Page 108 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
‘I saw,’ Jake says, holding up his phone. ‘But I was close by, so I thought it would be easier to speak to you in person.’
Jake glances in my direction as he enters the shop properly.
‘Morning, Poppy, are you well?’
I nod hurriedly, still feeling a little awkward after Jake’s confession last night.
‘Dad!’ Bronte calls, trying to regain his attention.
‘Yes, my darling daughter,’ Jake says, rolling his eyes. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘You know those pictures that were at the top of the stairs? The ones I took down so you could decorate – they were Mum’s, right?’
Jake flinches slightly at the mention of Felicity. ‘Yes, some were. Why?’
‘’Cos Poppy has a picture just like one of them – look.’
Bronte hands Jake the embroidered picture.
‘If Bronte is right,’ I tell him, ‘it sounds as though you might have one of the missing pictures I was telling you about last night.’
‘You mean Stan’s pictures… which one?’
‘The pink carnation?’
Jake’s brow furrows. ‘Oh yes, I know the one you mean. I never thought anything of it when you were telling me last night. But seeing this –’ he holds up the picture of the purple rose – ‘I can see the resemblance. I think that picture belonged to Felicity’s mother. Felicity kept a number of her possessions when she died and we had to clear out her house. But why would Isabelle have had one of Stan’s pictures?’
‘Maybe she bought it somewhere?’
‘I don’t think so. For as long as I knew Felicity, her mum kept that picture in pride of place on her mantelpiece.’
A customer comes into the shop, so Bronte hurries over to serve them. I can see her still trying to listen to our conversation as she does.
‘Wait a minute, what did you say Felicity’s mother’s name was?’ I whisper, as something clicks in my mind.
‘Isabelle, why?’
‘Because that was the name of the girl Stan fell in love with, the person he gave his third picture to – itmustbe the same woman.’
‘It’s a mighty coincidence,’ Jake says, frowning.
Bronte is still trying to hear what we’re saying, so I guide Jake out into the back room.
‘Perhaps, but what was Felicity’s family background? If you don’t mind me asking, of course,’ I add, realising I could be treading on delicate ground here.
‘No, it’s fine, I don’t mind telling you. She grew up with her mother near Oxford, then —’
‘Mother?’ I interrupt. ‘What about a father?’
‘Isabelle brought Felicity up on her own as a single mother. Felicity never knew who her father was.’ Jake smiles. ‘I think I told you before how keen Felicity was for us to move back here because her mother had grown up in St Felix. Isabelle had to leave suddenly though; I think when she fell pregnant with Felicity. Having babies out of wedlock was frowned upon in small towns like this, even in the seventies.’
I stare at Jake.
‘What?’ he asks.
‘It all fits, doesn’t it? What you just said, with Stan’s story. He told me Isabelle had to leave St Felix suddenly and he never knew why.’
‘Oh…’ Jake says suddenly realising. ‘But if this Stan is Felicity’s father, that would mean…’
