Page 56 of The Little Shop on Silver Linings Street
Flora nodded, her curls bouncing with excitement, and indicated a table at the far end of the room. ‘Come and sit down and you can show me.’
Daisy followed her down the room. ‘He seemed to really like what I have in mind for Grace, but there’s… something else as well.’ She broke off, unsure quite how to continue, or even whether she should, despite what Amos had said.
But Flora wasn’t quite so reticent. ‘Well, that sounds intriguing. I’m dying to see what you’ve been up to.’ She sat down at the table. ‘I want to see it all, so first things first, let’s have a look at the wreath.’
Daisy dutifully removed the decoration from her bag and placed it on the table. ‘So this is just the floral part…’ she began, as Flora immediately picked it up and held it in the air for a better look.
‘Look at those colours!’ she exclaimed. ‘Daisy, you’ve done so well with this. It absolutely works, all of it. Are you pleased?’
Daisy nodded. ‘I’ve had it hanging on my front door.’
‘So I should hope. And the silver…?’ She leaned forward eagerly, replacing the wreath on the table, waiting as Daisy fished back in her bag, bringing forth the small pouch that held them.
‘It was this that got me thinking really…’ Daisy held up the circlet of ivy leaves that she had shown to Grace and, undoing the clasp, began to entwine it with the wreath. ‘So there’s this, which you can wear as a necklace by itself, or, if you want, I made a centrepiece for it as well, so you can wear them together or this second piece just as a brooch. They attach together, see? Or of course you can leave them both on the wreath. I probably haven’t placed it quite right, but you get the idea.’
She handed it back so that Flora could take a closer look, noticing as she did so that her prints were still hanging on the wall. Daisy had misremembered a few of the details from the one she’d tried to copy, but it was pretty close, and would certainly serve to illustrate her design. She was so busy studying the print that it was a few seconds before she realised Flora had fallen silent and was staring at her. She smiled nervously.
‘I had no idea that it would ever look anything like this,’ said Flora. ‘I’m not sure I can take it all in actually. It’s incredible…’ She broke off, eyeing the bag that was at Daisy’s feet. ‘And I absolutely have to see what you’ve made for Grace…’
‘It’s not finished, but…’ Daisy laid her sketchbook on the table and turned the pages until she found the design she wanted. Then she took the little bee from the pouch and placed it down on the edge of the paper. ‘It’s probably self-explanatory,’ she said.
For the second time that day, her work was subject to scrutiny and Daisy sat waiting anxiously for Flora’s verdict. Amos’s words had been lovely, but Flora was a proper artist and she might view things differently, with a more critical eye perhaps. Daisy could see that Flora was weighing up what to say when the door at the far end of the room burst open and Amos appeared with Ned in tow. He had obviously been telling Ned about Grace’s present because the two of them strode down the length of the room and, before she knew it, Daisy had three people crowding around her, all staring at her designs ready to pass judgement. She didn’t think she’d ever been more nervous in her life.
Flora’s finger was tracing the outline sketch of another element that Daisy had drawn. ‘Dewdrops on the grass…’ she said softly, almost reverentially. ‘And the moon…’ She looked up at Ned and Amos and then slowly back to Daisy. ‘I honestly don’t know what to say.’
Ned grinned. ‘Blimey, that’s a first!’
Flora poked his arm.
‘And she hasn’t even shown you the print thing yet,’ said Amos. And before Daisy could stop him he crossed to the far wall and took down one of Flora’s pictures, bringing it back to the table. Then he sat down and looked pointedly at Daisy, a wide grin on his face.
‘I know you feel awkward about this,’ he said. ‘But you have no reason to. Talent like yours deserves to be shouted from the rooftops and if you won’t do it, then I’m afraid I’m just going to have to.’ He gave her an encouraging smile. ‘Take a deep breath, Daisy, and tell Flora all about it.’
And so she did.
18
Monday 16th December
Nine shopping days until Christmas
Daisy had scarcely been able to think straight since she had got home. Everything seemed to have become so complicated, and she could feel the pressure around her building. Like a storm that needed to burst, leaving everything clean and fresh in its wake.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Wear something warm, Kit had said, but preferably several thinner layers rather than one big one. But how did you do that when you wanted to look nice? It was something that had been troubling her since Friday night. Her wardrobe was just not cut out for choice and, besides, she was keen to try out some of the ideas that Monique had given her. So, armed with these thoughts, Daisy had toured the charity shops and the vintage market stalls and was now trying to choose between a cherry-red cashmere jumper, which she had almost fainted over finding, and a draped cream-coloured top, which was very romantic but probably not that practical.
The jumper won and, with freshly curled hair, clean jeans and boots, Daisy thought she looked okay. At the last minute she slipped a white tee shirt under the jumper, remembering Kit’s advice about layers, and went downstairs to wait for him to arrive. She stood in front of her work table, tracing a light finger around the circlet of ivy leaves that lay there. And then on an impulse she picked it up and fastened it around her neck. The metal was cool against her skin, its weight unfamiliar, but it nestled there, following the dips and rises of her collarbone. When she moved, it moved and, fascinated by the way it felt, she crossed to the mirror in the hallway.
She could remember the last time she wore a necklace of her own all too vividly, and since then she had never worn one, the shock of the memories it brought too overwhelming, but perhaps today… The subtle light in the hallway brought a gentle gleam to the metal, dancing as she moved. It was so beautiful, perhaps if she just… but the voice in her head was getting louder and louder, the words bringing a sudden rush of tears to her eyes. Her fingers fumbled with the clasp as a sudden knock at the door made her jump and, flustered, she pulled at it. Kit mustn’t see this; if he did she would have to explain and how could she possibly tell him now? It was wrong, she should never have put the necklace on. Rushing back into the other room, she fiddled with the clasp again, anxiety making her rough, and to her horror it came away in her hands. She had broken it.
Another knock sounded and she dropped the necklace on the table with a sob, dashing at her eyes and the tears that filled them. Kit was waiting, but how could she go anywhere now? Daisy took a deep breath and willed herself calm, just like she had so many other times in the past. She was good at putting on a brave face. She sniffed, swallowed and pulled her jumper straight.
‘Come in!’ she said, opening the door wider and beckoning Kit into the hallway.
He smiled at her in greeting but then a momentary flash of concern crossed his face. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Yes, yes, I’m fine.’ She sniffed again. ‘Sorry, I was just putting some mascara on and I stuck it in my eye. I’m hopeless sometimes.’ She dropped her head slightly so that Kit wouldn’t be able to see that she wasn’t wearing any.
‘Right, I’ll get my coat, shall I?’ she said. He was now looking past her and eyeing up the door to her sitting room, but there was no way she was letting him in there. She smiled and stood her ground, forcing him to stand back slightly so she could reach the row of hooks.
