Page 32 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘Has she now?’ Celestine shot Bella a wry smile.
‘Sorry I was so long,’ Bella said, inwardly squirming with guilt and already regretting what she’d been up to during her walk back.
‘My fault,’ Dolly cut in. ‘I’m not as fast as I used to be, and I said I wanted to walk back with her to say hello. How’s your ankle?’
‘Mending.’
Bella sipped at her coffee and went to store her other things in the kiosk as Dolly and Celestine caught up. With a strong sense of déjà vu, she tried to pretend she wasn’t listening, but she very definitely was, if only out of fear that Dolly would get her into trouble. What she’d do if that happened was another matter, of course. But Dolly behaved, and by the time she went on her way, they’d discussed the weather, the upcoming Liberation Day celebrations, and how the tourists seemed to be arriving earlier and earlier every year. Bella allowed herself a sigh of relief and wondered whether she ought to abandon the idea of connecting Rory with Dolly. She could simply pass on what she’d learned and tell him not to ask where it had come from. Perhaps that would be enough. Dolly might ask, of course, wondering why he hadn’t visited, but Bella was sure she could make up some excuse for that too.
The morning was quiet, business-wise. Celestine watched Bella make up some more bouquets and declared them perfectly good to sell. They were mostly delicate spring flowers: tulips, stocks, sweet pea and hyacinths. Celestine was in good spirits, telling stories about Bella’s dad as a young boy and how sad she’d been when the family had moved to England. Bella asked about her schooldays and discovered Celestine had been a menace, which surprised her but also made her laugh.
‘You’d never guess it to see you now!’
‘Oh, I hated school; it was so boring. I think I must have worn the headmaster’s cane out, I made him use it so much!’
‘Were you all like that?’ Bella asked. ‘You and your friends? Were they as bad as you?’
Celestine gave a mischievous grin. ‘You might say we had our moments. We all snuck off one morning and tried to get on the ferry to the mainland. We thought we were going to have the biggest adventure, but we didn’t get far. My next-door neighbour was at the port – marched us all back to St Rosa. I didn’t half get a smack from my papa.’
Bella started to laugh again as she wrapped some purple ribbon around a bunch of lemon freesia. She held up the posy and Celestine nodded approval. ‘I’m beginning to think I’ve found my calling,’ she said, taking a moment to admire her own handiwork.
‘I think you might be right. I had wondered what was going to happen to this old stall once I’d gone. Perhaps you might keep it going.’
‘That sounds like a lovely dream, but I doubt I’d be able to do that. I wouldn’t be able to afford a house on Jersey, for a start. As for buying the business…’
Celestine was suddenly thoughtful. ‘You’re probably right,’ she said finally. ‘But you should never say never.’
Bella put her arrangement in some water and moved along the rows of flowers. ‘So what should I make next?’
Celestine smiled up at her. ‘Why don’t you tell me what you think you should put together?’
‘A challenge?’ Bella smiled. ‘I like it!’
CHAPTER EIGHT
Rory’s reply came within minutes of Bella’s text.
That’s incredible! I didn’t know any of that. Thank you for messaging me!
It’s no problem, thought you might like to know. Have you found anything more at your end?
My nose has been in records at the library all day. I’ve done quite a bit of family tree tracing.
Sounds like fun.
Is that sarcasm?
Bella smiled at the message. Still no mention of a partner or children. She wondered what that meant and then wondered why it should mean anything to her at all. She typed a reply.
Honest it’s not. I’ll let you know if I find anything else.
Thanks, that would be amazing. You’re probably busy, but I was thinking about going to visit the war tunnel museum in St Lawrence. I wondered if you might like to come with me. I understand if you’re too busy, of course.
When?
I was thinking maybe Sunday?
The stall will be closed so that sounds nice. Not nice, I mean interesting, of course, not nice.
