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‘Yesplease.Cansqueeze a quick one in beforeIget going.’
Janwent into the back room. ‘Chocciedigestives too,Ithink.Weren’tyou going to go out with that chap you met in the pub?’ she called through. ‘Mightdo you good to have something else apart from work to concentrate on.’
Daisycould hear her rummaging about. ‘Hedidn’t ring me.Miasays school had been manic though.Endof term stuff, you know, plays, concerts, sports days, parents’ evenings.Iexpect he’s recuperating, andIdon’t blame him.Itused to take me at least two weeks to wind down and feel human again.’
Janpoked her head out. ‘Whois this man who has stood up my only-born daughter?Letme at him andI’lltear him off a strip.’Inthe backgroundFleuryelped in agreement.
Daisygiggled, her mother’s indignation finally cheering her up. ‘Hehasn’t got as far as standing me up.Hehasn’t even asked me out yet.Notproperly.’
‘Whatare you waiting for?Aren’twe living through the great age of equality?Ringhim up yourself, you loon.’
‘I’mnot sureIwant to.’Daisysat on the stool again.
‘Youdon’t think he’sTheOne?’Jancocked a hopeful eyebrow. ‘OrevenMrMight-be-The-One?Oreven aMrProvide-a-Poor-Old-Widow-with-GrandchildrenOne?’
‘Idon’t think he’s evenMrPotentially-a-Possible.’Daisypointed an accusing finger. ‘Anddon’t even get started on how much you’d like grandchildren.I’monly thirty-three,I’veplenty of time.’
‘Hateto worry you, lovie, butIhad you whenIwas twenty-five.Ithought there was plenty of time to have a whole football team but it never happened; yourDadandIwanted a big family.Don’ttake these things for granted.’
‘Inever knew you wanted more children.Weren’tthe three of us enough?’
‘Yes, well,’ her mother huffed. ‘Afterthe twins and then you,Iwanted another girl but it didn’t happen, soImade do with you.’
‘Jeez, thanks.’
‘You’rewelcome.So, if this teacher chappie isn’tTheOne, who is?You’vegot to flex those romance muscles sometime or they’ll wither and drop off.’Emergingfrom the office she stood implacable.Crossingher arms, she surveyed her daughter more closely. ‘Haveyou met someone,Daisy?Someonewho might be special?Isthat the real reason you’ve been so cranky this morning?Well, what’s going on?’Janpaused then gasped. ‘Ohno, it’s not another married man, is it?’
‘Getoff my back,Mum,’Daisyanswered, but softly.Shewas saved from further interrogation byMiareturning from the post office.
‘Sixbooklets of stamps, all second class as instructed andIpicked up some milk as we were running low.’Hernose twitched making the nose ring glint, obviously picking up on an atmosphere. ‘HaveImissed something?’
‘No, nothing at all.’Daisytook the milk from her and nodded to the front of the shop. ‘Customer,Mia.Couldyou deal?MugofVeryBerry?’
‘Ace.’Miagave the pair a troubled look and approached the customer. ‘CanIhelp you?Yes, these lisianthus are pretty, aren’t they?Ilike the deep-purple ones.Theylook really good with some cool green eucalyptus foliage and a spray of gypsophila.’
AsDaisyfollowed her mother into the back room, they heard the girl continue.
‘Didyou know they mean charisma?Oh, didn’tyou know flowers had meanings?Yes, lisianthus stands for charisma and congeniality.Nice, isn’t it?Yes, of courseI’llmake you up a bouquet.’
Daisytook the chocolate digestiveJanoffered and bit into it mournfully.Atthe beginning of the year she would have said she had no interest in romance whatsoever.Andnow, the unattainableRickhad turned that upside down.Shecouldn’t even get a bloke she wasn’t particularly bothered about to ring her for a date.Perhapsshe should help herself to some lisianthus.Ifanyone was in need of charisma, it was her.
Chapter Fourteen
Tohammer homeDaisy’sresolutely single status, the happiest couple inLullburyBaycame to their appointment to discuss wedding flowers.Honorwas glowing with so much happinessDaisydidn’t need to put on the shop’s lights andJago, who she could see was besotted by his fiancée, sat in the little back room sipping coffee.Theyshould have been irritating but the love radiating off them was overflowing and genuine.Eventhe hardest-hearted, most jaded florist couldn’t be cynical.
Wincing,Daisyglanced around the office with fresh eyes, thinking this was the next project; she could really do with a room where she could take clients to discuss flowers.SheknewHonorandJagopretty well so could get away with a meeting conducted over a ramshackle table with mismatched chairs, but it was hardly professional.She’dfelt awful discussing flower arrangements for a funeral in here recently.Overthe years the office had become more and more scruffy and cluttered, and it wasn’t the image she wanted to portray going forward with her business.Itwould have to do for now, until she reassessed her profit margins, and at leastJanhad worked her magic and it was clean.
Adoor led from the office to the walled garden beyond; herworkplace’s best kept secret.Ifonly she could afford a conservatory; it would be a suitably relaxing place to meet with clients.Hermind drifted asHonorandJagolooked through magazines for ideas.Shecould see it all now: tall ficus in enormousGreekpots, a leafy cheese plant or a delicate maidenhair fern.Anantique rug on the floor and some good quality rattan furniture with lots of squashy cushions, doors open to the garden with the sound of trickling water from a water feature somewhere.
Theimage arose so clearly, she could smell the earth in the pots and feel the warmth of the sun beating down on the conservatory roof.She’dalways considered expanding into selling more pot plants and it would be an ideal showcase.Sadly, the garden would have to stay as it was, underused and sadly neglected; she didn’t have the time nor the money to invest at the moment.Ifonly she had more confidence to spend more and take a chance on expansion.Whatwas the phrase?Speculateto accumulate?Fearmade her cautious and it was holding her back.
Atleast she’d finally decided on what to put either side of the front door of the shop.Twoelegantly trimmed lavender bushes with fluttering silver and navy ribbons currently stood outside.Theywere in flower and the scent wafted in on the sea breeze.Itwas very calming.Hermind flickered to the dresser on which stood small gifts like teddies and scented candles.Someluxurious hand cream might go well, perhaps aimed at gardening hands, healing and maybe lavender scented.Andshe liked the idea of selling bunting too.Severalcustomers had asked where they could get some, especially for big birthdays and baby showers which were becoming increasingly popular.Shemade a mental note to investigate some suppliers.
‘I’mso sorry, what did you say,Jago?Idrifted off there for a second.Ido apologise.’Shewas surprised it was the groom-to-be and not the mother of the bride who’d attended butJagowas a renowned glass artist so perhaps he had an interest in how things would look.
‘IsaidIdon’t think we really know where to begin.’Hegestured to the magazines.
Daisysmiled at him, entranced by his grass-green eyes.Hereally was a handsome man.Hesat, bunched up on the tiny chair, his knees up by his elbows.Aswell as being good-looking he was also tall and rangy.Fartoo tall for the chair she’d forced him to sit on.Bitingher lip she said, ‘Ido apologise for the room, it’s a little cramped.’
