CHAPTER SIX
I was at the garden centre just before closing time the following evening to show Gary my business plan.
I’d been labouring over it for weeks, changing bits and then changing them back again, and I was looking forward to getting Gary’s feedback. I’d been good at making up stories in English lessons at school, but this wasn’t fantasy. I needed to present hard facts if I was going to get that business start-up grant.
When I arrived, some of the staff were arranging a big display of garden water features, and I thought about Trevor as I glanced at them while I waited for Gary to finish a phone call at one of the desks. But I grimaced when I saw the price of the one I really liked. It was far too early in our relationship to be spending that kind of money on a boyfriend! Trevor would probably run a mile, thinking I was fartoo keen.
Which I wasn’t at all.
Of course I wasn’t.
I waved at Gary to let him know I was there, then I had a wander round while I waited for him to close up and come and find me. In his office, he poured me a coffee from the machine, and we chatted for a while about the new water feature display, and I told him about Trevor and how I was going to help him with the garden at his holiday home.
I rubbed my nose sheepishly. ‘I’ve got this ridiculously romantic vision of me turning up with a boot-load of gorgeous plants and making a little oasis out of the wilderness that it is right now.’
Gary grinned. ‘Nice idea. I’m really glad it’s working out for you and Trevor. You deserve to be happy.’
‘And so do you,’ I pointed out gently. ‘What about that lovely woman you were chatting to the other day when I was in here? You were advising her on what shrubs to buy for her north-facing garden, and I could tell by the way she was smiling a lot and fiddling with her hair that she liked you.’
He snorted. ‘I’m not going to flirt with customers,’ he said, brusquely, ‘and they’re the only women I meet.’
‘So maybe you should get yourself out and socialise a bit?’ I said it softly, almost apologetically, realising I was on dodgy ground. Gary hated talking about himself, and particularly anything personal like this.
‘No time.’ He shrugged awkwardly and adjusted his glasses. ‘Now, what about this business plan?’
Handing it over, I glanced sadly at the photo of his wife on the desk as he started to read. It had been worth a try but it was clear that Gary either couldn’t or didn’t want to move on after the death of his beloved Sunita in a car crash. But that meant he was stuck in this awful no-man’s land, doing little else except working, eating and sleeping.
I sat there, twisting my hands nervously in my lap, as he read carefully through the whole of my business plan. From time to time, he made a little note in the margin.
At last, he looked up and nodded. ‘It’s good, Blossom.’
‘Really?’
He nodded. ‘You’ve gone into enough detail to show that you really know what you’re talking about, but you’ve also kept it succinct with no unnecessary waffle. And I really like the name you’ve chosen for the business. Flower Power. There’s just a few minor things I would tweak but on the whole, it’s great.’ I flushed with pleasure as he passed the plan back to me. ‘So when are you going to get the ball rolling?’
I swallowed, feeling suddenly flustered. ‘Oh, well, it’s probably best to take my time getting it right. I don’t want to rush into anything.’
‘Absolutely. You need to make sure you’ve covered everything in your plan. But as I said, you’re nearly there.’
‘Do you really think so? It’s just I... well, I sometimes wonder if I’m savvy enough to make a success of a business like this.’
‘Of course you are.’ He dismissed my doubts immediately. ‘You’re a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to plants and you love gardening, so that’s a brilliant start. Okay, being in charge of staff will be something different, but you’re a people person. You’ll be fine. I think you’ll make a great boss.’
‘My sister’s really keen for me to get going,’ I said, thinking of Skye’s enthusiasm for the idea. ‘She keeps talking about a company’s image being everything, so I need to invest in an eye-catching logo which would appear on the uniform. She’s even researched marketing companies that would design the logo for me.’
Gary whistled. ‘Expensive. I mean, she’s right, of course. Image is important. And you need to stand out from the crowd. But if I was a prospective customer, I think I’d choose the company with friendly and approachable staff, and a clear focus on doing the best for my garden. I might not even notice the clever logo. I’d just want value for money, wouldn’t you?’
I nodded. ‘She showed me some brochures for uniforms and they were lovely. Stylish yet practical. But honestly, the prices were eye-watering.’
Gary thought about this. ‘I just feel that as long as what your staff wear is practical and smart, it can actually be really simple. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on it. How about fleeces with the company logo sewn on, with hard-wearing trousers and boots, and waterproofs too, of course?’
His phone rang and I glanced at my watch and stood up. ‘I’d better leave you to get on. Do you mind if I have a look at the water features before I go?’
‘Of course. Come and get me when you’re ready to leave.’
I held up the business plan. ‘Thank you for this. You’ve given me the confidence to actually do it.’
‘Good.’ He grinned, and when I turned at the door, he was already deep in conversation with a supplier.
I had a wander around the garden centre. I never got tired of spotting new plants and being surrounded by so much lovely greenery, and it was a real treat having it all to myself now that the customers had left.
Gary joined me. ‘There’s something I want to show you.’ He beckoned me through a ‘staff only’ door and took me into the stock room, where he pointed out a box that had an illustration of a water feature on it. Opening it up, he showed me that a piece had broken off the water feature inside. ‘It got damaged when we were setting up the display. I’d probably have sold it at a knock-down price in the sale, but you’re welcome to take it.’
‘What? Really?’
‘A bit of adhesive and it’ll be fine. Nice focal point for Trevor’s garden?’
‘Absolutely! But I want to pay for it.’
‘No need. You’re a friend.’
‘No, I must pay you, Gary. How much would you have charged in the sale?’
He shrugged. ‘Fifty quid?’
I looked at him askance, not really believing him. It was worth a whole lot more, even slightly damaged.
‘Go on. Take it,’ he urged. ‘I’d rather get it out of here. We need the space.’
‘All right. Bank transfer?’
‘Yeah, yeah.’ He waved his hand. ‘Whatever.’
‘I’ll do it when I get home. Is that okay?’
‘Of course it is. Come on.’ He picked up the box, which looked really heavy, and made for the back door. I followed him out to my car and he set the box down in the boot.
With a cheery wave, he hurried back into the building, and I stared at the contents of my boot in delight.
If Trevor didn’t like it, I’d have it myself.
But I had a feeling he’d love it...