Scamp squeezed in front of me, pranced on the spot and dropped the bone again.
‘Nooo,’ I moaned in despair and reversed back into the shop, lowering the stand to the floor. ‘That’s it. I’m phoning Battersea Dogs’ Home. You’ll have to go.’
The sound of warm laughter made me spin around; Sam was leaning in the doorway, sunlight in his hair, his blue eyes twinkling with humour. He was all in black: smart trousers and shirt rolled up at his wrists to reveal his tanned forearms. My heart gave a little leap.
Rubber bone forgotten in an instant, Scamp greeted him enthusiastically, jumping up and sniffing his pockets for possible treasure.
‘Don’t listen, Scamp,’ he said, covering the dog’s ears and pressing a kiss to his head. ‘She loves you really.’
Lucky dog.
‘That’s debatable,’ I said, sternly. ‘It’s tough going on my own as it is without him throwing obstacles in my path.’
‘Here, let me help.’ Sam picked up two of the racks at once and set them down outside.
‘With pleasure.’ I followed behind with trays of plants and between us we got the job done in a fraction of the time it would have taken me.
‘Thanks,’ I said, brushing loose soil from the sleeve of his shirt. ‘Not that I’m a feeble female who can’t cope without a man.’
We were standing at the front of the shop in a patch of sunshine. Scamp was lying in the doorway, chin on paws, watching us.
‘I know that.’ He gave me a lopsided smile. ‘But some things are better with two.’
‘Agreed.’
He held my gaze and my heart thumped. I returned his smile, thinking of several things which could fall into that category, but I gave myself a shake. Sam was taken, he was married to Pandora. Even if she didn’t deserve him.
Sam yawned and clapped a hand over his mouth, mortified. ‘I’m so sorry. How rude of me. I didn’t get much sleep last night.’
‘No worries,’ I said, not wanting to dwell on why that might have been. ‘Same here. I was up until the small hours planning a flower scheme for the Claybourne Hotel.’
‘Your meeting went well then?’ Sam’s face split into a smile. ‘That’s great news!’
‘At this rate, I’ll need an assistant before Nina gets back. I’m shattered already and she’s been gone less than a week.’
‘I was up late as well, decorating.’ He showed me his hands. There was paint ingrained under his fingernails. ‘I’d forgotten what a taskmaster Pandora is.’
I raised my eyebrows. ‘So you’ve moved back in?’
He shook his head, scraping at the dried paint with his fingernail. ‘Not yet. Pandora thinks it’ll unsettle the kids. She’s probably right.’
There was something about his tone that made me think he wasn’t one hundred per cent convinced about Pandora’s strategy. Or maybe he was just keen to be living under the same roof as them all again. I wondered what she’d said to him about the flowers she’d received from her admirer. And most importantly, what was she playing at, pretending to be at yoga when she had someone as kind and caring as Sam waiting at home for her?
Sam yawned again and we both laughed.
‘Perhaps we should both get an early night tonight,’ I suggested.
‘I appreciate the offer but …’ He quirked an eyebrow.
‘No, no, I didn’t mean it like that!’ My hands flew to my face and I laughed, embarrassed.
‘I’m only teasing you.’ He smiled and squeezed my arm gently.
I knew he was only being friendly, but my heart still quickened at the sensation of his fingers on my skin. This was ridiculous; I had to get my feelings under control. It was either that or avoid his company completely and I didn’t want to lose him as a friend.
Just then the door to the café opened and Rosie appeared wearing a T-shirt stretched over her bump and carrying a cloth and a towel. Sam dropped his hand from my arm casually and put his hands in his pockets. Scamp padded over to her.
‘Morning! Another hot one, I reckon.’ Rosie’s tummy was getting so big that she struggled to bend and stroke Scamp’s head. ‘You look pink already, Fearne.’
‘It’s thirsty work setting up for the day.’ I could feel my face burning, but it had absolutely nothing to do with the weather. ‘Have you got the coffee on yet?’
‘Patience, patience! I need to dry the morning dew off the tables and chairs first.’ She leaned on the back of one of the chairs and puffed her cheeks out. ‘And then I’ll probably need another sit down.’
‘Sit down now,’ said Sam, pulling a chair out for her. ‘We’ll dry the tables.’
‘I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself,’ she protested but I took her cloths and Sam gently persuaded her to sit. She sank down with a sigh. ‘Oh all right then, thank you.’
Sam began drying the tables and I dried the chairs.
‘While I’ve got you,’ she said, lifting her feet up onto the chair I’d just dried, ‘what do you think of baby showers – cheesy or cute?’
I wrinkled my nose. ‘I’ve never been to one, isn’t it just like a hen party but without the booze?’
‘I suppose.’ She smoothed her hands over her stomach. ‘Although I was sober at my hen party and my wedding and last Christmas. So I’m getting used to it.’
‘Pandora had baby showers for both of her pregnancies,’ said Sam. ‘She held them in the hotel we got married in and neither of them were sober affairs, or cheap.’
Another strike against Sam’s wife; it would be so much easier to put him out of my mind if I thought she was a wonderful woman. Then I could resign myself to simply being a friend. But as it was, I’d probably always carry an unrequited torch for him. It was so unfair. I groaned aloud.
‘Broke a nail,’ I said vaguely as Sam and Rosie looked at me.
‘I don’t want a posh do,’ Rosie continued, inspecting her own nails, ‘and I don’t want people spending money on me; but I thought maybe a few friends at home would be fun.’
‘Or you could have it here in the café,’ I suggested. ‘That way there’ll be no tidying up to do afterwards.’
She grinned. ‘I like your style.’
‘And involve the grandmothers-to-be,’ said Sam, drying the last table. ‘They love all that stuff, feeling part of it. It’s important.’
His lips pressed into a line and I just knew that Pandora hadn’t invited her mother-in-law to either of her baby showers. I hid a smile; I was doing it again – demonising her. Poor woman, if I ever met her I’d be expecting her to have horns and a red tail. She couldn’t be that bad, not if Sam loved her.
‘Good thinking. The baby will be here next month; I can’t wait, obviously, but a part of me thinks it would be nice to be made a fuss over one last time before he or she arrives and steals the limelight for the rest of my life. Right, that’s settled then.’ Rosie heaved herself off the chair. ‘Thanks for the advice. I’m going to go and invite everyone. You’ll come I hope, Fearne?’
‘I’d love to,’ I said, amused. ‘I’ll be in in a minute for my coffee.’
‘Two coffees coming up. On the house.’ She collected the damp towels.
Sam and I looked at each other after she’d gone in and laughed.
‘I get the feeling she’d already made that decision before asking us,’ I said.
‘Story of my life,’ Sam muttered under his breath. He looked at his watch. ‘Crikey, look at the time, and I haven’t even got around to the reason I came yet. Have you got your diary handy?’
‘It’s on the counter.’ I was intrigued. I clicked my fingers to Scamp and the three of us went back inside.
‘That bouquet you helped me make. Could you do it again, do you think?’ he asked, raking a hand through his hair.
‘You mean help you make something?’ I had to hand it to him, he was certainly dedicated to her.
Sam nodded. ‘But not just me, the whole cricket team this time.’ He grinned. ‘Honestly, the stick I took off them for doing so
me flower arranging. And when Archie suggested getting together for a night out, somehow your name came up and suddenly everyone wants to learn how to make a bouquet.’
I was delighted at the idea; I’d enjoyed teaching Sam and if his team members were anything like him it would be fun – if a little cramped. ‘Are they all as broad as you?’ I nodded to the space around the work table.
His eyes crinkled with pleasure and he laughed. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment. But don’t worry, we’re used to squeezing up. You should see the size of our changing room.’
The thought of eleven men, all as attractive as him in one room delayed my response for a moment and Sam mistook my silence for reluctance.
‘And we’d want to pay you for your time and your expertise, not just for the flowers,’ he added hurriedly.
Teaching a group wasn’t something I’d done before, but this week seemed to be a week of firsts. He stared hopefully at me; how could I resist those blue eyes?
‘Would a Saturday night suit you?’
‘So you’ll do it? Thanks, Fearne.’ His eyes shone. ‘The lads will be chuffed.’
We flicked through the diary and found a Saturday night which had nothing written on it. If he noticed that actually none of my evenings had any engagements he didn’t mention it.
‘Obviously I’ll be besieged with offers of hot dates between now and then,’ I said, airily, ‘but don’t worry, I’ll turn them down.’
‘Thank you, you’re an absolute star!’ He grabbed my shoulders and planted a kiss on my cheek. ‘We’ve got a cricket match the next day, so we’ll be able to present them to the ladies as a thank you for always putting on a good spread at the cricket teas.’
How quintessentially quaint. My mind conjured up a summer’s day with the ladies cheering on their men before darting off to the pavilion to serve up cucumber sandwiches and bite-sized slices of quiche.
‘Even Pandora?’ The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. ‘Sorry. I mean … with you being separated for a while.’
‘Even Pandora.’ He stroked the side of his face and I got the impression he was hiding a smile. ‘Although admittedly our contribution generally comes from a certain upmarket supermarket. The summer is too short to be in the kitchen making your own sausage rolls, she reckons.’
‘I’m with her on that one,’ I said. Finally, something she and I agreed on. ‘Well, the cricket team’s floral workshop is in the diary. So it’s a date.’
Scamp leapt to his feet with an excited yap and Sam and I turned to find Biddy hovering at the door.
‘Ooh,’ said Biddy, beaming. ‘A romantic liaison? How thrilling.’
‘That’s right, Biddy,’ I grinned. ‘I’ve got a date with an entire cricket team.’
‘Ah, those were the days.’ She winked at Sam cheekily.
‘Biddy, you dark horse!’ I exclaimed, introducing them to each other.
‘That sounds like a story I should stay and listen to,’ he said with a grin. ‘But I’ve got an appointment with another troublesome tenant.’
‘Another one? I hope you’re not lumping me in that category?’ I pretended to be affronted.
‘Not at all,’ he said. ‘At least not any more.’
Just then Lucas’s excited face appeared at the window before he burst into the shop.
‘The most romantic thing ever has just happened in the gift shop,’ he cried, fanning his face with his hand. ‘I’ve got to tell you or I’ll explode.’
Sam laughed. ‘Now I really want to stay. Fearne, you have all the fun in this place but I must go; please excuse me, everyone.’ He bent down to Scamp’s bed to say goodbye and walked to the door. ‘See you a week on Saturday.’
‘Oh, I almost forgot!’ He stopped and dug down into his back pocket. ‘Remember I told you about that special rub I do?’
‘Ooh?’ Biddy’s eyes twinkled. ‘Like bowlers do with their cricket balls?’
Sam threw his head back and laughed. ‘No, not quite.’
‘Um, no I don’t think I do,’ I replied, willing my face not to flush under Biddy’s curious gaze.
‘I don’t either but I’m all ears,’ Lucas murmured, resting his forearms on the counter.
‘For meat cooked on the barbeque?’ Sam pulled out a parcel of aluminium foil. His face lit up, just as it had when he’d enthused about the honey. It was clear to see where his passion lay. ‘I’ve been playing about with the flavours and thought you’d like to try some. This has got smoked paprika and ground chipotle chilli flakes in it. Here you go, honest feedback welcome.’
‘Thank you, that’s so sweet of you.’ I took it from him. It was warm and bent where it had moulded itself to the shape of his body and a ripple of longing ran through me as I flattened it between my palms.
‘I hope you like it,’ he smiled again. ‘Bye for now.’
‘Goodbye!’ Lucas and Biddy chimed.
‘Bye, Sam,’ I waved a hand as he left the shop and crossed the green towards his car.
Our barbecue hadn’t been fired up since last summer. I’d invited the girls from the book club over and Freddie had joined us later and hoovered up everything we hadn’t eaten. That had been a good day.
Biddy sighed. ‘Goodness me. I wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating crackers.’
‘Neither would I,’ said Lucas wickedly, momentarily distracted from his story.
‘Goodness me, Biddy,’ I said pretending to be shocked. ‘I thought you only had eyes for your animals.’
I was very fond of the pet shop owner; I’d assumed she was single because she’d never mentioned anyone else and didn’t wear a ring. But she certainly wasn’t blind to Sam’s charms.
‘I’ve had my moments.’ She patted her hair.
‘Ooh and talking of moments,’ gasped Lucas, ‘can I just tell you what happened?’
Biddy bit her lip. ‘Actually, I need some flowers and I’m in a bit of a rush; one of my piggies is due any moment. Guinea pig,’ she clarified, seeing our blank expressions. ‘Pregnant. Gorgeous thing, glossy dark hair and a lot to say for herself. Reminds me a bit of Rosie, perhaps I’ll give her one of the babies as a present, tie a pink or blue ribbon around its neck.’
Just what every new mother needs, I thought.
Lucas patted her arm. ‘Dear Biddy, you have a heart of gold, but another live creature in the house might not be the best gift for Rosie, although doubtless Noah and Hugo the dog will approve. No, I have a delightful line of Beatrix Potter soft animals, I’ll give you a generous discount. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with Peter Rabbit and Friends.’
Biddy looked surprised. ‘Are you sure?’
‘He’s right, Biddy,’ I said carefully. ‘So. Flowers?’
‘Yes please. I’m having supper with a friend. And I thought I’d take her some flowers. Nothing complicated … you know.’ She gazed around the shop. I recognised that look. It was a where do I start? look.
I helped her choose some peonies and anemones.
‘Let me wrap them,’ Lucas insisted, heading for the drawer where we kept the ribbon. ‘You’ll be amazed at my triple bows.’
While Biddy was counting out the right money, I quickly selected a bunch of sweet-scented stocks.
‘And these are for you, to say thank you for looking after Scamp the other day.’ I handed them to her.
‘Oh gosh. Any time!’ She beamed shyly. ‘These are divine. It’s years since anyone gave me flowers. Used to have a bouquet from here every week. Not a bunch you understand, a bouquet.’
‘So what changed?’ I asked.
‘Everything.’ Biddy frowned and sighed and looked like she was in the middle of an internal battle. ‘Oh, sod it. I might as well tell you, it was years ago now and it isn’t as if I’d upset anybody by being indiscreet.’
Lucas looked up from curling ribbon with a pair of scissors. ‘This story is in danger of outdoing mine. If I ever get the chance to tell it.’
‘Ignore him, Biddy and do tell, it won�
��t go any further, I promise.’
Biddy took a deep breath. ‘For a while I had a lover. There, I’ve said it. I had a lover and he bought me flowers and for eighteen months I was the happiest woman in the world.’
Lucas punched the air. ‘You go, girl!’
‘And then?’ I prompted.
‘And then it was over,’ she said flatly. ‘We had it all planned. We were going to be together but disaster struck.’
‘Oh no!’ Lucas bit his lip. He joined us at the counter and folded his arms.
She leaned forward and I caught the smell of marrowbone and rawhide dog chews on her clothes. ‘Dementia.’
My heart melted for her. ‘I’m sorry, Biddy. Did he … did he forget you?’
‘Never,’ she said stoutly. ‘We could never forget each other, I’m sure of that. It was his wife who got dementia. She was a horrible bully. He came into my pet shop to see if I knew of anyone selling a kitten. He’d wanted someone to love, he’d said. Poor soul; I’ve kept chickens all my life and I’d never met anyone as henpecked as Nigel.’
‘She sounds awful,’ said Lucas crossly.
‘I’ve never told anyone his name. And then whoosh, out it comes.’ Biddy slapped a hand over her mouth, looking horrified.
I tapped the side of my nose. ‘Don’t think any more about it. Florists are the best keepers of secrets. I won’t say a word.’
Lucas mimed zipping his lips. ‘Ditto.’
Biddy blew out a shaky breath. ‘Thank you. I know falling in love with a married man was wrong. It started off innocently enough and it took us both by surprise: I’d been single since a messy divorce and I was lonely and he was in a lonely marriage. We became friends and then one day out of the blue, Nina came round with the most beautiful flowers for me. The card said just ‘from an admirer’ but I knew it was him. And from then on …’ She blushed daintily. ‘Our romance blossomed. Happiest time of my life. Right up until she got ill.’
‘Have you never been tempted to look him up, see how he is?’ I asked.
She shook her head fervently. ‘No. Wouldn’t be fair. We made a clean break. He’d never leave her when she needed him. No matter how hard it was to live with her once she became ill. He’d never have forgiven himself.’
My Kind of Happy - Part Three: A new feel-good, funny serial from the Sunday Times bestseller Page 3
