Page 51 of The Little Island Flower Stall
On pain of death we will keep our secret. Bella wanted more than anything to ask Celestine what that meant. The photo had been taken so long ago, would she even remember? Bella felt sure that whatever the secret might be, it was big enough that she would. Surely that would be one explanation for why Celestine clammed up every time Violette was mentioned. Even with the warning, had Celestine broken their trust?
After another look at the photos, Bella’s mind was racing so fast she was certain she wouldn’t be able to sleep. She put the album away and went to bed anyway.
As she’d feared, it had taken another two hours for Bella to drop off. She’d been kept awake going over and over what she’d learned and how it might fit with theories she was steadily forming about Celestine’s friendship with Violette and how it might be linked to Rory’s search. The more she went over it, the crazier the notion that there was any connection at all seemed. And yet there was no other explanation. Celestine had been trusted with a secret. And then Violette had broken all ties, shortly before she’d gone off to the mainland for a few months. What on earth had Celestine done?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Bella frowned at her reflection. How did women wear lipstick this red and make it look good? She was definitely less Liz Taylor, more random woman with Ribena stains around her mouth. Celestine hobbled to the open bedroom door and knocked on the frame.
‘I’ve told you, no need to knock.’ Bella turned to her. ‘It’s your house!’
‘I don’t like to disturb you.’
‘You’re not disturbing me at all. As you can see, I’m doing a great job of looking disturbed without any help.’
Celestine frowned.
‘I look like a nutter,’ Bella elaborated. ‘I can’t get any of this right.’ She wafted a hand down her frame. ‘I can’t even get the lippy right. As for the hair…I’m sure nobody looked like this in the forties.’
‘I’d do it for you, but?—’
‘I’m not going to ask you to stand doing my hair for ages. It’ll have to do as it is.’
‘I expect there’ll be help available at the meeting point. You could ask one of the girls there to help you if you’re not happy with what you’ve done – although I think it looks fine.’
‘Thank you, but I think you’re only trying to make me feel better. It looks far from fine.’
‘Stop worrying – you look lovely. And I thought you might like to wear this…’ She held out a silver locket.
Bella’s forehead creased as she went to take a closer look. ‘Where’s that from? Is it yours?’
‘It was my mother’s.’
‘Oh, I can’t wear that – it’s precious! What if I lost it?’
‘It might as well be lost for how often I take it out of the box. And let’s face it, I don’t have children of my own to leave it to, so you might as well have it.’
‘But…’
‘I’ve always been fond of you,’ Celestine said. ‘You’re as close to a granddaughter as I ever had. I’ve thought about it, and I’d like you to have it. I don’t want us to argue over it.’
Bella’s eyes filled with sudden tears. The thought of Celestine feeling her childlessness so keenly made her sadder than she could express. To feel that the great niece who’d barely visited since becoming an adult was the closest thing she had…it didn’t bear thinking about.
‘Oh, don’t mind me,’ Celestine said, seeming to understand that her gesture hadn’t gone down in the way she’d expected. ‘It’s a silly…It was only a thought. Of course you don’t want to wear it.’
‘I do!’ Bella took her aunt into a gentle hug. ‘It’s a lovely thought. Thank you. But I won’t wear it today, if that’s all right – I’d be terrified of losing it. I’ll keep it safe and think of your mother when I look at it. Is there…?’ Bella opened the locket, expecting to find a tiny photo inside, but there was no picture. Instead, there was a lock of red hair. She looked up at Celestine. ‘Your mum’s?’ Celestine nodded and fresh tears sprang to Bella’s eyes. ‘For God’s sake!’ she sniffed. ‘I’m going to have to do my mascara again! I’m such a soppy mare!’
‘I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry?—’
‘You didn’t upset me; you made me happy. I cry when I’m happy. At least, I used to. I can’t remember the last time it happened because I can’t remember the last time I was properly happy. I’ve loved being here with you the last couple of weeks. I can’t tell you how good it’s been for me and how much it’s helped me. I felt at sea, like I didn’t know what to do or where to go, and then I got here and it was all OK.’
‘You know the offer I made before still stands.’ Celestine held Bella at arm’s length and smiled. ‘You can stay as long as you like. Forever, if that’s what you want.’
‘You say that now, but I’m sure you’d be sick of me after a few months.’
‘I don’t think so. And I’m sure you don’t want to live with a boring old lady, but if you did…’
‘You’re not boring, not one bit,’ Bella said. ‘It’s a lovely idea, but I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I only know I’m happy right now, and that’s enough.’ Bella glanced at the carriage clock on the shelf. ‘And I also know I’m going to be late for Bernard’s briefing if I don’t get a move on.’
