Blue Skies Over Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock)

Chapter 10

Over the next two days, Daisy informed every customer that she would be heading away for a short while, but it would not be permanent. Wildflower Lock was her home and she would be back before autumn to serve them cakes and coffees. Sometimes, she told them more details about her route – out of the estuary, into the tidal Thames and onto the network of canals that would lead across to the west of the country. If the people were regulars, or knew the lock and the boats well, she told them how she was off to see her boyfriend, who had previously lived there on the Narrow Escape. Other times, she just told them she was off on holiday. Still, every time she mentioned what she was about to do, it caused a flurry of butterflies to fill her stomach and it was hard to keep them under control, especially with Yvonne appearing at her hatch every half hour to tell her she’d booked another marina or to show her a photo she’d taken from the River Thames decades earlier.

The buzz of excitement was constant, yet there was one place Daisy couldn’t show it – on the phone to Theo.

‘You look very happy,’ he said, as they spoke that Wednesday night. ‘I assume it’s been a good day.’

‘It has. A really good day,’ Daisy admitted.

‘Well, I definitely want to hear all about this.’

She was sitting on her sofa holding her phone out in front of her, looking at Theo, but also the scenery behind him, where hills of every shade of green rolled off into the distance. Soon she would be there with him, and he had absolutely no idea, although a slight sliver of worry struck as she considered their evening calls. She wouldn’t be able to talk to him like this, on the sofa with the curtains wide open so that he could see Wildflower Lock behind them. Or their morning calls, which normally took place when she was sitting out on the stern with a cup of coffee in her hand. But it was fine. She’d think of a way around that.

‘Oh, nothing special happened,’ she lied. Her expression remained flawlessly casual, despite how much she was bursting to tell him the truth. ‘It was just a lovely day, that’s all. Nice weather, great customers. What more could I need?’

She missed out on the part where Yvonne came to tell her she was all packed up and ready to get going the very next morning.

‘Well, it sounds like you don’t need me there at all,’ Theo joked.

‘Oh, I do. I absolutely do.’ She was about to ask him what he was up to – and if there had been any more sightings of the otters – when there was a knock on the door.

‘Daisy, dear, it’s me.’ Yvonne’s singsong voice sang through into the boat. ‘I was wondering if I could trouble you for some help with my suitcase.’

Daisy blanched, terrified Theo had overheard and jumped to the completely unobvious conclusion that Yvonne was moving onto the September Rose so that they could travel to the Cotswolds to see him.

‘Is that someone at the door?’ he asked.

Daisy breathed a quick sigh of relief. The fact Theo hadn’t mentioned Yvonne by name meant he most likely hadn’t heard who it was. Still, she needed to get off the phone now, before he did.

‘Yes, sorry. Mum said she was going to pop over. But I’ll speak to you again tonight, right? Before I go to sleep.’

‘That would be nice. Love you.’ A rush of warmth and adrenaline flooded through her at hearing those words again.

‘Love you too.’ Daisy hung up the phone before holding it momentarily against her chest. She did. She really loved him, and this was going to be fun. She smiled to herself. A massive game of trying to make sure Theo didn’t find out what she was doing. In a way, it was going to be part of the adventure.

Putting the phone down beside her, she stood up, walked across the boat, and opened the door to Yvonne.

The old woman’s eyes glinted with mischief, which was highlighted by the flawless green winged eyeliner she currently wore. Perhaps, Daisy thought, when they were moored up for a bit, she could ask Yvonne for some make-up tips; she certainly seemed to know what the latest trends were and pulled them off perfectly.

‘So, how are you?’ Yvonne grinned. ‘Ready to go?’

‘I have no idea,’ Daisy admitted. ‘I was hoping you’d be able to tell me that.’

The old lady chuckled. ‘Well, I’ve got my suitcase all packed and was going to bring it over, but I’m not as strong as I used to be. I’ve got it out of the boat, but I could do with a hand getting it over the bridge. I don’t suppose you could spare me five minutes, could you?’

Daisy frowned, concerned by the comment. She had hoped that bringing Yvonne with her would make things like locks easier to manage. Given that Yvonne often took the Ariadne up and down the canals locally, Daisy had assumed that she was strong enough to do some of the legwork, but perhaps that wasn’t the case. Without Yvonne’s help, Daisy knew she’d have to rely on the kindness of strangers and those who worked along the water.

Still, the thought was fleeting. Yvonne’s knowledge of the Thames and the waterways was more important than her physical strength, and she would have to steer the boat through the locks while Daisy dealt with opening the gates.

‘No problem,’ Daisy said, trying to quash the new feeling of anxiety that was flickering within her. ‘I’ll come and help you get it.’