Blue Skies Over Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock)

Chapter 66

‘What are you doing here?’ Daisy said, stepping up onto the stern to give her friend a hug. ‘I thought you were off on your campervan adventures to Wales, or was it the Peak District?’

‘It was both,’ Shaun said. ‘And I still am. I didn’t leave until this morning, though. Well, late afternoon, actually. And then I was driving and I glanced to the side of the road and saw the canal. I was like, what are the chances? And I just had a feeling. So I thought I’d have a look. A quick walk. And what do you know, there you were!’

‘I can’t believe it,’ Daisy said. ‘What are the chances?’

She was about to offer Shaun a drink when Johnny bounded out from under the table, jumping up so that his front paws landed squarely on Shaun’s chest.

‘Well, somebody is very pleased to see me,’ he laughed, throwing Daisy a quick smile. His eyes flashed and Daisy couldn’t help but wonder if it really had been a coincidence that he saw the canal, or whether he had sought them out deliberately. But why would he want to see her again? As nice as he was, she had made it very clear she had a boyfriend.

‘And I’m just as happy to see you,’ Shaun said, rubbing Johnny’s tummy. ‘Still hanging around, are you? You know what, I think you want to stay here, on this boat, don’t you?’

‘Well, unfortunately, that’s not an option,’ Daisy said. ‘Perhaps you bumping into us is a sign you should take him?’

Shaun laughed. ‘You’re not going to drop this, are you?’

‘Not just yet.’

After one final tummy rub, Shaun straightened up and looked at Daisy.

‘I’m so glad I bumped into you. I wanted to say thank you again. For yesterday. For dinner and showing me your home and your amazing paintings. It really was a lovely night.’

‘You really don’t have to thank me. I’m the one who owed you, remember? Besides, it’s nice to have different people to talk to. I’m sure Yvonne’s sick of talking to me.’

Daisy let out a slight chuckle, which Shaun dutifully reciprocated.

‘No, honestly, I had such a lovely evening yesterday. It’s so nice chatting to people who get what it’s like to live a slower-paced life.’

Daisy thought back to the incident that morning at the lock. ‘I’m not sure I’d call today slower-paced,’ she said. ‘But I know what you mean.’

‘Shaun, lovely to see you again,’ Yvonne said, appearing in the doorway, but not able to come any further due to Johnny having flopped down and blocked the route.

‘Lovely to see you too, Yvonne. So, I was just about to say to Daisy, there’s a lovely pub just a little walk up the road,’ Shaun continued. ‘It’s got a really nice beer garden. I was hoping I could buy you both a drink. Just to thank you for dinner last night. And hear about today’s adventures, if you’re okay with that?’

Daisy looked at Yvonne. Given how tired she’d been recently, she didn’t know if heading to a busy beer garden was something Yvonne would want to do, but Daisy didn’t want to leave her on her own unless she was okay with that.

‘What do you say?’ she asked Yvonne. ‘We could just go for one, though we can’t be that long. I need to come back and do the baking for tomorrow morning.’

Yvonne’s mouth pursed slightly and for a second, Daisy was certain she was going to refuse, but then her eyes glimmered and a smile curved at the corner of her lips.

‘Let me just put a bit of lippy on,’ she said.