Page 88 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘Do you want to watch that?’ Bella asked her aunt.
‘I don’t think so.’ Celestine tore a strip from the cake and popped it into her mouth. ‘Ooh, that’s nice.’
‘Isn’t it?’ Bella tore off another section for herself. ‘Want to walk along, see what else there is?’
Celestine nodded.
Bella munched on her cake, occasionally pulling another lump off for Celestine as they began to explore the rest of the festival. They were offered samples everywhere they went, from filo-wrapped feta to rich chocolate brownies. They took some and browsed the stalls of things they liked. Bella bought a bag of dried mango, some honey-roasted pistachios, a heavy slice of baklava and a tub of fat green olives infused with chilli. Celestine went for some candied orange peel, crystallised pineapple and a bag of Indian sweets. They stopped at a cheese seller, and Celestine bought a huge wedge of Brie that Bella joked would take her a year to eat. Then her attention was caught by a stand selling glasses of ouzo.
‘It’s ages since I’ve had ouzo!’ Bella made her way over, glancing back once to make sure Celestine was following. ‘Do you think it’s too early for a sneaky one now?’
Celestine laughed. ‘How should I know? You’re a grown woman – only you can tell if you can drink or not.’
‘What if I end up legless?’
‘I’ll get some kind soul to throw you over the handlebars of my scooter and I’ll carry you around until you sober up.’
Bella burst into laughter. ‘Do you want a glass?’
‘I do not!’
The stallholder was an older man – he couldn’t have been much younger than eighty – with steel-grey hair and quick eyes.
‘Ladies!’ he greeted them, almost bowing. ‘I can get you both a glass, yes?’
‘Just for me,’ Bella said.
‘No?’ The man looked at Celestine. ‘No drink for the beautiful lady?’
‘No, thank you,’ Celestine said primly, though Bella noticed her blush.
He pinched his thumb and forefinger together. ‘Not even a little one?’
‘I don’t drink in the day, thank you.’
He shrugged and began to put Bella’s order together. As she got out her purse to pay, he poured another drink and came out from the stall to Celestine’s scooter. ‘Lemonade only,’ he said. ‘For the beautiful lady. On the house.’
‘Oh…’ Celestine blushed harder still as she took the glass. ‘Thank you.’
Bella gave the broadest grin. ‘Thank you,’ she told him as she paid for her own.
‘You are most welcome.’
As they began to walk away, his voice followed them. ‘Beautiful lady! What is your name?’
‘Don’t be silly!’ Celestine huffed, her cheeks now aflame. Bella was trying hard to hold it together, but she couldn’t.
‘Celestine!’ she called back, laughing. ‘Her name is Celestine!’
‘Bella!’ her great-aunt snapped.
‘Celestine!’ he called after in a sing-song voice. Celestine picked up the pace, a still laughing Bella trying not to spill her drink as she kept up. ‘You want my phone number, Celestine?’
‘Oh, the nerve!’ Celestine grumbled. ‘I’m an old lady!’
‘He’s an old man,’ Bella replied. ‘Just goes to show old people can still flirt.’ She took a sip of her drink. ‘Wow!’ She coughed. ‘He’s given me a good measure there!’
‘Be careful!’ Celestine warned.
