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Despiteseeming keen,Petefailed to ringDaisy.Sheput him to the back of her mind but cared more than she wanted to.Therejection stung.Luckilywork was manic and she had two more weddings and another enormous funeral to organise.Plus, she’d applied forWebFloriststatus and was panicking about the forthcoming inspection.Ifshe passed, she’d be able to join a network where orders could come in via a website.Sheknew it would boost trade so there was a lot riding on it.
Onthe followingSaturdaymorningJanslid intoVaVaBloom!with a small brown-and-white spaniel on a lead.
‘Hi,Mum, who have you got there?’Daisylooked up from checking the day’s wedding order.
‘ThisisFleur.’
‘Why?’Daisyglared as she squeezed another peach-coloured rose and fern buttonhole in the cardboard tray.Shewas relying onJanto look after the shop while she delivered them.
‘Whyis she calledFleur?’
‘No,Mum,’Daisysaid impatiently. ‘Whyhave you got her?’
Janlooked shifty. ‘I’mjust taking her for a walk as a favour for someone.’
‘Who,Tomat theAnimalSanctuary?’
TomCatesbyran a haphazard animal rescue centre at a farm on the outskirts of town.
‘Sortof.’Theanswer was cagey.
Daisycocked an eyebrow. ‘Notsurprised he’d want to keep her out of the way ofTiny.He’deat a little thing like that whole.’
‘Rubbish.Tom’sTinyis anIrishWolfhound.Enormousbut gentle as a lamb.’
‘I’lltake your word for it.Looksmore donkey to me.He’shuge.’
‘Who, the dog orTom?’
‘Both!Andsince when have you been such an authority on dogs?’
‘Iread a lot.There’sa thing calledGoogleyou know.’
Daisycame to stand in front of her mother.Shebent down and tickled the dog under the chin. ‘Haveto admit she’s pretty, with those huge eyes.Whatbreed is she?’
‘CavalierKingCharlesSpaniel.’
‘Hello,Fleur.You’revery gorgeous.’Thedog snickered a little, stuck out a dainty pink tongue and licked her finger. ‘Cute.’Daisystraightened. ‘Whenare you taking her back to her owner?’
‘OhIthought she could stay here for a bit.’
Daisyexpelled a frustrated breath. ‘How’sthat going to work,Mum?I’vetwo weddings to get flowers to this morning.You’llhave to man the shop whileMiaandIdo the deliveries.’
‘She’llbe no trouble.’Janbent and pickedFleurup. ‘You’reas good as gold, aren’t you?’Sheburied her nose in the dog’s luxurious coat.
Daisywatched on indulgently.She’dnever seen her mum so besotted, never thought of her as a dog person.
Miacame from the back room. ‘Oh!Who’sthis?’
Janrepeated what she’d said to her daughter.ToDaisyit rang even less true the second time but she was too busy to dwell on it. ‘Ifyou can stop fussing over a dog for a minute, we’ve all got work to do.’
‘Noneed to be sharp,Daisy,’ her mother reproved.
‘Takeno notice,Jan.’Miatickled the dog’s ears. ‘She’sbeen in a grump since opening up.Worriedabout getting the paperwork stuff done for theWebFloriststatus.’
Daisycrammed one more buttonhole into the tray.Alwayspaid to put in a few spares. ‘Sometimes,’ she said through gritted teeth, ‘Iwish the people around me and who profess to love me, wouldn’t talk about me as ifIwasn’t here!’
‘Oh, you loon, of course you’ll be good enough to meet all the criteria forWebFlorist,’Jansaid, in between crooning atFleur. ‘They’dbe mad to say no.Although, if you want my advice, you’re busy enough as it is, without all that bother.’
