Page 84 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘Yes, please. I’ve got some bouquets to make up with my boring carnations.’
‘Right,’ Bella said, her grin spreading. Despite everything, as soon as she’d stepped onto the promenade that morning and set eyes on the golden sand, the aqua sea mirrored in a clear blue sky, she’d felt better. Happy, in fact. Nobody could be unhappy in such a place, she decided. It was just a shame she’d have to leave soon.
‘Good morning!’
Bella looked up from unwrapping the next box of flowers to see Bernard from the Liberation Day committee at the stall.
‘Oh, hello.’
‘Bernard…’ Celestine said with more wariness. ‘How can I help you?’
Bella could just imagine what was going through Celestine’s mind and it made her want to laugh. She was no fan of Busybody Bernard, as she called him, though Bella had found him nothing but sweet – if a little officious.
‘I only stopped on my way past to thank you for the marvellous displays you made this year. Wasn’t the day a triumph?’ He turned to Bella. ‘Did you enjoy it?’
‘I did,’ Bella replied, suddenly caught by conflicting feelings about the day that Bernard was feeling so happy about. Of course she was proud of her role and of the island that was quickly beginning to feel more like home than anywhere she’dbeen before, but it was tempered by thoughts of Rory, of the magical evening they’d shared, only for everything to have soured less than twenty-four hours later. That evening had seemed like fate, like it was written in the stars that they should meet, but now it felt like a test – one she’d failed miserably.
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Bernard said. ‘We’re already starting to plan next year’s event – have to keep on top of these things, you know. I take it we can count on your support again.’
‘I might not be here next year,’ Bella said.
‘That makes two of us,’ Celestine cut in crisply, and both Bella and Bernard turned to her. ‘I’m only being practical,’ Celestine insisted. ‘Every day is borrowed time when you get to my age.’
‘Rot’ Bernard smiled. ‘You’ll be here.’
‘Perhaps.’
Bernard tipped his cap to both women and then continued down the promenade.
‘I dare say I’ll have to break the news to him sooner rather than later,’ Celestine mused as they watched him go.
‘What news?’ Bella asked.
‘That I won’t be doing his displays next year.’
Bella turned sharply to her. ‘What? But you always?—’
Celestine shook her head. ‘It wiped me out, Bella. I don’t think I can do it again. I’m an old lady, and everyone seems to forget that.’
‘It’s because you don’t seem old. Look at you today – working here on the stall again like someone forty years younger.’
‘Perhaps it’s time I admitted I can’t do it any longer. It’s fine with you here, but when you’ve gone back to Shrewsbury, I might have to face the fact I can’t run the stall alone. I might have to close it.’
‘No! If it means you closing, then I’ll stay!’
‘As you reminded me, it might not be that simple. There are rules about living on Jersey?—’
‘I know, and we’ll work out how to get around them. Celestine, you can’t close Bay Blooms! It means so much to you – to everyone in St Rosa.’
Celestine nodded slowly. ‘It’s kind of you to say so, but all good things come to an end, don’t they? Isn’t that the way of life?’
Celestine went back to her arrangements, leaving Bella to ponder what she’d said. Yes, of course, Celestine would get tired far more easily these days, but she never imagined for a moment that her great-aunt would throw in the towel. Perhaps it was silly to have viewed it that way. Most people would have retired decades before, and it was a miracle Celestine was still able to turn up every day and open this place. The work wasn’t particularly hard for Bella, but she supposed it would be for someone in their nineties, no matter how remarkable that person was.
‘I’ll do some research and we’ll talk about it later,’ she said after a moment. Celestine looked up from the bouquet she was constructing with a vague smile.
‘All right then. We’ll talk over supper, but I do feel my mind is made up.’
Trade came in steady trickles or nothing at all, but it was a sunny day and most people in St Rosa were more concerned with the beach than with buying flowers. Celestine sat outside the stall on a chair and soaked it up while Bella held the fort. At one point, Bella noticed her head loll to one side and had to wake her. Poor Celestine seemed embarrassed, though Bella reminded her there was no need, because it was hot and even she felt like taking a nap. Halfway through the morning, Celestine trundled off on herscooter and came back with ice lollies, and they sat side by side on the pavement outside the stall and sucked at them lazily as they watched holidaymakers enjoy the sea.
