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Daisyslid away from the counter, ideas going around crazily in her head.Itmight just work.Itmight just be the unique selling point she could use to steal custom from the nearby supermarket.Peoplewere getting all too used to picking up a ready-madebouquet along with their carrots and she could never compete with the mass purchase power and therefore the lower prices of big supermarkets.Somethinglike this would offer that distinctive personal touch little businesses like hers prided themselves on. ‘Youknow you could be onto something.’
‘CourseIam.I’mnot stupid, you know.’
‘Believeme,Inevereverthought you were stupid,Mia.’
‘Yeahyou did.Rightafter you clocked my nose ring.’
‘I, well–’Daisylet the sentence hang.Awash of guilt flooded her.ShehadprejudgedMiaand, worse, had made up her mind before even meeting her.Ithad been horrible of her and the girl hadn’t deserved it.Miacould be far too perceptive sometimes.Shewished she could let go of this fault but, no matter how hard she tried, it persisted.Shewasn’t proud of it.Shereally should take a chance on people but too often she remained cynical and expected the worst from them. ‘Okay,Iadmit the blue hair and the black leather did throw me a bit.Ihave a horrible habit of being suspicious about people.Ialso prejudge them and don’t give them a chance before getting to know them.It’smy worst fault.I’msorry.Idid prejudge you but, nowIknow you,I’mextremely glad we’re working together.Andit’s a fabulous idea to use the meanings of flowers to sell them.’
‘Whatmakes you so suspicious?’Miaasked curiously.
‘Idon’t know.’Daisyshrugged but she knew exactly what lay at its source.Aboyfriend who conveniently forgot to tell her he was married had something to do with it.She’dbelieved and trustedNevilleimplicitly and look where it had got her.Alittle prejudgment and cynicism would have come in handy with him.Shechanged the subject slightly. ‘So, do you really thinkMrHamilton’sorders all have hidden meanings?’
‘Couldhave.What’she ordered this month?’
‘Haven’topened it yet.Theinstructions said not to until the fifth, that’sMonday, and then deliver the flowers on the tenth of each month.It’sa bit annoying, to be honest.Itdoesn’t giveme much time to source something if he wants anything unusual.Imean, it’s all so prescriptive butIcan’t figure out why.It’sweird.’
Mia’seyes were as round as saucers.Shewiggled her fingers in excitement. ‘It’sever so thrilling.Isthere a message to go with the orders usually?’
‘Therewas last time.Itwas some poetryIthink.Theinstructions are odd too.Ihad to drop off the flowers and the note at the house and put them on the back porch.Itwas creepy.Althoughthere was a car in the driveway, it didn’t look as if anyone lived there.Emptywindows, you know?Whena house isn’t lived in.’
‘Itgets better and better.’Miashivered delicately. ‘Soyou didn’t seeWalterthen?’
‘Who?’
‘Walter, you know,MrHamilton.I’vedecided theWstands forWalter.’
‘Oh.’Daisylaughed.ShesupposedWalterwas as good a name as any. ‘No, there was no one at home.’Achill slid downDaisy’sspine at the memory of the big old house at the end ofWithycombeLane.Ithad unnerved her and she’d driven away as soon as she could. ‘Didn’tlook as if anyone lived there at all.ButI’dhazard a guess at it belonging to someone older.Nochildren’s swings in the garden and there was a walking frame in the kitchen.’
‘OpenJune’s,’Miasaid eagerly. ‘Goon, no one will know you’ve opened it early.Itmight be something unusual again and you don’t want to risk being late.’
Daisyleafed through the sealed envelopes until she came to the one markedJunein the same spidery old person’s handwriting.Ridiculouslyshe found her hands were shaking.Shewondered what to expect.Scanningthe letter inside she said, ‘Tulips,’ with a disappointed sigh.Afterall the build-up the order seemed low-key and ordinary. ‘Theymight be tricky this late in their season butJakob, my supplier in theNetherlands, might be able to supply some.Shame.Iwas hoping for something more exotic.’
Miawas reacting rather differently. ‘Forgetallthe practicalities.It’stulips!’Herface glowed. ‘Passion.Love.Passionatetrue love.Don’tyou see it’s a story!It’sa story of love.Lilacfor when they first met, for the beginning of their romance.Tulipsfor their growing passion.Oh,Daisy, it is romantic.Here’sWalterremembering his great love story.Whatcolour though?’
‘Why?’
Miacould hardly rein in her frustration. ‘Differentcolour tulips have different meanings.’
‘Really?’Daisygave her a disbelieving glance and scanned the note again. ‘Red, yellow and variegated.’
‘Oh!’Miaexclaimed, giving a little scream. ‘Heistelling us the story of their romance.Yellow– there is sunshine in your smile.Variegated– you have beautiful eyes and red, well, red means passion and a declaration of true love.’Sheclapped her hands together in ecstasy. ‘It’sso totally emosh.’
‘Holdon a minute.Aren’tyou getting a bit carried away?Hecould just like tulips and lilac.’
‘DaisyWiscombe,I’mashamed to call you my daughter,’Jancalled from the doorway. ‘Haveyou no romance in your soul?Ofcourse it’s a story and this bright girl has solved the mystery.AMrsHamiltondied at the beginning ofMarch, aged seventy-five – it’s here in the paper.’Janheld up a battered copy ofTheLullburyBayEcho.‘Ithought the name rang a bell.Itsays she’s survived by her husband and daughter.’
‘WalterHamiltonmust be her widower.Iwas right, heisreliving their romance.Aflower through the months, each with a special meaning for them.Ohit’s so lovely!’Mia’seyes sparkled with tears.
‘Actually,’Daisysaid suddenly, looking at the piece of paper which had fluttered out ofJune’sorder. ‘Mia, look at this.Thisis what’s going with the flowers this month.’Sheread the first few lines of the poem.
‘It’sElizabethBarrettBrowning,HowdoILovethee?Ican’t bear it, it’s so poignant.’Atthis,Miarushed out of the shop.
JanandDaisystared after her.
‘She’llcatch her death, it’s pouring out there,’Jansaid, practical as ever.
‘Oh,Mum.’Daisylaughed.
