Page 55 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘Honestly, there’s no point. I won’t be long. Where will you be? We’ll come back to you as soon as I’ve got her.’
‘Should I wait by the fish and chip van? I’m starving, so I might get something to eat while I wait. Unless you want me to hang on for you…’
‘Don’t do that; I’m not sure how long I’ll be. If you get sick of waiting and want to move on, just text and let me know.’
‘OK…’ He paused, shielding his eyes for a moment as he stared intently at a spot along the promenade. ‘I’m not sure, but I think I might have just seen your great-aunt.’
‘Really?’ Bella spun round to see where he was looking. For a moment, she couldn’t figure out whether he had seen Celestine or not, but then she noticed a slender figure with short white hair, partially obscured by the crowds. ‘Yes, I think that’s her.Thank goodness. Was she there the whole time? Talk about the wood for the trees!’
‘Well, if it makes you feel better, I didn’t see her either.’
‘I’d best go and see if she’s all right.’
‘I may as well come with you.’
As they made their way over, she felt his hand close around hers for the briefest second and then move away again. Had he been about to take it? Had it been an unconscious action that he’d realised as quickly as he’d made it? It had been unasked for, but there was a pang of disappointment in her that he’d let go.
‘It’s busy!’ she called in an effort to gloss over the situation in case he was embarrassed by it.
‘It is.’
‘A miracle you spotted Celestine at all in this lot!’
‘There are some situations where height is useful,’ he said with a smile, his eyes fixed on the spot beyond the crowds where he’d presumably seen Celestine. Bella had lost sight of her again now that they were in the thick of it.
A minute later, they were through the worst of it and closer to the beach. It was then that Bella saw Celestine leaning on her crutches and looking out to sea.
‘There she is,’ Rory said, nodding.
‘Thank goodness.’
‘You worry a lot about her,’ he said.
Bella nodded. ‘She’s old and she’s not as well as she likes everyone to believe. I don’t think so anyway. I think she pushes herself when I’m looking her way and the minute my back’s turned she sags with exhaustion. I’d never say it to her, though. God, she’d be mortified.’
‘I suppose that will be all of us one day.’
‘That’s a cheery thought.’
‘Sorry!’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘I didn’t mean to bring down the mood – don’t listen to my daft comments.’
‘I don’t think they’re daft. I think they’re insightful…I just choose not to think about it because if I did, I’d probably lock myself away in a dark room and never come out again.’
He gave a warm laugh. ‘And I thought I was the melodramatic one!’
‘I can give anyone a run for their money where melodrama is concerned. My whole life for the last fifteen years has been a bloody melodrama!’
As they drew closer, Bella could see that Celestine seemed pensive as she stared out to sea. And when Bella called her name and she turned around, for a moment Bella was blindsided by the notion that her aunt had been crying. It had been a mistake to bring Rory over – Bella suddenly realised that. Given why they were all here today, of course she’d be feeling emotional. How stupid of Bella not to think of that. But she hadn’t, and Rory was here, and it was too late to do anything about it. She pushed a bright smile across her face and determined that the best course of action was to pretend she hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
‘Here you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you! I’m going to have to get you a collar with a bell on it, aren’t I?’
To Bella’s relief, Celestine smiled, and it seemed like a genuine one. ‘Were you worried? You needn’t have worried on my account. I suppose it’s nice, though. It’s a long time since I’ve had anyone worry about me.’
Bella could have said she’d been worrying about her since she’d arrived on Jersey, but it didn’t seem like it would help, so she didn’t.
‘I only meant…if you were tired or you wanted to go home, you might be stuck trying to find me. You’re all right? Just taking a breather here, or do you?—’
Celestine shook her head. ‘I’m absolutely fine.’ She glanced at Rory. ‘I’m not going to take you away from the celebrations so early anyway.’
