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‘Soundsgood to me.’
Afterthe last two deliveries were done, one to a woman who had already started celebrating her fiftieth in style and tried to ply them with champagne, they headed back to the shop.
AsDaisystopped at the traffic lights just up from the church, she caught a flash of colour.Itwas a woman in red, her hair a swishy mane of white blonde.Asshe watched,Daisysaw her smile and turn to a man, put her arm through his and reach up to kiss him.Theman wore a navy shirt and chinos.ItwasRick.Theygot into a flashy sports car and drove off up the hill.
Sothat wasMinty.Thegirlfriend who so misunderstood him.Ifso, they looked very cosy.Itwas a beautiful afternoon for a romantic drive in an open-top sports car.Hermood plummeted again.Shethought back to when she andRickhad eaten lunch atTheToad.Hadhe actually used the misunderstood line or had he simply saidMintywasn’t particularly interested in his restaurant plans?Perhapsshe’d jumped on what he’d said, prejudged in her usual way and had misinterpreted it completely.Eitherway,Mintywas stunning and she andRicklooked very happy.Whywould he ever look at her?Anoverworked florist with dried leaves in her hair and fingers ravaged by rose thorns.Acar horn hooted behind her.
‘Daisy, wake up,’Miaprotested from her left. ‘Thelights went green ages ago.’
Chapter Twelve
‘A
h, come on,Daisy.Cometo the pub.Justa quick drink.It’sthe end of term plusIwant to celebrate getting through the first year of myA-Levels.’Miahad popped into the shop late onWednesdayafternoon, just asDaisywas thinking of closing.
‘I’mtoo tired,I’vehad a lot of work on,’Daisycomplained. ‘Andit’sWednesday.AllIwant to do is go home, ping a microwave and open a beer.Thelast few days have been hectic with this funeral.Peoplecan’t plan when they die, you know.’
She’dtried to shrug off her foul mood but it had persisted, hanging heavy and low over her ever since the weekend.Andit was true, the funeral flowers had been a last-minute addition to everything else she had on.Themourners, let down by another florist, had panicked there wasn’t enough time to create the floral tributes they most wanted.Daisyfelt she couldn’t let them down.Forsome reason, she’d soaked up their grief and flowing tears and had struggled to keep her usual professional detachment.Thedeceased had been a much-loved grandmother, the head of a large family, most of whom had, at one point, sat in the little back room sipping tea and sobbing.Ithad all been extremely emotional.
Ithad taken two very long days, working around her usualhours, to get things done.She’dslaved over an enormous arrangement of white lilies and deep-pink roses to go on top of the coffin and had constructed a display of white carnations to spell out the word ‘Granny’.Bythe time the flowers had been collected by the undertakers, she’d been exhausted, physically and emotionally.Thelast thing she wanted was to sit in the beer garden atTheToadandFlamingo.
Miawas having none of it. ‘Andyou need to come too,Maz.’
‘Sweetie, kindly do not shorten my name to that revolting nickname.’
Miaflung an arm around the older woman and kissed her on the cheek with a resounding smack. ‘Youlove it really.’
‘Mmm.’Mariondidn’t look convinced butDaisyknew she secretly adored being calledMaz.Itmade her feel young. ‘IsupposeIcould do with getting out of the house withBritandCassstill away, even if it is just toTheToad,’ she added. ‘Whichis hardly my first watering hole of choice.’
‘Ahcome on,Maz.TheOldAnchorwill be heaving with grockles and there’s nowhere to sit outside atTheShip.TheToad’sfar enough out of town for people not to find it unless they know it’s there.’
‘Andthere’s good reason for that.It’sshockingly sticky-carpeted.’Marionshuddered delicately. ‘Ican’t ever be seen in there.Whatwould my tennis club say?’
‘They’dsay you know how to have a good time on a hotJulyevening.Andyou,Daisy, it’s time you stopped being a misery guts and got yourself out and about.’Miacame toDaisyand wrapped a thin arm around her, squeezing her closer. ‘Pleasesay you’ll come?’ she wheedled.
Daisygave an enormous sigh. ‘Okay, just the one.Anymore and you’ll have to provide matchsticks.’
‘Why?’
‘Forthe propping up of my eyelids.’
‘Ace!’
DaisysawMiaflickMariona knowing glance and was suspicious.Shesoon found out why.
SheandMarionfound a table in the pub beer garden with difficulty.Theweather hung hot and sultry; it was one of those rare evenings inEnglandwhen it was possible to sit outside and not shiver.
Miareturned from the bar carrying three glasses of white.Puttingthem down on the table, she moaned, ‘Busyin there.Goodweather’s brought everyone out.Mustbe rammed down on the beach.Thisplace was the right choice.’Flippinga leg over the bench she sat down. ‘Cheers!’
Marionbrushed an imaginary speck off her immaculate white linen trousers and raised her glass. ‘Congratulationson getting through your first year,Mia.’Shesipped her wine and added in surprise, ‘Oh, this is actually quite decent.’
‘Yes, huge congrats,’Daisyadded. ‘Thefirst step to your new life!’
Theychinked glasses.
‘Aw, thanks, guys,’Miasaid, blushing. ‘YouandMarionmean the world.Ilove working atVaVaBloom!’Shewaved at someone on the other side of the beer garden. ‘Lookslike there are a few teachers from school here.Ohlook, they’re coming over.’
Thoughthey were inTheToad,Daisywas, by now, smelling a rat.Ahuge one.
