Page 24 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
‘Then I know they’ll be delicious!’ I smile, offering Anthony a £10 note. ‘They were always my favourite.’
‘Are you holidaying here again now?’ Declan asks, coming over to the shop counter. ‘We don’t see too many holidaymakers at this time of year.’
‘At any time of year,’ Anthony mutters, tapping the buttons on the till.
Declan glances at him.
I take a deep breath; I’ve made my decision, now I must stick with it. ‘No, as a matter of fact I’m taking over the florist shop along the street. I’m Poppy – Rose’s granddaughter.’
Anthony and Declan look shocked at my announcement one moment, then overjoyed the next.
They both speak at once: ‘Oh my darling, why didn’t you say so! That’s fabulous news. We adored Rose. We were devastated when she passed.’
Anthony opens the till again, puts back the change he was just about to give me, and retrieves my £10 note. Then he presses it into my hand.
‘Those are on the house,’ he says. ‘I should have known. Custard tarts were always Rose’s favourite too.’
‘Really?’ How had I forgotten?
He nods. Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a hankie. He dabs it at his eyes.
‘I’m sorry,’ he says, turning away. ‘Seeing you here, and knowing you’re going to take over Rose’s wonderful shop. It’s just too much!’
Declan smiles at me.
‘Ant is always a bit overemotional,’ he explains. ‘I’m used to it.’
‘Oh!’ I exclaim, suddenly realising. ‘Your names! You’re Ant and Dec!’
Ant spins around, his sorrow now turned to joy. ‘I know, isn’t it cool? We used to hate it when we were first together and they were PJ and Duncan, but now they’re international celebrities it’s rather fabulous!’
‘They’re hardly international celebrities, sweetie,’ Declan says. ‘But it’s a good hook for the business.’ He looks up at the back of the shop, and I see an elaborately painted sign:
Welcome to
The Blue Canary Bakery
Where your hosts
Ant & Dec
will be pleased to serve you today.
‘The customers love it,’ Declan continues. ‘And they never seem disappointed when it’s just me and Ant serving them.’
‘As well they shouldn’t,’ I say. ‘I’m sure the two of you are just as entertaining, if not more so.’
‘When do you think you’ll have the shop open again?’ Anthony asks. ‘The ladies of the Women’s Guild have been running it since your grandmother went into hospital, but their ways…’ He pulls a face. ‘Let’s just say they’re not quite up to your grandmother’s standards.’
‘Let’s be honest, no one could replicate Rose’s touch with a bloom,’ Declan says wistfully. ‘That was something extremely special to behold.’
They both exchange a knowing look.
What on earth did my grandmother do with flowers that was so wonderful? I remember people often leaving her shop incredibly happy, even crying on occasion, which had seemed odd to me at the time. But what was she doing with flowers to make them so special?
‘I’m not too sure when we’ll be open again,’ I tell them. ‘But luckily I do have someone to help me with the shop – a new florist, all the way from New York!’
‘Oh, how decadent!’ Anthony says. ‘I can’t wait to see what they do. Let’s just hope she… or is it a he?’
