Page 70 of The Little Shop on Silver Linings Street
She added hot water to the teapot and gave its contents a stir, but when she turned back to ask Amos if he would like a cup, she was surprised to find him still standing, an anguished look on his face.
‘May I ask what you and Kit have fallen out over?’ he began.
Daisy faltered. She had thought endlessly about whether she had simply got on her high horse about the whole issue and overreacted, but she hadn’t, it was the principle of the thing at stake. If none of them could be honest, then what was the point of the whole competition? Bea trusted her – that more than anything was what was important – and on it hung everything else. She’d had no choice but to take Kit to task. But, aside from that, what really hurt was the thought that he had used her.
‘I told you when I first came to your house why Buchanans were not to know about my jewellery-making, and the competition only complicated that further. But Kit and I got talking over dinner the other night and I stupidly confided a few things in him, one of which was what I’ve been doing in my spare time. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned anything at all but, oh Amos, it was such a relief to talk about it. And Kit was really encouraging too… I know why now, of course, seeing as he let slip that he knew about my jewellery-making the whole time.’ She dropped her head a little. ‘He was cheating all along, trying to get close to me so he could wheedle out of me what I’d been working on. It all went a bit pear-shaped after that.’
‘Yes, I see,’ said Amos quietly. ‘And it’s as I thought.’ He drew in breath. ‘I rather think I owe you an apology, Daisy, because it was me who told Kit about your jewellery in the first place.’
‘Yes, I know, in the shop, the day after I’d been on the wreath-making course. But you weren’t to know, Amos, and besides, it wasn’t that. Kit asked me about it then and I just made light of it, saying I made clay-bead necklaces. He seemed to accept what I said and we didn’t speak any more about it, but this time it was different. He seemed to knowexactlywhat I’d been doing.’
Amos looked stricken. ‘And you and Kit…?’ He left the sentence dangling.
‘Yes, me and Kit,’ echoed Daisy. ‘Well, not any more. I thought there might have been but…’
‘And this dinner you shared with Kit, where was this? At a restaurant? Or at his wondrous wooden house in the woods?’
Daisy’s eyes widened in shock. ‘You know where he lives?’
Amos nodded sadly. ‘I do. Which is why I hoped that you and he might find a little spark of romance. You’re so alike, it’s a wonder you’ve never seen it before. I met him one day while I was out walking, and listening to him was like hearing him finish your sentences. I’d only met him briefly before then but…’ He trailed off, indicating the sofa. ‘I think I might sit down after all. Maybe you should join me.’
He rubbed a hand over his face. ‘Do you remember when I first met you that day in the shop?’
How could Daisy have forgotten? It was the day when her whole world had seemed to change. She nodded.
‘And then the day after, on the course, you mentioned Kit, not in the most flattering terms as I recall.’ He smiled. ‘But I’d spotted something that first day, not only the title of the book he’d been reading, as I think I remarked to you, but also the way he looked at you. It reminded me of the way I look at Grace.’
He held her look for a moment. ‘But it was the book which interested me really, a rather unusual title for a sales assistant to be reading, I thought. Something on the design and installation of wind turbines and water pumps. It caught my attention because I used to be a builder, Daisy – had my own company building houses – and so it seemed only natural when I bumped into him a second time, while out walking one day, to ask him about it. The result was a visit to his house and a quite lengthy conversation, which started off about the marvel of the setting I found myself in, and then, as these things do, traversed a multitude of subjects. One of which was the Christmas present that you were making for Grace. I’m so sorry, Daisy. I had no idea at the time that the fact you made jewellery was a secret.’
Her mouth dropped open in shock. It really was that simple.
She looked up at Amos’s apologetic face, thinking about his words. There was a train of thought she was trying to catch, because if it really was that simple then why— A knock at the door interrupted her musings and her thoughts scattered. Flora was here. She shot a look at Amos as a sudden wave of nervous excitement gripped her.
Flora’s cheeks were flushed as Daisy ushered her in. ‘I’m so sorry I’m late. You wouldn’t believe it – I actually did get a call from a panicked bride.’ She stopped and looked around her. ‘Blimey, Daisy, this place is gorgeous. And how perfect, given what you do.’ She smiled at Amos. ‘So?’ Her eyebrows were raised.
He grinned at her. ‘I haven’t seen it yet,’ he replied. ‘We were waiting for you.’
There was a weight of expectation in the room as looks were exchanged and Daisy didn’t know what to say. Should she try and explain her thinking behind the piece before she showed it to them? Or suggest that all was not lost and she still had time to make alterations in case they didn’t like it? In the end she did none of those things, but beckoned them over to her work table, which had been cleared of clutter. A rectangular space had been left in the centre which she had covered with a cloth and, underneath it, Grace’s necklace waited to be revealed. She suddenly felt very hot.
Gently, Daisy lifted the covering, holding her breath, avoiding Amos’s eyes as she waited for a reaction. The seconds ticked by, the silence in the room growing incrementally, but still Amos had not said a word. Nor had he moved. A few more moments passed and, unable to stand it any longer, Daisy finally looked at him. His eyes were glued to the necklace and it was only the movement of his eyelids that revealed him to be drinking in the detail. A slow smile spread upwards and, at the point when she didn’t think it could grow any bigger, he turned to her, his eyes shining with emotion.
‘Daisy…’ He bit his lip, and then held a hand to his mouth, laughing at his lack of self-control as a tear rolled down his cheek. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I love Grace,’ he said. ‘But that… that tells me you knew all along.’
He held out his arms and as Daisy moved towards him he pulled her into a huge bear-like hug which enveloped her. ‘Thank you,’ he said simply. With a final squeeze he released her, holding out a trembling hand. ‘May I hold it?’ he asked.
Daisy sniffed. Her own cheeks were wet, and she dashed her palm against them. How ridiculous. But yet it wasn’t, standing here with these wonderful people, it wasn’t ridiculous at all. She nodded and, reaching out, placed the necklace gently in Amos’s outstretched hand.
A series of three fine silver wires, each hung successively lower than the last, were joined at uneven intervals by tiny silver beads that themselves glistened like dewdrops on a spider’s web. But in the spaces between the beads Daisy had wired all the things which made Grace who she was: a tiny silver bee for her industry and wisdom, a rosebud for her beauty and the love she shared with Amos, an ivy leaf for friendship, a dove for the peace she brought to everyone around her and, finally, a shining crescent moon, not only the symbol for the silver from which the necklace was wrought, but for Grace herself. Each of the items was delicate, neither overpowering its neighbour. Strung from the finest silver wire, they seemed to float in the space that surrounded them.
‘Oh, Amos…’ It was the first time Flora had spoken and she laid a hand over his as he gazed at the necklace it still held. ‘It’s perfect. Just perfect. I don’t know how you did it, Daisy, but Grace is going to absolutely adore this.’ She looked up at Amos and grinned. ‘Good job Ned’s already given me the best present I could ever wish for, or he could be in a lot of trouble right now.’
Daisy looked at the expression on her face, shining with happiness for Amos. ‘Why, what did Ned get you?’ she asked, wondering why Daisy had received her gift early.
‘Well, admittedly it was a fair few months ago now, but Ned gave me my life back. And then he gave me my flowers. I’d say he’s got the whole present thing covered for a few more years yet.’
Daisy nodded and smiled at her new friend. Because that was just the kind of thing Flora would say. And that was perfect too.
‘Would you like to see it on?’ Daisy asked Amos. ‘Flora can be our model, can’t you?’ Daisy had wondered what it would feel like nestled against her own skin. And she had almost tried it on in the moments after it was finished, but then she’d stopped herself. It wasn’t hers and it wouldn’t have been right to wear it.
