Page 2 of The Little Island Flower Stall
The voice of Bella’s mum floated down the stairs. ‘You know where I am! What’s the panic?’
Bella’s dad shot a wary glance at her before replying. ‘Bella’s here. We could do with your…well, we could do with you coming down.’
A moment later, her mum appeared at the top of the stairs, red-faced and with an armful of bedding. ‘Bella? Are you all right? Had we arranged…?’
‘No, Mum.’
‘She’s left him,’ her dad cut in.
Bella’s mum frowned. ‘Sean?’
‘Who else?’
Wendy sat on the step, holding her washing to her chest. ‘You’d better put the kettle on, Brian, and we’re going to need the big pot.’
Bella made her way up the stairs and took some of the bedding from her mum, who then got up with the rest.
‘Sorry, Mum,’ she said, feeling the need to offer an apology even though she knew neither of her parents would expect one. ‘I suppose it’s a bad time.’
‘When is it ever a good time for news like this?’ Wendy said briskly as she followed Bella back down the stairs. At the bottom, she kissed her on the cheek and then continued into the kitchen, where Bella took a seat and watched as her mum stuffed the sheets and pillowcases into the washing machine. Her dad was already busy rinsing out the extra-large teapot they used when they had a lot of visitors. There was only the three of them, but Bella had to assume they were going to be drinking a lot of tea that afternoon.
‘I think this calls for the good stuff,’ he said, going to a cupboard. ‘Where’s the Assam we got from Waitrose last week?’
At any other time, Bella might have been tempted to roll her eyes. If the world was coming to an end, her dad would be stressing about the right tea to serve for the occasion. But she didn’t, because she realised it was only his way of trying to show that he was taking the situation seriously and that he was worried about her.
Sean had always been unkind about the details her parents paid so much attention to. He’d called them ‘golf club social climbers’, more bothered about appearances, aspirations above their incomes. It had always seemed hurtful to Bella. It wasn’t hurting anyone else and they weren’t stepping on anybody to do it, so what harm was there if they dreamed of bettering themselves? If they wanted to splurge on the odd nice thing from time to time, it was their business.
‘It’s in there somewhere,’ Wendy said, straightening up before going over to peer into the cupboard with him. A second later, a hand darted in and she waved the box in front of his face. ‘You’re worse than Bella used to be as a child – if it’s not an inch away from your nose, you can’t find it. You know the world is three dimensional, right? Things can exist behind other things.’
She let out a sigh as she joined Bella at the table. Brian busied himself making the tea.
‘Right then,’ Wendy began with a critical look at Bella. ‘What’s he done? I suppose it’s another woman?’
Bella had never mentioned either of Sean’s previous affairs to her parents. She hadn’t wanted to worry them, and she hadn’t wanted to give them ammunition. She’d long suspected he wasn’t the choice of husband they’d have made for her, though given their propensity to exaggerate their wealth to society at large, that notion had always surprised her. If they ought to have been pleased to have any son-in-law, by rights it ought to havebeen one who was wealthy and successful. Perhaps they’d seen the true Sean in a way she could never have done while she was still in love with him.
There was a strange thought as she tried to find a place to begin the conversation –while she’d still been in love with him…Did that mean she was no longer in love with him? Had the events of that afternoon done something to kill any feelings she’d had once and for all? She was quite sure she’d loved him even after the second affair – why else would she have stayed with him? But now? Beyond the shock and numbness, she wasn’t sure how she felt about him now. But a Freudian slip – even one unuttered – was still a Freudian slip, wasn’t it?
‘What makes you say that?’ Bella asked, but her mum simply gave a sceptical look in reply. ‘OK.’ Bella nodded slowly. ‘It’s that obvious?’
‘It was the first thing that came to mind,’ Wendy said. ‘I’m right then?’
‘Yes, you’re right,’ Bella said sadly.
‘And you’re not prepared to try and work it out? Does he love this other woman? Is it serious? How long has it been going on?’
‘I don’t know if he loves her, if it’s serious or how long it’s been going on, and I don’t care. He doesn’t get another shot – not with me.’
‘Is it…’ Wendy paused. ‘This isn’t the first time?’
‘I don’t want to talk about it, Mum. Please don’t ask me.’
‘Oh, Bell…’ Wendy reached for her, but Bella moved out of the way.
‘Please, Mum, I don’t think…I don’t want to cry, not for that arsehole, and if you hug me right now, I will. I just want…Could I stay with you and Dad? Only until I work out what to do next.’
‘Of course you can!’ Brian called over from the kettle. ‘You know you can stay here as long as you want to.’
‘I know, but I’ll try not to overstay my welcome.’
