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‘What?’
‘Nothing.’Daisywent into the office to make the call to her contact in theNetherlands.Beforedoing so, she read the rest of the poem. ‘Mia,’ she said with a sigh, the romance of it all easing into even her hardened heart. ‘Youmight just be right about all this.’
Chapter Three
Janknocked on the front door ofDaisy’sflat, calling out, ‘Onlyme.’
Daisylet her in.Theflat over the shop was tiny but all her own and she prized the privacy and independence it gave her.Todaythough, she didn’t mind her mum’s invasion. ‘Wheredid you park?’
‘Behindthe shop in the yard.Iblocked inPrimrose.Isthat okay, lovie?’
PrimrosewasDaisy’sancient work van and her only means of transport.So-called because she was bright yellow.Daisywould love a van liveried in the shop’s branded colours of silver and navy but wasn’t sure she could afford it. ‘Yeah, of course.I’veclosed up for today.’
‘Notlike you.Missingout on possible customers, but it’s always nice to go along together.’Janwrapped her scarf more securely around her neck. ‘Wrapup, chickadee.Coldwind coming off the sea this morning.It’llbe chilly down on the harbour.’
Daisyobeyed, lifting her best coat off the hooks behind the front door as a response to her mother’s warning.Itwas true, she disliked having to close the shop on a working day, but the annualBlessingof theBoatsceremony was something they’d always attended as a family when her father had been alive.Despitebeing a workaholic like her, he’d always insisted on taking the day off to go along.Then, they’d been a family of five.Now, with her older brothers working abroad, she’d kept up the tradition, even though it was just the two of them.Afew hours’ missed trade was trivial in comparison to how much it meant to her mum. ‘Doubtif there’ll be all that many customers around today.Toocold for tourists and most of the town will be at the ceremony.’Sheshrugged her coat on. ‘AndMia’sa bit too new to open the shop on her own just yet.’Shepeered at herself in the hall mirror. ‘Doyou think scarlet is the right colour?Ihaven’t got anything else that’s smart and warm.’
‘Youlook a picture.Andit’s not as if it’s a funeral.Mindyou, they’re naming the new boat and launching it today, don’t forget.Goingto be emotional for thePengethleys.’
AvrilPengethley, her daughterMerrynand adult sonJago, had moved intoLullburyBaythe previous year.Avril’shusband had died tragically whilst crewing for theRNLIand the new lifeboat was to be named after him.
Daisyglanced at her mum.Itwould be emotional for her too.Theceremony always madeJanteary as it stirred up memories of her own loss. ‘Itwill.’Shebit down on her own feelings and focused on the practical.Lookingaround, she found her cerise flowery-patterned gloves and tugged them on. ‘Still, there’s a wedding to look forward to later this year whenJagomarriesHonor, our esteemed and much-loved deputy head.’
‘Youstill on to do the flowers?’
Daisynodded, herding her mother out and locking the door. ‘Goingto be a huge wedding.Thinkmost of the town’s been invited, along withHonor’sfamily, and there’s quite a few of them too.’Shepatted her pockets checking for tissues and her phone.
‘Comealong,Daisy,’Jansaid impatiently. ‘Iwant to get a good spot.’
‘It’snot a spectator sport,Mum.’
‘It’sall right for you, you inherited your dad’s height.IfIget stuck at the backIwon’t see anything.’
Jandashed a quick hand across her eyes andDaisyknew the brusqueness covered up sadness.Shefollowed her mother down the outside steps at the rear of the shop and they turned left into an icy wind gusting up the high street.
‘Toldyou there was a cold wind,’Jansaid. ‘Comeon, let’s walk quickly, it’ll keep us warm.You’dnever think it was summer, would you?Theydelayed the ceremony as the weather was so bad butIdon’t think it’s much better today.’
Atthe cobbled square at the bottom of the high street, they turned right and marched along the promenade, heads down, following the crowds all heading in the same direction.Thewind blew spray off the sea and sand kicked up in little whirls.Daisyfelt she’d had an abrasive facial by the time they reached the harbour.Luckily, against the harbour wall and in amongst the crowd, it was slightly sheltered.
‘Look, there’sJamie.’Janwaved.
Jamiehad joined theWiscombefamily by marryingDaisy’scousin and was a stalwart of the volunteerRNLIcrew.
‘Ohand just look atJago.’Hermother put a hand to her throat and gasped. ‘It’snot going to be easy for him, bless.’
JagoPengethleystood, with the otherRNLIcrew.Allwere kitted out in uniform, as if about to go on a “shout” in a yellow which glowed blindingly bright in the sunshine against the contrast of their red life-saving vests.Allstood to attention in a line in front of the new lifeboat.Jago, rigid in the face and staring into the distance, was obviously trying to keep his emotions in check.Theboat, on its tractor launch, was poised high on the slipway behind them.Representativesfrom theSeaScouts, marines smart in dress uniforms from the base in nearbyLympstoneand town councillors stood in formation behind a table bearing three floral wreaths and draped with theUnionflag.
‘Lovelyjob on the flowers,Daisy,’ her mother whispered as she took a programme of service off one of the youngSeaScoutswho was handing them out.
‘Thanks,Mum.’Daisywas proud of the three wreaths she’d made, all in crimson roses and sunshine-yellow lilies to reflect theRNLIworking kit.
‘Alwaysfind theBlessingof theBoatsceremony so moving.’Janfished out a tissue and dabbed at her eyes.
‘Metoo,Mum, me too.’Daisyknew her mum was thinking of their own bereavement.Shegave her a quick hug and then put an arm through her mother’s.
Theday was flawlessly blue.Ahard light bounced off a sea frothing with waves.Gullscackled and crooned above their heads, the wind lifting them off and over the churning water.Snow-white clouds scudded across the sky and the air was fresh with salty ozone and invigorating.Acrystalline-clear day, the orange-ginger-biscuit cliffs atWestBaywere clearly visible and the lighthouse atPortlandcould be seen on the distant eastern horizon.Daisydrank in a deep breath feeling the fresh air chill her insides.Sheloved her little town on days like this.Arough sea made her come alive; it blew the dust of the shop office out of her lungs.Italso served as a reminder as to why they needed a lifeboat station in town;LullburyBay’swaters were beautiful but deceptively treacherous.Althoughher dad had been a landlubber, he’d always been a staunch supporter of theirRNLIand she was glad to be so too.
Verity, their vicar, huggedAvrilandMerrynPengethleyand led them to the table where they sat as the guests of honour.Avrillooked tense and pinched with cold butMerryn, her dark curls dancing, looked to be having the time of her life, completely unfazed by the solemnity of the occasion.
