Chapter 3
When working in the coffee shop by the canal, days went at a pace that Daisy had never known. Her last job, before inheriting the September Rose, involved eight hours sat behind a desk, staring at a computer screen while her eyes constantly flicked up towards the clock, praying that time would speed up. Now, however, she wished it would slow down.
As much as she hoped there might be a quick shower of rain, or at least a cold spell to break up the day, there was no such respite. She and Theo didn’t even get as much as a lunch break to stop and talk together. Instead, they grabbed a slice of cake each while they were on the go. It didn’t help that Daisy’s lie-in meant she hadn’t done the early-morning bake like normal, and so was running back and forth to the kitchen, tipping scones onto baking trays while whipping up cream-cheese icing for the carrot cake.
By the time five o’clock rolled around and Daisy finally had a chance to restock the paper cups above the coffee machine, Theo was already checking his watch, a sure sign that he needed to leave.
‘Are you sure you can’t stay tonight? It is Sunday tomorrow,’ Daisy stressed as if Theo might not be aware of what day of the week it was.
‘This is not forever,’ he told her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a hug. ‘Honestly, when winter comes, we’ll be so sick of each other, we’ll be laughing about this.’
‘Do you think?’
‘I know. We’ll be praying for the summer days when we get to be apart.’
Not for one second did Daisy believe it was true and yet, for Theo’s sake more than anything else, she forced herself to smile.
‘Come on then,’ she said. ‘I’ll walk you to the car park.’
As their fingers remained intertwined, the weight in Daisy’s chest grew heavier and heavier. Her last relationship had ended because her ex didn’t want to do long distance. And she had been so mad about it. But now, as she was saying goodbye to Theo after only twenty-four hours together, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had been right.
‘Please don’t look like that,’ Theo said when they reached the car park.
‘Sorry.’ Daisy forced herself to look slightly more upbeat. ‘You’re right. It’s not like it’s going to be long until we see each other. You’re still planning on coming down next weekend too, aren’t you? It’s meant to be a scorcher.’
Rather than confirming his next visit, as Daisy had assumed Theo would do, her boyfriend’s eyes shifted to the ground, causing a lump to fill her throat.
‘Theo?’
There was no denying the look in his eye, which only intensified as his gaze met Daisy’s.
‘I didn’t want to say this in the boat, but these next few weeks, they’re going to be manic for me.’
‘Manic? What does that mean?’ Daisy asked, the pit in her stomach taking on a new churning feeling.
‘They’re doing some bridge work that I need to oversee. It’s meant to last for five weeks. I’m not even sure where I’ll be. I might moor the Escape in Bath for some of it, at least on the River Avon somewhere.’
‘So, what does that mean for us?’ Daisy hated how she sounded insecure, but it was hard when the only other relationship she’d had bolted at the thought of anything long-distance.
‘It doesn’t mean anything for us,’ Theo said. ‘I love you, Daisy May.’
There was no ambiguity now. No way to misconstrue those words. He had said them, clear as day, staring straight at her.
‘I love you, and just like I said, when winter comes around, you and I will spend so much time together that we’ll be sick of each other.’
Daisy could feel the tears prickling behind her eyes as her heart swelled. The way Theo said things just made everything sound so simple. Like she had nothing to worry about. This was it. They were a properly committed couple. A little bit of distance wouldn’t be enough to split this relationship up.
‘So?’ Theo said.
‘So what?’ Daisy replied, before suddenly realising. ‘Oh, I love you, too,’ she said, grinning from ear to ear. She didn’t even move to kiss him, the way she thought they would when they finally said those words. Instead, she just covered her mouth in half shock.
‘Are you sure?’ Theo said, mockingly wiping sweat from his brow. ‘You know, I was getting worried there. You took your time to reply.’
‘I did not.’
‘You did too.’
She laughed and placed her hands on his cheeks.
‘I love you, Theo. Is that enough? I love you with my whole heart.’
‘I love you too. And I will love you tomorrow, and I will love you next week and I will love you when I finally see you again. Now, though, I better go.’
Daisy didn’t object again. Instead, she watched as he climbed into his car, not sure whether she wanted to cry at the sight of him leaving or laugh at the fact he’d finally said those magic words. Either way, she stayed there, watching him as he reversed out of the car park. When he reached the road, he wound his window down and yelled across to her from the gate. ‘I love you, Daisy May!’
‘I love you too,’ she called.
And with that, he was gone.