Chapter 33
A couple of hours or so later, Daisy was walking through the back of the bakery on her way to see Chloe.
She’d mulled over Miles bringing his mum to Pretty Beach and had decided that it was a good thing and that she would put the word out to find them somewhere nice.
Arriving in the bakery office, Chloe was sitting at a very efficient-looking white desk in the corner, her head partially hidden by a Mac screen.
She popped her head around after hearing Daisy come up the stairs.
‘Oh, hey, I didn’t expect to see you today. Problems with that stuff I sent you or do you need some more anti-corporation posters to put up?’ Chloe pre-empted.
‘No, no. Not at all. I’m nearly finished it, actually. I have enough posters.’
‘How are you feeling about it all?’
Daisy shrugged. ‘I feel a tad useless apart from putting up posters and commenting in the group. Until we have some more information, there’s not a lot to do apart from wait.’
Chloe lowered her voice. ‘Keep it to yourself, but Holly and Xian have had a few meetings with the estate agent.’
‘Oh, right. What, to get more information?’
Chloe held her hands up. ‘I guess so.’
‘Anyway, I wanted to have a word with you about something and I thought I might as well stroll down and pop in.’
‘What's up?’
‘Miles is looking for somewhere to stay down here.’
Chloe frowned and looked puzzled. ‘I thought he was in one of those flats over by the hotel.’
‘He was, he is, but you know his mum has been in hospital?’
‘Yep. Such a horrible story. Xian and I were discussing it the other day.’
‘Anyway, he wants to bring her down here to convalesce and I wanted to see if any of Holly’s places were available.’
Chloe whistled. ‘You might be in luck, actually! We had a cancellation come in yesterday morning, and it’s not gone back up on the internet yet.
It’s over the other side near the Sugar Wharf.
Would that be any good? It’s absolutely stunning, that cottage.
A bit of a trek from the bookshop, though. Would that suit?’
Daisy smiled. ‘Oh, I know the one. Yes. What’s the access like? Are there any steps at the front there? I can’t remember.’
‘Nope, not at all. I mean, there are stairs inside, obviously. It’s a lovely place. Clemmie is in charge, say no more. The linens and bedding in that one are sumptuous and the sofas and all that sort of thing are just right for recuperating.’
‘How long is it free for?’
Chloe clicked her mouse and stared at her screen for a minute.
‘Oh, that’s weird. Now with that cancellation, there are about four weeks on that one, which is highly unusual.
Hang on, let me see if there is anything else.
’ Chloe was quiet for a bit while she looked.
‘Nup, nothing. A week in the one over by the ferry and nothing else apart from a midweek two-nighter in the flat in Mermaids. It’s actually odd that the cottage is free. Sometimes it goes like that.’
‘Right.’
‘Do you want me to block it out?’
‘If you don’t mind. I’ll need to ask him and get back to you.’
‘What about the flat he’s renting?’
‘I don’t know what he’s going to do about that. It’s tiny and there isn’t a lift, so it’s unsuitable.’
‘That will be expensive, won’t it? Will he try and get his money back? Whose property is it?’
Daisy shook her head. ‘I, umm, that’s not an issue.’
Chloe made a face. ‘How the other half live, eh? I get you. Okay, I’ll pop that one on hold for a wee while until you get back to me.’
‘Will Holly mind?’
‘Of course not! She won’t know anyway.’ Chloe put her finger to her lips. ‘Just let me know. If he doesn’t want it, as soon as it goes back on, it will be snapped up, so it’s not a problem.’
Daisy nodded and took a breath. ‘Thanks, Chloe. I really appreciate it. I didn’t want to get into it on the phone or drop it in a message. It just felt like one of those pop-by-in-person things.’
Chloe smiled, folded her arms and leant forward on the desk. ‘Are you alright, though? You seem a bit, I don’t know, not wobbly, exactly, just a bit off. Not your usual self, as it were. I guess the GayesBooks thing has made everyone feel like that.’
Daisy laughed. ‘That’s probably about right. It’s just been a bit of a week. You know how it goes. This thing with Miles and his mum and GayesBooks has made me think how fragile everything is.’
‘Yeah. It’s a lot when things like that happen. All the emotions, logistics and well, feelings.’ Chloe rolled her eyes.
‘Exactly. His coming here with his mum is making it all feel very real. I think I’m just still getting used to the fact that someone like him might actually want this life. My life.’
‘What’s not to want?’ Chloe shrugged.
Daisy pressed her lips together and blinked back a prick of emotion. ‘True.’
Chloe pushed her chair out, stood and touched Daisy’s arm. ‘If it helps, you’ve got the whole town behind you and I’m not just saying that. We’re all rooting for you and if it doesn’t work out, then we’ll feed you cake and force him out of town.’
‘I’ve seen it take place and hopefully that will happen with this other thing, too.’
‘Right there you are then. I’ll hold the place for the next few days. Just ping me when you know.’
‘Will do. Thanks again.’
Daisy made her way back out through the bakery, the smell of bread and cinnamon buns curling in the air as she passed the back kitchen. Back at home, she tapped Miles’s name and pressed to call. It only rang once.
‘Daise.’
‘Hi.’
‘Hi. Everything okay?’
‘Yes, yes. So, I popped down to see Chloe. She’s in charge of the bookings for Holly and Xian’s holiday cottages.’
‘Oh?’
‘I asked her if there were any holiday lets available and there are. A really lovely one, actually. It’s over by the Sugar Wharf.
It’s one of Holly and Xian’s. Apparently, there was a cancellation, it’s four weeks, so it’s perfect really.
There aren’t any steps at the front. You won’t know about their cottages, but the interiors are something else.
I think your mum will love it. To be honest, it’s the best place to convalesce. ’
‘Sounds perfect.’
‘Let me send you the link to the site.’
Daisy sent the link and waited. ‘Do you think it will suit?’
‘It’ll suit, for sure. She’ll love it. Who wouldn’t like that cottage? It looks like someone painted it.’
‘So, shall I get back to her and tell her you’ll take it?’ Daisy asked.
‘Yes.’
‘What about the flat?’
‘I’ve emailed them.’
‘Oh, okay, right.’
‘I’ve missed you.’
‘I’ve missed you too.’
‘I feel wrong without you. I still keep thinking I’ll turn around and you’ll be there, making tea or telling me off for the state of my fridge.’
Daisy closed her eyes for a second. ‘Okay, so I’ll let Chloe know and I’ll see if I can pop over and have a look at it.’
‘I’m sure it will be fine. Anything new on the GayesBooks thing?’
‘Nothing other than that Holly and Xian have been to see the estate agent, according to Chloe.’
‘Right. No news is good news...’
‘Hope so.’
‘I have to go; I have a meeting. We’ll have that talk I said about when we’re in and settled.’
‘I’ll message you later.’ Daisy swallowed. Well, that was that then. There it was: a tiny, ordinary conversation, tucked into a regular old day that shifted something big. Miles was coming with his mum and he meant business. ‘Alright then, I’ll tell Chloe it’s a yes.’
‘And Daise?’
‘Yes?’
‘I can’t wait to see you.’
‘Me neither.’
‘Speak to you later and we’ll talk about the ins and outs of it.’
Daisy hung up. The next bit was happening. Unlike what the mums on the ferry had said, she hadn’t romanticised anything and she was not living in the pages of a book. She just hoped that she was doing the right thing.