Chapter 86
‘You’re here?’ The first words out of Daisy’s mouth were somewhat superfluous, yet she didn’t know what else she could say. It didn’t feel real. Theo was standing there, on the September Rose, in the middle of London. ‘How? Why?’
‘How?’ Theo said, taking a step closer to her. ‘Well, you have your mother to thank for that one.’
‘My mother?’
‘She rang me last night, after leaving here. Told me all about your trip. And Yvonne.’
‘Theo.’ Daisy’s stomach plummeted. ‘I didn’t know she was sick. I really didn’t. I never would have?—’
‘I know. You don’t have to explain. No, actually, you do. You know that it’s crazy, right? Thinking you could travel all the way here. I can’t believe you got this far.’
‘It was mostly down to Yvonne,’ Daisy admitted. ‘Although when she gets out of hospital, we are getting her a smartphone that she can access the tide times on.’
Theo stepped forward, slipping his hands into hers.
‘I can’t believe I didn’t work out what you were doing,’ he said. ‘I mean, I knew something was up, but I just thought you were having second thoughts. About us, you know?’
‘No. I couldn’t. Not ever. I just missed you.’
‘I get it,’ he said, then for the first time since he’d set foot on the boat, he leant forward and kissed her. For a split second, it was like all the stresses of the last two days had disappeared. It was just her and Theo, back together again. And it was exactly how Daisy wanted it to be.
Only a moment after they started kissing, a loud bark interrupted the moment.
‘So.’ Theo broke away and looked down at the dog that was by his leg, wagging his tail. ‘I take it you didn’t find this guy on Wildflower Lock either?’
‘I think it’s safe to say that I didn’t find him at all. He found us. But I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I have to find him a home. I know I do. There’s no way I can keep him, not with the coffee shop. But he’s done so much for us, Theo. Honestly, I’m not sure I can bear parting with him.’
Without another word, Theo knelt down and rubbed Johnny under the chin.
‘You’ve made quite an impression on my girl, haven’t you?’ he said, scratching a rough bit of fur and causing Johnny’s tail to beat harder and harder. ‘You know, it’s quite funny, actually. I was thinking only the other day how much nicer my job would be if I had some company. You know, someone to head out to work with early in the morning. Spend the day out on the canals with and keep me company on the long drives. He’d have to be good on boats, though.’
‘Are you serious?’ Daisy said, not daring to believe Theo wasn’t just winding her up.
‘Can he do boats?’
‘Can he do boats? He’s amazing on boats. He did the Thames with us. I mean, you have no idea how fast that was. It was crazy. Insane. I actually thought we might die, but Johnny loved it.’
‘You didn’t travel when the tide was going in, did you?’ Theo said, a sudden look of terror on his face.
‘We’re not talking about me right now,’ Daisy said, realising her slip-up. ‘We’re talking about you taking Johnny. Do you mean it? He’s perfect. Well, that’s probably an exaggeration, but you won’t regret it. I know it.’
Theo opened his mouth, but before he could reply, a rhythmic knock on the door was accompanied by her mother’s sing-song voice.
‘Knock, knock. Can we come in?’
As the door opened, her mother stepped forward and Daisy saw the shadow behind her. For a moment, she thought it was Yvonne, somehow out of hospital and back on the boat, but as the view cleared, she saw it was Nicholas. Her mother’s boyfriend. Before now, Nicholas had barely spoken two words to Daisy, other than to yell at her for opening the Coffee Shop on the Canal. And yet here he was, holding two large bags in his hand.
‘So, the good news is that Yvonne can go home tonight,’ he said.
‘Thank goodness.’ A gasp of relief cascaded through Daisy’s body, so strong her knees almost buckled. Yvonne was going to be all right. Nothing else mattered. Not now. ‘Thank you so much.’
‘No problem. Now, where do you want me to put these?’ Nicholas said, looking directly at Daisy while lifting the bags.
‘Are they more paintings?’ Daisy said. She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t know how long it was going to take her to go through all the ones her mother had already given her. The last thing she was expecting was more.
Yet her mother shook her head.
‘No, they’re not paintings. They’re my clothes.’
‘Clothes?’ Daisy said, confused.
‘Well, you’re not going to make it to Slimbridge on your own, are you?’