Chapter 14
Seaside Blooms was a hive of activity all week. The wooden floor looked amazing – so much better than lino – and I’d also had a large counter and preparation table fitted.
Auntie Kay had never bothered with a computer at work, doing everything on paper or by phone.
There was therefore no broadband connection and, unfortunately, no free Wi-Fi from any surrounding businesses.
With The Outback cleared and organised, there was little more I could do at the shop so I left the fitters to it and worked on my laptop at home, sourcing and ordering the shop fittings and several gift ranges.
It had been a really productive week and it felt like big steps had been made in getting ready to re-open.
On Thursday evening, I’d only just set off walking towards Seashell Cottage after work when a text arrived:
?? From Nick
Met a Stephen this week and thought of you. Hope you have a good time at Kay’s tonight x
?? To Nick
Thank you x
As the message sent, I felt a pang of anxiety.
Should I have added the kiss? He’d started it.
Did it mean anything or was it just one of those things you do on texts?
Was it because of what happened on the beach?
A little shiver of pleasure ran through me as I recalled the intensity of that brief moment before that stupid big dog leapt on him and ruined things.
Would we really have kissed? I knew I’d wanted to at the time with every fibre of my being, but I also knew that, for the whole of the drive home, there was only one thought going round and round in my mind: What the hell are you playing at?
He’s not called Steven; he’s not called Steven…
Nick’s texts had given me butterflies but Monday’s reaction had been down to the excitement of the almost-kiss after a year of no affection from Jason, and my reaction to his text just now was only because he’d mentioned a Stephen. That was all. It wasn’t Nick causing the butterflies. Was it?
When I arrived at Seashell Cottage ten minutes later, I knocked on the door then walked straight in, as I’d always done.
‘Hello?’ I shouted. No answer. ‘Anyone home?’ My stomach rumbled at the tantalising aroma of home-cooked chilli.
A familiar mewing sound made me look down.
‘Kat? What are you doing here?’ I bent down to give her a fuss.
Her brother appeared from the dining room and rubbed round my legs.
‘I know Auntie Kay wanted to say goodbye to everyone, but I didn’t realise the invitation extended to you two. Where is everyone?’
I opened the lounge door. Nobody there. I was about to close it again when something grey and fluffy on the sofa caught my eye. Were those my cushions? I frowned and stepped into the room. My candles and photos adorned the mantelpiece. What the…?
‘Hello?’ I called again. ‘Where are you?’
The dining room was empty. The kitchen was empty. But both rooms housed more of my belongings.
Running up the stairs and into Auntie Kay’s bedroom, I found it full of my bags and boxes. Mr Pink had pride of place on top of the bed. I wandered over to touch him just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things when Mum, Dad, Ben and Auntie Kay jumped up from behind the bed and yelled, ‘Surprise!’
I clutched my heart dramatically. ‘I was beginning to think I’d boarded the Mary Celeste.’ I hugged them all.
‘Have you had enough of me already?’ I asked Mum and Dad. ‘What’s all my stuff doing here?’
‘You’re moving in,’ Auntie Kay said.
‘How come?’
‘While I’m away, I’m a little concerned that my beloved Seashell Cottage may get cold and neglected.
I thought we may be able to do each other a favour.
’ Auntie Kay looked at Mum and winked. ‘To save you from the insanity of my sister’s compulsive meal-making, clothes-washing, and clock-watching, I want you to move in here.
Rent-free, of course. But, in return for this considerable generosity on my part, I’d ask that you keep the garden tidy, stop the junk mail from piling up, and keep the place clean. What do you think?’
I looked at Mum and Dad. ‘You wouldn’t be offended if I moved out?’
Mum smiled. ‘You need your own space. And, no offence, but your dad and I have got used to having the peace and quiet of the house to ourselves.’ Dad put his arm round her and kissed the top of her head.
I looked at my brother’s eager smile and my heart sank as I turned to Auntie Kay. ‘Thank you, but I can’t accept. You’ve given me too much already with the shop and the loan. It’s not fair on Ben if I get a free house too, even if it’s only temporary.’
‘Don’t be so daft,’ Ben said. ‘Did you never wonder how I managed to buy a house on my salary?’
‘I…’ I shrugged. I hadn’t given it much thought but, now that he mentioned it, a two-bed terrace in a fairly nice part of Leeds did seem a little out of the reach of Ben’s low-paid day job working for a missing persons charity.
‘Auntie Kay gave me the deposit,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘So I think we’re evens. Can we eat now?’
I looked from him to my parents to Auntie Kay. Everyone seemed to be nodding encouragingly. ‘Does the invitation stretch to Kit and Kat?’
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘They’ve already made themselves at home.’
‘As long as everyone doesn’t mind, it’s a big fat yes, then,’ I squealed. ‘Thank you so much.’
‘You’re very welcome.’ Auntie Kay gave me another hug.
‘You’re not going for another ten days,’ I said. ‘My stuff’s everywhere. It’ll be in the way.’
‘Ah. Slight change of plan. Linda and I are leaving on Monday now.’
I gasped. ‘This Monday? As in four days’ time? The shop’s not ready yet. What if I have questions?’
‘Then email me them. I’m moving into Linda’s this evening so we can sort out the last-minute details. I’m around for three more full days and I promise to be more available in that time if you need me. I’ve done all my clothes shopping now.’
‘But…’
‘I hate to break up this riveting discussion,’ Ben said, ‘but I’m wasting away. Man need food. Now.’ He pushed past me and bounded down the stairs like a little kid, followed by Auntie Kay, then Mum and Dad.
I looked around the bedroom trying to take in what had just happened.
A new business opening in two weeks’ time and a new home from this very minute.
Shocked as I was by Auntie Kay’s announcement, I knew she was right; I’d done most of it on my own so far.
How spooky that I’d been talking to Elise less than a week ago about moving out and now it had happened.
If felt like everything was slotting into place.
Of course, moving in meant I had absolutely no excuse for putting off registering with a dating site and going all out with my search for Steven.
Kit launched himself onto the bed and I nuzzled into his fur. ‘Do you think it’s time we found you a new daddy?’ I whispered. He purred loudly. ‘I’ll take that as a yes.’
My phone beeped. Nick again?
?? From Nick
Forgot to say in last text… do you have any plans for 2 weeks on Monday? I have a proposition for you. Will stop by the shop one day next week to explain x
?? To Nick
No plans so far. Sounds exciting. See you soon x
Eek! Kisses again. Was he asking me on a date? No. You don’t ask someone on a date for two-and-a-half weeks’ time and you don’t use words like ‘proposition’. But a little part of me quite liked the idea of a date.
‘Sarah! Food’s ready,’ Ben shouted up the stairs. ‘Get your arse down here.’
Nice. ‘Coming.’ I stood up and was momentarily blinded by a flash from a chest of drawers.
Moving a little closer, I saw a large and very sparkly photo frame that must have caught the light.
Instinctively I picked it up to look at the photo: a large print of the lighthouse picture Auntie Kay had shown me on Monday.
She must have had it enlarged while she was in town.
Blown up to A4 size, my resemblance to my grandma was even clearer.
‘Sarah!’ Ben shouted again.
‘Coming,’ I shouted back, reluctantly putting the photo back on the drawers. Something else in the larger picture caught my eye: Grandma’s bracelet. When Grandma died, Auntie Kay as the elder sister inherited her wedding and engagement rings and Mum inherited the bracelet.
She also says your mum will be devastated in the future when she can’t find your grandma’s bracelet. It’s not lost. It’s under the sofa…
I’d already looked under Mum and Dad’s sofa but what if it was under Auntie Kay’s instead? I raced out the room, down the stairs and into the lounge.
‘What are you doing?’ Ben said, making me jump as I lay on the floor.
‘Do me a favour and lift up that end of the sofa.’
‘Why?’
I glared at him. He sighed but did as he was asked. I bent down and looked underneath. Fluff… coins… hair-grip and… oh my God! I grabbed at the object.
Ben lowered the sofa back down with a grunt. ‘What is it?’
I stared at the item resting on my palm. ‘Grandma’s bracelet. The one Mum thought she’d lost years ago.’
‘No way. How did you know it was there?’
I smiled and shook my head. ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.
’ Suddenly feeling very weak, I sunk back against the sofa, breathing deeply.
Wow! The bracelet under the sofa and the lighthouse photo, exactly as predicted.
There was no way she could have guessed at those things.
There was just one thing left to happen, then: meeting Steven. Oh. My. God!