Page 90 of Best Summer Ever

He turned bright red when he said that.

‘You do?’

‘Of course, I do. I think you need something good to happen in your life, Daisy.’

‘Apart from you, you mean.’

‘Yes,’ he laughed, ‘aside from me, and I think this new job sounds like just the thing.’

‘Well, that’s handy,’ I said, standing on tiptoe to kiss him, ‘because I think it sounds like just the thing too.’

As tempted as I had been to spend the night with Josh, I drove back to Wynbrook after sharing my news in the pub. I was amused to notice that Marguerite still had the locals eating out of her hand and Sam was delighted about that. When the time had come, Josh had been reluctant to let me leave, but as he wasn’t willing to come to Wynbrook, I said a lingering goodbye and headed off.

Walking through the garden to the summerhouse in the late evening light had been bliss, full of fluttering moths and floral fragrances and another sweet sleep followed and after that, a perfect day working in the garden.

‘What do you think to these?’ Dad asked, showing me a seed and bulb catalogue early Saturday evening.

We had spent the entire day together working in various parts of the garden and I had then joined him and Mum for supper and a marathon seed and bulb planning session which involved poring over catalogues, writing lists and filling out order forms online. Bliss!

‘For the cutting garden or the borders?’ I asked. ‘I think they would be too expensive for my project. I’d have to charge a premium for every stem I cut, wouldn’t I?’

‘I was thinking of the herbaceous borders,’ Dad explained as the cottage phone started to ring. ‘In that developing gap at the far end.’

‘In that case,’ I said, as Mum held the phone out to me, ‘I think they’re perfect.’

‘It’s for you,’ Mum said and for one heart-stopping second, I thought it was Laurence, but it wasn’t, it was Nick.

‘Daisy!’ he shouted, sounding flustered. ‘I’ve been ringing your mobile for ages. Where the hell are you?’

‘Oh my god!’ I gasped, jumping up and cursing that I’d earlier put my phone on silent and then forgotten to unmute it. ‘I’m coming! I’m on my way!’

‘They’re about to start,’ he tutted. ‘You’re going to miss them.’

‘No, I’m not,’ I said resolutely. ‘I’ll make it.’

‘How?’

‘You can help,’ I commanded. ‘Do something. Create a diversion.’

I had completely forgotten that Josh and George were taking to the stage that evening and after a mad dash, I raced into the pub still wearing my grubby gardening gear and with my lungs on fire as I’d had to abandon my car in the village because I couldn’t park closer and running had been the only option.

‘There,’ I wheezed, as I bumped into the back of Nick and bent over to nurse the painful stitch in my side, ‘I told you I’d make it.’

‘Oh, Daisy!’ Penny cried, looking unexpectedly thrilled to see me. ‘You’ll never guess!’

‘Tell her later,’ said Nick. ‘They’re about to start.’

Josh’s eyes met mine as he took to the stage and I gave him an encouraging thumbs-up. I was so pleased he’d spotted me. It made the manic drive, pounding heart and out of character sprint to reach him totally worth it.

‘Good evening, Wynmouth,’ he said huskily into the microphone and the room erupted.

I could tell he was playing up his accent, but to wonderful effect.

‘George and I are delighted to be with you this evening.’

George gave the assembled crowd a wave and then the pair started playing. Every person present was enthralled. They started with the Jack Johnson tune they’d played before and then covered a Paper Kites song, some Oh Hellos and finished with ‘Trouble’, by Ray LaMontagne.

Josh didn’t take his eyes off me throughout the entire song and it wasn’t until the last chord had been played that I noticed Nick and Penny were dancing in the middle of the crowd and everyone was applauding them as well as the marvellous musicians.

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