Page 70 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
My mind wanders to Jake, and a feeling of guilt immediately begins to seep through me.
‘Stop it, Poppy,’ I tell myself. ‘Jake made it quite clear he didn’t want a relationship with you, you are doing nothing wrong in going out for a drink with Ash tonight. And that’s all it is,’ I remind myself. ‘Just a drink with an old friend. Nothing more.’
It’s Friday night so the pub is already busy when I get there.
I push my way through the locals, and a few tourists, and spot Ash standing up at the bar.
‘Hey,’ he says, turning around when I tap him on the shoulder. ‘You made it. You look great.’
On Amber’s advice, and after much coaxing, I’ve been uncharacteristically adventurous with my outfit tonight. I’m still wearing my customary black in the form of skinny jeans with pixie boots; it’s my top that’s making me feel uneasy. I’ve borrowed one of Amber’s plainer shirts – still black, but with a host of colourful polka dots scattered haphazardly over the fabric. It’s very Amber; I’m just not sure it’s very me.
‘It’s a start,’ Amber had said proudly, like a mother helping her daughter dress for her first date. ‘Have fun!’ she’d encouraged as she’d stood waving at the cottage door, watching me walk down the street.
‘Thanks,’ I tell Ash now, smiling at him. ‘So do you.’
Ash is wearing dark blue jeans and a pale green shirt that makes him look even more tanned and healthy as he leans casually against the bar. ‘What can I get you?’ he asks. ‘The world of the Merry Mermaid is your oyster!’
‘I’ll have a white wine, please,’ I say, just managing to stop myself from asking for ‘a pint’. This was definitely an evening for channelling the ‘Belle’ in me, if there even was such a dainty, elegant thing contained within my four sturdy walls.
‘Rita, when you’re ready,’ Ash calls, opening his wallet and waving a note at Rita.
‘You’re next, Ash, sweetie,’ Rita calls down the bar. ‘Oh hello, Poppy, I didn’t see you there.’ I notice her face registering the fact Ash and I are together as she finishes pulling the pint.
I lift my hand to give her a tiny wave, then sort of drop it in embarrassment. Rita is obviously wondering what’s happened to my usual drinking partner, Jake.
‘So, how was your afternoon?’ Ash asks. ‘Were you busy creating lots of beautiful bouquets?’
‘No, I’m just a general dogsbody about the shop; it’s Amber that does all the hard work. She’s the creative one.’
‘Really? I’m surprised you kept the shop as a florist’s then. Most people would have turned it into a coffee shop or a tearoom, that seems to be all anyone wants these days.’
‘Family tradition.’
‘Ah, I know all about that. My grandfather was a gardener, my father too, and now little ol’ me.’
‘Don’t you enjoy it then?’
Ash smiles, and I’m treated to the sight of his perfect white teeth. ‘Yeah, it’s OK. I like being out in the fresh air, and I’m virtually my own boss. It could pay a bit better, but I kinda do what I like when I like, so that’s a big bonus.’ He pretends to look around him, then winks. ‘Just checking none of my clients are within earshot. They might say differently!’
‘Ha, well I think you’re quite safe tonight,’ I reply, pretending to look quickly around the bar.
‘Oh?’ Ash enquires, flashing another disarming smile at me. ‘I’d hoped otherwise… Ah, Rita, yes, a glass of your finest white wine for the lady, and I’ll have a Jack and Coke please.’
I take a deep breath while he’s turned away for a moment.
Goodness, Ash is certainly laying on the charm tonight. But not in a fawny, grovelly way, I couldn’t bear that. No, Ash’s brand of charm is much more dangerous; it’s the kind that catches you completely off guard, leaving you tongue-tied, blushing and not knowing what to do. Worst of all, you find yourself liking it.
‘There’s a table over there, do you want to sit down?’ Ash asks when he’s got our drinks.
We walk over to a low table against the far wall of the pub, I sit down on the sofa that’s at one side of the table, and I expect Ash to take a seat on one of the comfy chairs at the other side. But he doesn’t, he comes and sits right next to me.
‘Now,’ he says, ‘let’s talk nappies.’
For the next half-hour or so we have a fun time reminiscing about old Stan and the castle.
‘It must have been such a wrench for Stan, leaving Trecarlan,’ I say, thinking fondly of my old friend. ‘He loved that place. I’m sure he would never have left unless it was absolutely necessary, and then he’d have clung on until they had to drag him away. Stan may have been a bit eccentric, but he had a good heart. He was always lovely to me and Will.’
‘What’s your brother doing these days?’ Ash asks. ‘Didn’t he fancy running a flower shop?’
