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‘Goback toFran,Neville.Inever want to see you again.’Daisydidn’t mean to wave the secateurs in his face but they were getting heavy and making her wrist ache.Sheonly meant to swap hands.
Nevilleraised his fist. ‘I’llhave you for assault.I’llget the police onto you, you see ifIdon’t!’
‘Ohplease,’Daisybit out. ‘Ihaven’t touched you.Goaway and leave me alone!Imight have been stupid enough to go out with you whenIwas young and lacking in self-confidence, butI’vegrown up a lot over the last five years,Neville.I’ma strong, independent, successful businesswoman, why wouldIhave anything to do with someone like you?’Fora momentDaisythought she’d gone too far.Neville’sface flushed puce; he was on the edge of losing it.She’dforgotten his temper too.
‘Youheard whatDaisysaid.Pleasebe so good as to leave.’Jakobstepped towardsNeville, still huggingDaisyto him.
Nevilledid a strange shrugging, wiggling motion with his shoulders. ‘Youthreatened me with those,’ he pointed loosely at the secateurs, ‘things.’
‘Idid no such thing.Forthe last time, go away orI’llreportyoufor harassment.’Outof the corner of her eye she spottedRicklooking pinched with concern.
‘Assault, that’s what it is.Andit’ll be my word against yours.’Hestill sounded threatening but some of the fire had gone from his words now he was faced with six foot three of blondDutchmanand a gloweringRick.
‘Areyou all right,Daisy?’Rickasked. ‘Doyou need any help?’Heglared atNeville. ‘I’mhappy to be a witness to the fact you haven’t touched this man.’
‘Iwill be, also,’ addedJakob.
‘I’llsay this for the last time,’Daisysaid toNeville. ‘Goaway orI’llcall the police.’
Nevillelooked at a well-muscled and fit-lookingRick, toJakob, still with a protective arm aroundDaisy, threw up his hands in angry defeat and marched off down the hill.Atleast he wouldhave done.JustoutsideTheOldSchoolKitchenone of his leather flip-flops came off and he had to stop and adjust it.
Daisy,RickandJakobwatched his hobbling progress until he’d turned into the cobbled square which led to the promenade and was safely out of sight.Forthe first time in their encounterDaisywondered ifNevillehad been entirely sober.Surelyhe hadn’t always been quite so awful and aggressive?Shefelt a pang of concern forFran.
Rickrubbed a puzzled hand across the back of his neck. ‘Areyou sure you’re all right,Daisy?’ he repeated. ‘Whatwas that all about?’
Nowit was all over, adrenaline leaked out.Daisy’sknees began to wobble, and she was very glad ofJakob’sarm holding her strong.Shestared atRick, pride not allowing her to cry in front of him again. ‘I’mfine,Rick.Itwas all something and nothing.’
‘Areyou sure?You’reashen.’
‘IsaidI’mfine,’ she bit out, frustration and reaction setting in. ‘AndIam.Besides, it’s none of your business.’
‘No,Idon’t suppose it is.’Hisvoice was thin with sadness. ‘Look, is there a chance we could talk?Notnow obviously–’
Daisycouldn’t take anymore.Hereyes filled with tears andRick’simage, in his pale-green polo shirt and khaki shorts blurred.Anotherman who had a partner he seemed happy to cheat on. ‘Notnow,Rick.’Sheturned away. ‘Maybenot ever.’
‘Come, come,I’llmake tea,’Jakobsaid and led her inside.Heshut the shop door firmly inRick’sface.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jan’s bouquet
Red roses – Rosa spp.
Love, passion, romance, eternal and long-lasting love.
Poppy – Papaver spp.
Eternal sleep.
Calla Lily – Zantedeschia aethiopica
Rebirth, new beginnings.
Justat the end of theAugustBankHolidaywhen the hot summer was turning dry and dusty and leaves began curling down into crispy heaps,DaisyandJanvisitedRod’sgrave to lay a bouquet.
Janhad wanted red roses but also some calla lilies.Daisyhadn’t liked the red and white combination; the lilies always reminded her of her father’s funeral, but she had wanted to please her mother more.She’dadded some white gerbera, and vibrant scarlet papery poppies to represent her dad’s birth month ofAugust.Featheryferns and glossy bay laurel gave the bouquet a rich opulent look.
Janarranged the flowers in the holder whileDaisyfound the watering can and filled the receptacle.Thegerberas wouldn’tlast long but the roses were in bud and would slowly bloom.Sheleft her mum to her thoughts at the graveside and found the bench she had sat on when talking toRick.Shefelt uneasy about how rude she’d been to him when he’d tried to help her withNeville, but she had been so overwhelmed with the situation she hadn’t been able to think clearly.
