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‘Afterwhat we got up to last night, if you haven’t sussedI’mmale yet,I’mseriously doubting your biology qualifications,Daisy.’Heraised an eyebrow suggestively.
Sheblushed even harder. ‘Don’tmake me think about sex at a time like this,’ she hissed, not quite quietly enough.
Apassing woman bent over a triangular walker struggling in the opposite direction heard them.Shestopped, struggling for breath and winked at them. ‘IfIhad a bonny lad likeRickon me arm,I’dthink about sex all the time!Haveyou got an older brother, my ’andsome?’ she cackled in a pronouncedDorsetburr. ‘Amuch older one?’
‘Sadlynot,’Rickreplied on a grin. ‘Onlysisters.Andyou know my heart belongs to you and you alone,Doreen.Icouldn’t bear to share you with any older brother.Howare you?’HeleftDaisy, went to the woman and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Areyou all right?Canyou manage?Areyou going far?’
‘I’llmanage just fine nowI’vehad a kiss off you, my gorgeous boy.Justoff to grab a cuppa and a slice of lemon drizzle.Makesure you get some, it’s the best cake they do here.’Shesmacked her lips together. ‘Delicious, it is.Mademy day, you have, youngRick, with that kiss.Givemy regards to your dad.He’son the patio with his fans all round him.’Sheshook her head and laughed again.
‘Iwill.’
‘Thosefor me?’Doreenasked, pointing at the bunch of creamy yellow and gold flowersDaisyhad brought forKeith.Sunflowers, and cream and bronze chrysanthemums.Thecolours of the best kind of mellow autumn day.
‘I’msorry, they’re not.I’vebrought them forRick’sdad.’Daisyfelt horribly guilty.Sheeased a sunflower out of the tissue paper and handed it over. ‘Ipromise the next timeIcomeI’llbring you some.Whatare your favourites?’
Doreentook it with glee and stuck it in her hair at a jaunty angle. ‘Notfussed, my lovely.Whenyou get to my age any bouquet that’s not going on your coffin is a bonus.’
Daisysmiled.Whata character.
‘Youtake care now.’RickgaveDoreena gentle hug. ‘We’llcome to see you soon.’
Theold woman didn’t hear, she was concentrating on pushing the walker uphill towards the vast conservatory from where the teas were being served.
Daisywent toRickand hugged his arm to her.Herheart had swelled watching the encounter. ‘Thatwas so lovely of you.’
‘Whatwas?’
‘Makingsuch a fuss over her.’
‘Doreen?She’sa fascinating character.Becomea friend.She’sninety-nine, can you believe?Completelyindomitable.Workedin munitions during the war and a shocking flirt.Hassome eye-opening stories.I’vebecome very fond of her asI’vespent so much time up here visitingDad.’
Howcould he be so nice?Asshe’d said to her mother, it was a much underrated and undervalued quality.Oncemore she counted her blessings that she had a man likeRickin her life. ‘IfIdidn’t love you before,Ilove you all the more now.’
Hestopped dead and stared at her, wonderingly. ‘That’sthe first time you’ve said it.’
Daisyfrowned. ‘What?’
‘Thatyou love me.’
Daisy’sthroat closed with emotion. ‘Isit?’Shegazed up at him. ‘Ido, you know.Ihave done for a long time, butIdidn’t think you were free.Ihad to fight against it for so longIthinkI’veforgotten to tell you.Ihad to really battle my feelings.Ithink that’s another reason whyIkept being so horrible to you.Self-defence,Isuppose.’
Hecupped a hand around the back of her neck and brought her close. ‘Promiseyou’ll neverstop saying it.’
Shegrinned back, giddy on love. ‘Ipromise.Now, come on, let’s get to your dad.I’mdying to hear all about the story behind the flowers.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Itturned out the group of ‘fans’ seated aroundKeithconsisted ofMiaand her boyfriendBen,Marion,JanandColin.They’dbrought alongFleurandKeithsat in splendour as the guest of honour, holding court with the little spaniel on his lap.Atable laden with tea things and an enormous cake had been placed next to them.
‘Rick, dear boy, come and join the party.’Keithwaved them over. ‘Andthis must beDaisy.’
Daisywent nearer.Fleurslipped offKeith’slap as he grasped one ofDaisy’shands in his. ‘Deargirl,Icannot tell you how much your flowers have meant to me.Ricksent me a photo every month soIcould see them on my darlingSusan’sgrave.Theywere perfect.Simplyperfect.’
‘AndIcan’t tell you how thrilledIam at meeting you at long last.Ididn’t thinkI’dever get to meet my mysteriousMrHamiltonandI’mso glad you liked the flowers.It’ssuch a pleasure to finally meet you.’Shebeamed at the man, an older and frailer version of his son.Sothis was ‘Walter’, the man who had ordered all those wonderfully meaningful bouquets accompanied by the snatches of poignant poetry.Hernerves fled as she gazed at hisuncomplicated cheerful face.Hishands were bony and gnarled but he still had a full head of thick hair which waved at the front in the same cowlickRickwas always flicking back.Thisis whatRickwould look like when he was in his eighties.ItgaveDaisya warm, solid swell of happiness that, with any luck, she’d be around to grow old with him. ‘Theseare for you.’Shehanded the sunflower bouquet over.
‘Mydarling girl, how wonderful.Boldand cheerful.Thankyou.’Keithsummoned a passing nurse, handing them to her. ‘Karen, be a dear and put these in water, would you?I’dbe most grateful.’
Karendimpled. ‘Foryou,Keith, anything.’
