“So handsome.” Daisy sighed. “I feel like that time I had a crush on Mr. Johnson. You remember?”
“Our biology teacher? How could I forget? The whole school saw that note you sent him.”
“I can’t believe I was that stupid as to think he’d read it and agree to marry me just like that.”
“What would you have done if he’d said yes?”
“Probably done better in my biology exam.”
They both laughed. Daisy felt some of the despair drift away. “You’re not that bad at making me feel better.”
“And you’re rubbish at choosing who to fancy. First a married biology teacher and now a Scottish laird. Who’s next? The Prime Minister?”
“Nah. They’d only want me for my vote.”
“Is that what you’re calling it now? Shove the telly on. Let’s find some trash to watch.”
With the TV on in the background, they continued to talk, Daisy trying her best to get her feelings organized. She listened to Tabby telling her there was nothing wrong with having a crush. She knew she was right but why couldn’t she stop feeling so bad about it?
The TV helped distract her, their conversation fading as they both slumped back on the couch to watch it.
Daisy only realized she’d fallen asleep again when Tabby nudged her. “If you want to get your parcel you better get a move on,” she said. “It’s half eleven.”
Daisy sat up, yawning. “I fell asleep then.”
“You were snoring.”
“I was not.”
“I thought they were digging up the road outside, you were that loud.”
Daisy got to her feet. “You can talk, Lady Honks-a-Lot.”
“You referring to my nose or my butt?”
“You decide.” Daisy walked out the room and into the bathroom. A quick wash and then she got dressed, heading out the door a few minutes later, regretting her choice of clothes at once. It was baking hot out there, the sun beating down without a cloud in the sky to shield her from the summer heat.
Turning on her heels, she pushed the door open again.
“That was quick,” Tabby shouted over the TV.
“I haven’t gone yet. I’m just going to change into something cooler.”
“Change into something useful like a pizza.”
“It’s too early for pizza.”
“Spoilsport.”
Pulling open the chest of drawers in her room, Daisy picked something a bit more suitable for the warm weather.
Strappy top in light pink, the one that was clingy enough to not billow outward and expose too much cleavage. Sandals and a floral skirt.
She glanced at herself in the mirror, tugging the skirt into place. It would do. It wasn’t like she was going anywhere important.
She drove the car into town and parked as close to the sorting office as she could get. It was a quarter of a mile walk to it but she was able to avoid the main road, taking a narrow old cobbled street that reminded her of going back in time.
If the Ripper had appeared at the end of the road with a knife in his hand, she wouldn’t have been too surprised. She would have run for her life but she wouldn’t have been too surprised. Maybe she could have asked him his name first, clear up that mystery for everyone.
