Blue Skies Over Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock)

Chapter 55

Daisy had hoped the evening might have brought with it some cold air, but so far, that wasn’t the case. If anything, it was getting closer and stickier. Yet it was still clear skies and, as such, the three of them enjoyed their drinks outside.

‘So, what do you do?’ Daisy asked. ‘You said it was something to do with photography? Marketing? You must have a great job if you can travel so much.’ She didn’t mean to sound condescending, but Shaun looked younger than her, and although his age and the way he dressed meant he could easily have passed as a student, something about the way he spoke made Daisy believe that wasn’t the case.

‘I do okay,’ he said with a shrug, reaching down and stroking Johnny on the head. For a stowaway dog, he looked utterly at home, relaxing outside with people who were happy to offer him quick strokes whenever he lifted his head in their direction.

‘What line of work are you in?’ Daisy said, still no wiser as to what her new friend did.

‘I work remotely, but it’s difficult to classify. I freelance a lot. Take whatever comes up. A bit of social media management. A bit of data entry. Anything really, as long as I don’t have to give up my way of life.’

‘Wow,’ Daisy said. ‘Do you never get worried, not having a fixed job?’

At this, Shaun crinkled his nose.

‘No, I prefer it that way. No ties. No people to answer to. And something always comes up. I’ve been in a couple of sticky situations before, you know, where I’ve nearly run out of petrol and I’ve only got ten quid left in the bank. But somehow, something always comes through. I don’t bother stressing about it now. There are plenty of ways to earn money if you keep your options open.’

Daisy was impressed, although she was hardly opposed to going with the flow. After all, shutting up the coffee shop with mooring fees expected soon, and the cost of fuel on the rise, wasn’t exactly the sensible thing to do. Especially now she was going to have to factor dog food into the mix, at least in the short term.

As Daisy sipped on her drink, her stomach growled loud enough for both Yvonne and Shaun to hear.

‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘Yvonne and I have had a pretty hectic day. We’ve not had any time to stop and eat.’

‘Oh, and I just invited myself on board,’ Shaun said. ‘I’m so sorry. Look, why don’t I take you out for something? To say thank you for letting me invade your evening.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ Daisy replied. ‘I enjoy showing people the boat. And we’ve got plenty of things on board. I can whip us up a quick salad. You’re welcome to stay.’

‘Only if I’m not intruding? Any more than I already have,’ he added.

‘Of course not,’ Daisy said. ‘You don’t mind, do you, Yvonne?’

Yvonne shook her head.

‘Thank you,’ Shaun said. ‘I take it you don’t mind if I stay for food either, do you, Johnny?’ At this, the dog barked, although not in the way he had done with Yvonne. It was almost as if he was agreeing with Shaun.

‘Johnny?’ Yvonne said in confusion. Daisy nodded her head towards the dog that had been lying peacefully beneath her chair since they had come outside. ‘Johnny,’ Yvonne repeated, this time a smile broadening on her lips as she understood. ‘Perfect. Just perfect.’

‘Sorry,’ Shaun said, an expression of confusion crumpling his face as he looked between Daisy and Yvonne and back again. ‘You make it sound like you’ve only just given the dog a name? I thought he was yours?’

‘Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that,’ Daisy said. ‘Let me make a salad and I’ll come back and tell you all about it.’