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Aggieraised her eyes and blinked.StaringDaisydown, she said, ‘Iam obviously dealing with the hard of understanding here.Howyou ever run a business,I’llnever know.Andhere’s me listening toBrendaPearcewhen she recommended you.’
Daisyquailed against the barrage of derision. ‘I’msorry,Istill don’t follow.’
‘Areyou stupid, girl?DoIhave to spell it out?’
Daisynodded. ‘Yes,’ she squeaked.
‘Iwant you to do the flowers forGretel’sfuneral!’
‘You’rehaving a funeral?ForGretel?’
Aggieslammed down her fist, making the mugs jump.Sherose to her magnificent height of five feet ten and turned to go. ‘IseeIhave come to completely the wrong place.Ishall have words withBrenda.Shesaid you’d understand, be sympathetic.ButIcan see we were both labouring under a misapprehension.’
‘Aggie, please.Don’tgo.Comeand sit back down.Finishyour tea.Iunderstand completely now.Youtook me by surprise, that’s all.I’venever been asked to do flowers for a pet’s funeral before.’
Aggiestalled.Shetook in an almighty breath of indignation. ‘Thisis no pet,’ she thundered. ‘ThisisGretel.Shewas a member of the family.’Thenshe subsided, her shoulders began to shake and tears dripped.
‘Ofcourse.Ofcourse she was.I’mso terribly sorry for your loss.Pleasesit down, have a biscuit and more tea and we can discuss the arrangements.’ToDaisy’srelief,Aggiesat down.Oncethe storm of weeping had finished, tea drunk and half a packet of chocolate digestives devoured, she was calmer.
Daisypicked up her pen once more. ‘Now, tell me the details.’Shedidn’t know whether to laugh, or cry along withAggie.
‘Well,’Aggiesniffed, ‘her favourite colours were blue and purple.’
‘Blueand purple.’Daisybit the inside of her cheek to stop a laugh escaping and made a note.Thiswas possibly the most bizarre funeral order she’d ever taken.
‘Andshe liked hydrangeas.Shewas fond of a white rose too but only to nibble.DroveAustinmad, she did.Hespent hours in the garden and she’d come along and destroy all his hard work.’Aggie’sbottom lip quivered.
Daisy’sheart melted.Aggie’sgrief was palpable.Tomany, dogs were more important than people and this was obviously the case withGretel. ‘You’regoing to miss her so much.Weneed to make her funeral the best it can possibly be.So,’ she added, decisively, ‘tell me more.’
SomehowDaisyscrabbled together flowers forGretel’sfuneral.Ithad been very short notice.She’dhad to work late into the night and beg a favour fromJakob, her favouriteDutchsupplier, but she’d done it.Luckily, he was passing nearLullburyBayon his way north so he’d popped by and dropped off her special order request.
Thefollowing morningDaisyslipped into the church early and placed two elaborate arrangements on either side of the ornamental casket containingGretel’sashes.Alarge picture of theGermanShepherdstood proudly on top and a lump lodged unexpectedly in her throat.Theemotion caught her unawares.Janwas minding the shop and promised to meet her atAggieandAustin’shouse later, where there was to be a wake.Adog’s funeral wake was something not to be missed,Daisythought as she tweaked a rose back into position and went to find a place to sit.
Miaslid along the pew at the back of the rapidly filling church to join her. ‘Goingto be quite a turnout,’ she whispered,against the background of the organist playing ‘Pachelbel’sCanon’. ‘IseeVerityhas agreed to lead the memorial service.’
‘Don’tthink she had any choice.I’venever known anyone say no toAggieand live,’Daisyhissed back under her breath.
‘True.’
‘ButVerity’swonderful and an animal lover.Shewould have agreed to do it anyway.’
‘Iapprove of the flowers.’
‘Gretel’sfavourite colours apparently.’
Miagave her boss an incredulous look.
‘It’strue.Gretelloved blue and purple.’
‘Okay,’Miareplied, on a long, disbelieving breath. ‘Still,’ she shrugged, ‘heliotrope means devotion, the white roses are eternal love and the white poppies stand for consolation.’
‘Gladyou approve.Ihad to add some hydrangeas to bulk it all out.Aggieinsisted the arrangements be large and dramatic.’
‘Bitlike her then.’Miabegan to giggle.
‘Hush.Youcan’t laugh at a funeral.’
‘Noteven at a dog’s funeral?’
