Chapter 74
74
‘I’ll put in to work remotely,’ Bex said, when Daisy had told her everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours. ‘Enough people do it. I can come down to Wildflower Lock, just for a week or so. Make sure you’re not on your own.’
‘You don’t have to do that,’ Daisy said, struck by just how generous her friends were.
‘Well, I think I do. It’s either that or you keep turning up at my flat without warning.’ She let out a laugh that was clearly intended to make Daisy smile, although Daisy couldn’t manage it. It felt as if the muscles had forgotten how to do that. As such, Bex’s smile faded almost instantly.
‘Look, it would do me some good too,’ she said, adopting a more serious tone. ‘I’ve been working way too late most nights. I only got back twenty minutes before you got here tonight. Working the weekend at the coffee shop actually felt like a break.’
‘According to Amelia, that was because she did all the work,’ Daisy replied. Bex chuckled and this time, Daisy felt a smile twisting on her lips. There was a strange unfamiliarity about the action. ‘Thank you. I would really like that. But please don’t feel like you have to stay the whole week.’
‘How about we play it by ear? I’ll pack some things tonight for a couple of days, then we can see how you’re doing after that. And I’ll need to go into the office first thing in the morning, but I can be down at the Lock with you by midday, if that’s okay?’
Daisy wanted to be strong. She wanted to make out like she could do it on her own and that her heart didn’t feel like it had been shattered into a thousand pieces, but it wasn’t true. Having Claire visit had shown her that. She wasn’t ready to be on her own just yet and at least this way she wasn’t losing business, too.
‘That would be good. Thank you,’ she said. ‘Thank you for everything.’
‘That’s what we’re here for,’ Bex replied, giving her a quick squeeze before standing up. ‘Come on. I need to put clean sheets on if you’re sleeping in my bed tonight.’
‘Just to warn you, my alarm’s set for four thirty,’ Daisy said, also standing. ‘I figured that will give me enough time to get back, do some baking and open the café at normal time.’
Bex’s lips parted, though it took a moment for her to speak. ‘Four thirty. Well, that confirms it. I am definitely staying at yours from now on.’