Page 16 of Finding Love at Roseford Blooms
Lizzie nodded, happy to take the constructive criticism.
‘Considering I’ve not done this since I was at school, I’m pleased,’ she said. She felt soothed, at peace and as though all of the thoughts that had been spiralling in her brain that afternoon had been stilled in the act of arranging the flowers.
‘I’ll wrap and put the ribbon on, if you like,’ Bee said. ‘The customer’ll be in in a minute to collect them.’
Lizzie stepped back to allow Bee to get to the counter, and as she did so the shop door opened. ‘Ah, speak of the devil.’ Bee smiled as the customer walked in.
For the umpteenth time that day, Lizzie’s heart did a little lurch, but this time it was because the man coming through the door was a very famous face indeed.
‘Hello, Finn!’ Bee called. ‘It’s good to see you back in Roseford. How was filming?’
Giving her aunt a smile that Lizzie remembered beaming out of her TV set when she was in her early twenties, Finn Sanderson, movie star and former teen singing sensation, was quick to reply. ‘Really good, thanks, Mrs Clatworthy. I’m glad to be home, though.’
‘I’m sure you are,’ Bee replied. Turning to Lizzie, Bee introduced her to Finn. ‘I don’t think you two have met yet, have you?’ She furrowed her brow. ‘So many comings and goings for this wedding, I’ve quite forgotten.’
‘Er, no, we haven’t,’ Lizzie replied. ‘It’s nice to meet you.’
‘You too.’ Finn smiled down at her. He then caught sight of the bouquet. ‘That’s perfect. Thank you so much for putting it together at such short notice.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Bee replied.
‘Lucy’s mom’ll love it,’ Finn said. ‘It’s her birthday and we’d ordered a present using Amazon Prime, but it hasn’t arrived yet, and she’s coming for dinner this evening, so these are great.’
It felt so strange to hear Finn Sanderson talking about such mundane things as Amazon Prime, but, Lizzie supposed, even movie stars had to get their presents from somewhere.
‘Well, you wish her a happy birthday from me,’ Bee said.
‘I will.’
As Finn paid for the flowers, Lizzie couldn’t help glancing at him every so often. Although he had aged since he was at the height of his fame, he still had those film-star looks and that wonderful charisma. Lucy was a lucky woman indeed.
Staring at Finn’s back as he left the shop, Bee turned to Lucy with a grin. ‘Fancy, the first bouquet you’ve made in twenty years being for Finn Sanderson. Must be fate.’
‘I’d never have done it if you’d told me who it was for,’ Lizzie replied. ‘I mean, what if I’d made a terrible one?’
‘You wouldn’t have,’ Bee said. ‘And if you had, I wouldn’t have let it leave the shop anyway.’
Lizzie laughed. ‘Well, it all turned out well in the end, at least.’ She couldn’t dispute that she felt a whole lot better now than she had when she’d walked into Roseford Blooms. If only all the solutions to her problems were quite as simple.
15
‘Finn! It’s great to see you again!’ Simon hadn’t had much time to ruminate on the conversation with Lizzie, as that afternoon he was meeting his good friend Finn Sanderson to go over some last-minute wedding plans. Finn had a permanent base in Roseford with his fiancée, Lucy Cameron, who owned Roseford Café. He’d taken a couple of weeks’ leave before his next movie project in order to provide help and support for his best friend, Montana de Santo, as she married the love of her life. He’d flown back from Los Angeles, where he’d been second assistant director on a film shoot, the night before, and now, determinedly throwing off the jet lag, he was bright and breezy and raring to get back into the swing of things in Roseford.
‘It’s great to see you too, man,’ Finn replied. He stuck out a hand and Simon shook it warmly. They’d met outside the Treloar Arms, the local pub, and headed inside for a drink. Finn, Simon observed, was looking happy and content. A few grey streaks had appeared in his dark brown hair, and he’d put on a couple of extra pounds since he’d filmed the smash-hit Christmas movie,A Countess for Christmas, a couple of years back, but it all suited him. Finn and Simon had become firm friends when they’d met while Finn was shooting the film. Despite the fact that Simon had had absolutely no clue who Finn was, the first time he’d met him, the two men had hit it off and been friends ever since. Now, with Finn happily in a long-term relationship with Lucy, the two men got together as often as they could for a drink and a catch-up. Simon was particularly pleased that Finn was on hand as a kind of mediator for the wedding; Finn and Montana went back years, and if anyone could communicate effectively with her, it was Finn.
‘So, how’ve you been?’ Finn asked, once they’d got their drinks and walked out to the small beer garden at the back of the pub.
‘Oh, not bad,’ Simon replied. He smiled ruefully. ‘Don’t tell Montana, but I don’t think I’m cut out to be a wedding planner!’
Finn laughed. ‘I bet you’ll be glad when it’s all over.’
‘It’s certainly been a learning experience, and no mistake.’
‘So not something you think you’ll go into as a career, then?’
‘Definitely not!’
They drank their pints in momentary silence. ‘Although,’ Simon added, ‘I do like the idea of making my mark on Roseford Hall again in some way. Definitely not weddings, though! Next time, the BHF can take care of that side of things.’
