Page 94 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘I think it will be all right as long as you don’t mind coming back to Villa Rosa with me from here.’
‘Only I don’t want to be out too late.’
‘No, of course not. Six is fine. I thought we might go home via Kelvin’s boat and get a fish.’
‘That sounds lovely. I’ll see you later then.’
‘Yes, where are you off to now?’
‘Bingo.’
‘Right. Well, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’
Dolly grinned as she walked away. Bella shook her head with a wry smile. Poor Dolly hadn’t known what to do with herself after Celestine’s death. Not only that but she’d been more shocked than Bella could have imagined once the truth about Violette and Klaus had come out. Bella suspected she was a little annoyed too that she’d been the only member of the friendshipgroup who hadn’t been included in the secret, but when Bella reminded her of the danger she’d have been in, Dolly understood that they’d only looked to protect her rather than leave her out. She had been a few years younger than the rest of them, after all.
On the pavement, she had boxes stacked with the day’s delivery of fresh flowers. Autumn was already close to its end, and it wouldn’t be long before misty starts turned to frosty mornings. Bella had never been in Jersey during the winter, and so she didn’t know what to expect, but whatever the weather brought, she was certain of one thing – she was going to be happier here than she’d ever been in Shrewsbury with Sean. That life was well and truly behind her now, and things from here were only going to get better. She had the business she’d always dreamed of, a home that didn’t depend on the whims of a man, and an island full of new friends.
She started to haul the flowers inside, trimming and plunging them as Celestine had taught her, and when they were all safely stowed, she set about making up some bouquets to sell. She’d painted the inside of the kiosk a baby pink and installed some cupboards since she’d taken ownership. One of them now had a digital radio perched on top, set at the same classical station her taxi driver friend Brian always had on. She hummed to something she knew from an advert as she weaved some roses into a mass of ferns.
‘Are those for sale?’
Bella’s head flicked up. ‘Rory?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded at the flowers. ‘You’re really good at that now. Not that you weren’t before…’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Quite honestly I don’t know. I was missing it, I suppose. I had a week off work, and this was where I wanted to be.’
‘Right. Well, that’s nice.’
‘I heard you’d taken the stall on.’
‘I figured it was what Celestine would have wanted.’
‘I think you’re right. You’re happy working here?’
‘Yes. Very.’
‘Good…’ He glanced up and down the promenade, as if trying to find something else to say.
‘Why are you here?’ Bella asked. ‘I know why you’re in Jersey, but why are you here now?’
‘I didn’t want to visit the island without seeing you.’
She put the flowers down. ‘I don’t know what I’m meant to say to that.’
‘I suppose not. I keep getting it wrong, don’t I?’
‘A bit. How is Lisa?’
‘We’re divorced now. It finally came through.’
‘I suppose that’s what you wanted.’
‘Does it change anything?’
‘Not really.’
