Page 7 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘Was there something in particular you were looking for?’ I ask, still in automatic shop assistant mode.
‘Yeah, it’s my mum’s birthday tomorrow and I thought I’d get her some flowers.’ He fumbles in his pocket and pulls out a five-pound note. ‘This is all I have right now, though. Can I get much with it?’
‘Yes, I’m sure we can find you something,’ I say, looking around for inspiration, and I begin to pick out a few stems from the silver buckets. Flowers that I knew if they were still here at the end of the day, Rose would offer to me to take home for my own mother. Rose always begins a new week on Monday morning with fresh flowers. Anything not sold by four-thirty on a Saturday afternoon is always given away.
‘How long have you worked here?’ Rob asks to make conversation while I gather various buds and arrange them in my hand into a posy of sorts.
‘A few months now. I really enjoy it.’
‘That’s good. I wish I could get a part-time job.’
‘Why can’t you?’
‘My parents won’t let me. They say it would interfere with my education too much.’
‘Oh.’ I’m not really sure what to say to this; my parents were really pleased for me when I got a job and started earning some money for myself.
‘Couldn’t you help out round the pub – you know, clearing tables and stuff?’ Rob’s parents bought the Merry Mermaid pub on St Felix harbour when it went up for sale – that’s why they moved here in the middle of the school year. I only know this because Mandy’s mum has a cleaning job there and is always full of gossip about the pub and the people who go there, which Mandy delights in passing on to us if it involves anyone we know from school or their parents.
‘I’d like to, but because they bought the pub at this “critical time in my education” – that’s what my mum says, anyway – and I had to move school and stuff, they want me to concentrate on that for now, until I’ve done my GCSEs, anyway.’
‘That’s fair enough, I suppose. What about these?’ I ask, showing Rob the bouquet in my hand. ‘I’ll tie it up with some ribbon. Rose – that’s the lady who owns the shop – she always likes to use white ribbon. Is that OK?’
‘That’s great. Are you sure I can get all this for five pounds?’
‘Yes, some of these flowers will only go to waste if we don’t sell them before we close, so you’re doing us a favour really.’ As expertly as I can, I wrap some of Rose’s special white ribbon around my bundle of flowers, immediately transforming them into a small posy. ‘Here.’ I pass them to him, at the same time taking the five-pound note in his outstretched hand. ‘I hope your mum likes them.’
‘I’m sure she’ll love them – thank you. I don’t really know much about flowers, but they look pretty.’
‘You’ve got roses in there.’ I point to them. ‘And these are alstroemeria. Those little white ones are gypsophila, and the big ones are gerberas.’
Rob nods. ‘Mum will be impressed if I know the names.’
I ring the five pounds up in the till and turn back towards him again. ‘Well . . . ’ I say, not knowing what to say or do next.
He looks just as awkward as I feel. ‘Well . . . ’.
‘How’s the pub doing?’ I ask at the same time as Rob asks, ‘How’s the mermaid rehearsals going?’
‘How do you know about that?’ I stare at him. ‘I didn’t think it was common knowledge we were going to be mermaids.’
Rob flushes in embarrassment. ‘I’ve seen you,’ he admits. ‘Down on the beach, or on the school field practising. You look good. I mean you all look good – you know? Well rehearsed.’ His cheeks redden even more.
I grin. ‘I’ll take well rehearsed as a compliment.’
‘Good. Your act looks much more interesting than the one I’m in.’
‘You sounded good the other day when you were rehearsing.’
‘Thanks, but even though we can play all the tunes, I think it’s a bit dull. At least you’re singing and dancing. It will be much more entertaining.’
‘Entertaining might be a bit generous.’ I grin. ‘But I appreciate the encouragement.’
Rob nods. ‘I better be going, I suppose. Put these in some water for tomorrow.’
‘Yes.’ I wish I could think of something else to say to keep him here a little longer. But what?
‘Why did you agree to be in Jenny’s group?’ I ask suddenly as Rob is about to turn towards the door.
