Page 61 of Reckless Kiss

“Why don’t I phone it through, and you just need to pop in and pick it up. If you don’t want to stay and talk then, it will minimise the awkwardness.”

“Okay,” he said, patting her arm to encourage her to move out of her motherly hold before he started sobbing. “Sounds like a plan.”

While Maggie busied herself making his bacon sandwich, his mind drifted back to a couple of days ago when he walked through the rows of narcissi at the farm. Erica had nevervisited a flower farm before and was in awe of the thousands of flowering plants as far as the eye could see. All the flower farms were part of their upbringing. As the eldest, he could remember going with his parents and grandparents numerous times. His sister Daisy hadn’t had the opportunity to run through pathways with their mother. She’d left when Daisy was six months old. His brother Jason had some knowledge of going out as a family, but not many he admits to remembering. Luke was a toddler at two and a half years and remembered little at all. Jason was angry, he was bitter, Luke was indifferent, and Daisy was nostalgic for a mother she’d never met.

He managed to pry out Bailey and Maggie other items they needed in town and took the golf buggy down the hill to collect provisions. Ordinarily, they would have to wait a week or fetch it themselves. With only Erica as a guest, who Maggie told him wanted very little in food requirements over the stock items they’d provided, they only needed to feed themselves and his aunt.

Parking up in a side street, he walked straight to the butchers to get it over with first. When he arrived at the window-fronted establishment, he found there was a queue out the door. The green metal strands acting as a curtain to keep the flies out swished as each person left and the next ventured inside. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, his name was called out.

Archer looked to the man, his grandfather, his mother’s father. Pete Boyle. The white-haired man with a ruddy complexion and the bluest eyes was happy to see him. Archer noted he was much slimmer than when he last saw him but looked in good health.

“Maggie said you were coming to collect her order. It’s good to see you, Archer,” Pete said, coming around the glasscounter and bringing Archer in for a bear hug. “It’s been too long, and Betty will be thrilled that you’re back.”

Mrs Boyle was never as joyful when speaking with Archer but was polite.

“You’re looking well, Pete,” Archer replied when he was let out of the second hug of the morning.

“Thanks,” he said and returned to his side of the counter and disappeared out the back, coming straight back with a tray of meat.

“Here’s Maggie’s order. Lucy has your vegetables next door.”

“Okay, thanks,” I pop in there next.

“Is Jason, Luke, and Daisy here too?”

“No, not yet.”

“How long are you here on the island?”

“It could be forever. It depends on my aunt’s mood.”

Pete Boyle nodded sagely, his smile slipping from his face. “Well, I hope it goes in your favour. It would be great to see you all back.”

Archer nodded, not commenting, and lifted the tray of food to wave farewell.

“Come into The Anchor for a pint. I’m there most evenings,” Pete called out to his back.

“Will do,” Archer replied, leaving the butcher’s shop so others could come in.

He took the fully laden buggy back to the kitchens after a quick trip to the greengrocers and two other shops. He unloaded everything while Bailey and Maggie ferried the food to their rightful places.

“When are we going to meet the future Mrs Turner?” Maggie asked when all the produce was put away.

“Who?”

“We know everything, Archer. The woman you’ve proposed to, Erica, I think her name is.”

“Yeah,” Archer said, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. “I am getting married—Erica Taylor, who is staying in the cottage.”

“That’s fast work,” she answered.

“When you know, you know, ya know,” he replied.

“Bring her with one morning for breakfast. She must be running out of food by now.”

“I will. Is the mistress of the house in the morning room?”

“Yes, Bailey has just taken her a pot of tea.”

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