Blue Skies Over Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock)

Chapter 40

‘I’ve changed my mind.’

Those were the first words out of Daisy’s mouth on the Monday morning. Her alarm had only just gone off at six-thirty and before she’d even sat up or fully opened her eyes, Yvonne had appeared in the living area, dressed in a silk dressing gown and matching negligée.

‘Ready?’ Yvonne asked. ‘We’re about to go through Central London.’

That was the moment it hit her. ‘I’ve changed my mind,’ she said.

Yvonne let out a short chuckle, though Daisy couldn’t see anything funny about the situation. Sitting up, she discovered the nerves went past her belly and all the way up to her throat, which was already tight with fear. ‘This is ridiculous. We can’t take the September Rose on the Thames. We can’t.’

Yvonne laughed. ‘You know we were on the Thames all day yesterday, don’t you? And most of the day before.’

‘Of course, I know that,’ Daisy said, exasperated. ‘But this is different. This is the Thames Thames. This is London Bridge, Tower Bridge, all the bridges. You know they have hot tub boats on the Thames? Hot tub boats? It’s going to be so busy. No, I don’t think we can do it.’

The feeling of overwhelm was almost too much to bear. As she stood up, she instinctively moved to the coffee machine, only to change her mind. Was caffeine really what she needed on a day like today? She was already a mass of jitters.

‘There are a lot of bridges,’ Yvonne agreed, ‘and a lot of other boats, but a lot of incredible things to see, too. Come on, where is your sense of adventure? Trust me, this is a good place to be. They’ve got lifeboats everywhere. Any crash and people are going to see it and come racing to our rescue. Much safer here than when we were out on the sea. That was definitely the worst part. Or on that little creek after the Crouch. Now that’s a type of place you definitely don’t want to have an accident.’

Daisy wasn’t sure if the comment was meant to comfort her or not. Or if it had. Still, Yvonne was right. Being at sea was the part Daisy had worried about the most, but it hadn’t been half as dramatic as she’d expected. From now on, it should be smooth sailing – quite literally.

‘Okay, what time do you want to get going?’ Daisy asked Yvonne, who was once again studying her pamphlet of tide times, though the page she was currently open on was not only torn at the corner but stained with what looked like coffee too. Daisy only hoped there wasn’t anything they needed on that part of the page.

‘The sooner, the better,’ Yvonne said, abruptly closing the book. ‘Why don’t you fix our drinks, and?—’

A bout of barking from the dog drowned out her words. Yvonne scowled slightly as she looked at Daisy.

‘Actually, change of plans. I’ll fetch the drinks. You can feed the newest crew member.’

Outside, a wagging tail was waiting for Daisy, along with plenty of licks.

‘Wow, looks like you’re a morning person,’ she said, placing a handful of food into his bowl. ‘So, what do you say, ready to see the Houses of Parliament?’

After a couple of minutes’ attention, Daisy went into the boat to find her phone buzzing away on the table. Her first thought was Theo, but instead it was the word ‘Mum’ flashing on the screen.

‘Hi, Mum. Is everything all right?’

It wasn’t unheard of for Daisy to hear from her mother before work, but normally that meant around 8a.m. She couldn’t remember ever hearing from her before seven. Therefore, it was unsurprising that she assumed there was something wrong.

‘What’s happened?’ she added, hearing the panic in her voice.

‘Oh, nothing, darling. Nothing. I was just thinking that today’s probably the day, isn’t it? When you go through London on the Rose?’

Daisy was stunned to near silence. Her mother never discussed the boat with Daisy, even though she now had a boyfriend who lived on the same canal as she had once done. Trying to get her mum to engage in a conversation about the September Rose was normally like asking her to walk across hot coals. And yet now she had brought her up as if it were normal, casual conversation. The Rose? Was that what her father had called the boat?

Daisy’s mind was so busy whirring with the unexpectedness of the situation, it was only when her mother cleared her throat and spoke again that Daisy remembered she was on the phone.

‘Did I get it wrong?’ her mother asked. ‘I thought you’d want to get there as fast as possible. Nic calculated that you’d be starting the main part of the Thames today.’

‘No, no, you’re right,’ Daisy said. ‘It’s today. We’re going to leave in a bit. I just need to get dressed and then we’re casting off.’

‘Oh, well. That’s good. Take care, won’t you? Of yourself. And Yvonne too.’

There was a tone to her voice that made Daisy think perhaps she wasn’t so concerned about anything happening to the September Rose. Even so, to ring up and mention the boat was more than Daisy would have expected. Maybe at some point, her mother would be able to say Johnny’s name, too.

‘Sure. Yes, of course. And I’ll ring you when I’m onto the canals.’

‘Only if you’ve got time, love.’

‘I’m sure I will. Love you.’

‘Love you too.’

When Daisy hung up, she found herself lost in a stunned silence. Was it an omen, her mother’s blessing on this part of the journey? Maybe she didn’t need to be so worried after all.