Blue Skies Over Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock)

Chapter 83

Daisy walked her mum back to the car, partially so that she wasn’t on her own in the boat but also to give Johnny a chance to stretch his legs. The poor dog had had nothing more than a couple of quick toilet strolls all day and had spent the entire time Daisy was in the hospital locked inside the boat – and there hadn’t been a single mess. It was a far cry from the way he’d been racing along the coast to keep up with her when they’d first met. When she found him a home, it would have to be with someone who could give him the time he needed to go on proper long walks. Who could spend their days with him outside, giving him the freedom he had known for so long. And as much as it hurt her heart to think about, she didn’t think that was her.

‘Come on,’ she said to the dog, as she waved her mother away. ‘I think you deserve an extra big dinner tonight.’

Back on the boat, she gave him an entire tin of dog food, which he gobbled hungrily. She’d also make sure that whoever took him on had a far better routine than she did. It wasn’t just a case of not walking him that day. While there was a big bowl of water under the table where he liked to sit, she hadn’t even thought to leave any biscuits down for him when she went with Yvonne in the ambulance. No wonder he was so hungry.

‘What a day, hey?’ she said as he finished his food and flopped down at her feet. ‘You know, my life isn’t always this chaotic,’ she said, only to change her mind. ‘Okay, my life didn’t used to be chaotic. It’s just recently that it’s all gone a bit crazy. And I’m not saying I want to go back to the way it was or anything, but I think this week has had a bit more stress than I’m able to deal with.’

Johnny didn’t reply, but he snuggled his head into Daisy’s leg. As she sat there, with the sounds of city life buzzing outside her window, she picked up her phone. The fact she couldn’t go on with the journey hurt even more, as it meant that all the lying to Theo had been pointless. It was time she came clean and hoped he wasn’t too mad at her.

She picked up the phone, holding her breath. She planned on blurting out the truth the second he answered. Although rather than the normal ring tone her phone gave when she called, the higher-pitched sound told her the line was busy.

Perhaps that was a good thing, she thought, standing up and heading to the shower. She would try again later. Maybe when she’d figured out exactly what she was going to say.

Only it wasn’t that straightforward. After showering, drying her hair, and finally plucking up the courage to try Theo for a second time, Daisy held the phone to her ear. It rang twice, only to go to answerphone again. She checked the time. Seven-thirty. Normally he would be in the Narrow Escape by now, after a full day on the canal. But he had said he wanted to make the most of the daylight hours and he might have been working late.

Deciding that she didn’t have it in her to stay up any later, she left a message saying she needed to speak to him and would ring him in the morning, before she lay down on her bed.

She was asleep before her head even hit the pillow.