Page 58 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘Me?’ Bella shot a vaguely confused glance at Rory, who simply grinned.
‘If you don’t mind,’ the woman said.
‘God, no!’
Bella allowed them to get either side of her while Rory took the man’s phone from him and snapped the photo. When he handed it back, they all pored over the screen.
‘That’s great!’ the man said. ‘Thanks!’
‘It was lovely to meet you!’ the woman said.
‘You too,’ Bella said. ‘Enjoy the rest of the evening.’
‘Oh, we will!’ the man called as they began to walk away. ‘Maybe we’ll see you around!’
‘Well…’ Bella gave a bemused smile. ‘That was unexpected.’
‘You do look very cool, though,’ Rory said. ‘I should imagine a few people have thought about coming up to you to say so.’
‘But not to get photos.’
He shrugged. ‘Maybe they’ve thought of that too. It’s just not done when you’re British, is it?’
‘No.’ Bella laughed as they began to walk again. ‘I suppose it’s not. We’re a stuck-up lot, aren’t we?’
‘Reserved, that’s for sure. Are you worried about your great-aunt?’
‘A bit,’ Bella returned, wondering how much to say. ‘It’s that obvious? Liberation Day is always going to be a strange one for her, if you think about it. She must have lost a lot of people back then. And even more since then. These things are going to make you a bit…’
‘Introspective?’
‘Hmm, yes. I think. Not sure what word I’m looking for, really. I suppose it’s as good as any.’
‘It’s a day her past catches up with her, maybe?’
‘It’s a day the past catches up with everyone, isn’t it? When you really think about it. What happened here during the war is important to all of us. Uncle Roland always used to say that Jersey was the car bumper. He said the island being occupied saved the rest of Britain, and I’m sure he’s right. He wasn’t very happy about it, though,’ Bella added with a smile. ‘I think what he really meant was that Britain threw Jersey under the bus. Don’t think he ever forgave my dad for moving to the mainland. Didn’t have much time for it.’
‘I’m sure there must be complicated feelings here about all that. I can’t say I’ve been anything but welcomed since I got here, though.’
‘Oh, of course! I love the people in this place. Nobody has ever mentioned it in quite that way apart from my great-uncle. To be honest, he wasn’t the easiest man to get along with.’
‘He was Celestine’s husband?’
Bella nodded. ‘She’s been on her own for…God, I can’t even remember, but it’s been a long time. Years, in fact. I hate to say it, but I think she’s been happier during those years than she was when he was alive. I always used to wonder why they got married. I suppose they must have had something there, but I could never see it.’
‘Who knows what’s going on that nobody else sees?’
‘Who knows? If marriage was always easy, I suppose nobody would ever get divorced.’
‘People stick it out.’
‘They do. Like my great-aunt. I think if she’d been born fifty years later maybe she wouldn’t have done.’
As the shadows lengthened, Bella was glad of her woollen tunic. It was still early in the season, and once the sun went down, a chill crept in from the sea. She rebuttoned it as they walked towards the centre of the celebrations and the crowds began to get denser again. Someone was testing a sound system: ‘One two, one two…’ followed by a tuning guitar.
‘That sounds promising,’ Bella said. ‘Want to go and have a look?’
‘Absolutely. If there’s beer on sale close by, even better.’
