Page 62 of The Little Island Flower Stall
Bella followed Rory to the van. She chose a cider cut with mango syrup while he went for a more traditional scrumpy.
‘The hardcore option,’ Bella said, angling her head at his drink as they went to find seats.
‘I don’t know about that. I’ll probably be on my back in ten minutes. I don’t honestly have much of a tolerance when it comes to alcohol – used to be a running gag with my friends at college.’
‘I think alcohol tolerance is overrated anyway. Who cares how much you can drink without falling over? Sean was always like, “I’ve had fifteen pints and now I’m going to put together a cabinet.” I thought it was stupid.’
‘Hmm.’
Bella realised too late that she shouldn’t have brought Sean into the conversation. Even if Rory had wanted to hear about him, she supposed there was no comment he could make.
‘That’s all in the past anyway,’ she continued, trying to rescue the situation. ‘He’s an idiot.’
‘He’s bound to be on your mind,’ Rory said.
‘Well, if I know what’s good for me, then as soon as he does get on my mind, I ought to boot him right off again. That’s what I’m going to do from now on.’
Rory headed to a pair of seats, and Bella followed him.
‘I must admit,’ he said as they settled, ‘I didn’t have this on my bingo card at the start of the year.’
‘What’s that?’
He glanced around. ‘All this. Being on Jersey searching for long-lost family, being a part of such an amazing day, watching a band play Glenn Miller and’ – he looked at her with such warmth that she wanted to melt into his arms – ‘making a new friend. The most brilliant new friend. I’d like to think we can stay in touch when all this is over. Maybe meet up back on the mainland? I could even come to Shrewsbury.’
‘That sounds nice.’ Bella smiled, taking a hasty gulp of her cider so she wouldn’t have to look into the eyes she could barely keep from falling into. ‘I’d love to stay in touch. I feel as if I’ve made a good friend here too.’
‘I feel as if I’ve made more than a good friend. I feel as if I’ve been gifted a whole new home with a whole new community. I feel as if I belong here – silly, I know. But despite everything, I feel lucky and grateful for that.’
Bella had been thinking the same thing. She’d never expected to be absorbed into the community of St Rosa so easily, even though she knew the area well. She’d never expected to feel so comfortable in her life here, however brief it might be. She’d never expected to get on so well with Celestine – after all, it had been years since they’d spent any time together, and even back when Bella’s family used to visit, it had never been this much. And she’d never expected to meet a man like Rory. Yes, she wanted to keep him in her life now. It didn’t have to mean romance, but she wanted to get to know him better, to be his friend, whatever form that took.
‘Have you thought any more about when you might go home?’ she asked.
‘Not really. I suppose I’ll have to soon, but I intend to come back when I can. But I thought I might stick around for a while yet.’
‘Good.’ Bella took another sip of her cider. ‘I have more days out planned, and I need someone to keep me company.’
‘You won’t hear me complaining…’ He prodded a finger into his own chest. ‘I’m assuming you mean me?’
‘Of course!’ Bella laughed lightly. ‘Who else?’
‘That’s all right then. I’d love to see more of the island. With you.’
The orchestra began to play a new song, and Rory suddenly sat up and grinned. ‘I love this one!’
‘Do you?’ Bella held back a frown. ‘How do you know so many of these songs?’
‘You just hear this stuff around, don’t you?’
‘Do you? I must be listening to different radio stations than you.’
He put his cider down. ‘Want to dance?’
‘But our seats…’
‘We can leave something on them – they’ll be fine; nobody will take them. Come on.’
‘I don’t really…’
