Chapter 11
ELEVEN
It hadn’t escaped Florrie’s attention that Ed had been quiet on the way home.
And though she’d seen him check his phone several times, she hadn’t been able to catch a glimpse of the screen to see if there’d been any further communication from his mother.
She’d tried to suppress her worries by telling herself his quietness was more than likely down to him being tired after their busy day, but a feeling deep in her gut told her otherwise.
It was the same problem it had been whenever he’d gone quiet like this: his parents.
Arriving back at Samphire Cottage, Gerty greeted them with such great enthusiasm, anyone would think they’d been away for six months, which seemed to brighten Ed’s mood in an instant.
In fairness, it was impossible to feel down when Gerty was around, with her upbeat nature and impossibly waggy tail.
‘Hello, Gerty-Girl, have you missed us?’ Ed gave a happy chuckle as he bent to give the Labrador’s black velvety ears a thorough ruffling, which appeared to increase the tail-wagging.
Florrie followed suit, tickling Gerty under the chin and promising her a biscuit for being so well-behaved while they were out.
‘What an amazing day, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much,’ she said, looking up into Ed’s dark blue eyes, her heart fluttering. She pushed her glasses back up her nose. ‘I’ve no idea how you managed to keep all that a secret, I’d have been bursting to tell you.’
He laughed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to him, sending a rush of love through her.
‘You’re right, it has been an amazing day.
’ He kissed the end of her nose. ‘And I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed it.
And I didn’t find it too bad keeping it secret; mind, I didn’t know all of the details, and none of us had a clue about Gabe Dublin – I think I might’ve struggled keeping that to myself. ’
‘It’s still sinking in.’ She laughed. ‘I wonder if Jean’s still floating around on cloud nine? He thoroughly charmed her. And I wonder if her “friend” knows about her dance partner?’
Ed chuckled. ‘Ah, bless her. She was actually the best salsa dancer out of all of us. That lady sure has rhythm.’
‘Doesn’t she just?’
‘And I don’t think Amery needs to be jealous, especially when he hears she was leaving Gabe to head back for her date with him – assuming we can call it a date, that is.’
‘Hmm. I’d probably be a bit careful with that one until we hear how Jean refers to it.
I wouldn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, especially with it being such new and unfamiliar territory to her.
’ Although she was in possession of the facts concerning Jack’s father, in all the years Florrie had known Jean, she’d never been aware of her being in a relationship with a man.
‘Aye, makes sense. I’d hate to make her feel uncomfortable and put her off.’ Ed nodded thoughtfully. ‘It’s a shame your parents couldn’t make it. It would’ve added an extra level of fun with your dad strutting his stuff the way he does.’ He grinned at her, his smile making his eyes crinkle.
‘He’d have taken up a lot of room, though.
’ Florrie giggled as a picture of her dad at a fundraising event filled her mind.
It had involved an evening disco and he’d thrown himself – and Florrie’s mum – into it wholeheartedly.
‘No one could ever accuse him of not being an enthusiastic dancer. He’s worse with eighties music, mind.
Let’s not forget how he entertained everyone with his moves to “The Only Way is Up” by Yazz or that one by Dead or Alive at the fundraising disco last January. His dancing was totally wild.’
Ed laughed, too. ‘True, he excelled himself dancing to “You Spin Me Round”.’ He released a happy sigh. ‘Though today wasn’t the same without your parents, it was still a fabulous way to kick off our wedding celebrations.’
‘It was wonderful.’
He bent and pressed his lips against hers, his kiss deepening until Gerty started to whimper, apparently feeling left out. Ed reluctantly pulled away, his hands sliding down Florrie’s shoulders, giving them a squeeze.
‘I think I’ll take Gerty for a leg-stretch along to my parents.
Kill two birds with one stone, see how my dad’s doing, and give Gerty some exercise.
’ For all they’d asked their neighbour, Mrs Fergus, to let the Labrador into the garden for a toilet trip and a bit of company, Florrie thought they’d both benefit from the walk to her parents’ house – Gerty for the exercise, and herself for the fresh air since she was in serious danger of snuggling up on the sofa and falling asleep.
‘Aye, good plan. I was thinking I should maybe pop down to the bookshop, crack on with my work in the windows.’
‘Ooh, yes!’ Florrie’s face lit up as she suddenly remembered the unveiling of the window displays that were scheduled for next week to coincide with Jack and Jenna’s author reading event.
‘Am I allowed any hints as to the subject matter?’ She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, following up with a hopeful look.
‘Nope, and don’t think those delicious kisses will make me tell you either. Though, maybe you could give it another try, just in case…’ He lifted an eyebrow and gave a lopsided smile that made Florrie’s heart skip a beat.
‘Always worth a try.’ She reached up, her pulse racing as his lips brushed hers.
Since Ed had arrived in Micklewick Bay, he’d taken charge of the displays in the large windows of the double-fronted bookshop.
An artist by trade, he’d put his creative skills to good use, designing captivating scenes complete with moving components.
They’d become a popular local attraction – particularly at Christmas, with not just the local children being enthralled by them.
The theme always remained a secret – even to Florrie – hidden away behind thick, black curtains, before they were officially unveiled by Jack Playforth.
‘Tempted to give up any clues?’ she asked, reluctantly bringing their kiss to an end.
‘Hmm…’ Ed feigned taking a moment to consider her request. ‘It’s still a no, I’m afraid.’
‘What? As kisses go, I reckon that gets a good eight out of ten.’
‘I’d have to agree with that; I’d even nudge it up to a nine. You’re still not getting a word out of me, though.’
‘Gah! Spoilsport!’ She wriggled out of his arms. ‘In that case, all kisses are off until further notice.’
‘Harsh!’ he said, them both laughing.
‘S’just me,’ Florrie called as she stepped into the hallway of her childhood home, its familiar comforting smell curling around her nose.
Usually on a Sunday the air would be filled with the rich aroma of her mum’s delicious roast dinner, but not today.
It acted as a reminder that her dad was feeling unwell and, no doubt, off his food, which was most unlike him.
‘Hello, lovey.’ Her mum appeared around the kitchen doorway, looking pleased to see her daughter, a tea towel thrown over her shoulder. ‘That’s good timing, I’m just making a cuppa, d’you have time for one?’
‘Love one, thanks, Mum.’ There was always a pot of tea on the go at her parents’ house.
‘So you all had a lovely time salsa dancing, then?’
‘We did, thanks, though you and Dad were missed by everyone.’ Florrie bent to unfasten Gerty’s lead, the Labrador trotting off in the direction of the kitchen.
‘How’s Dad?’ she asked, straightening up and hooking the lead over a peg next to the coats before slipping her jacket off and hanging it up.
‘He’s had a lie down and is looking a bit brighter, which is good. Said he fancied a cup of tea and a plain biscuit.’ Paula headed towards Florrie, hugging her warmly and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
‘So, what’s up with him? It’s not like him to be poorly.’
‘I know.’ Paula’s brow crumpled with a frown. ‘Said he’s been feeling dizzy which has made him feel sick, described it as being like carsickness.’
‘Oh, poor Dad, that sounds awful.’ Florrie followed her mum down the hall. ‘Mind, much as it’s a shame you missed the salsa lesson, I’m not sure it would’ve been a good combo for him with it involving a fair bit of spins and turns.’
‘That’s what we thought, too.’ Paula stopped outside the living room door. ‘Two ticks, lovey, I’ll just fetch the tray with the tea things. You go and see your dad,’ she said, nodding in the direction of the living room.
There, Florrie found her dad stretched out on the sofa, a pillow puffed up behind his back and a fleece blanket over his legs.
‘Hi, Dad, how’re you feeling?’ she asked, injecting a cheery note into her voice.
She was struck by how pale he looked, with not even the slightest hint of his usually ruddy cheeks.
And the last time she’d seen him with such dark circles under his eyes was when her mum had been so very poorly and the worry was eating away at him.
It felt strange to see him incapacitated like this.
He was always fit and healthy; never still, always had to be busy doing something.
Her mum regularly said he had ants in his pants.
His job as a builder meant he’d always been toned and muscular.
And he never usually ailed anything worse than the occasional head cold.
‘Hello, love, it’s grand to see you.’ He pushed himself up on his elbows, giving a watery smile.
‘I have to say, I’ve felt better. If I stand up, I get that dizzy, I end up walking around like I’ve had an afternoon session at The Cellar, guzzling a load of Micklewick Mischief.
Even turning my head makes me feel right rotten. ’
‘That doesn’t sound good, Dad.’ From his description, Florrie didn’t think he’d picked up the stomach bug Lark had mentioned.
‘I’ve been making him ginger tea, which is good for settling dicky tummies,’ said her mum, who’d joined them, setting a tray of mugs down on the coffee table beside her husband.
‘Aye, but it does nowt for dizzy spells,’ added her dad.
‘It’s been going on for a few days, so I’ve made him an appointment at the doctor’s.’ Paula went to puff up the pillow behind him.
He huffed out an impatient sigh. ‘I don’t know why you’re making a fuss, love. You know I’m not happy about wasting a doctor’s appointment on me. I’ll be right as rain in no time. Like I keep saying, it’ll just be something I’ve picked up somewhere and not worth fussing over.’
‘Typical man.’ Paula shook her head and rolled her eyes.
‘It’s not a waste of time, Dad. You can’t go to work, climbing ladders or using heavy equipment or machinery if you’re feeling dizzy.
It’s dangerous.’ Though she felt strongly about getting her point across, Florrie wasn’t keen to dwell on the thought of her dad putting himself at risk at work, knowing he was the sort of man who didn’t like to let his clients down, and would push himself to ensure jobs were finished on schedule.
Chas Appleton & Son Traditional Builders was a third-generation building firm that had an excellent reputation in Micklewick Bay and the surrounding areas, and it was one that Charlie had strived to continue.
‘That’s exactly what I’ve been telling him,’ said her mum. ‘See, Charlie, our Florrie agrees.’
‘Aye, well, I’ll go, see what the doctor says. Hopefully, she can give me summat to put me right and stop you fretting about me and pouring this ginger tea muck down my neck.’ Though he was joking, his reply seemed to satisfy his wife and daughter.
Florrie stayed at her parents for an hour, chatting over a cup of tea, refusing the offer of a biscuit.
She was still so full from her Sunday dinner, she couldn’t imagine ever feeling hungry again.
She shared all the details from her afternoon with her friends, her parents listening in disbelief as she told them about Gabe Dublin.
‘I’m right sorry I made us miss it, lass.’ Charlie threw his wife an apologetic look. ‘You’d have had a whale of a time.’
‘Hey, no need to apologise, you weren’t up to it, love.’ Paula reached over from the armchair beside him and patted his hand.
Florrie was glad to see a sparkle had returned to her dad’s eye. She’d been right to call in on her parents, it had eased her worries, seeing that her dad wasn’t as ill as she’d convinced herself he was.
‘Have you heard any more from Dawn Harte?’ Paula asked, not bothering to hide her dislike of the woman. Florrie had filled her mum in on Dawn’s arrival over the phone the day before.
‘No, but I think she was trying to get in touch with Ed while we were out today. I’ve no idea what it was about, though.’ Florrie wondered if he’d return his mother’s calls, or replied to her texts while she was out.
‘Well, don’t let her browbeat you,’ said her dad firmly. ‘You know what Ed’s parents can be like.’
Didn’t she just? They had the power to burst the happiest of bubbles. She hoped that wouldn’t be the case today, hoped it would be allowed to finish on a high.