‘True,’ I said pretending to think about it. I slipped my hand out from under his and reached for my mobile.
‘What are you doing now?’
‘Winning.’ I twinkled my eyes at him and scrolled until I came to the number for the Wisteria Cottage Flower School. I pressed call. ‘Fiona? Hi, Fearne Lovage here, just wondering if you’d be able to use three dozen avalanche roses? Cancelled order. I know. Very annoying. Two dozen? Absolutely. Fantastic! I’ll get my driver to bring them over.’
I sorted out the details, negotiated a price which pleased us both and ended the call.
‘Your driver?’ Sam said, impressed.
I giggled and handed him a piece of paper with Fiona’s address on it. ‘I’d hurry if I were you, I’m winning already.’
Sam got to his feet, shaking his head in amusement. ‘Sneaky, Very sneaky.’
Within a couple of hours my blood pressure had almost returned to normal. I was still knee deep in flowers but the friendly banter I had with Sam all morning had made the situation infinitely more bearable. He hadn’t been lying when he said he was good at selling. Even before he set off with the roses to Fiona’s flower school, he’d managed to sell two of the biggest arrangements to a football club. He also spread the word about our newly-created buy one bouquet, get a second half-price offer through his contacts which included his cricket team friend, the journalist, who had two thousand followers on twitter. Meanwhile I put in a call to Victor, who kindly managed to resell three boxes of spray roses to another of his customers in Derby.
As soon as Sam had gone, I dismantled some of the other arrangements and repurposed the flowers to make smaller, more saleable ones. Before long the phone was ringing with brand new customers putting their orders in for two bouquets. My heart was singing and even though my back was stiff and my fingers were sore from having them in water on and off for so long, I was euphoric and my cheeks were aching from so much smiling. At noon, I popped Scamp on his lead and took him for a quick leg-stretch on the green.
Scamp spotted a West Highland terrier he knew called Archie and went off to say hello and I took my phone out. I’d texted Laura earlier to tell her about Edelweiss, now I ought to let her know that the day wasn’t a disaster at all. My call went to voicemail, I left her a message telling her about mine and Sam’s challenge and seconds later a text appeared from her.
Can’t talk at the mo, taking Dad to hospital. Glad it worked out. And VERY excited that Sam is helping you. Loser buys dinner ? Sounds like you win either way. GO FEARNE ! Xx
Oh ? Hope he’s OK ?
Yep. Routine stuff apparently. Tell me more about SAM ? ? ?
Glad to hear it, give him a kiss from me. Sam is … gorgeous *sigh*
I KNEW IT ! !
I’m falling for him big time. But the timing is all wrong.
Forget timing, forget soul-searching. Go for it. Life’s too short for anything else, honey.
But what about his wife ?
EX WIFE. You are overthinking this. Do what makes you happy. Got to go. Will call you later. Big hugs x
My heart gave a little leap when I read this one. Perhaps she was right. Maybe I could just relax and see where it went. As Freddie would say: we get to choose who we love. I had a feeling that my heart had already chosen Sam.
By three o’clock, I realised I’d hardly stopped smiling all day. Somehow, the very worst day had turned into one of the very best and at the heart of it was the fun I’d had working with Sam. Between us we’d created and delivered more flowers today than I imagined the shop had ever done in its five-year history. I’d also learned a valuable lesson about securing payment upfront for large orders – if I even bothered chasing corporate business in the future, that was. Right now, I was revelling in the happiness that our flowers were giving our customers; seeing someone’s joy when they buried their face in one of my bouquets was such a good feeling. Nina had been spot on about that.
‘I’m winning, aren’t I?’ Sam was keeping score on a piece of paper. ‘Admit it. I am Sir Alan’s apprentice.’
‘Is Rosie’s last-minute order for tonight’s baby shower on there?’ I hid my smile, knowing it wasn’t. ‘It’s in the cold store waiting for you to deliver when you have a moment.’
Sam muttered under his breath about cheats and then sucked in air. ‘OK, fine, you’re currently ahead by a whisker.’
‘I’m just glad we’ve sold them. The main thing I was worried about,’ I said, tying raffia around some flowers headed for the bistro in Chesterfield where Sam used to work, ‘was not having enough money to pay the next rent instalment.’
‘Oh, yeah,’ he replied straight-faced. ‘Having that dreadful Sam Diamond chasing you for money is the pits.’
‘The worst,’ I agreed with a cheeky smile.
Thanks to Sam’s tireless tenacity, we’d almost recouped the shop’s investment. Most of the Edelweiss flowers had been resold; I still had a stack of orders to make up but Sam had offered to do the deliveries for me this afternoon which would really help.
‘If you don’t mind a car with Hogg Property Services on the side of it turning up at customers’ houses, that is?’
I looked at him, surprised. ‘’Course not.’
‘Pandora refused to go anywhere in it,’ he said with a grimace.
‘Even though it’s a BMW?’ I raised an eyebrow. Then I had a thought. ‘Was she a Hogg before she married you?’
He stifled a laugh, nodding. ‘When I was trying to propose, she yelled yes before I even got to pop the ques- tion. Even at the time, I wondered whether she just wanted to get rid of her maiden name.’
Just then my phone rang with another order. I took the details while Sam loaded his car.
‘I’ll make these deliveries then,’ he said, a few minutes later. ‘And when I get back, we’ll do the final calculation. Loser buys dinner. Agreed?’
‘Agreed.’ I grinned. ‘Hope you’ve got your credit card with you.’
He laughed at that and picked up his car keys from the counter.
‘I might surprise you yet.’ He stooped and kissed my cheek and, before I had a chance to react, he left.
You just did, I thought. My hand flew to my face where his lips had brushed my skin.
A few minutes later, I was still reeling from what had just happened when Scamp flew from his bed as if he’d been given an electric shock and leapt up at the shop window, barking loudly, his tail whirling in happy circles.
I joined him and spotted a car which had just pulled up to the kerb immediately outside the shop. The back of the car was packed with boxes and suitcases, and in the front, her white bun only just visible in the passenger seat was my dear friend.
‘It’s Ethel!’ I cried, ruffling Scamp’s ears. ‘Come on, let’s go and meet her.’
The two of us dashed outside. Scamp was trembling with joy, his whole body wagging as he lolloped to the car. The passenger door opened slowly and as soon as the gap was large enough Scamp pushed his nose into the car and onto Ethel’s lap where he promptly squeaked with uncontained bliss and licked her face. Meanwhile, Carole got out of the driver’s side and joined me on the pavement.
She hugged me warmly. ‘Thanks for inviting Mum round, she’s so excited to see your shop. Although I think she’s a bit overwhelmed with the emotions of the day: leaving Derbyshire after all these years.’
I liked Carole, I’d got to know her better since Ethel’s fall in January and thought how capable and calm she always was, whatever life threw at her.
I nodded. ‘And a big day for you and your husband, having your mum move in. How are you?’
‘Ask me after a few months!’ She laughed. ‘In all serious- ness, I’ll be glad to have Mum close to me. She’s a dear old thing and gives the best advice.’
‘I know.’ I smiled ruefully, ‘I shall miss her words of wisdom.’
‘Good grief!’ Ethel hooted with laughter from inside the car, trying to escape Scamp’s attentions.
‘What a welcome! Enough now, you silly old thing.’
I opened the car door wide and crouched down, watching Ethel trying to avoid Scamp’s tongue. My heart twisted suddenly; now that she was out of the care home, would she want him back? She was within her rights, of course, he was her dog really not mine, but … I gave a shudder.
‘Come on now, Scamp,’ I said, patting his rump. ‘My turn for a kiss, out you get.’
Scamp jumped out of the car but danced around my feet anxiously in case the door shut again and I held my hand out to Ethel.
‘Long time no see, it is so lovely to see you,’ I beamed, thrilled to have her here.
‘Hello dear.’ Ethel’s bright eyes twinkled. ‘What a charming village! And such a pretty flower shop, no wonder there’s a sparkle in your eye.’
I laughed and automatically raised my fingers to the spot Sam had kissed. ‘That could well be residual adrenaline after the day I’ve had.’
She grasped my hand in hers and after shuffling her feet out of the car took a big breath before pushing herself upright. Beside me she was tiny; I reckoned she must have shrunk a couple of centimetres this year.
I pressed a kiss to her soft cheek.
‘Goodness me, dear!’ She looked up at me, tongue in cheek. ‘I think you’ve grown.’
‘Yep. Thirty-four and I’m having a growth spurt,’ I laughed, teasingly. ‘Come on in and I’ll put the kettle on.’
‘Do you want your walking frame, Mum?’ Carole asked, shutting Ethel’s door.
‘Me?’ Ethel looked affronted. ‘Not on your nelly, I could run around this village green if I had time.’
I raised an eyebrow at Carole who rolled her eyes fondly.
‘Talking of time, if it’s all the same to you,’ she said, checking her watch, ‘I won’t come in, I spotted a garden centre on the way into the village and I’ve run out of tomato food. I won’t be long.’
Ethel and I waved her off in the direction of Garden Warehouse and went inside.
‘Delightful,’ she declared after I’d given her a tour of the shop.
Scamp hadn’t left her side for a second and now she was seated at the work table he pressed his body against her and stared adoringly up at her.
‘I love all the little details: the props which add character to the displays, and the smell is heavenly.’
‘Those are Nina’s touches,’ I said proudly, from the kitchenette where I pulled out coffee, milk and a china cup and saucer I’d brought in from home especially for Ethel’s visit. ‘She’s very arty, I’m better at the business side.’
I paused and pulled a face. ‘Although after today, that’s debatable.’
‘Oh?’ Ethel raised her eyebrows, as astute as ever. ‘Sounds like you’re having adventures just as I’d hoped.’
‘Oh, I am, don’t worry,’ I laughed drily. ‘Plenty of those.’
Although investing all the business’s money in flowers for an order that was never formally confirmed was probably not quite what she meant by being adventurous.
‘How’s that man, the landlord? Sam, isn’t it?’
‘You don’t forget a thing, do you.’ I chuckled, pouring water into her cup and my usual mug.
‘My legs might be dodgy but my brain still works. It’s the quiz shows; I knew they’d come in handy for keeping the old grey matter alive. Ask me any capital city and I bet I can get it.’
‘OK, what’s the capital of Uzbekistan?’
‘Never heard of it. Anyway, stop changing the subject, I want to hear more about this young man.’
I laughed as I set her cup down. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’
‘Ooh, real china?’ Her face lit up. ‘And I’ve missed you, but I’m here now so get on with it. Sam. All the details please.’
I put my mug down beside hers. ‘Are you sitting comfortably?’
She ruffled Scamp’s fur and her eyes shone. ‘Indeed I am.’
I told her everything. About how Sam had come in to buy some flowers for his wife, which led to them getting back together. I told her about the order we’d had to make up for her from her fancy man Gareth and how treacherous Nina and I had felt delivering flowers to Pandora behind Sam’s back. I told her about the events of Saturday night with the cricket team. Finally, I told her about the fiasco at the Claybourne Hotel and how Pandora had got caught in the same scam, but that Sam had been helping me all day.
‘Poor lad,’ Ethel tutted when I finished. ‘That flibberti- gibbet has really put him through the mill. He’s far better off without her.’
‘I think so.’
She eyed me shrewdly. ‘Sounds like he’s quite fond of you.’
I couldn’t help the smile which broke out on my face.
‘And me him. But I can’t help feeling that I should hold myself back, when his love life – in fact his whole life – is in chaos.’
‘Or.’ Ethel sipped her tea. ‘You could allow yourself to be happy about having this person in your life, instead of feeling guilty about it?’
‘He’s not free to be in my life, not while he’s still in someone else’s,’ I pointed out.
She was quiet for a moment. ‘You’re right, love. And you’re very sensible.’
‘Sensible would be putting him out of my mind completely.’ I leaned forward at the table, resting my chin in my hand. ‘If any of my friends were in this situation, I’d advise them to avoid him like the plague until he’s ready to move on. Everyone knows you shouldn’t go from one relationship straight to another.’
‘This happened to some of our friends in the forties after the war, you know. Husbands sometimes didn’t come home and sometimes they did but the war had changed them so much that they couldn’t settle back into the life they’d left. There were lots of young women left on their own who started courting as soon as they could, wanting to feel a man’s arms around them again. But even under those circumstances, I always advised my friends to take it slow. I’d say the same to you.’
I felt a rush of warmth for my dear old friend and I covered her hand in mine. The skin was warm and papery thin. It was easy to think that affairs of the heart were the preserve of the young. But Ethel’s heart had decades more experience at loving and being loved than mine.
‘You’re right,’ I agreed. ‘Although he kissed my cheek earlier and if he does that again, I might find it almost impossible to take it slow.’
She chuckled. ‘I’d like to have met the man who’s put the colour back in my Fearne’s cheeks. He’ll need a good friend like you in the coming months. Someone who’ll be unconditionally on his side, someone to listen. It sounds like he’s got a lot to be angry about.’
‘I can be his friend,’ I said, meaning it. ‘I’d rather be just a friend to him than nothing at all.’
‘I’m sure you would, dear,’ she warned. ‘But you’ve had your own share of sorrow this past year. You deserve to be someone’s significant other, not to just be a shoulder to cry on.’
‘I’ll remember. Scamp likes him by the way.’
She chuckled. ‘Then that’s all I need to know he’s a good ’un.’
‘Thank you, Ethel.’ I patted her hand. ‘What would I do without your advice?’
‘Thank you, dear.’ Ethel smiled faintly and felt in her handbag for a tissue to blow her nose. ‘You don’t know how much it means to me to hear that. Thank you for making me feel like me again. Most days I’m in the way. I’m on this earth just taking up room. It’s nice to feel useful for a change. Even just having Scamp to look after gave me something to do.’
At the mention of his name, the dog turned to look up at Ethel, resting his chin on her leg and she stroked his nose and smoothed back his wiry eyebrows. A lump had formed in my throat, tears threatened to fall and for a moment I couldn’t speak.
‘Hello, old friend,’ she murmured. ‘Yes, I’m talking about you.’
I knew what I had to do; I had to let him go. It was the right thing to do. Ethel had only agreed to give him up for good wh
en she’d thought she’d be staying in the care home for the rest of her days. But now things had changed.
Through the archway, I saw Carole’s car pull up again. She got out of the car, collected her handbag from the back seat and marched purposefully towards us.
I dropped onto the floor and buried my face in Scamp’s fur, hugging his neck and kissing his face again and again.
‘What a wonderful variety of flowers you have!’ Carole exclaimed, joining us at the back of the shop.
I sprang up, quickly brushing any stray tears from my face. ‘Thank you.’
‘Fearne is a very talented girl,’ said Ethel struggling to get to her feet. ‘And I think she’s found her happy place.’
She bent down to the dog. ‘And so has my faithful friend.’
‘Oh yes, the dog,’ said Carole slipping her arm through her mother’s. ‘We were talking about Scamp coming up to Yorkshire, weren’t we, Mum?’
Ethel nodded. ‘If that suits you? It’s just I can’t bear to think that I might never see him again.’
‘Of course, I completely understand.’ I tried to smile but my mouth wouldn’t bend into a line. I wasn’t sure how I could bear it either. ‘He’s been yours since he was a bundle of fluff, it’s only fair that you take him to Yorkshire with you.’
I turned away, pretending to look for a bag to put his things in. I’d got his lead and his bed here, his water bowl and one or two of his toys. The rest I supposed I could send in the post.
Carole gave a strangled laugh. ‘No, no, not now!’
‘We mean if you go on holiday,’ Ethel said quickly, ‘and didn’t want to put him into a kennel, he could come to us.’
‘We can’t really accommodate a dog,’ Carole explained.
‘Oh.’ I blinked at them both. I felt dizzy with relief. ‘I thought … I thought you meant …’
‘It’s not fair to uproot him at his age,’ Ethel said, brusquely. And yet she was uprooting herself, I thought, marvelling at my old friend’s eternally optimistic spirit. ‘And you love him. He belongs with you now. So that’s that.’
I hugged her close. ‘I’ll look after him, I promise. And yes, coming to you for a holiday is a brilliant idea.’
My Kind of Happy - Part Three: A new feel-good, funny serial from the Sunday Times bestseller Page 10
