Page 44 of New Beginnings at Lullbury Bay

Hewas nice.Reallynice.Friendlyand uncomplicated.He’dmake someone a fantastic boyfriend and partner.Butnot her.Daisydidn’t think she’d ever feel the spark that she needed.She’dmade a good friend but she knew – they both sensed it – it was never going to develop into a romantic relationship.

Aman walking a bouncy spaniel passed by going the other way along the promenade.Hesaid good morning.Itmade her think ofAustinand how much he must be missingGreteland their walks.Lotsof customers came into the shop with their dogs andDaisydidn’t mind one bit.Hercrushing work life meant she had no time to own one herself, but she liked other people’s.Shemade a mental memo to get in a jar of dog treats to sit on the counter.Avision of ‘Walter’s’ gloriously lush lawn rose in her imagination and, for a second, she pictured herself there, playing with a spaniel puppy.Shewondered if ‘Walter’ had ever had a dog?Thegarden of the house inWithycombeLanewas perfect for one.Theywere still no closer to finding out who ‘Walter’ was and it was all very frustrating.

Herattention was caught by two people walking along the far end of the harbour wall.Amiddle-aged man with a shock of silver hair blowing in the breeze with a little brown-and-whiteCavalierspaniel who looked just likeFleur.Theman was tall and distinguished-looking in jeans and a loose-fitting jacket.Hepulled the woman to him for a long affectionate hug, and they shared a playful kiss, laughing as the dog jumped up at them, pawing for attention.Daisystopped dead.Seeinga middle-aged coupleenjoying a dog walk on the harbour wasn’t unusual.Butthe woman in the bright-pink jumper and cream linen trousers was her mother.

Daisyturned on her heel, nearly bumping into a woman coming the other way.Herfeet slipped on the sandy concrete in her haste to get away and she nearly fell.Ignoringthe woman’s concern she stumbled back along the prom, head down to avoid the low sun.Whatwas her mum doing kissing a strange man?And, if she had a boyfriend, why hadn’t she told her?

Fornigh on seventeen years she and her mum had been a unit.Aclose mutually dependent unit.Followingthe sudden shocking death of her father it had been just her andJanagainst the world.They’dmoved into the little cottage her mother still lived in, not needing the space or expense of the family home.Janhad seen her through the first grim years when everything had seemed grey and hopeless; the last thingDaisyhad wanted to do was study forA-levels and university.Itwas another reason she’d slept-walked into teaching.Sheknew her dad would have been proud to see her in a respected, solid career, plus following the career’s advice at school had seemed the path of least resistance; she hadn’t wanted to cause her mother further anguish by being difficult.Shedidn’t think she andJanhad any secrets from one another.

Daisythought back to the last proper conversation she’d had with her mum.They’dtalked about her father.Shewrinkled her nose trying to remember.HadJanbeen attempting to say something then but, as usual, she’d been panicking over getting flowers ready and delivered.Couldit be they were drifting apart?Wasthe unit not as tight?Shehadn’t even shared her angst overRick.Asfar as her mother was concerned, he was a nice chap who’d taken her to lunch once.

‘Ishould make more time for her,’ she muttered to herself as she navigated a mum and dad swinging their little girl between them.Herown parents used to do that with her on this very spot,Daisyremembered with a pang.Whenwas the last time she’dtaken her mother out for a meal?She’dnot even bothered forMotheringSunday.Andwhen you were a florist for a living, an enormous bunch of flowers didn’t seem quite as special.Maybeshe should take her out toTheStationHouse?Ithad been good fun.Agirly night out with cocktails and a taxi home so they could sample a few sounded just the thing to bond again.ThenMumcould tell her all about this mysterious man.Helooked nice,Daisyadmitted to herself cautiously.Sheexamined her feelings.Didshe mind her mother seeing someone?Shecouldn’t decide.Whenit was theoretical she’d been all for it but now it looked to be a reality, her emotions were all over the place.

Daisywas still preoccupied whenMarionreported for work three hours later.Goingon autopilot she’d changed the water in all the flower buckets, put out the lavender bushes, flipped the shop sign toOpenand boiled the kettle, leaving it steaming noisily to itself, forgotten.

Marionfound her sitting at the counter, staring into space, a neglected pile of unprepared midnight sky agapanthus in front. ‘So, sweetie, how did the date go?Allwell with the gorgeousPeter?’Shedisappeared into the office and made tea. ‘Notthat he’s all that gorgeous but looks aren’t everything and he seems steady.’

Daisyvaguely registered her chatting nonsense.

Shereturned with two mugs. ‘Andsteady is good.MyBarry’ssteady.’Sheplonked them down on the counter. ‘OrIthink he is.Don’tsee enough of him these days to remember.Hello, darling, earth toDaisy.Phone’sringing.’

‘Letit go to answerphone.Thanks.’Daisysipped her tea and winced. ‘It’shot.’

‘Usuallyis when it’s just been made.Whatisgoing on with you this morning?’Theringing phone stopped andDaisy’squiet voice on the answering phone clicked in. ‘Notrushing to answer the phone the minute it rings?’Marionplaced a hand onDaisy’sforehead. ‘Areyou coming down with something?Oh!’Sheremoved the hand and clasped her throat. ‘It’sPeter.You’vefallenin love.Iknew it would happen to you at some point.Noone can be that hard-hearted and anti-romance for real.’

Daisyshook her head.

‘Didhe do something?’Mariongot serious. ‘Hedidn’t hurt you?Oh, sweetie, he didn’t get all steamy and heavy and try it on?Hedoesn’t look the sort but you never can tell.Slipsomething in your drink?’Hereyes widened dramatically. ‘MyBrittells me these awful stories about what goes on in clubs these days.Spikeddrinks and all sorts.Sheworries me something awful does myBrittany, but she can look after herself.Verysavvy isBrit.Whereasyou, sweetie, you’re such an innocent in the world.Iknow you make yourself out to be all cynical and–’

‘Maz, stop talking.’

Marionsubsided onto the stool.Daisyrarely used that tone and when she did it was serious.

‘Mum’sseeing someone.’

Marionheaved a sigh of relief. ‘Oh, is that all?Thankgoodness.Thoughtsomething awful had happened.’

‘Ithas.Afterall this timeMumhas found herself a boyfriend.’

‘Mightjust be a friend.’

‘Lookedmore than that from whereIwas standing.Theylooked very relaxed with one another.’

‘Friendswith benefits?’Marionsipped her tea thoughtfully.

Daisyshuddered. ‘Don’tput that image in my head.’

‘Oh, come on,Daisy.Yourmum’s only what, sixty?She’sstill got life left in her.’

‘AsIsaid, don’t put that image in my head.’

‘What’sgot you all riled up?Colinis a nice enough bloke.’

Apause dropped.Daisy’smouth fell open. ‘Youknew?’

‘Whoopsie.’Marionblushed as crimson as her most recent manicure.

‘Youdid know!’

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