Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
‘ S o, how did it go? Your meeting with Matty last night?’ Bea helped Fleur pack the chrysanthemum buttonholes into the box open on the large table in the chilled back room of the flower shop.
‘Good.’ Fleur could feel her cheeks flush despite the cool air surrounding them.
‘Good?’ Bea raised her eyebrows. ‘Do I detect something going on there?’
‘What? No.’ Fleur rolled her eyes. ‘I think we can both agree I well and truly burnt that bridge a long time ago.’
‘Umm, I’m not so sure. Never say never.’
Fleur shook her head, her ponytail bouncing against her shoulder blades. ‘I think we can say never in this instance. No, seriously though, he was really sweet. He told me he wasn’t expecting an apology.’
‘Or an explanation?’ Bea placed the last buttonhole in the small remaining space in the box.
‘Nor an explanation.’ Fleur closed the box, omitting to tell her that he’d admitted he’d known all along why she’d walked out. Picking up the box, she stacked it on top of the larger box of bridesmaid bouquets. She still didn’t know how he’d known her reason for leaving him at the altar before she herself had worked it out. She frowned. No, that wasn’t right. She must have always known on some subconscious level, but she hadn’t been able to form a coherent answer to the question before.
‘Are you meeting up with him again?’ Bea rubbed her hands together before blowing on them.
Laughing, Fleur pulled open the door into the shop and ushered Bea out of the chiller. ‘Come on, come and get warm for a minute.’
‘Thanks. I don’t know how you do it. Not that it’s much warmer in here.’ Bea grinned.
‘No, I know, but I also know what you’ll be doing the minute you’re out of this shop.’ Fleur flicked on the kettle she kept on the deep shelf behind the counter.
‘What’s that? Running across the green to go and huddle by my hot radiator?’ Joining her behind the counter, Bea spooned coffee into two mugs.
‘Exactly that.’
Bea smiled. ‘You’re not wrong.’
‘Haha, I didn’t think so.’
‘When have you got to leave to take the wedding stuff over?’ Bea held the spoon away while Fleur poured the water onto the coffee granules.
‘In about ten minutes. Plenty of time to down a much needed coffee. When have you got to get back to relieve Lindsey?’
‘In about ten minutes, too. She’s got to go and pick the kids up from Rob’s parents.’ Bea added a splash of milk.
‘Thanks.’ Pouring a few drops of caramel syrup into hers, Fleur then brought it to her lips and took a sip. She may not have had much sleep last night, but the little she’d actually had after spending the first few hours when she’d got back home from meeting Matty in front of the TV, had been the best she’d had in a long while.
‘I’m glad you and Matty have sorted things out.’ Bea leaned her hip against the counter.
‘Me too. Now that I’ve spoken to him, of course. Before yesterday evening, I was thinking I’d have to emigrate to Australia or somewhere.’
‘Don’t you dare!’ Bea laughed. ‘Although the lengths you were going to avoid seeing him. I can well believe you might have looked into it seriously.’
‘Haha, yes, well, just don’t check my browser history!’ Fleur reached out and tapped her laptop closed.
‘Umm, well, I’m glad it’s all worked out.’ Bea checked the clock. ‘Oops, I’d better run.’
‘Okay. thanks for popping by and I’ll see you later, no doubt.’ Fleur held her hand out for Bea’s coffee mug.
‘You bet. See you.’ After passing her mug to her, Bea hurried outside and across the green towards her book shop.
After downing the rest of her caramel latte, Fleur pushed the door to the back room open just as the chime sounded, announcing a new arrival to the shop. Oops, she’d meant to lock the door after Bea. Although the welcome sign was turned to Closed , she often had a customer or two assume she was open because they could see her through the window. With the words, ‘Sorry, I’m closed’ on the tip of her tongue, she turned around before breaking into a grin. It was Matty. ‘Hi, I’m just about to go to set up the flowers for a wedding, but if you’re quick, you can grab what you want and pay me later.’
Matty closed the door behind him before walking across the shop floor towards her. ‘I just popped in to see how you were after yesterday evening. I guess I could grab you quick, but I’m not sure how you’d feel about that.’
Fleur laughed as she let the door to the back room close again. ‘Haha, I just assumed you were coming in to buy another one of those bouquets.’
‘Another bouquet?’ Matty tilted his head.
‘Yes, you bought one the other day, remember?’
‘I do.’ Matty nodded as he raised his eyebrow. ‘But I was told you were out?’
‘Yes, yes. Of course I was. I...’ Fleur covered her cheeks with the palms of her hands as she felt the fierce flush of heat prickle her skin.
Matty held his hand against his chest, his face an expression of mock-shock. ‘Don’t tell me you were hiding behind the counter to avoid speaking to me?’
‘No, I...’ Fleur brought her hands to her ponytail, pulling the hairband tighter before she rolled her eyes. ‘You knew!’
‘Of course I did. I spotted you ducking behind there as I walked towards the shop.’
‘Oh, sorry.’ Fleur grimaced. ‘I... No, I have no excuse. You’re right, I was trying to avoid you.’
‘Now my feelings really are hurt.’ Matty chuckled.
‘Oi! Anyway, who were you buying my expensive bouquet for?’ She frowned. Had he been trying to win back his partner? Ex-partner?
‘My mum. And she passes on her thanks. She loved them.’
‘Right. I’m glad she liked them.’ Fleur glanced towards the clock. ‘I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to bale on you. I can’t be late setting up these venues and I’m cutting it fine as it is.’
‘No worries. I’ll come with you and give you a hand if you like?’
‘What? No, don’t be daft. You don’t want to be driving around with me and arranging flowers for the rest of the morning.’ She shook her head. As much as she’d love to spend a few hours with him. She couldn’t expect him to help her.
‘I’d be happy to.’
‘No, really...’
Matty held his hands up, palms forward. ‘If you don’t want me to join you, that’s fine, but if you’re just worried about me being put out, then I won’t be. I got another rejection letter this morning for a job I interviewed for last week so if anything, you letting me help would be doing me a favour. It’ll make me feel useful and as though I’m capable of something, at least.’
Fleur frowned. How could she refuse when he put it like that? ‘Okay then. Your help would be very much appreciated. Thank you.’