The Little Island Flower Stall

Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

They’d barely gone a hundred yards when they were stopped by a couple with accents that Bella could only guess were American.

‘Wow!’ the woman said. ‘You look good ! Are you from Jersey?’

‘Not quite,’ Bella said. ‘My family are.’

‘But you were in the parade?’ the man asked.

‘I was.’

‘We saw you! That looked so cool. Do you mind if we get a photograph with you?’

‘Me?’ Bella shot a vaguely confused glance at Rory, who simply grinned.

‘If you don’t mind,’ the woman said.

‘God, no!’

Bella allowed them to get either side of her while Rory took the man’s phone from him and snapped the photo. When he handed it back, they all pored over the screen.

‘That’s great!’ the man said. ‘Thanks!’

‘It was lovely to meet you!’ the woman said.

‘You too,’ Bella said. ‘Enjoy the rest of the evening.’

‘Oh, we will!’ the man called as they began to walk away. ‘Maybe we’ll see you around!’

‘Well…’ Bella gave a bemused smile. ‘That was unexpected.’

‘You do look very cool, though,’ Rory said. ‘I should imagine a few people have thought about coming up to you to say so.’

‘But not to get photos.’

He shrugged. ‘Maybe they’ve thought of that too. It’s just not done when you’re British, is it?’

‘No.’ Bella laughed as they began to walk again. ‘I suppose it’s not. We’re a stuck-up lot, aren’t we?’

‘Reserved, that’s for sure. Are you worried about your great-aunt?’

‘A bit,’ Bella returned, wondering how much to say. ‘It’s that obvious? Liberation Day is always going to be a strange one for her, if you think about it. She must have lost a lot of people back then. And even more since then. These things are going to make you a bit…’

‘Introspective?’

‘Hmm, yes. I think. Not sure what word I’m looking for, really. I suppose it’s as good as any.’

‘It’s a day her past catches up with her, maybe?’

‘It’s a day the past catches up with everyone, isn’t it? When you really think about it. What happened here during the war is important to all of us. Uncle Roland always used to say that Jersey was the car bumper. He said the island being occupied saved the rest of Britain, and I’m sure he’s right. He wasn’t very happy about it, though,’ Bella added with a smile. ‘I think what he really meant was that Britain threw Jersey under the bus. Don’t think he ever forgave my dad for moving to the mainland. Didn’t have much time for it.’

‘I’m sure there must be complicated feelings here about all that. I can’t say I’ve been anything but welcomed since I got here, though.’

‘Oh, of course! I love the people in this place. Nobody has ever mentioned it in quite that way apart from my great-uncle. To be honest, he wasn’t the easiest man to get along with.’

‘He was Celestine’s husband?’

Bella nodded. ‘She’s been on her own for…God, I can’t even remember, but it’s been a long time. Years, in fact. I hate to say it, but I think she’s been happier during those years than she was when he was alive. I always used to wonder why they got married. I suppose they must have had something there, but I could never see it.’

‘Who knows what’s going on that nobody else sees?’

‘Who knows? If marriage was always easy, I suppose nobody would ever get divorced.’

‘People stick it out.’

‘They do. Like my great-aunt. I think if she’d been born fifty years later maybe she wouldn’t have done.’

As the shadows lengthened, Bella was glad of her woollen tunic. It was still early in the season, and once the sun went down, a chill crept in from the sea. She rebuttoned it as they walked towards the centre of the celebrations and the crowds began to get denser again. Someone was testing a sound system: ‘One two, one two…’ followed by a tuning guitar.

‘That sounds promising,’ Bella said. ‘Want to go and have a look?’

‘Absolutely. If there’s beer on sale close by, even better.’

‘Beer makes everything better.’

‘It certainly helps.’

His hand rested gently on the small of her back as they weaved through a bottleneck of people, and he allowed her to go in front so they could get through. She didn’t mind. In fact, when he took it away again, she was disappointed.

‘Are you warm enough?’ he asked.

‘I’m fine.’

‘Because you can have my jacket if you need it.’

‘Honestly, I’m OK.’ Bella felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Diane from the jeep with a pint in her hand.

‘Hello!’

‘Oh, Diane! Hello! Are you staying to watch the shows?’

‘Yes, but I’m going to the folk stage…as soon as I find my other half, that is. Are you?’

‘We thought we’d spend half an hour or so at each one, just to see what they’re like. At least, I did.’

Diane looked at Rory. ‘Is this your other half? Don’t you two make a lovely couple!’

‘Oh, we’re not…’ Bella flushed. ‘We’re not together.’

‘Sorry!’ Diane laughed. ‘I thought…Silly me, always putting my foot in it!’

‘No, you…’ Bella gave an awkward laugh too. ‘I didn’t say so. This is my friend, Rory. He’s here on holiday.’

Diane nodded. ‘I see! Are you enjoying yourself?’ she asked Rory.

‘Very much,’ Rory said. ‘Jersey is amazing.’

‘Glad to hear it. See you later then!’ Diane waved as she left them.

Rory turned to Bella. ‘She seems nice.’

‘She is. She was on the jeep with me.’

‘I remembered as soon as she started to talk to us.’

‘Shall we see if we can find somewhere to get a drink before we settle on a stage?’

‘I suppose I should have asked Diane where she got hers from.’

‘I’m sure there’s going to be something not too far away, though. I’ve seen loads of people with drinks.’

It didn’t take long to find a stand that was selling tall glasses of Pimm’s, topped with lemonade and loaded with fruit.

‘That’s more like it!’ Bella pointed to it. There was a queue, but nothing unreasonable. ‘Do you drink Pimm’s?’

‘Can’t say I’ve ever tried it.’

‘Have you never been to a garden party?’

‘No.’ He laughed. ‘Don’t think I’ve done that either.’

‘You must have been! Are you even British?’

‘Maybe not,’ he said. ‘Actually, really , maybe not.’

Bella realised instantly he meant his DNA results. They hadn’t talked about that since he’d first told her, and she wondered if she ought to have asked. Of course they would have been on his mind, given the reasons he’d come to Jersey in the first place. But the celebrations were in full swing around them, and it didn’t seem like the time or place to have a soul-baring chat. ‘You’ve been to a barbeque, though. Please tell me you’ve at least done that.’

‘Of course I have! Still haven’t had Pimm’s, though.’

‘You haven’t lived. I love Pimm’s! It’s the best on a summer’s day. Come on – I’ll buy you one. And if you don’t like it, I’ll just have to drink yours too.’

‘I imagine that would be a real hardship.’

‘You have no idea…’

Bella grinned and reached for his hand before stopping herself. The action had been so unconscious and natural she’d hardly realised she was doing it until the last moment. Hadn’t he done exactly the same an hour earlier? She tried not to think that it meant something, but she couldn’t quite let go of the idea as they joined the queue for drinks.

‘You know…’ Rory looked at his glass after taking a first sip. ‘I must admit, it doesn’t taste as bad as I thought it would.’

‘You thought it would taste bad?’

He held up the glass, overloaded with fruit and ice. ‘You’ve got to admit, there’s a lot going on here. I thought it might be sickly. I’m happy to report I was wrong. It wouldn’t be my go-to, but it’s all right. I could drink it again.’

‘Get another four down you and you’ll love it.’

‘Another four and I’d probably love anything.’

Bella giggled and then noticed the sound of guitars coming from where they’d heard sound-checking earlier. ‘Shall we grab some food and then go and find that stage, see if there are any seats?’

‘OK.’

The crowds were denser than they had been an hour before. It seemed that the day’s polite celebrations had given way to more raucous evening entertainment. People were well behaved, but there was more drink flowing and more of a sense of abandonment in the air. The people of Jersey were ready for a party. There was loud chat and laughter, and Bella had to raise her voice to make Rory hear her.

‘Over there! Can you see? A couple of seats on the back row!’

‘I’m on it!’

Bella had to laugh as she watched him dash off and plonk himself down onto one of the seats and then turn with a grin and a thumbs up.

‘Seat-snatcher victorious!’ he said as she joined him.

‘My hero!’

They turned to watch the band. The atmosphere was good here. They were young musicians playing a selection of covers of well-known pop songs, and everyone seemed to be really into it. Although they were good, Bella found herself frequently distracted by the thought of Rory sitting next to her. In between the songs, she picked up snippets of other conversations too – or rather, odd words and the accents they were spoken in. For as many that sounded local, there were two that sounded foreign. That was no surprise – not only was Jersey a popular holiday destination but any event like this was bound to draw people in too. She wondered how Celestine was getting on in the pub. She had to wonder if Celestine was even in the pub. Maybe she’d already gone home, saying she would be out with company just so Bella wouldn’t fuss.

Rory leaned in. ‘They’re not bad.’

‘Yeah.’ Bella drained her glass, and Rory gestured to it.

‘Want another?’

‘Maybe later.’

‘You’re all right?’

‘Oh, of course, it’s just that I thought we might move on in a bit.’

‘You don’t like this band?’

‘I like them, but…’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I feel like I could see a band like this anywhere, you know? It doesn’t seem quite like the right sort of vibe for the day. Does that sound weird? I’m sure it only makes sense in my head.’

‘It’s fine; I’m happy to go wherever you fancy. You want to move on now then? Come on – let’s see what else we can find.’

She followed him, noting another couple jump into their seats as soon as they’d left them. ‘At least we’ve done someone a favour,’ she said, nodding behind her.

He grinned. ‘Our good deed for the day. What do you fancy then? I’m not sure what’s on at the other stages.’

‘I fancy’ – she pulled down her cap and grinned – ‘something more suited to this outfit. I want to party like it’s 1945!’

He stopped and inspected a flyer stuck to a wall with the itinerary of the day printed on it. ‘There’s an orchestra doing some Glenn Miller stuff. If that doesn’t scream 1945, then I don’t know what will.’

‘Perfect! I mean, I don’t know a single Glenn Miller song, but I’m up for giving it a look.’

‘You don’t know any Glenn Miller?’

‘Who does?’

‘I do! “Chattanooga Choo Choo”? “Moonlight Serenade”? “In the Mood”?’

Bella shook her head.

‘You don’t even know “In the Mood”? Everyone knows that!’

He started to hum, and Bella burst out laughing.

‘OK,’ he said with a sheepish grin. ‘I’m sure that didn’t help. I never said I had a musical ear.’

‘Sorry, but you don’t have a musical mouth either! That’s like no tune I’ve ever heard! I doubt it’s like any tune that ever existed!’

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘You’re not the first person to say it, so I’ll try not to take offence.’

Bella giggled. ‘I’m sorry. That was a bit harsh, wasn’t it?’

‘Harsh but probably fair.’ He smiled down at her, and the urge to reach up and kiss him gripped her for the briefest moment. She could picture how it would look, could almost feel his lips warm and soft against hers, how it might taste. But then he turned back to the flyer. ‘Victory Square…do you know where that is?’

‘I’m not sure. I have a vague idea, but I’m sure if we wander around for long enough, we’ll stumble across it.’

‘And if not I’m sure we’ll find something we want to stick around for.’

‘My thoughts exactly. Then again, if we just listen out for something that sounds like a cat chasing a mouse across a keyboard, then I’ll be able to recognise it from your rendition.’

‘A man could get offended, you know.’

‘I’m sorry – I couldn’t resist it. No more insults from now on, I promise. As long as you don’t try to describe Glenn Miller to me in the form of song again.’

Bella paused to get her bearings and then began to walk away from the promenade in the direction of the town centre. She’d probably been to Victory Square loads of times, but she wasn’t in the habit of taking that much notice of all the street signs during her day-to-day wanderings.

‘OK,’ she said after a moment. ‘I think it’s this way.’

It wasn’t hard to find in the end. Once they’d made a few false starts, all they had to do was follow the smooth, brassy tones of a song that Bella recognised straight away even if she couldn’t name it. Hearing that music on today of all days was strangely atmospheric, and even as they drew closer, it sent a shiver down Bella’s spine. It was special, almost magical, so heavy with meaning and memory that it would take a harder heart than hers not to be affected. But as she looked up at Rory, she could see it in his face too. He might not have been born on Jersey either, and until a few months ago he hadn’t even been aware of his connection to the island, but Bella could see that he felt it now.

‘This is amazing!’ Bella said as they rounded a corner into the square to see the entire space was dominated by a stage, some seating around it and a dance floor where couples – some dressed for the period and some in modern clothing – were already sweeping each other around. For such a small orchestra, they were making one huge and mesmerising sound. Bella wasn’t particularly a fan of nostalgia, but she couldn’t help but get caught up in the atmosphere.

‘Would you like a drink now?’ Rory pointed to a van selling various local ciders parked up at the opposite end of the square.

‘I’d love one.’

‘Want to find a seat and I’ll bring it over?’

Bella shook her head. ‘There’s plenty of seating. Besides, I don’t care about sitting down. I’ll come with you to see what they have.’

The sun had now set, and though the air was chillier, there were heaters dotted around the seating area and blankets left out on the chairs. The organisers seemed to have thought of everything. Yellow bulbs were strung around the space, casting a mellow light over it. The stage was lit in colour; it washed over the smartly suited members of the orchestra to lend even more atmosphere to the performance.

Bella followed Rory to the van. She chose a cider cut with mango syrup while he went for a more traditional scrumpy.

‘The hardcore option,’ Bella said, angling her head at his drink as they went to find seats.

‘I don’t know about that. I’ll probably be on my back in ten minutes. I don’t honestly have much of a tolerance when it comes to alcohol – used to be a running gag with my friends at college.’

‘I think alcohol tolerance is overrated anyway. Who cares how much you can drink without falling over? Sean was always like, “I’ve had fifteen pints and now I’m going to put together a cabinet.” I thought it was stupid.’

‘Hmm.’

Bella realised too late that she shouldn’t have brought Sean into the conversation. Even if Rory had wanted to hear about him, she supposed there was no comment he could make.

‘That’s all in the past anyway,’ she continued, trying to rescue the situation. ‘He’s an idiot.’

‘He’s bound to be on your mind,’ Rory said.

‘Well, if I know what’s good for me, then as soon as he does get on my mind, I ought to boot him right off again. That’s what I’m going to do from now on.’

Rory headed to a pair of seats, and Bella followed him.

‘I must admit,’ he said as they settled, ‘I didn’t have this on my bingo card at the start of the year.’

‘What’s that?’

He glanced around. ‘All this. Being on Jersey searching for long-lost family, being a part of such an amazing day, watching a band play Glenn Miller and’ – he looked at her with such warmth that she wanted to melt into his arms – ‘making a new friend. The most brilliant new friend. I’d like to think we can stay in touch when all this is over. Maybe meet up back on the mainland? I could even come to Shrewsbury.’

‘That sounds nice.’ Bella smiled, taking a hasty gulp of her cider so she wouldn’t have to look into the eyes she could barely keep from falling into. ‘I’d love to stay in touch. I feel as if I’ve made a good friend here too.’

‘I feel as if I’ve made more than a good friend. I feel as if I’ve been gifted a whole new home with a whole new community. I feel as if I belong here – silly, I know. But despite everything, I feel lucky and grateful for that.’

Bella had been thinking the same thing. She’d never expected to be absorbed into the community of St Rosa so easily, even though she knew the area well. She’d never expected to feel so comfortable in her life here, however brief it might be. She’d never expected to get on so well with Celestine – after all, it had been years since they’d spent any time together, and even back when Bella’s family used to visit, it had never been this much. And she’d never expected to meet a man like Rory. Yes, she wanted to keep him in her life now. It didn’t have to mean romance, but she wanted to get to know him better, to be his friend, whatever form that took.

‘Have you thought any more about when you might go home?’ she asked.

‘Not really. I suppose I’ll have to soon, but I intend to come back when I can. But I thought I might stick around for a while yet.’

‘Good.’ Bella took another sip of her cider. ‘I have more days out planned, and I need someone to keep me company.’

‘You won’t hear me complaining…’ He prodded a finger into his own chest. ‘I’m assuming you mean me?’

‘Of course!’ Bella laughed lightly. ‘Who else?’

‘That’s all right then. I’d love to see more of the island. With you.’

The orchestra began to play a new song, and Rory suddenly sat up and grinned. ‘I love this one!’

‘Do you?’ Bella held back a frown. ‘How do you know so many of these songs?’

‘You just hear this stuff around, don’t you?’

‘Do you? I must be listening to different radio stations than you.’

He put his cider down. ‘Want to dance?’

‘But our seats…’

‘We can leave something on them – they’ll be fine; nobody will take them. Come on.’

‘I don’t really…’

‘Dance? But when will you ever get to do this again? This night, these celebrations – they happen once, and then that’s it, gone forever. You and me right now in this moment. Gone too after tonight. Do you really want to wake up tomorrow morning wishing you’d danced but knowing it’s too late?’

‘I don’t know how to dance to this music.’

‘Neither do I! Does it matter? We just do what everyone else is doing, right? How hard can it be?’

Bella shook her head. ‘I feel stupid.’

‘You look incredible; you shouldn’t feel anything but incredible. I won’t allow it. How about I make an effort to look more stupid to make you look even better?’

Bella giggled, and though the thought of dancing here made her self-conscious, she got up. The second she’d put her cider on the chair, he grabbed her hand and dashed for the dance floor. He’d shown enthusiasm before during their brief time together, but he’d never shown outright excitement like this. She couldn’t do anything but love it.

It was a fast-paced song. Bella began to hop up and down, looking around at the other dancers, who all seemed to have some idea of the correct moves. It seemed simple enough, a bit like she’d seen on TV where people were kind of jiving or bopping. Rory was kicking his legs everywhere, making it up as he went along, grinning at her as he did his best to copy but not really getting it right.

‘See!’ he yelled over the music. ‘Now I look like a total tool, so whatever you do is going to look amazing!’

‘You’re mental!’ she yelled back.

‘It’s been said before!’

He grabbed her hand and pulled her this way and that, flinging out his feet and twirling her around. Bella kept the beat but was certain she didn’t look anywhere as good as she might have hoped. Many of the other dancers had clearly done this before. She had to marvel at their energy as they twisted and twirled this way and that, legs and arms all over the place. Every so often she’d catch a friendly smile from someone, and it was amazing how it warmed her. She felt a part of something in a way she hadn’t done in many years. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this. Nobody was judging her. She didn’t have to watch what she did or said; she didn’t have to care about how she looked. She could simply be, and that was enough.

She looked up at Rory to find him smiling down at her. He pulled her in, ready to fling her back out again, but before he could, before she knew what she was doing, she reached up and kissed him.

‘Oh my God! I’m sorry, I didn’t?—’

‘Don’t be sorry,’ he said, pulling her into his chest now, his lips close to her ear. ‘Please don’t be sorry. I liked it. I loved it.’

He held her in that warm gaze. They slowed, until they were swaying to music that was too fast. He paused, the question in his eyes, and Bella nodded and let him kiss her this time. It was less frantic, less impulsive than hers had been. It was gentle, but it was intense, like the way he looked at her when she talked to him, like he thought she was the most interesting and clever woman he’d ever met. She never believed for a minute he thought that, but as he kissed her now, she could fool herself that it was true.

But when he pulled away, the music and dancing still boisterous all around them, she didn’t have to fool herself. She could see it in his smile, that admiration, the affection was real. He liked her and she liked him. Why did she still feel she had to deny that?

The song came to an end, and the pace slowed. Bella wondered whether she ought to suggest they leave the dance floor and find somewhere quiet to talk, but when he folded her into his arms and began to sway with her, she didn’t want to. She wanted to be here forever, wrapped in his embrace with her head against his chest, moving lazily to the music with a bright moon above them and his scent seeping into her soul.

The moment ended as the music stopped and the bandleader announced the countdown for the fireworks. Everyone hurried to get a view of the sky over the bay. Then the display began, bursting sparks of colour raining down over them. Bella chanced a look at Rory’s face as he watched to see him smiling up. And then he looked down at her and caught her watching, and his smile grew.

‘They’re good, aren’t they?’

‘Yes,’ she said, but she wasn’t thinking of the fireworks at all.

‘What a night, eh?’

Bella nodded again. It certainly hadn’t ended in the way she’d expected it to.

They watched the display until it was over, and then the crowds started to thin.

‘Looks as if that’s about it,’ Rory said.

Bella wondered what would come next. But when he continued, even though she felt it was the right call, it wasn’t what she wanted.

‘I’d suggest going on somewhere,’ he said. ‘But I suppose you want to check on your aunt. And I think…’ He rubbed a hand over his chin, seemingly less certain now. ‘I think…don’t get me wrong, I’ve had the most amazing time tonight, but…well, I didn’t see how it was going to go, and I don’t think you did either. I don’t want to pressure you. If you need time to process…You said you weren’t looking for…I mean, if you want to go home and sleep on it and maybe meet me tomorrow so we can talk about it.’

‘We can talk about it now, can’t we?’

‘We could, but I can’t help feeling you might see it differently tomorrow, regardless of what we say tonight.’

‘This isn’t your way of saying thanks but no thanks?’

‘God, no!’ He placed a hand on each of her shoulders and turned her to face him. ‘No way! I really like you, but I’m also thinking of things you’ve said since we met. I know you’ve only just left your marriage, so…’

Bella gave a brief nod. Of course he was right. She’d done nothing but tell him how she didn’t want to get involved after what had happened with Sean. But that was before. Tonight had changed everything. Hadn’t it?

‘You’re right.’ Her gaze went to the people strolling this way and that, some eager for home, some keener to find other places to continue the celebrations. She might have liked to have done that too, but he was right – she ought to take time to figure out what she wanted from this. Was she even ready?

Despite what she’d said all along, she felt ready now. Was it a sign that she’d been less in love with Sean than she’d thought? Perhaps their marriage had been on its last legs even before his final affair. It was strange how little she’d missed him, how quickly she’d found herself distracted by someone else, and not all of that was about revenge, as she might have supposed at first. Try as she might to deny it, she was falling for Rory. She’d been falling for him since the day he came to buy flowers from her. Fast and hard, like she’d never known before. If she thought too much about it, she might start to hyperventilate from the fear, but it felt like a good fear. It was exciting and new as well as being terrifying and unpredictable, like she was hurtling down a mountainside in a toboggan without a brake and no clue of what rocks might be waiting below.

‘You’re upset with me?’ he asked.

She looked back at him. ‘No. Disappointed, I’ll admit. I don’t want tonight to end. But I think you’re right. You’ll call me? Tomorrow? You won’t change your mind?’

‘Why would I do that? I’ll come to the flower stall at lunch. You’ll be able to get away for an hour, won’t you? We can talk then if it’s all right with you. And I do think we really need to talk before…well, I think you’ll agree we need to talk.’

‘I’m sure Celestine won’t mind for an hour or so.’

‘I’ll walk you back?—’

‘It’s miles out of your way. I’ll get a cab – the queue will have calmed down by now.’

‘It’s no bother; let me see you home.’

‘I know it’s no bother, but I’d rather you didn’t.’

‘You are upset with me.’

Bella shook her head. She wanted to spend those extra minutes with him, but the way she felt now, she couldn’t trust herself not to do something even more impulsive than simply kissing him on a dance floor, and she didn’t want to wake up in the morning with something she regretted on her mind. What they might have, it deserved more than that, and she wanted to do it properly. ‘No, I’m not. But as you said, I need time to process things. It’s better if we save it for tomorrow.’

‘Let me at least see you to the taxi rank.’

‘OK.’

It wasn’t far, and they didn’t say much apart from repeating what a good day it had been. Bella had almost forgotten she was still wearing her army uniform until a young girl with her parents came up to her to say how awesome she looked. After a brief chat, they went away, leaving Bella and Rory to continue making small talk. There were so many things they needed to say, but it didn’t seem like the right time to start on any of them.

‘So I’ll see you tomorrow then?’ he asked as a cab pulled up.

‘Sounds good. See you tomorrow.’

She wondered whether she ought to kiss him, or at least hug him. In the end, she settled on an awkward smile, and he did the same.