Chapter 8
8
It was a party. Daisy’s mother had sent Nicholas straight back to the Jeanette to fetch several more bottles of Champagne and while there were fewer fairy lights inside the September Rose than outside, it had still been transformed, as much by the people as by the decoration. All the squeals and laughter – combined with the decorated boat – had attracted the attention of several other Wildflower Lock residents, and there were currently over twenty people crammed into the canal boat, all congratulating Theo and Daisy. There were also several out on the towpath with their drinks, and offering the various towpath dogs – including Johnny – plenty of attention.
‘So, all this was planned, the girls coming down to take me out for a long walk. All the delays to make sure I didn’t come back too soon. They were in on this?’
‘You can’t blame me for needing a bit of help, can you?’ Theo said. His hand had stayed firmly around Daisy’s waist the whole time, and she had no intention of changing it. Being close to Theo was definitely her favourite place to be.
‘But how long have they known for? You didn’t just plan this in a day, I assume.’
‘They may have known my intentions for a little while,’ Theo replied, before kissing Daisy lightly on her lips.
‘I can’t believe they kept it a secret from me, if I’m honest.’
‘No, neither can I. Although Claire decided not to bring Amelia down, as she was certain she’d let the cat out of the bag.’
‘Amelia knew too?’ Daisy said, shaking her head in disbelief, though it was good natured. She loved knowing she had friends Theo trusted enough to share his secret with.
‘So, here is the couple of the hour.’ Daisy’s mum came and slipped her arm straight between Daisy and Theo, shifting them apart so she could slide into the gap. ‘You know, I didn’t know if I was going to get to speak to you. I didn’t realise you had so many friends down here.’
‘Yeah, it’s certainly a lot more people than have ever been on the September Rose before,’ Daisy replied, only for her mother to scoff.
‘Oh, well, that’s not true. You should have seen some of the parties your father and I had back when I first moved into this place. When I had all my old school buddies show up. And people who weren’t my buddies too. Those evenings were legendary. Back before the days of noise complaints and that type of thing. Though it didn’t make us particularly popular with the old fuddy-duddies.’
Daisy looked past her mother to catch Theo’s eye. His look said it all. Pippa never spoke about her time on Wildflower Lock. Even now, when she spent more time there than in her own home, she would clam up whenever Daisy mentioned the time spent in her early years with Daisy’s father on the September Rose . At any other time, Daisy would have loved to have learned more about this side of her parents, but bringing up her estranged and deceased father at her engagement party to her mother who had probably had too much to drink didn’t feel like a good idea.
‘Where’s Nicholas?’ Theo said, redirecting the conversation. ‘Is he having fun? I’m looking forward to testing his sloe gin again this year.’
While Theo had asked her mother two direct questions, she didn’t answer either of them. Instead, she posed her own.
‘That’s not what I’m here to talk about. I’ve got some questions about you and my daughter. Are you ready to hear them?’
Daisy’s stomach twisted. Any doubt she’d had that her mother was drunk evaporated. And while she was sure everything she was going to say to Theo would be kind and polite, it wasn’t what Daisy wanted to deal with. She herself had barely drunk two glasses of Champagne, given that every time she went to take a sip, someone else came up to talk to them.
‘I’m sure you will have plenty of time to ask Theo your questions,’ Daisy replied for him. ‘Why don’t you grab something to eat? You know Kate and Nick have brought over loads of food. Homemade chutneys. Incredible quiches.’
‘Incredible?’ Pippa said with a sniff. When it came to food, Daisy’s mother cooked professionally and therefore had a higher standard than most. Given her current alcohol consumption, Daisy was momentarily worried that she was going to let the neighbours know if she didn’t think it was up to standard. But getting her something to eat was still a wise idea and thankfully, the idea of judging someone else’s cooking distracted Pippa from interrogating Theo and she slipped out between the pair, leaving Daisy to move into her previous spot. Although, rather than heading immediately for the food, Pippa turned around and pointed a finger at Theo.
‘Don’t think I’ve forgotten you,’ she said. ‘Trust me, we are going to have words.’ A moment later, she was walking away and swaying with a motion that had nothing to do with the slight rocking of the boat.
‘Sorry about that,’ Daisy said with the slightest of sighs. ‘Mum’s never great when she’s had a couple of drinks. I think she’s getting worse as she gets older.’
‘You know what they say – you can choose your friends, not your family,’ Theo replied, kissing Daisy lightly on the head.
‘I thought that’s what marriage was? Choosing your family?’
Theo tipped his head to the side slightly, and a tight smile twisted up at the corner of his lips.
‘Well, I chose right with you,’ he said, then kissed her again.