Page 10 of A Poisonous Plot

“You’re opening the ice cream shop on the promenade,” he said with a nod. “That’s exciting.”

“It is,” she agreed and took a step away.

“If you want, I can show you around here and teach you about the plants.”

“I think Lily needs to get back to making plans for the ice cream shop,” Sally said, giving Arthur a pat on his back.

“I do actually,” Lily said, grateful to Sally once again. “I’m sure I’ll see you both again soon.”

She made a quick getaway, walking briskly through the indoor section of the garden centre. Outside, she almost crashed into a guy pushing a wheelbarrow with a huge plant in it – some kind of exotic-looking palm tree. She’d also met him when she arrived. He was a freelance landscape gardener who also did some work around the garden centre.

“Sorry,” she said, stopping just in front of him.

“No worries. Lily, was it?”

“Yes.” She tried to recall his name but came up blank. “Sorry. I have a memory like a sieve sometimes…”

“Denzel.” Laughter lines crinkled around his eyes when he smiled. He was probably in his fifties and had the solid build of a man who made his living from manual labour. “Have you got all of your ice cream flavours sorted?”

“I think so.”

“Glad to hear it. I’ve always had a thing for banana ice cream.” He winked at her and set off again. “Just in case you’re taking requests.”

“I’ll bear it in mind.” She watched him continue on his way, before ambling along and letting her gaze roam over the rows of plants.

When rays of sunshine escaped from behind a fluffy white cloud, she lifted her face to bask in the tingling warmth on her cheeks. Spring would turn to summer soon. A great time to open an ice cream shop, she told herself firmly.

Maybe she should have taken Arthur up on his offer of a tour, because her knowledge of plants really was quite pathetic. There was something soothing about wandering through them, and instead of heading straight for the exit, she meandered and checked out the selection of garden ornaments and then wandered slowly along a row bursting with brightly coloured perennials.

Stopping, her eyes followed a pair of white butterflies and she only looked up again when she caught sight of someone waving in her peripheral vision.

“Hi!” Lily said as Glynis tramped towards her in a pair of hiking boots, looking far younger and fitter than most people her age.

“Beautiful day, isn’t it? I walked all the way here.”

“You’re amazingly active,” Lily said.

“I need to be. It’s sitting around and doing nothing that makes people frail. I’m avoiding frailty at all costs.”

“You’re doing a good job of it.” Lily followed Glynis’s gaze as she glanced behind her.

“I’m here with a friend,” Glynis said. “You should meet her. I keep telling her all about your ice cream.” She lifted her hand and waved manically. “Maria,” she called.

The woman looked up from the plants she was peering at.

“Come here!” Glynis crooned. “I want you to meet someone. This is Lily, who I keep telling you about…”

The woman’s smile fell away, and she glanced towards the building as though she might bolt.

“She’s very shy,” Glynis explained, taking Lily’s arm and steering her towards her friend. “Lovely though, once you get to know her.”

“Hi,” the woman said, holding out a limp hand to Lily. “I’m Maria.”

“Maria’s my carer,” Glynis put in.

“You have a carer?” Lily blurted out, then grimaced when she realised how shocked she sounded. “Sorry. I’m just surprised you need a carer.”

“I’m more like a lodger,” Maria said.

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