10
Florence
Helping to decorate Lindy’s bedroom wasn’t a big deal. At least that was what Florence had told herself as she cut off the first strip of pink stripy wallpaper for the feature wall. If she was going to be in the girl’s life, bonding over colour schemes and soft furnishing was a perfectly normal thing to do.
Lindy had been smiling all morning whilst moving all her things into the spare bedroom. Even Stefan sang along to the radio at one point, and Florence started to relax in their home.
‘This has really inspired me to put our own mark on the place,’ said Stefan, passing the doorway.
Florence poked her head out to the landing. ‘I have some ideas that would work well with your paintings.’
He frowned at the pictures on the wall. ‘They were here when we moved in, and by the look of things, they’ve been up for quite some time.’
Florence ran a finger along the bottom of one frame, tipping it away from the wall slightly. ‘It has those dust marks pictures leave behind.’ The painting slipped, dipping down to one side. ‘Oops.’
Stefan removed it from the wall. ‘Looks like the hook holding it has seen better days.’
Florence noticed some postcards stuffed in the back of the picture of the sea. ‘Ooh, look at that.’
Stefan tilted the painting towards his chest, and Florence removed the cards. He then placed the picture on the floor and leaned closer to her to read what they said.
‘It’s to an Agatha,’ said Florence.
‘The ghost?’ he whispered, making her grin.
‘What ghost?’ she mouthed.
‘Rose said a woman called Agatha used to live here during the war. She was waiting for her soldier boyfriend to return home, but she died, so, apparently, floats around the windmill, waiting for his return.’
Florence placed a hand over her heart. ‘Oh, that’s so sad. He must have been heartbroken when he came back.’
Stefan shook his head. ‘He never returned. He died just before her, but she didn’t get the news in time, so she never knew.’
‘That’s even sadder.’ Florence frowned. ‘But why is she haunting the windmill?’
‘It’s where they shared their first kiss.’
Florence’s bottom lip trembled. ‘I’m starting to become an emotional wreck here.’
‘Hmm, I can see. What does it say on the postcard?’
She peered at the first one. It was worn and brown around the edges, with a picture of a cottage on the front. ‘Oxfordshire is as beautiful as home. I’ll bring you here one day. I’m going to show you the world, my sweetheart.’ She gazed at Stefan. ‘It’s signed by Walter.’
‘Agatha was Dr Tully’s aunt. I wonder if he knows these are here?’
Florence flicked through the small pile of five postcards. ‘They’re all from Walter. I wonder why he was travelling without her?’
‘He might have been away training for the war.’
‘Maybe. Oh, Stefan, isn’t it sad? They obviously didn’t get to spend much time together.’
‘Yeah, well, life can be pretty crap at times.’
Oh no, his girlfriend .
Florence touched his arm. ‘Stefan, I’m so sorry about Belinda.’
‘It’s all right. It just shows us how short life can be.’ He smiled a smile that seemed to be just for him, or perhaps it was for Agatha.
‘Best put these somewhere safe.’
Stefan took the postcards and picked up the oil painting. ‘I’ll give Dr Tully a call and see what he wants to do with them.’
She leaned over the banister, watching him walk down the stairs, then chastised herself for doing so and went back to the pasting table.
Lindy came in carrying a laptop. ‘I’ve found a pretty chair for my room.’
‘Ooh, let’s see.’ Florence agreed the oval white wicker chair would suit the new room.
‘I’ll ask Dad when he comes back up.’
Florence scanned the area. ‘It’s quite a nice size in here. There’s definitely room for a dressing table.’
Lindy flopped to the floor in a corner away from the bucket of paste. ‘I really want one of those.’
The last time Florence had a dressing table was in her last home, owned by her last stepfather. Rhett had told her she could decorate her bedroom at the B&B however she liked, but it wasn’t the same, so Florence hadn’t bothered. Plus she wanted to save all her money for finding somewhere to live for when her sister came out of prison.
It was so hard living life whilst Tiggy was locked away. Not one day passed where Florence didn’t think of her little sister.
Heavy footsteps running up the stairs brought Florence out of her trance with the blank wall.
‘You never guess what’s just happened,’ said Stefan, looking rather flustered.
‘Is it bad?’ asked Florence, not sure why she was expecting bad news.
Lindy stopped browsing bedroom furniture online and peered up.
Stefan’s eyes were on his daughter. ‘It’s all good,’ he assured her, and Florence grimaced on the inside for scaring the child.
‘What is it, Dad?’
‘I was just talking to Dr Tully about the postcards, and he asked me if I want to buy the Windmill Practice from him.’
Florence frowned. ‘Isn’t that up to the NHS?’
He shook his head. ‘No. The windmill belongs to Dr Tully’s family. Years ago, most doctors would work from home, then when the NHS was introduced, some started using bigger properties, and clinics were opened and so on, but those surgeries are people’s businesses. They just work with the NHS.’
‘And he wants you to take over?’ asked Florence.
Stefan shrugged one shoulder. ‘It wasn’t his plan at first, but his son wants to move away so has asked him if he would sell the practice to help fund the move, and he agreed.’
Florence frowned. ‘Hang on, what would happen if you don’t buy the windmill from him? Would you be out of a job?’
‘That depends on whether he sells to someone wanting the business. Another buyer might just want to renovate the windmill into a home or something.’
‘I like the windmill,’ said Lindy, sulking.
‘What about this cottage?’ asked Florence. ‘It’s attached.’
Stefan nodded. ‘It would be part of the sale.’
‘Do you want to buy your own practice?’ asked Florence, glancing around the room. ‘Or a windmill?’
Lindy stopped pouting. ‘Can we, Dad?’
‘I’d have to have a proper conversation with Dr Tully about this first.’ He turned to Lindy. ‘It’s a big commitment, and we’ve not been here long. What if you, we, decide we don’t like it here?’
Lindy shrugged. ‘Then we can move again.’
Florence knew just as much as Stefan that moving around wasn’t as simple as Lindy thought. She could see him mulling over the idea, and there was a definite spark in his eye.
‘Well, there’s no rush,’ said Stefan. ‘He said he wanted to run the idea by me first, and I have a few weeks to decide.’
‘I would help if you do decide to buy the practice,’ said Florence. She offered a small smile when he looked her way. ‘Not sure what I can do, but I’m always up for some office work or decorating.’ She held the pasting brush aloft, then laughed as a splodge of wallpaper paste dripped down her arm.
‘Is that free or paid work?’ he asked, and she took note of the smile in his tone.
‘Free decorating, paid office work.’ She grinned. ‘I am saving, after all.’
‘Florence needs her own home,’ said Lindy. ‘Her sister is coming back soon.’
The thought stole Florence’s smile immediately. It was best she got back to wallpapering. At least it helped take her mind off things for a while.
Stefan cleared his throat. ‘Erm, I’ll take you up on that offer, Florence, if I decide to buy this place. I’m pretty sure Rose will retire soon, so perhaps you could fill her shoes when you’re not minding Lindy.’ He gave a small shrug. ‘I’m sure we could juggle a few things. You could work from the cottage whilst Merlin staffs the front desk.’
She met his eyes, seeing nothing but kindness.
‘I don’t know,’ he added. ‘Just brainstorming.’
‘You could build a doorway from here to there, if that’s allowed.’ Florence smiled.
Stefan nodded. ‘I know the windmill is a listed building, so I’d have to look into what permission I’d need.’
‘What does listed building mean?’ asked Lindy.
‘It means it’s protected because it’s really old.’ Stefan smiled at his daughter.
‘I want to protect it forever,’ said Lindy, standing. ‘We can let Dr Tully know we’d look after the windmill.’
‘Let me check a few things first, then we’ll see.’ He glanced at Florence. ‘Meanwhile, let’s get this room decorated.’
Florence looked at the rolled wallpaper on the pasting table. ‘Do you want to bother now? What if you don’t buy the place? You’d have to move.’
Lindy’s pale eyes glossed over. ‘But I like it here.’
Florence chastised herself for putting her foot in it again. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. We can still decorate your room. Even if you don’t stay here, you won’t be kicked out straight away.’ She frowned at herself.
I need to stop talking .
Stefan raised his chin. ‘Whatever happens, Lind, we’ll still sort your bedroom here. And if we move, we’ll take all this pink with us.’
Lindy giggled. ‘And my new chair?’
‘What new chair?’
She showed him the laptop. ‘The one I found online.’
‘Hmm, yes, and your new chair.’
Lindy lowered the laptop. ‘Would we be able to stay on the island?’
‘You like it here?’
She nodded, and Florence smiled on the inside, as she knew how easy it was to feel at home in Pepper Bay.
Stefan pulled out his phone. ‘I’ll just send a quick text to Dr Tully to arrange a proper chat with him, then we’re decorating this room.’
‘Yay,’ cheered Lindy.
Even Florence mentally clapped. The thought of them both sticking around sparked a certain level of joy she hadn’t expected. She unrolled the wallpaper and slapped on some paste. It had been a long while since she attempted such a task, but how hard could it be? She grabbed the ladder and pulled it closer to the wall, then laughed as the drenched paper folded over itself as she climbed.
Stefan’s deep chuckle came close to her ear as he reached up to help unstick her from the wall. ‘Someone’s going to need a shower later.’
The thought of him naked under the showerhead with her flashed through her mind, causing an even bigger smile, even more so when she slipped down a rung and bumped into his chest.
‘Oops, sorry,’ she muttered, trying not to laugh out loud.
His arms were practically around her, and Florence had to remember Lindy was in the room.
She controlled her breathing to reduce the heat building from his touch, then continued to paper the wall. This time with help, and a wish. A wish that he would stay close by. Perhaps forever.
Tiggy came to mind, and Florence immediately pulled away from Stefan. She couldn’t be distracted from her goal. And she certainly couldn’t go around falling for someone and feeling so happy whilst her sister was alone and sad. It just wouldn’t do at all.
Stefan smiled softly as though sensing her sorrow, and part of her wanted to turn to him and have a good old cry on his shoulder, but she did what she was raised to do. Flashed a forced smile, lifted her chin, rolled back her shoulders, and just got on with things as though nothing was wrong.