Page 51 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
‘Are you suggesting Jake might be that person?’ I ask, opening my eyes wide.
‘He might be, he might not. But why don’t you let him in? He obviously likes you.’
‘What? When has he ever suggested that?’ I’m trying to act shocked, but inside I’m intrigued by Amber’s suggestion.
‘Like I said before: I know these things.’ Her eyes dart to the window behind me. ‘Ooh how about you pop down to the shop and get some milk while I finish up here?’
‘Didn’t you buy milk earlier?’ I say, frowning at her. ‘How much tea have we drunk?’
‘But we don’t have any in the refrigerator back at the cottage, and you know how partial I am to your English cuppas. Go to the shop for me, Poppy, will you,please?’
‘OK,’ I sigh, thinking about the bucket of roses still waiting ominously for me. ‘Your wish is my command!’ I wink at her. ‘I’ll grab my bag then meet you at the cottage – you’re sure you’re OK locking up?’
‘Yes, of course. Now go, go!’ Amber flaps her hand at me.
I shake my head. ‘Anyone would think you wanted me out of here.’
Amber grins. ‘Nope, I just want you to go to the shop. And if you see anything else you fancy while you’re there, why don’t you pick that up too?’
At Amber’s request I walk across the street to the little supermarket, and head for their dairy section. I pick up a litre of semi-skimmed milk, and as I head past the biscuit aisle I stop to pick up a packet of chocolate HobNobs and a packet of Tunnock’s Teacakes, both of which Amber has become addicted to since she’s been here.
‘Moment on the lips, lifetime on the hips!’ I hear behind me, and I turn to see Jake carrying his own basket of food.
‘They’re for Amber,’ I tell him quickly.
‘I thought Oreos would be more her thing,’ Jake says, grinning as he lifts a packet from the shelf.
‘Nope, apparently our English cookies are the best. She’s completely hooked on tea and biscuits these days.’
‘And so she should be,’ he says, putting the packet down. ‘You can’t beat a good cuppa.’
I stare at him. That’s it, that’s why Amber was so desperate for me to come in here. She’d seen Jake passing by with a cotton shopping bag, apparently heading for the supermarket.
At the same time as I’m growling internally, I notice that the shop, which was almost empty when I entered, is suddenly filling with a bottle-green sea of children all clambering to buy sweets and fizzy drinks.
‘Cub and scout jamboree,’ Jake informs me as we watch them swarm all over the shop. ‘Clarence said he was expecting quite a few in the grounds of the church today. It must have just finished.’
I nod, and look desperately towards the exit. I need to get out of here and fast; the kids are everywhere, and already I can feel my temperature starting to rise.
But there’s no way I’m going anywhere: the aisles are crammed with green shirts and hats, and would remain that way until all sugar cravings had been extinguished.
I grab a packet of Kit-Kats from the shelf and begin fanning my face.
‘Are you OK, Poppy?’ Jake asks. ‘Is this crowd of kids too much for you?’
‘I’m fine,’ I insist in a tight voice. ‘Just fine.’ But I can feel my head beginning to swim, and a familiar feeling of nausea making an unwelcome return.
‘Right, let’s get you out of here,’ I hear Jake say, just as I feel my knees buckle.
‘Out of the way, kids!’ Jake instructs in a firm voice as he puts my arm around his strong shoulders and half guides, half lifts me out of the shop. ‘That’s it, move aside.’
Like a diver rising to the surface of a deep, dark sea, I register daylight, that had seemed so far away a few moments ago, rapidly getting closer as we weave our way through the children to the exit, then outside into the fresh air.
‘Here, take a seat,’ Jake instructs, sitting me down on the bench outside the shop. Amber and I have taken to calling it the ‘gossip’ bench, as it usually houses two or more of St Felix’s elderly residents discussing the events of the day in great detail. ‘Now, take some deep breaths.’
I do as he says, and as always, now that I’m safely removed from one of my ‘trigger factors’, I begin to feel better almost at once.
‘Sorry,’ I tell him, as Jake watches me with great concern. ‘I’m fine – really.’
