Page 90 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘At a food festival, I think it’s allowed. In fact, I think it would be considered rude not to. They’re not going to sell much to people on diets.’
‘Never been on a diet, me.’
He messed around with the dials on his dashboard radio and settled for what sounded like the same classical station he’d listened to when he’d first picked Bella up from the airport.
‘The music was good today as well,’ she said.
‘Oh? What sort of thing?’
‘All sorts. Steel band, salsa, that sort of thing.’
‘That’s good.’
Bella’s phone pinged the arrival of a text message. She pulled it from her bag, her good mood instantly evaporating as she saw Rory’s name.
I’m leaving Jersey tomorrow. I was hoping we might meet before I go so I can apologise properly. But I understand if you don’t want to see me.
Bella locked the phone and dropped it into her bag, letting her head fall back onto the seat with a heavy sigh.
‘Someone else is tired,’ Brian said.
‘Yes,’ Bella replied, eyes still closed. She was tired all right, but it had nothing to do with her day out.
She decided not to reply to Rory, and she didn’t tell Celestine about the text either. They’d barely finished clearing away after their evening meal – both of them marvelling they’d been hungry enough to eat after their day at the food festival – when Celestine began to yawn.
‘You must be exhausted,’ Bella said. ‘Even I’m tired.’
‘Even you? You mean to say I must be more tired because I’m old?’
‘I wouldn’t dare!’ Bella filled the kettle. ‘I’m going to have a mint tea before I do anything else. Do you want one?’
‘Quite honestly I am exhausted. I feel a bit off with it. Probably overtired. I think I’ll go to bed – we’ve got another early start tomorrow.’
‘I’ve told you a million times, there’s no need to get up while I’m here – I can open the stall.’
‘I know, and it’s sweet of you, but I’m in the habit of waking early, and if I’m awake, I might as well be doing something useful.’
‘Then do something useful for yourself. Read a book, watch some telly, knit yourself a tea cosy or whatever.’
‘I’m happiest at the stall. I’ll see you in the morning.’
‘If you’re going to be stubborn about it…’
Celestine rose slowly from her seat at the table as Bella put the kettle on to boil. She seemed stiff and more tired than Bella had at first noticed. ‘Thank you for a lovely day,’ she said.
‘I should be thanking you. It’s done me the world of good not to think about men for a while.’
‘It’s done me the world of good too. Just having you here has been wonderful. It’s been so nice to have company and someone to finally open up to about…well, I feel as if a huge weight has left my shoulders. Thank you for encouraging me to share.’
‘I didn’t do anything.’ Bella was strangely emotional as she dropped a teabag into a cup. ‘I’m sorry for all the years I didn’t visit. I feel as if I missed out on so much time with you.’
‘It wasn’t your fault. You’re here now. You came when I needed you, and that’s what matters. Goodnight, Bella.’
‘Goodnight.’
Bella watched her aunt’s weary steps as she left the kitchen. For a second, she recalled the text message from Rory, still unanswered.
As she poured boiling water onto her mint teabag, releasing a cloud of sharp freshness into the air, she talked herself out of digging all that up again. Some things were best left alone.
