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‘Hesaid he had a couple of hours’ drive ahead of him so he could be fromLondon.’
‘Notlocal then.’Marion’slip curled. ‘Shame.Wecould do with some excitement around here in the shape of a hunky man.Nota weekender if he was going home on aFriday.’
‘Hedidn’t give the impression of being a tourist either.’
‘Maybehe was scouting the place out for a business venture?Orhe’s moving out to the countryside and is looking to see what bargainsWestDorsethas to offer?’
Daisylaughed. ‘He’llhave to look hard then.Housescost an arm and a leg around here.’
‘You’reso right there.’Marionsubsided.Shepicked at a corner of the white wrapping paper stacked up in a wodge on the counter. ‘Don’tthink we could get a new five-bed for the money they want nowadays.That’swhatIwas chatting toEllieabout.’
‘You’renot thinking of moving away?’Marioncould be irritating butDaisywas fond of her.
‘Don’tthink so, darling.Willwait until the kiddiwinks are off our hands but it’s always good to keep an eye on the market.You’reso lucky you’ve got the flat upstairs, you know.’Shepouted, returning to the subject close to her heart. ‘Ifhe lives inLondon, doubt we’ll be seeing him again.’
‘Oh, you never know,’Daisysaid, wickedly. ‘Maybehe likedLullburyBayso much, he’ll come back for a holiday.Andbring his girlfriend!’Asone of their regulars, pensionerAustinstrolled in with his elderlyGermanShepherdat his side, she added wickedly, ‘Look, here’s one ofLullburyBay’ssexy hunks now.’
Marion’shead jerked round in expectation. ‘WhatdidIsay?’ she muttered, as she saw who it was. ‘Toosharp by half.You’llnever get a man.Hello,Austindarling.YourAggieout of hospital yet?Oh, that’s such good news.Whatabout a super bunch of flowers to help her feel better?We’vesome gorgeous roses thatDaisyhere has just prepared.Ican put some scrummy lilies in with them to make it really special and some ferns too.IknowAggiewill adore them.’Shegiggled. ‘Andyou’ll get lots ofBrowniepoints.’
Daisywatched the exchange with amusement.Shecould forgiveMariona lot.Thewoman was a genius at upselling.
Overthe next few days, however,MariondroveDaisymad.WithBrittanyat a friend’s villa inCorsicaandCassiusnow backpacking aroundEurope, she had time on her hands.Shehad decided to make ‘GetDaisyaMan’ her pet project.Notonly did she forceDaisyout to the pub on a work night, she tried to convince her to try out a club inDorchester.Theevening, sitting in the beer garden outsideTheToadandFlamingohad actually been quite pleasant, althoughDaisyhad fallen asleep over her third glass of wine.However, she firmly drew the line at the nightclub, even in the face of claims she was, ‘Soboring!’
Marionalso insisted she kept spottingMrSpurs.Oncein the supermarket, once stuck in traffic lights at the top of the high street driving a sporty convertible, and once looking into the window ofBerry-Francisthe estate agents.
‘Itoldyou he’s house-hunting,’ she breathed excitedly toMia, who had dropped into the shop on the way to her other job, a shiftat the supermarket. ‘Keepa look out for him, won’t you, when you’re at work.’
‘It’llbe a bit tricky seeing asIhave no idea what he looks like,Marion.’
Theolder woman flapped her hands. ‘Tall, dark, well-dressed.’
‘Narrowsit down.’Miawinked atDaisy.
‘Tellyou what,Mia,I’llget some cards printed withSingleandDesperateand my phone number and you can hand them out to any eligible man who passes through your till.’
Mariontapped her handsomely capped teeth with aBiro. ‘Youknow, darling, that’s not such a bad idea.’
‘Marion!’DaisyandMiayelled in unison.
‘Whatabout speed dating then?Datingwebsites?Oohyes,’Marionsaid, getting into her stride. ‘Datingwebsites!Mustbe an absolute load of men looking on those.I’llsign you up for a few.’
‘Andall distinctly dodgy so don’t you dare!’Daisysaid. ‘I’mnot sure whatIhave to say to convince you butIam perfectly happy beingOn.My.Own.’Shesaid it with emphasis but the image ofMrSpursflitted into her mind, with those lovely sardonic eyebrows and the humorous gleam in his dark eyes and she wondered if she really felt that way anymore.Thedebacle that wasNevillewas five years ago now and she’d been on her own ever since.Maybeit was time to start dating again?Buthow?Shehated the idea of nightclubs and always had, and didn’t think the answer lay in dating sites.Tochange the subject, she addressedMia. ‘You’relooking very different today.’
Itwas true.Gonewas the blue hair rinse and nose ring.Theonly sign of the oldMiawere the multiple silver rings on each finger and a subtle diamanté stud in her left nostril.Shewas also dressed differently.Muchmore soberly, in a nondescript denim skirt and blue vest top.
Shesmoothed down the skirt with distaste. ‘Theseare the only clothesI’vegot whichIthought suitable.’
‘Hasthe supermarket introduced a dress code?’Daisyasked.
‘Nah, as long asI’mdoing the job okay, they’re cool.I’vejust come from an interview at the school.Theprimary school that is.Don’tthinkI’mready to set foot in the grammar yet.’
‘Assomeone who used to teach there,Iknow how you feel,’Daisymurmured sympathetically. ‘AndMrsArnoldis a touch on the conservative side, isn’t she?’ she added, referring to the headteacher at the primary school.
‘Isn’toldHartstill head of the primary?’Marionasked. ‘He’sbeen there years.Iswear he was head whenIwas there.’
‘Hardlylikely,Marion, that was forty-odd years ago.’
‘Well, thank you very much,Daisy, for reminding me of my age,’ she answered, feathers ruffled. ‘Hewas head whenBritwas there,I’msure.’
