AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I’dkill for a garden like this.’Daisylifted her face to the sun, enjoying having a moment out of the van.
Miaswept round. ‘Lotof work.Mumalways moans about ours and we’ve only got a little square patch of grass.’Sheshaded her eyes with her hand. ‘Isthat a summer house down there?Behindthat purple tree?’
‘Thecopper beech?Yes, think so.Lovelytree.Don’tsee many that colour, it’s fabulous in full leaf.’
‘Let’sgo and have a look.Havewe got time?’
Daisyglanced at her watch. ‘Can’tbe too long, not with the traffic being like it is.’
‘Ohcome on,Daisy.Everyonewill be heading to the coast and we’ll be driving inland and by the time we’ve done the drops, everyone will be on the beach soaking up the rays and blowing up their inflatables.’Miawas already strolling down the lawn.
Witha slight pang of worry over the flowers stored in theback ofPrimrosewho sadly lacked air conditioning,Daisydecided five minutes wouldn’t hurt and followed her.
Shewas glad she had.Thelower end of the garden was shaded by the border of conifers and the magnificent mature beech tree.Shetook off herCrocsand sank her toes into the cool velvety grass.Itfelt blissful to her hot feet.WhileMiaexplored the summer house, she took time to appreciate the house from this angle.Itreally was beautiful.Andodd.Itsbricks glowed a deep rich red in the sunshine and its roof dipped and soared in a complicated manner.Thehard, practical side of her worried about ancient guttering and leaks, but even though she was a self-confessed unromantic, she swooned a little.
Shewondered if the turret had a staircase inside, as it had tiny windows randomly placed all the way up.Shealso wondered if the owner ever came back to fling open theFrenchdoors to the evening sunshine and the scent of a newly mown lawn.Despiteall its eccentricities she could see it would be a wonderful house to live in.WasitArtsandCrafts?Shedidn’t have much knowledge of architecture and vowed to google the style when she got home.GlancingatMiawho was staring intently through the summer-house windows, a hand shading her eyes to see better, she sighed a little.Itwas time to go. ‘Comeon then, better leave the flowers and get over toMaidenNewtonbefore the birthdays are over.’
Miapeeled herself away reluctantly. ‘Nothingin there except a few battered old deck chairs and a rusty table.’
‘Whatwere you expecting, treasure?’
Thegirl pulled a face. ‘Thoughtthere might be something to give us a clue whoWalteris.’
‘Orwas.’
‘Was?’
‘Isuppose he might be dead,’Daisysaid, the idea only just forming. ‘Perhapsthis is a posthumous request.Itwould explain why the house is always empty.’
Mia’sbottom lip quivered. ‘Oh, that’s so sad.’
Daisyshrugged. ‘Ithappens.’Theybegan to walk back to the house. ‘Peopleset up orders but die before they see them through.’
‘Hasit ever happened atVaVaBloom!, to your shop?’
‘No, butIremember my predecessor had a similar order.Toldme a woman set up a standing order for flowers to be delivered to her aunt every month but her aunt sadly died after the first three bouquets were delivered.’
‘Whathappened?Werethe flowers cancelled?’
‘No.Thinkthe woman had them delivered to herself instead.Therewas no deep mystery about it all.’
‘AndChariotsofFlowerknew who had ordered and who was getting them.’
‘True.AndJean, that’s the woman who ownedChariots, delivered them to a real-life person who received them with pleasure.Notlike here.’Daisyretrieved the geraniums from the back of the van and ledMiato the porch where, as before, there was a bucket of fresh water.Sheput the bouquet in, tweaked it a little before being satisfied and stood back. ‘That’llhave to do.WishIknew when they were being collected.Ihate to think of them getting overheated and drooping, it’s boiling in here with all those windows.’Theperfectionist in her hated to thinkWalterwould receive something substandard and think she wasn’t doing a good job. ‘Hangon a moment,Mia.I’lljust take a pic.’
‘Why?’
‘ToproveI’veleft them in good condition and fulfilled my end of the contract.’Asshe aimed her phone, sweat trickled down her back.Itreally was warm on the porch.
‘Don’tyou lock it?’Miaasked, as they emerged into fresher air.
‘No, it’s always left open for me.’
Miafrowned. ‘Let’shope they don’t get nicked then.Therewas a warning online of a couple of dodgy blokes cruising houses and seeing what they can pinch.They’vegot a scruffy white transit.Loadanything they can into it.’
‘It’salways worried me that the house appears empty.Although, if your theory is correct about the wife in the attic, the dodgy blokes might be in for a shock.’
‘Yeah!’Mialaughed and checked the garden gate was properly shut. ‘Right, next stopMaidenNewtonand then a cold drink please.’
