Page 57 of The Little Island Flower Stall
Celestine’s smile suddenly slipped, and she seemed pensive again. ‘I suppose you have plans too?’ she asked, looking at Bella and Rory in turn, as if she had no doubts that plans for Bella included him.
‘We thought we might hang around to see what the live music later on is like. I think there’s fireworks too, isn’t there?’
‘Yes. About 10 p.m. I’m sure I won’t still be up then.’
‘I can always come home with you if?—’
‘I’ve taken myself home for the past however many years, so I’m quite sure I can take myself home this year too.’
‘Only—’ Bella began to protest, but Celestine gave her head a firm shake.
‘I’m not going to make you cut your night short. I can make my own way back, and I’m sure I won’t have to – I expect someone at the pub will want to make sure I get home safely when I’m ready to go.’
‘I know, but I’d rather be home too.’
‘It’s kind of you to think of me, but I’d rather you didn’t. You don’t want your time in Jersey to be nothing but work, do you?’
‘You’re not work.’
‘I’m sure sometimes I am. Off you go. The entertainment will be starting, and you’ll miss it. I’ll be just fine here.’
‘Are you certain you’re going to be all right?’
Celestine huffed. It was good-natured enough, but Bella detected the tiniest hint of impatience. On reflection, perhaps she didn’t welcome being babied by the great-niece who hadn’t been to visit in years.
‘OK. As long as you promise to call me if you change your mind.’
‘I don’t know how I’m meant to do that.’
‘You can just…oh, yeah, no phone. Let me write down my number on…Rory, do you have a pen on you?’
He shook his head. ‘Sorry, not on me.’
Bella turned to Celestine to ask the same question, but she simply shook her head.
‘Before you ask, I don’t have a pen either. Stop fussing! I’ll be fine. I’ll see you at home later, and if I’m in bed when you get back, then I’ll see you in the morning. Now go and have a good time, this instant!’
Bella kissed her aunt on the cheek and then stood up. ‘Sorry. I’m being annoying, I know. I only want to look after you as you’ve looked after me since I got here.’
‘I haven’t done anything.’
‘I don’t think you can ever have any idea of just how much you’ve done. I haven’t felt this free and happy in years, and it’s all down to staying here with you.’
Celestine gave her a broad smile and then nodded for them to leave. ‘Never mind all that. Go and have some fun.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
They’d barely gone a hundred yards when they were stopped by a couple with accents that Bella could only guess were American.
‘Wow!’ the woman said. ‘You lookgood! Are you from Jersey?’
‘Not quite,’ Bella said. ‘My family are.’
‘But you were in the parade?’ the man asked.
‘I was.’
‘We saw you! That looked so cool. Do you mind if we get a photograph with you?’
