Page 125 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
Charlie winks at Stan then heads off in the direction of The Blue Canary.
‘You can never have too many, can you, Stan?’ I say, lifting my pasty up from behind my flowers.
‘That’s my girl!’ Stan says, taking the bag from me. He looks at the flowers. ‘Very nice, who gave you those?’
‘No idea.’ I shrug. ‘It’s some sort of mystery; I’m playing along though.’
‘Good, good,’ Stan says. He seems not overly surprised by this. ‘Now then, how are things?’
‘Just look at all the people.’ I wave a hand, indicating the crowds swarming all over the harbour with their chips, pasties and ice creams.
‘Yes, it’s like old times here today,’ Stan says, looking around him. ‘The magic is definitely working again.’
‘What?’
Stan grins up at me. ‘The flower magic. I assume you and Amber are still using your grandmother’s old books to make up the bouquets? I’ve seen Amber tying them with a white ribbon just like Rose used to.’
‘Yes, we are but —’
‘You must see it, Poppy, the connection?’
I look blankly at him.
‘St Felix was always a busy little town while the flower books were being used through the generations. It was only when your grandmother became ill and there was no one to create the magic that problems arose. As soon as you and Amber picked up the reins, St Felix started to recover.’
Now I think about it, the town did start to get busier about the same time as Amber began creating her white-ribbon bouquets, and the more she did, the busier it got. But surely that was coincidental. Wasn’t it?
‘Anyway, I wasn’t asking how the town’s doing,’ Stan continues. ‘Or even the shop, before you try that one. I meant withyou? How are things with Poppy?’
‘Good,’ I say hesitantly, still thinking about the flower books.
‘Good,’ Stan repeats. ‘Is that it? Come on, Poppy, I’m an old man – give me something to live for.’
I smile at him, and decide to let it go. What did it matter whether the upturn in St Felix’s fortunes was down to magic or not, it was happening, that was the main thing.
‘You’ll live for ever, Stan!’ I tell him, laughing. ‘Things are going great.’
‘Really, in which department?’
I blush. ‘You know full well, you tease: with me and Jake.’
‘Ah, you and Jake… I’m pleased to hear it. You make a fine couple.’
Jake and I had been getting on extremely well since the night of Basil’s death. We’d spent lots of time together, just as we had when I’d first come to St Felix, and it had been lovely. But it never seemed to go any further, and I was beginning to wonder, even after Jake’s declarations a few weeks ago, if it ever would.
‘Jake’s a good man,’ I tell Stan. ‘He’s a great friend to me.’
‘So you’re happy?’ Stan asks hopefully.
‘Yes, of course I am.’
‘Then I’m pleased for you, my dear. It’s about time – you can’t hold on to the past for ever. Which is why I’ve come to a decision.’ Stan takes hold of my hand. ‘Poppy, I don’t think you and Will ever truly realised how much joy you brought me coming to Trecarlan to spend time with me when you were small. It made my long lonely days in that castle bearable, and gave me something to look forward to.’
I’m about to speak, but Stan stops me by holding up his other hand.
‘No, let me finish. It was always my intention that one day you and Will would run Trecarlan. It was,’ he insists, ‘and actually it still is, in my will that you should both inherit it. Sadly, Will is not with us any more, so it falls to you, Poppy. I would like you to have Trecarlan to run as you see fit.’
‘What? No, Stan, you can’t do that. Trecarlan is your home.’
