Page 7 of The Little Shop on Silver Linings Street
Daisy failed to see how it could be. Buchanans was all she had known since she left school, and Beatrice Buchanan her only boss, and possibly the only real friend she had ever had. What on earth would she do now? And who would run the business? Her head was filling with questions but Lawrence was, as always, one step ahead.
‘Mother,’ he said firmly. ‘I’m sure none of us begrudges you a life outside of this place. Nor do we discount the sacrifices you have made in looking after us all these years, but to say it’s none of our business… For goodness’ sake, it’sabsolutelyour business; we’re standing in the middle of it. You can’t just give this all up on a whim because of some fly-by-night romance and—’
Bea silenced him with a withering look. ‘For your information I have known Charles since before your father and I were married. In fact, had things turned out a little differently…’ She paused. ‘Well, they didn’t, and so I married your father and we were happy right up until the day he died. And I never told any of you about Charles because, if I had, it might have made things somewhat awkward for him. But we kept in touch, and when, two years ago, he found himself in, well let’s just say in a different personal situation, we rekindled our friendship.’
‘Two years!’ Bertie’s indignant tone rang out around the shop. ‘You’ve been seeing him for two years and you didn’t bother to tell any of us about him.’
‘Ichosenot to tell you, Bertie. There’s a difference.’ She glanced at the clock on the wall and then nodded at Daisy. ‘It’s five o’clock, dear,’ she said. ‘Perhaps you could turn the sign to closed now and lock the door. I’d rather we weren’t interrupted.’
Daisy did as she was asked, walking back to stand behind the counter on trembling legs.
‘So, as I was saying,’ continued Bea. ‘Charles is not someone I have only just met, about whom I know nothing. Neither is he the scoundrel you all seem to be implying, and I have already made up my mind about our future arrangements so there’s really no point in discussing it further.’ She smiled directly at Daisy. ‘What we do need to discuss, however, are the arrangements for the continuation of the business.’ She smoothed down the jacket of her suit and patted the back of her hair to check that all was in place.
‘Perhaps we should go through to the back,’ she continued. ‘So that we might be a little more comfortable. I have one or two things more to say.’
Daisy sneaked a peek at the brothers – at Kit who looked like he was about to be sick, at Bertie who was staring at his mother open-mouthed, and at Lawrence who was bright red and seemingly about to explode. Daisy had no idea how she was feeling. She was used to Bea being rather eccentric, but she had never acted quite so peculiarly before. How had the afternoon changed from being one of fairly mundane routine to one of utter chaos all in the space of half an hour?
Daisy waited until everyone had filed past her and then picked up the bottle of glass polish. She had a feeling that the meeting would go on for quite some time and she might as well get on and clean while she could. She was about to spray the surface of the counter nearest to her when Bea’s voice floated back through the doorway.
‘Heavens, Daisy, whatever are you doing? You of all people need to come and hear what I have to say.’
Daisy groaned softly. She would really rather not; much better to pretend it wasn’t happening at all. But she went through into the other room just the same.
Bea wasted no time in taking centre stage once more.
‘Now, as I mentioned, I have some things I would like to say. And I would like to say them without being interrupted – Lawrence, bear that in mind, dear – and I would also like to point out that, despite the fact that you all clearly think I have finally gone and lost my marbles, I have taken a good deal of time to think about all of this and I have considered it very carefully. As such, I would like you to respect my decision. It is final, and I will not be entering into any discussion over it.’
The wordshave I made myself clearhovered in the air between them.
‘First of all, I would like to apologise to you, Daisy. And I would also like to thank you. You have been my right-hand woman, my confidante, my friend, and the glue that has held Buchanans together for a very long time. Quite simply, I could not have managed without you these last few years, and indeed neither would my little shop. It would have closed long before now had it not been for your loyalty and hard work. I know that what I have to say will affect you as much as the others, if not more, and for that I am sorry. I would like you three boys to recognise that fact before we proceed.’
Daisy blushed bright red as three pairs of eyes turned to scrutinise her. Bertie, as she knew he would be, was the first to react.
‘Hear, hear,’ he said, smiling at her, which made her knees feel weird. Lawrence glowered at her, but quickly changed his expression and gave her a tight smile. Kit gave an odd little wave of his hand.
‘So then, without further ado: I’m sure you’ve all worked out that once I retire there will be no one to run Buchanans. You have all had your part to play in the business but clearly someone has to take the helm… and, as the eldest, Lawrence, it would seem that that mantle should fall to you…’
Daisy’s heart sank as a supercilious smile crept over Lawrence’s face.
‘However…’ Bea held up her hand. ‘However… you all have qualities which make me think you could be up to the task… just as you all have rather less desirable attributes which make me consider that you could not. And yes, Lawrence, that does include you, dear.’
She paused for a moment, frowning. ‘And there is also the fact that none of those things really address something which I have been considering for some while now, and that is the indefinable something that Buchanans needs if it’s ever going to survive. I don’t need to tell you that shops are finding it tough at the moment. Times are changing and we need to change with them, be prepared to take risks, and to think about things a little differently. Whoever takes over the reins will truly need to know what will make Buchanans remain special going into the future, someone who really understands what the business is all about. So, I have come up with a way to help me find that person.’
‘Why do I get the feeling we’re not going to like it…’ muttered Lawrence.
Bea clapped her hands together in delight. ‘Oh, Lawrence, don’t be such a baby. Of course you’re going to like it because it’s going to besuchfun.’ She beamed at them all in turn, clearly delighted with herself. ‘And it’s obvious, really, when you think about it. What better way to decide who should run the business than by having a little competition! I want you all to choose a Christmas gift – and whoever chooses most wisely will be the one to whom I shall pass the reins.’
She took a step towards Daisy. ‘And I know that I have a very important birthday coming up, but this gift is not for me… it’s for Daisy.’
Daisy looked up in shock.
‘A gift? But what kind of gift?’ Bertie’s voice was tinged with mild panic.
‘Well an item of jewellery, obviously,’ replied Lawrence, his tone scathing.
Bea smiled. ‘Yes, Bertie dear. It should be an item of jewellery… what kind will be up to you. Now, it can be an item from the shop, or it can be something you design yourself. In which case you don’t need to have the piece made up, but I will need to see drawings, and to know the materials used, together with costings. Whichever option you choose, you have a budget of five thousand pounds. But the absolute, most important, thing is that I shall want to knowwhyyou feel it is the perfect gift. In the end that is the only criteria I shall use to make my final judgement.’
There was a stunned silence, during which Daisy had to remind herself to breathe. She could feel all eyes turn on her.
