Page 24 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘But you still want us to keep it?’
‘If it’s no bother. I’ll work out what to do with it all when I come home.’
‘Of course. So, now that’s out of the way, how are you getting on with Celestine?’
‘Brilliantly. She’s great.’
‘I expect she’s glad to have you there; she must have been struggling.’
‘I doubt that,’ Bella said, her mood improving as the discussion turned to her remarkable aunt. At least, every second Bella spent in Celestine’s company was convincing her that she was a more extraordinary woman than she’d ever given her credit for in the past. ‘She worked the stall with me today and probably got more done than I did. I don’t know how she does it. I’m exhausted; she’s at home shouting quiz answers at the telly.’
Her dad chuckled softly. ‘That sounds like Celestine. I’m glad you’re getting along.’
‘I think so. Things seem good so far.’
Bella considered whether to ask her dad about Celestine’s connection to Violette Le Saux. It was likely he wouldn’t know much, if anything, but he might be able to shed some light on it – at least on the way it had affected Celestine when Bella had mentioned Rory’s digging.
‘I know you weren’t even born, but do you know much about Celestine when she was young? Like when the island was occupied by the Nazis?’
‘Not really. Probably only as much as you know. That’s a bit out of the blue – why do you ask?’
‘I just wondered.’
‘Strange thing to wonder about. Very specific.’
‘It was something and nothing. This guy came to buy some flowers today, and he was asking about the history of the island and stuff and people who had lived there during that time. And I told Celestine about it, and I got the impression she wasn’t happy to talk about it. In fact, she seemed upset that I’d mentioned it at all.’
‘I think it’s a period of her life she’d rather not talk about.’
‘I realise that now, but I wondered whether she had, at some point. I thought maybe back in her younger days she might have talked about it.’
‘Bits and pieces here and there. Mostly about the food shortages and what it was like seeing soldiers on the streets and things.’
‘It’s funny,’ Bella said thoughtfully. ‘She’s so open about so much and yet her past is a mystery. At least, it feels that way to me. I know I haven’t exactly been close to her since I got married, but I felt as if I knew her pretty well. Now I’m here, though, I suddenly don’t feel I know her at all. I mean, I know the great-aunt who used to spoil me when we came over to visit, but I don’t know Celestine the woman. What she was like when she was young, what she liked doing, what scared her, who she liked, who she didn’t, whether she had unfulfilled dreams or there was a love of her life…’
‘I see you’ve been giving this some thought,’ Bella’s dad said with a wry chuckle. ‘I can’t answer most of that myself, but I’m sure your great-uncle Roland was the love of her life.’
‘Was he?’
Bella thought back to the way her aunt had spoken about her husband. She hadn’t seemed all that upset he was gone. Perhaps that was just the passage of time, but it could have been because life had been hard with him around. Bella didn’t remembermuch about Roland; he didn’t loom large in her memories as Celestine did. Perhaps that spoke volumes about the kind of man he was. He’d always made himself absent, never seemed interested in Celestine’s visitors during the few times he’d been around.
‘She married him,’ her dad replied with the unquestioning faith of someone who had a far more monochrome view of life and love than Bella did. Bless her old dad. As far as he was concerned, marriage equalled love. If only life were that straightforward. Bella recognised the irony only too well. If marriage was that easy, Sean would never have strayed. Bella wouldn’t be here now trying to put her life back together.
‘She did,’ Bella said, deciding not to open up the debate. ‘How’s Mum?’
‘She’s fine. She’s gone to her line-dancing class. I expect she’ll be back in an hour or so, if you want to talk to her then. Although she did say they might go for a few drinks afterwards, so I can’t be sure.’
‘That’s OK. I’d forgotten about her class. I’ll catch up with her in the next couple of days.’
‘I’m glad you’re settling in there.’
‘I am. Six weeks will fly by. Celestine said I could stay for longer if I wanted. I must admit it’s tempting.’
‘There are certainly worse places to stay. I might even persuade your mum to go over for a visit if you’re going to be there for a few months. It’d be nice to see Celestine, and even better if you’re there.’
‘I’m sure Celestine would love that.’
‘Was there anything else?’
