Page 48 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
‘Bad enough to get me arrested a few times. Let’s just say a night in a police cell soon cures you of a rebellious streak.’
‘I bet. Was the rebellion anything to do with your brother? You mentioned before he was quite sensible.’
‘Gosh, look at those dark clouds over there,’ I say, suddenly pointing to some clouds that are probably a good hour away from us yet. ‘Perhaps we should be getting back.’ I glance at Charlie, and hope he doesn’t realise what I’m doing. We’ve been getting on well until this moment, but I can’t talk about Will with anyone.
‘Sure,’ Charlie says, standing up. ‘I understand. But you know where this place is now, so if you ever find things are getting a bit too much, it’s always here for you like it’s been here for me.’
I’m about to thank him when he continues.
‘You know, I lied before,’ he says, looking me right in the eye. ‘About finding this place. I made it sound as though I stumbled across it by accident.’
‘And didn’t you?’
‘I did stumble across it,’ he says, turning and looking out to sea. ‘But it was because I was thinking about jumping.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Jumping,’ Charlie says, ‘into the sea. It was just after Mum died, and things were at their absolute worst at home. So when I say I stumbled across it, my stumble luckily took me down these very steps, and landed me where we are now. If it hadn’t… well, I probably wouldn’t be talking to you today. This place saved me, in more ways than one.’
I can’t believe he’s told me this. I’ve been in some dark places over the years, but I’ve never attempted to take my own life. But as usual, faced with someone else’s emotions, I have no idea how to respond.
‘Thank you, Charlie…’ I hesitate. I feel like I should hug him, but I don’t want to make either of us uncomfortable. ‘I know how hard it is to share that kind of stuff. Really I do.’
‘I know you do,’ Charlie says. ‘I could tell the minute I met you. I may not be the rebel you or my sister are, but let’s just say it takes one to know one, eh?’
I nod, and before I can change my mind I reach my arms out to hug him.
And I’m relieved to find Charlie hugging me back.
Charlie and I walk back to town together, and I’m thankful to find us talking about normal stuff once more, our emotional revelations left behind us up on the cliffs. As we get closer to St Felix the signal on my phone picks up and texts start pouring in.
Beep beep.
Amber:Where are you? Manic in here. Hurry back x
Beep beep.
Amber:Poppy, what’s going on? Getting worried. A x
Beep beep.
Jake:Are you all right? Amber says you’ve disappeared. Let us know you’re OK. Jake
‘Have you been missed?’ Charlie asks as his own phone beeps too. He pulls it from his pocket and looks at the screen. ‘It’s my dad,’ he says. ‘I’d better give him a quick ring.’
I’m about to text Amber when Charlie speaks to Jake.
‘Hey, Dad… yeah, I’m fine… Yes, I have – she’s with me… OK, sure. Yeah, will do. See you in a bit.’
Charlie ends the call.
‘Dad’s at your shop. Apparently Amber is getting a bit worried about you.’
I pull a face. ‘Oh dear, best head over there, I guess, and face the music.’
The Daisy Chain we return to is a lot quieter than the one we’d left a couple of hours ago. As I cautiously head through the open door I find Amber standing behind the big wooden desk I’d seen my grandmother behind so many times, arranging the few remaining cupcakes on one plate, and Jake sweeping up a mixture of crumbs, leaves and petals from the floor with a long-handled broom.
‘So, the wanderer returns,’ Jake says, looking up. ‘Both of you, it would seem,’ he adds, glancing questioningly at Charlie.
