Page 44 of The Little Island Flower Stall
She was rearranging the vase she’d just taken the pink roses from when she heard Celestine tutting.
‘Oh, here comes Bernard. Is he going to be here every day until the Liberation Day celebration is done?’
‘Morning!’ Bernard said. ‘Don’t look so worried – I’m not stopping.’
‘That’s a shame,’ Celestine said so sweetly that Bella almost spat out the tea she’d just taken a sip of. Bernard looked at Bella and held up a suit carrier.
‘I think this is about your size. Couldn’t match exactly what you sent over, but hopefully this will be close enough.’
‘My uniform?’ Bella asked, taking it from him. Despite what she’d said about it all being a bit mortifying, she couldn’t deny a kick of excitement. Celestine had been right about one thing as they’d gone through the photos of past Liberation Days: child Bella had longed to be a part of the parade. She had to wonder what child Bella would say if she could see grown-up Bella holding her costume, finally getting her moment.
He nodded. ‘I’ll email everyone with the exact timings, but rehearsals start this week.’
‘Rehearsals?’ Bella repeated.
‘Yes. We don’t just turn up and march around, you know. There’s a lot of planning goes into this.’
‘Don’t we know it,’ Celestine mumbled, though it seemed that what Bella caught, Bernard didn’t. He only smiled and nodded and then bid them goodbye with a reminder that Bella should keep an eye on her emails.
‘Honestly,’ Celestine huffed. ‘Who made him king of the world?’
‘He’s not that bad,’ Bella replied as she unzipped the suit carrier and peered inside. ‘Ooh! Would you look at this? It looks like the real thing!’
Letting the cover fall to the ground, she held up the suit. It was navy blue, woven from a heavy wool with brass buttons and a matching peaked cap.
‘You’re going to look wonderful!’ Celestine clapped her hands together, her previous irritation at Bernard seemingly forgotten.
‘Wow!’
They both looked round to see Rory at the stall, hands in his pockets, gazing at the suit with a broad smile.
‘What’s that for?’ he asked.
‘Oh, it’s for the Liberation Day parade.’ Bella bent to pick up the cover.
‘For you?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘You’re taking part?’
‘Yes. I’m just sitting on one of the jeeps or something…not sure yet.’
‘That’s so cool! Now I have to come and see!’
Bella noticed Celestine looking and realised she’d never met Rory.
‘Celestine…this is my…friend. We went to the museum together…This is Rory.’
Rory leaned forward and held out his hand to shake Celestine’s with one of those smiles that always melted Bella.
‘Oh…’ Celestine flushed. ‘How do you do?’
‘It’s so good to meet you,’ he said. ‘I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you.’
‘Really?’ Celestine shot a pleased glance at Bella.
‘Of course!’ Bella said. ‘What else was I going to say about my favourite great-aunt?’
