Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
M onday morning dawned with buttery, festive sunlight and a crisp breeze. There had been more snow and a papery layer of it clung to everything.
In the shop, I snatched up my notebook as a distraction from my thoughts of Zach and the conversation with Ezra, forcing myself to try and come up with some new promotional ideas I could introduce into the shop in January when sales would no doubt be thin on the ground.
Amber and Rowan listened, shooting each other concerned glances, as I dislodged any further dissection of Zach’s behaviour and reeled off the ideas I’d come up with, like an over-enthusiastic jack-in-the-box. I hadn’t mustered up the courage to tell them yet about me being Lady Anastasia, though I promised myself I would, when the time was right. I was still too wounded by Zach’s reaction and I wanted to get a handle on my emotions first, before launching myself into another “scenario”.
“What do you think about loyalty cards?” I said. “Every time a customer makes a purchase, we could stamp a card for them and when they’ve made their sixth purchase, they’re entitled to a free bouquet.”
I used my finger to scan down my page of frantic handwriting.
“Or how about a Little Ones Gardening Club? Parents could sign their kids up to it and they can get a packet of seeds and a pot once a quarter. Might encourage the children to get interested in botany from an early age? We could also do monthly social media posts focused on a particular species of flower or a house plant that we have in stock and?—”
Amber held up one hand. I noticed her nails were slicked with Christmassy, bottle-green polish infused with glitter.
“Stop right there, boss.”
“Why? Don’t you like any of my ideas?”
“It’s not that,” said Amber, coiling one finger around the end of her plait. “It’s just that you seem a bit … manic…’
“Well, this is my business and I want it to be a success.”
Rowan nodded. “We get that, but you need to slow down … take a bit more time for you.”
Amber chewed her bottom lip. “And I hope I’m not putting my size sevens in it, but we both noticed that the sexy journalist hasn’t been around for a while…”
I shrugged and hoped I looked unfazed.
“He’s gone back to Glasgow. He’s working on some big story,” I said breezily.
Amber eyed Rowan meaningfully.
“Honestly,” I said. “It’s all fine.”
“Sure,” said Rowan. “If you say so.”
Thankfully, the shop door opened, bringing with it more customers before I could respond to that.
“Right,” I said, instead. “Action stations, ladies.”
* * *
The morning flashed past, bringing with it a visit from a nearby nursery.
The little ones toddled around, marvelling at our miniature Christmas trees, the tubs of ruby-red poinsettia and our fake snow-decked festive wreaths. They were delighted with the little packs of sunflower seeds we gave them to plant.
Once they departed, their stubby fingers waving goodbye, I took a few moments to slip away to my office and ring my mother, to make sure there were no other last-minute items she wanted me to bring over for Christmas.
“You can bring a guest with you for Christmas lunch, darling, if you wish. Plenty of room at the inn.”
I gripped my mobile, shutting out thoughts of Zach. “Thanks, Mum, but I don’t have anyone to bring.”
I could hear her brain ticking over. “Well, in that case, I could invite over that handsome young nephew of Lucinda Duncan’s. His name is Troy Meadows and he’s a chiropractor.”
“For God’s sake!” I snapped. “My back’s fine, and I don’t want to be set up on Christmas Day with Lucinda Duncan’s bloody nephew!”
Mum tutted at my outburst.
“It’s Christmas dinner, Mum, not a blind date.”
My mother started to make a series of protesting sounds. “I’ve seen photos of him. He’s very attractive. Reminds me of that young man in Outlander . He’s split with his girlfriend recently and his parents are on a cruise, so he’s at a bit of a loose end.”
“Charming,” I grunted under my breath. “Marcus is going to be coming on his own this year as well, don’t forget. Let’s not rub it in.”
Before my mother could come back at me with a counter argument, I rounded off the call. “See you on Christmas Eve, Mum. Text me if I need to bring anything else with me.”
* * *
Amber, Rowan and I spent the remainder of the day making sure the final flower orders were placed for Ezra’s event, so that we could hit the ground running on the 28th and start working on the displays. We also ensured we had enough gold, silver, and white satin ribbon in stock. I’d already delivered the first of Ezra’s flowers for his home and he’d been thrilled with the myriad scents, textures, and shades I’d come up with, especially the berry, fig, and pine cone decorations.
It was a busy time, keeping up with order collections, local deliveries, and the increased footfall. I knew January would be much quieter, so I tried to enjoy the busy period and embrace the festive chaos.
At the end of the day, the three of us each nursed a mug of tea and demolished a flapjack from the local bakery. I was so glad I’d found Amber and Rowan to help, and I hoped they felt like they were learning something that they could put to good use in the future, whatever they decided to do.
I felt satisfied as I climbed the stairs to my flat that evening. It had been a productive yet hectic day. Being occupied helped filter out thoughts of Zach.
I was shrugging off my quilted jacket in the hall and dumping my bag, when there was a loud, insistent banging on my door.
A familiar voice made me start. “Anastasia? Answer the door. It’s me, Marcus.”
I yanked open the door to see my big brother standing there in his winter coat. I moved to haul him into my arms. “Wow! This is a lovely surprise! I’m seeing you in two days anyway.”
But Marcus was stiff and pulled away from me, his face pinched and his deep blue eyes wet. “No, you won’t be seeing me at Christmas. Are you joking?!”
“Sorry?”
“Why didn’t you tell me? How could you do that?” He shook his head. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Your visit to Mum the other week. About me. About Jacob.” He ground his jaw. “The money Mum gave Samuel.” His expression turned to granite. “Who is no longer with the agency, but you probably knew that as well.”
Dread gripped me. Oh God. He knew.
My stomach churned at his charged expression. I wanted him to understand how awful I felt about it, how complicit, even though Mum had kept her suspicions about Jacob from me to begin with. “Oh Marcus, I’m so sorry. Please believe me. I only found out about it from Mum the other week when I went over to see her.”
Marcus’s mouth contorted.
“I suspected Mum might know more about your broken engagement than she was letting on. That’s why I wanted to talk to her.” My voice was pleading. I was willing him to understand. “I thought I was protecting you by not telling you about Samuel and the money. You had enough heartache to deal with and I didn’t want to add to it.” I stopped and took in his clothes. “Have you just come from work?”
“Well, I don’t normally dress like this on a day off.” His eyes glistened with emotion. There were lilac smudges of tiredness under his eyes. No wonder. From what Mum had said, Marcus had been practically living, eating, and breathing work in order to blank out his heartache, or at least try to. “I’ve been at a meeting in Glasgow with another advertising agency,” he said. “And guess who was there?”
“Who?” I reached out a hand to comfort him, but Marcus wrenched his away.
“Samuel’s sister, Siobhan, that’s who. She told me Mum gave Samuel money as a bribe.” His eyes hardened and he clenched his jaw. “Jacob and Samuel are living together in some riverside apartment in Glasgow now. Siobhan’s horrified by what her brother did. The whole family is, apparently.”
When I didn’t say anything, Marcus let out an incredulous laugh. He stared down at me. “Wow. I thought I could trust you. I thought you were on my side.”
My hand shot out again towards him. I wanted to comfort my brother. I wanted him to believe I wouldn’t deceive him. “No. You don’t understand. You’ve got it wrong. You don’t know the whole story.”
He recoiled. Pain pulled at his mouth.
A lump of worry was threatening to choke me. Marcus was looking at me as though he didn’t recognise me anymore.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you when Mum told me, but I wanted to protect you. What would telling you about the money have achieved, Marcus? You would’ve gone straight to Mum and you would have had a confrontation.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence.”
Desperate to put things right between us, I appealed to him again. “Marcus, come in. Please. We can talk about it. Honestly. Whatever you’ve been told, you don’t know the whole story. There’s something you should know…”
He plunged one hand into his coat pocket for his car keys. “No thanks. I know enough. There’s nothing left to say.” He dismissed a tear trickling down his cheek with the back of his hand. Emotion tore through me like a whirlwind.
“I hope you and Mum enjoyed your cosy little chat about me. Have a lovely Christmas, won’t you?”
I stared at him. “You’re not coming? Marcus, please come. Mum and Dad will be heartbroken if you don’t come. We’re family.”
“Family? Don’t make me laugh. If that’s family, I don’t want any part of it.”
I called after him, but Marcus was already thumping down the staircase towards his snow-dusted car.