Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
A knock at the door of Samphire Cottage just after five forty made Florrie jump to her feet. ‘That’ll be one of the lasses,’ she said, reaching for her bag that was hooked on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. She’d already got her hat and coat on in readiness for heading out.
‘Have a fantastic time,’ Ed said, planting a warm kiss full on her mouth. The strength of it made Florrie’s heart flutter.
‘Mmm. I will,’ she said, kissing him again. ‘And I’ll look forward to catching up with you when I get back.’
‘Sounds good to me.’ His eyes twinkled at her, making her heart flutter some more. After their chat at the bookshop, it had felt like a weight had lifted from her shoulders, knowing they were united in taking a stand against his parents. They were a team, and it felt good.
Florrie opened the door to see Stella smiling back at her in the soft dusk light. ‘Now then, missus.’ Her friend was looking glamorous in a black shearling coat and a pair of black flared jeans. ‘Your chariot awaits.’
‘Hi, Stells, I wondered who’d be picking me up.’
‘Hi, Stella,’ Ed said from behind Florrie. ‘Have fun and I’ll see you when you get back.’
‘Thanks, Ed. We should have Florrie back around elevenish.’
‘So, are you allowed to tell me what we’re up to tonight?’ Florrie asked after they’d said their goodbyes to Ed.
‘Not until we get there.’ Stella threw a smile over her shoulder as they made their way down the path and out onto the street. ‘All I can say is that we’re picking up Jazz en route, and it won’t take long to get there.’
‘That’s so not helpful, Stells, but as long as it’s got nothing to do with pigs and the herding of said creatures, then I’m happy.’ Florrie chuckled as she climbed into Stella’s stylish four-wheel drive.
‘Yeah, you and me both. So, how’s things with Dawn?’ Stella asked as they headed down the road.
‘Oof! Blimey. How to answer that one!’
Stella stole a quick look in Florrie’s direction. ‘That doesn’t sound too good. Please tell me the obnoxious woman’s not up to her old tricks and causing trouble.’
‘I wish I could, but that would be a lie. If where we’re heading this evening is the sort of place we can chat, then I’ll tell you there – a lot’s been happening and I wouldn’t want you to have to hear it all over again – but if not, I’ll save it for Friday at the Jolly.
’ She watched as Stella took the turn for the lane that led to Jasmine’s house.
‘You’ll definitely have the opportunity tonight. And we don’t want you keeping it all in till Friday.’
After scooping up Jasmine, they headed into town where Stella took a turn on to Endeavour Road. A moment later, she announced, ‘Here we are.’ She flicked the indicator and effortlessly reverse-parked into what seemed to Florrie like a space that was far too small.
‘I don’t know how you do that, Stells. I need a space that would fit at least two double-decker buses before I’d even consider it.’
‘Wish I could take the credit, but the sensors on the car help a lot.’ She flashed a grin at her.
‘I’ll take your word for it.’
‘You seriously can’t be worse than me, Florrie,’ said Jasmine. ‘I managed to scrape the front of my car on a drystone wall when I was trying to park up at Danskelfe Castle last week.’
‘Oops!’ Florrie replied.
Out on the pavement, her gaze ran along the row of shops, including Nate’s recycling business which was now in complete darkness.
‘Follow me,’ said Stella, all businesslike.
Florrie did as she was bid, trotting behind her friends who stopped at the doorway of Pippa’s Paint Pots, the newly opened pottery painting shop.
‘We’re pottery painting?’ she asked.
‘We sure are.’ Jasmine grinned. ‘This is Maggie’s hen do suggestion.’
‘After you, madame,’ said Stella, holding the door open for her.
Stepping inside, she was greeted by a bubbly atmosphere with an upbeat playlist burbling away in the background.
Florrie spotted Lark and Maggie already settled at a table, chatting away.
They were wearing brightly coloured PVC pinnies with the shop’s name and logo.
Maggie looked up and waved excitedly, Lark following suit.
Their smiling faces and the warmth of their greeting sent a wave of happiness washing over her.
‘Come and park your bum, missus,’ said Maggie. ‘Since you’re guest of honour, we thought you should sit at the head of the table.’
‘And you’ve got to wear what’s in here – no arguments,’ said Jasmine, smiling as she passed a gift bag down the table once they were seated.
‘Oh, okay.’ Florrie took the bag that bore the word ‘Congratulations’ in large gold letters, and peered inside to see it stuffed with bright pink tissue paper.
Before she had a chance to lift anything out, a smiley-faced young woman appeared at their table wearing a name badge that told them she was called Casey. ‘Now you’re all here, can I get you some drinks?’ she asked.
‘Ooh, sounds good,’ said Lark, beaming up at her. ‘I’ve been hearing wonderful things about the hot chocolates here, so I think I’ll have one of those with all the trimmings, thanks.’
‘Can you make that two, please?’ said Jasmine.
‘Two house special hot chocolates,’ said Casey, as she wrote down their order.
‘Actually, I’ll have the same, thanks,’ said Florrie, thinking they sounded delicious.
In the end, all of the friends were tempted by the house special hot chocolates.
‘So, what’s been happening, flower?’ Stella asked as soon as Casey had left their table and was out of earshot. All eyes turned to Florrie.
‘Actually, can we let Florrie see what’s in the gift bag first?’ Lark said gently.
‘Good point,’ agreed Jasmine. ‘We can’t go any further until… well, you’ll see.’ She threw Florrie a wink.
‘I hope there’s nothing risqué in here. I know what certain people round this table can be like, mentioning no names… Jasmine and Maggie.’ That set the friends off laughing, Jasmine’s dirty cackle standing out above the others.
Removing the tissue paper, Florrie reached inside the bag and lifted out a sparkly, plastic tiara with the word ‘brIDE’ emblazoned across it in pink faux gems. Her face broke out into a beaming smile. ‘Aww, lasses.’
‘You’ve got to wear it,’ said Jasmine.
‘Of course I will.’ Florrie slid the tiara onto her head. ‘What d’you think?’
‘Very stylish, flower,’ said Stella.
‘There’s more,’ said Lark.
The other items included a bright pink sash with ‘THE brIDE’ splashed across it, a pair of pink, flashing ‘Bride’ earrings and a matching flashing ‘Bride’ badge. ‘Thanks, lasses, I love it all,’ Florrie said, adjusting her tiara which was catching on the arms of her glasses.
‘You’re looking very eye-catching there, petal,’ said Maggie, as Florrie pressed the button on her badge so it flashed along with her earrings.
‘Hey, never let anyone tell you we’re not classy birds with discerning taste in gifts for our friends.’ Jasmine gave one of her cheeky grins. ‘Oh, and you’ve got to wear them on our next hen event, which is on Sunday.’
‘Oh, right.’ Florrie had just started to ponder what that event might be when Casey arrived with their hot chocolates.
‘Here you are, lasses.’ She was greeted with sounds of approval as she proceeded to hand out five generous-sized mugs spilling over with whipped cream and marshmallows finished with grated chocolate and a flake. ‘Enjoy,’ she said as she left them to dive in.
‘Not sure how I’m going to tackle this,’ said Lark as she eyed the generous mountain of whipped cream that sat on top of her drink.
‘You’re going to have to dig your way in with one of these,’ said Maggie, waving a teaspoon at her.
‘Good plan.’ Lark scooped up her spoon.
‘Right then, Florrie, you, Jazz and Stells need to choose an item to paint. They’re on the shelves over there,’ said Maggie. ‘Once you’ve done that, Pippa said she’d come over and tell us what we need to do and share some tips.’
‘Ah, right, okay. Come on, you two, let’s go and choose something.’
‘Good plan. Mind, I don’t need to warn you in advance, lasses, since you already know my artistic skills are pretty limited, verging on zero – so don’t forget to keep your expectations suitably low.’
‘There’s no of fear of that, don’t forget we were at school with you, Stells.
We haven’t forgotten your shameful efforts in art class.
That time we had to do portraits of the person opposite is etched on my mind forever, with me being the unfortunate soul sitting at the other side of the table from you.
My self-confidence still hasn’t fully recovered since you drew me looking like Mr Potato Head,’ said Jasmine dryly, making them all howl with laughter, yet somehow managing to keep a straight face herself.
‘Who knew my nose was somewhere round by my right lug ’ole?
And as for my mouth, it was like some sort of squidged banana-shaped thing; I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
You’d never think it was one of my besties who’d drawn me, more like my arch enemy.
’ She shot Stella a look of mock offence.
‘Please stop, Jazz!’ Stella pleaded. ‘I’m not sure my bladder can hold up for much longer.’ But Jasmine appeared not to have heard.
‘You have no idea how lucky you are to have escaped such horrors, Mags. Honest, she had me looking like some giant troll with an oversized head, the sort that gives kids nightmares for the rest of their lives.’
‘I still struggle to sleep for it now,’ said Florrie, giggling.
‘Harsh,’ said Stella, though she appeared unable to stop herself from laughing.
‘But fair,’ added Jasmine.
‘Oh, poor Stells,’ said Lark, giggling.
‘And what made you think I had three eyes?’ Jasmine asked, feigning outrage. ‘I’m not some creature from Greek mythology, you know.’ That had them all cackling loudly.
‘I didn’t deliberately give you three eyes, it’s cos I’d drawn one in the wrong place so had to rub it out, but I couldn’t get it to disappear completely, which is why you had a faint smudgy one. I hoped no one would notice.’