Page 9 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
‘Yes of course I have,’ he says brusquely. ‘I assume you mean a pint of beer though… not spirits?’ Jake’s eyebrows rise to match mine – but beneath them his eyes twinkle.
I have to smile. ‘Yes… a pint ofbeerwill be fine, thank you.’
‘Two pints of my usual, please, Rita.’ Jake turns towards the lady behind the bar, who is wearing the most fabulous fifties-style floral dress. Her bright red hair, which is piled up into a beehive, adds to the retro effect.
‘Of course, lovey,’ Rita says. ‘Anything for Miley?’ She waves at Jake’s monkey.
‘She’s good at the moment, thanks, Rita.’
Miley is currently sitting on the bar, playing with the beer mats.
‘Righty-ho!’ Rita looks at me with interest as she reaches for two pint glasses. ‘Have we met before?’ she asks. ‘I feel I might know you.’
‘This is Poppy,’ Jake explains before I can answer. ‘She’s Rose’s granddaughter.’
Rita’s face lights up. ‘Oh my love, I knew I recognised you – you are the spit of your grandmother!’ Then her face falls and she takes on a more sombre expression. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss,’ she says. ‘Rose was well loved around here. How are you bearing up?’
I open my mouth to reply.
‘Silly question!’ Rita says, shaking her head. ‘Of course, you’re still in mourning, aren’t you? I should have known by your clothes. Richie!’ she shrieks, making me jump, as a man appears at the other end of the bar. ‘Come see who it is.’
Richie finishes serving his customer and ambles along behind the bar. He’s wearing blue jeans and a brightly patterned floral shirt. He nods at me.
‘It’s only Rose’s granddaughter,’ Rita gushes.
‘Yes, I can see that.’ Richie holds out his hand. ‘Very pleased to meet you. Poppy, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, but how do you know?’
‘Your mother called yesterday, said to expect you.’
Is there anyone in St Felix my mother hasn’t called?
‘I see you’ve already met Jake,’ he says. ‘And Miley.’
Miley has given up her game of trying to balance the beer mats into a tower and is now busy shredding them into as many pieces as she can.
‘I have, yes. Jake popped into the shop earlier.’
‘Oh, are you going to take over the florist’s?’ Rita asks excitedly. ‘How wonderful!’ She looks with relief at Richie. He nods.
‘Poppy is probably going to sell the shop,’ Jake tells them before I can speak.
I glare at him, but he carries on calmly sipping at his beer.
I smile awkwardly at Rita and Richie. ‘The truth is, I haven’t decided yet.’
Jake’s statement seems to have temporarily silenced them both. But it’s Richie who speaks first: ‘I see. Well, it would be a real shame if you did, young lady. But it’s your decision, and if that’s what you want, I can only wish you a speedy and profitable sale.’
Rita has turned a shade of red that is on its way to matching her hair.
‘You can’t sell the shop!’ she suddenly explodes. ‘Sorry, Richie, I know the customer is always right and everything, but she can’t sell that shop – Rose loved it. It’s special is that place.Youknow it is.’ She gives him a meaningful look.
A few people in the bar turn around to see what Rita is venting about.
‘Rita!’ Richie warns. ‘We’ve talked about keeping your opinions in check behind the bar. Sorry, Poppy,’ he apologises.
‘It’s fine,’ I say, surprised by Rita’s passion for the shop. ‘I like people who say what they think, and Rita is entitled to her opinion. Like I said before –’ it’s my turn to give Jake a meaningful look – ‘I haven’t decided what I’m doing with the shop yet. I’ll know in a few days, I guess.’
