’tworry,Daisy,Iwon’t let it get in the way of working here.’Mialooked from one woman to the other. ‘Ilove it here andIlove you two.Besides,Iwant to find out the end ofWalter’sstory.’Shegrinned atDaisy. ‘Andmaybe meetMrSpurs.Funnything was, whenMrsArnoldfound outIwas an ex-pupil, it was that which swung it.’
‘Whatdo you mean?’Daisyasked, moving to the office to make a celebratory pot of tea for them all.
‘Shesaid, asI’dhad a difficult time of it at school, it put me in a good position to see where this little boy was coming from.Oh, and the factIwas cheap!’
Daisylaughed. ‘Alwaysan upside.’Shepoked her head around the door. ‘Gottime for a cuppa?No?I’lljust make one for me andMarionthen.We’llhave some ofBella’sspecial cream cakes fromOnaRollonSaturdayto celebrate properly.’
‘Thanks,Daisy.’Miaput up her hand. ‘Seeyou guys then.Ohhi,MrsPearce, you in for your usual?I’mjust off butMarionwill look after you.’
Marionshot her a look.BrendaPearcewas a very regular customer who, although perfectly charming, always took ages to choose and then usually haggled the price down. ‘WhatcanIget you today,Brenda?’ she said, moving her to the back of the shop. ‘We’vegot some lovely chrysanthemums in.Ican probably get you a little off as some of them are in full bloom.OrshouldIsay, darling,VaVaBloom!’
Fromher spot in the back room making tea,Daisycould justabout hearMarionandBrendahave a muted conversation and then heardMarioncall out, ‘Customer,Daisy!’ in an oddly strangled voice.
Shecame out to the counter to find herself face to face withMrSpurs.Asgorgeous as she remembered.Blushingslightly and very aware ofMarionwatching covertly, she stuttered out a greeting. ‘Hellothere.You’reback again.’Statingthe obvious there,Daisy, good start.Thistime he was in a navy shirt and it offset his tan beautifully, as did the designer stubble.Outof the corner of her eye, she sawMiahovering by the shop’s main door.She’dobviously passed him on his way in.Eyeshuge, she was mouthing, ‘OhmyGod, is that him?’ and pointing and giggling wildly.Daisymade shooing motions and then realisedMrSpurswas watching her, bemused.
‘Wasp,’ she explained. ‘Sucha nuisance at this time of year.’
‘Absolutely.’Hesmiled, making his eyes crease up sexily. ‘Minty’sterrified of them.’
Ohgreat, back to the girlfriend.‘Isshe?’Daisysaid inanely. ‘Well, they can give a nasty sting.’
That’sthe way to wow him; with your sparkling wit.Go,Daisy.He’llshrug off hisMinty, renounce his trendyLondonlifestyle and get down on one knee in an instant.
‘WhatcanIget you today?Anotherapology bouquet?’
‘Actuallyno.’
Bugger.They’dobviously made up.
‘Asyou promised, the flowers did the trick.Somuch so,I’dlike another bouquet of the same.Mintywent into ecstasies over them.’
‘Wonderful.’Daisytried to concentrate on her profits and not on how her heart had plummeted into herCrocs.Itwas doing her no good, no good at all, to lust after a strange man who was obviously in a relationship.Perhapsshe should get out more.Perhapsshe should even try those dating sitesMarionhad suggested?Pinningon a smile, she said, ‘Ihaven’t any of the lilies this week butIdo have some beautiful gerbera in.’
‘Gerbera?’
‘Inthe bucket on the left-hand side of the door.Theycome in a range of colours as you can see.Icould do you a stunning hand-tied in clashing pinks and oranges or you can go classy with the white and cream ones andIcan add in some pale-pink roses.’
‘Ilike the white ones with the pink middle bits.’
‘SodoI.ShallIadd in some roses too?’
