Chapter 17
Spencer
The beginning of March seemed to come out of nowhere. What with everything going on, Spencer hadn’t thought much about his birthday, not that he did much. Normally he would shrug off any attempts Lottie made to make a fuss and go off on his own to get drunk.
He looked in the mirror at the back of the flower shop, wondering how he’d managed to make it to thirty-six. There was a time he was sure he wouldn’t make it to ten.
Being alone in Berry Blooms all morning was relaxing. Lottie was out delivering her homegrown vegetables to some neighbours, and Beth was at her first parent and baby gathering. He was set to go with her the week before, but it got cancelled the last minute due to a bout of flu going around.
He hadn’t told her it was his birthday and hoped his sister hadn’t either. It wasn’t a big deal, so there was no point bringing it to anyone’s attention. Best just to crack on with work, especially as his staff were off sick too. Luckily, he’d had a quiet morning so could get on with creating a guitar wreath for a funeral without too many interruptions.
Staring at the flower he held, he wondered what kind of wreath someone would make for his funeral. Maybe a Sunshine Superhero badge could represent him.
His mind drifted to the boys, hoping they were having a good day. He couldn’t wait to start getting organized with them for camping at the end of the month. He was looking forward to going himself and was grateful Will would be attending as a helper.
The shop bell jingled, announcing someone’s entrance, so Spencer went to the counter to see who he could assist.
‘Happy birthday, Spence,’ said Luna, handing over a card. ‘If it’s a soppy one, don’t blame me. Our Alice picked it.’
‘Thanks.’ He opened the envelope to see a big smiley teddy bear on the front.
The door opened again, and in walked Robson, greeting card in hand. ‘Oh, snap,’ he said, laughing at the one Spencer held.
Spencer opened his card. ‘Thanks, mate, but you lot don’t need to buy me cards.’
Luna huffed. ‘Oh, hush. It’s your birthday.’
‘And we’re having dinner at mine tonight,’ said Robson, thumbing towards the door. ‘Lottie’s arranged a small buffet for you, so no fuss.’ He showed his palms as he grinned.
Spencer shook his head. ‘She knows I don’t really celebrate today.’
‘It’s different once you become a family man,’ said Luna, nudging Robson’s elbow. ‘Archie will expect you to blow out candles and everything.’
‘I doubt that.’ Spencer propped his cards up by the till.
Robson turned to Luna. ‘Can you believe it, our Spencer all grown up and a dad? Didn’t see that coming.’ He winked, and Spencer rolled his eyes.
‘It’s not that hard to believe I can be a dad.’
Robson chuckled. ‘No, I meant it’s hard to believe you’ve grown up.’
‘Oh, ha ha!’
‘Right,’ said Robson, tapping the counter. ‘I’m off, got a pub to run. I’ll see you two later.’
Spencer was in no mood to go to the pub later, but he smiled anyway and nodded as his friend darted off.
‘Hey,’ said Luna. ‘Enjoy this new chapter of your life. It’s nice having your family around you.’
‘Well, it’s only Archie. Beth’s not really . . . What I mean is, erm . . .’ He had no idea what he was trying to say or why he felt the need to explain anything in the first place, so he shut up.
‘She’s still living with you, isn’t she?’
She was, and no more had been said about it until now. He simply bobbed his head, then started faffing about with his birthday cards as though they needed moving.
‘Like I said, it’s nice having family around. Make the most of it, son.’ Luna waved on her way to the door, and Spencer followed her outside.
There were a few people walking along, some looking out at the boats, others stopping to natter by the large wooden flower tubs on the pavement. The contents looked a bit dismal, which gave him an idea.
Communal gardening badge .
That would cheer the street up and give the boys something else to do. It wouldn’t be the first time Spencer and Lottie had supplied the flowers for Harbour End Road, so he knew he didn’t need permission. In fact, he was quite sure Councillor Seabridge now expected it from Berry Blooms.
Sophie came out of her fishmongers, Sea Shanty Shack, all smiles and a skip in her step as she approached. ‘Happy birthday,’ she half sang, then pulled him in for a hug.
‘Thanks.’ He stepped back and grinned. ‘What, nothing from your shop for my birthday tea?’
She shoved his arm. ‘Lottie said we’re meeting in the pub for dinner.’
‘Yes, it seems that way.’
‘You’re like me. I’m not much of a birthday fan. Well, not my own, that is.’
‘It’s just weird, isn’t it? I know it was the day I was born, but it really belongs to your parents. They’re the ones who . . . Oh, ignore me. Obviously I’m not talking about my own parents. I don’t think they knew when my birthday was. Mind you, half the time they didn’t know what day of the year they were in let alone anything else.’
Sophie stared across the road at the sea. ‘I started to feel differently about my birthday after my parents died, so, yeah, I guess you’re right. It is more their day.’
‘You don’t do much on yours.’
‘No, I like a peaceful day. It helps me.’
He nodded. ‘Me too, but my aunt liked to make a fuss, so that’s where Lottie gets it from, and now I’ve got Luna telling me I have to celebrate because I have a kid, like Archie’s going to know.’
‘We’ll have to make a fuss when it’s his first birthday. When is that?’
He remembered asking Beth, and how strange the question felt rolling off his tongue. ‘November tenth.’
‘Ooh, something else to look forward to at the end of the year.’
He chuckled at her beaming out to sea. ‘That and your wedding, eh, Soph?’
She playfully bumped his shoulder with her own. ‘Be yours next.’
‘Oh no. We’re just friends.’ Was that even the right word to use? He had no idea how to label their relationship. Beth needed a hand, and he had two to offer.
‘You just seem lighter,’ said Sophie, pointing at his cheek, which Spencer then touched.
‘Lighter?’
‘Yeah, you know, when a person has a certain look about their face. As though they have no worries.’
Spencer burst out laughing. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever had that face.’
‘I can see a difference. A glow.’ She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. ‘Now, get back to work. Just because it’s your birthday doesn’t mean you get to skive.’
He watched her jog back to her shop, then turned to take in the clear blue sky. Did he really have a glow? He had to laugh. Archie had him up in the night, crying from trapped wind. Bloodshot eyes were all he could see when he peered at himself first thing, but perhaps life did feel a tad lighter since he started his new job. It was, after all, something he had worked towards. Beth and Archie weren’t part of the plan.
I wonder how she’s getting on .
He stood in his doorway, staring at the spot he had first met his son. It didn’t feel as though a couple of weeks had passed. More like months. It was as though they had always been in his life, and yet, they hardly knew each other.
Wishing he was part of the parent and baby group over in the church hall, he contemplated shutting up shop for a few hours. It was no good. He had work to do, and he was sure Beth would call if she couldn’t cope. They had agreed to ask each other for help if needed. He had to trust everything was fine.
His phone vibrated on the counter, making him dash that way in case he had somehow manifested trouble. ‘Hello, Deb. Everything okay with the boys?’
Debra’s laugh crackled the phone. ‘Will you stop asking that every time I call. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.’
Spencer slumped into the chair behind the till. He was already fed up hearing birthday greetings, and it wasn’t even midday.
‘And to let you know we have Anchorage Park on the second Saturday in April. Our kindness awareness festival is officially on the map.’
That perked him up. He went out the back to finish his flower arrangement. With more good news to tell the boys, no word from Beth, which he was taking as a good sign, and a free feed at the pub later, courtesy of Lottie, there wasn’t really that much to grumble about. In fact, he mentally patted himself on the back for making it to another year.
Still, a smidge of negativity knocked on his brain, out of habit, as he wasn’t used to this glowing malarkey, which was annoying. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had a good life once Rebecca took him on.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to ignore the fact his childhood, pre-aunt, still had the ability to rattle him. It had taught him from an early age to expect doom and gloom. Rebecca had taught him life was what you make it. And even after so many years, the two mindsets fought.
Quietly sighing, he carried on making a guitar out of flowers because that was easy and relaxing.