AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘It’sjust that people expect it nowadays,Mum.Theyexpect to do stuff online.IknowPerfectPosiesinDorchesterdo a lot of trade for over our way and pick it up havingWebFloriststatus.Ineed to update the website too,’ she added gloomily. ‘That’slooking a bit dated.’
‘Oh, lovie, didn’t you do it just after you opened?That’sbeen barely four years.’
‘Five.’
‘Hasit?Time’sflown.’
‘Andthese things date so quickly,Mum.’Daisyran a hand distractedly through her hair, leaving a rose leaf tangled in it. ‘Ineed to present a good shopfront.’Shechopped at the stems of some ginger-hued roses.Nother favourite colour, they’d been left over from a wedding order but would look okay bunched up with some dark-orange gerbera and maybe some yellow carnations.Bitautumnal for this time of year but she couldn’t afford to waste stock.
‘Ithoughtthiswas your shopfront?’Jangestured to the shop floor crammed with elegant silver containers of cut flowers, acream-painted distressed dresser displaying scented candles and small gifts and the new acquisition, a greetings card rack.
‘Youdon’t understand.’
‘I’mhappy to have a look at the website for you,’Miaput in brightly.
‘Thanks.’Thereply was leaden.
‘Areyou all right,Daisy?’JanhandedFleurtoMia. ‘Findher some water, would you, my lovely?Andthen be an angel and pop to the post office.Weneed second-class stamps.’Mialooked from mother to daughter and took the hint.Jancame to her daughter and gently took the long-stemmed roses out of her hands. ‘Letme do those, you’re mashing the bottoms.They’llbe good for nothing.’
Daisyflopped onto the stool. ‘I’mfine.’Shestared at her feet, hands dangling loosely between her knees.
‘YesIcan see.Fineas mustard and twice as dandy.’Janput the roses to one side and took her daughter’s hands. ‘There’smore to life than work,Daisy.Lookat what it did to your father.Workedhimself to the bone and dead before fifty.Don’tbe like him, lovie.’
‘Iknow.’Daisyshook her off and rubbed at her eyes. ‘ButIhave a mortgage to pay, business rates, suppliers to keep happy whether or notIsell their stock.’Sheblew her fringe off her face. ‘Sometimesit gets to me.’Itwasn’t the total truth but heartache overRickandPete’sapparent lack of interest had compounded with her business worries and brought her low.
‘Ifit’s money you’re worried about,Ican chip in to help.’
‘You’veonly got the cottage,Iwouldn’t dream of it.’
Janshrugged. ‘Icould always remortgage it.I’veoften thoughtIwould.Youknow, have some cash, go on a cruise.Investin my daughter’s business.’
‘No,’Daisysaid firmly. ‘Iam not taking your pension from you.You’vegotDrewandLuketo consider too,’ she added, mentioning her twin brothers.
‘Ifthey ever come back from working abroad.It’sabout time they settled down and provided me with some grandchildren.’
Daisymustered a smile.Thegrandchildren refrain was a regular one.Sheheaved a sigh. ‘Thingsaren’t that bad,Mum.I’mjust having one of those days, you know.Justhaving one of those weeks, to be honest.’
‘Iknow.’Jangave her a hug. ‘Butthe offer’s still there.Don’tbe too proud to accept help.Don’tbe like your–’
‘Father,’Daisyfinished. ‘Doyou miss him,Mum?’
‘OfcourseIdo.I’llnever stop missing him.’
‘Didyou ever think about remarrying?It’sbeen a long time, nearly seventeen years.YouknowIwouldn’t mind, not if he made you happy.’Daisypulled a face. ‘AtleastIdon’tthinkI’dmind, onceI’dreadjusted.’
‘Me?Remarry?’Jansaid, startled.Thengave a dry chuckle. ‘Don’tthink anyone else would put up with me.’Sheleaned against the counter, burying her nose in a bunch of freesias, inhaling their heady scent.Shewas silent for a moment, her mouth twisting. ‘Besides,IdoubtI’llever meet another man who will match up.’
Daisysaw the tears glistening. ‘I’msorry,Mum.I’mreally okay, you know.Thebusiness is doing okay too.I’mjust having a self-pity fest.Ididn’t mean to upset you by talking aboutDad.’
‘Youcan’t upset me by talking about your father.Hewas the love of my life.Imet him whenIwas sixteen and, from the minuteIset eyes on him, there was never anyone else for me.’
Daisygazed wistfully at the tray of buttonholes, all ready for a couple’s big day.Shewished she could kick herself out of this mood.Itwas unlike her but sometimes she felt her entire life was catering to other people’s most romantic days. ‘Doyou think there’s only one person for each of us?’
‘Idon’t know, my lovely.Ireally don’t know.Maybe.Maybe, if we’re lucky we get to find love again.Butdon’t take on so.’Janstraightened and became very busy. ‘I’mabsolutely all right.Ienjoy my life tremendously.’ShegaveDaisyanother hug. ‘Ihave the most wonderfully clever, hardworking daughter, a nice place to live and lots of friends.Alot of people can’t say the same.I’mvery lucky.’Shepaused, seeming to be on the verge of saying something important. ‘Daisy,I’ve–’
‘Yes,Mum?’Daisylooked at her.Herbrisk and matter-of-fact mother was unusually nervous. ‘Whatis it?’
‘Ohnothing.It’llwait.Cuppa?’
