‘Well, they were both in Micklewick Bay this evening, large as life, I’m afraid.’ Paula’s expression fell.
A thought flashed through Florrie’s mind. ‘Mum, did this tall woman happen to have dark wavy hair, and was she wearing a brightly coloured velvet coat?’ She sensed Ed turn his head to her, felt the weight of his gaze.
‘She did, and I tell you what else stood out about her, she had a kind of American accent – it wasn’t very strong, but it definitely had a bit of a twang to it. Could’ve been Canadian, I suppose.’ Paula glanced between them. ‘Why? Do you know who she is?’
Ed tipped his head back and groaned.
Florrie switched her gaze to Ed. ‘Luella,’ they said in unison.
‘Luella? Who’s Luella?’ asked Paula, her forehead creased.
‘My ex,’ said Ed, dragging his hand down his face.
‘Your ex?’ Paula sat up straight. ‘Why would your ex be in Micklewick Bay? And why would she be chucking eggs at the bookshop window?’
‘Good question,’ Ed said wearily. ‘Before you ask, it’s got absolutely nothing to do with me. My parents are the reason she’s here, whatever bonkers reason that may be.’
‘But how did Dad end up unconscious on the pavement?’ asked Florrie. She didn’t want to go down the route of trying to get her head around what Ed’s parents and his ex were plotting, she needed to know about her dad.
‘As I said, Ed’s parents were arguing and shouting, going at it, right hammer and tongs style. From what I could gather, your father was furious with your mother for something she’d done, but I couldn’t make out what. He just kept yelling that whatever it was they were arguing about was her fault. I’ve never seen two people look so angry with one another.’
Ed shook his head in dismay. ‘I’ll bet I have.’
Paula gave him a sympathetic glance. ‘Anyroad, I went over to them and asked them – very politely – if they would mind keeping the noise down on account of Jack and Jenna’s reading, and…’ She flicked her eyes to Ed. ‘I’m really sorry to have to say, lovey, but they turned on me then, yelling all sorts of awful stuff. The language was strong enough to make your hair curl.’
Florrie winced – she knew from what Ed had said of his parents, they didn’t like being told what to do by anyone.
‘I’m so sorry, Paula, I don’t know what?—’
Paula placed her hand on his arm. ‘It’s not your fault, lovey, none of this is.’ She swallowed, taking a moment. ‘Anyroad, the next thing I know, Charlie appears beside me, even though I’d told him to stay put. He asks your parents and this Luella what all the shouting’s been about, and tells them that they’re out of order for yelling and swearing at me. The next thing I know, I hear your dad say he’s feeling dizzy, and he topples over which is when he hit his head. I tried to catch him, but I was too late. I’ll never forget the sound of his head hitting the ground for the rest of my life, it was…’ Her eyes filled with tears and a loud sob escaped her mouth. ‘And now poor Charlie’s in intensive care.’
Florrie felt emotion leap in her chest. ‘Oh, Mum, that must’ve been awful for you.’ She took her mum’s hand, squeezing it tight as she fought against her own tears. ‘Just take a few minutes before you carry on; have a mouthful of tea.’
Paula nodded as Ed reached for the box of tissues on the table and handed it to her. She smiled her thanks at him.
Dabbing her eyes, Paula continued, ‘You’re right, it was awful seeing your dad like that. It wasn’t at all what I expected to happen. Anyroad, the loud bang you heard was Dawn driving off and hitting the metal rubbish bin when she mounted the pavement – driving like a lunatic, she was. Peter and Luella ran off down towards the station straight after. Didn’t bother asking if your dad was okay, or if he needed an ambulance. Didn’t seem to care. And now, here we are,’ she finished with a shrug.
Ed hung his head. ‘I’m so sorry, Paula. I don’t know what to say. If my parents hadn’t been shouting and carrying on with Luella, Charlie wouldn’t be in intensive care. I can’t help but feel responsible.’
‘It’s not your fault, Ed. No one’s blaming you, so there’s noneed to apologise. You’re an innocent party in all of this, just like the rest of us. But I do think the stress of all the shouting caused his dizziness at the time.’
Florrie had to agree. She reached over to Ed with her free hand, wrapping it around his. It was an unfortunate state of affairs and she couldn’t begin to understand how he must be feeling.
‘I can’t bear that they’re responsible for Charlie being in here, indirectly or not.’ Florrie noted the hard tone in Ed’s voice, which matched the steely look in his eyes that she’d never seen before. ‘What sort of people are they? And it’s all about trying to sabotage our wedding so they can get their hands on the bookshop. I’m ashamed I share their DNA. But that’s it, I’m done with them. Finished. Once I’ve told them what I think, I never want to see either of them again – nor Luella, for that matter.’
TWENTY-TWO
Florrie and Ed barely exchanged a word on the journey home from the hospital, each of them lost in their own rabbit warren of thoughts. Florrie gazed absently out of the window, the flicker of streetlights illuminating the car as they drove through the towns that connected Micklewick Bay to Middleton-le-Moors. She could almost feel Ed’s guilt building beside her as he focused on the road. At one point, she’d reached across and touched his arm, telling him again that none of what had happened was his fault, reminding him that no one blamed him. He’d responded with a small smile; it seemed he was going to take some convincing.
Oblivious to their torment and worries, Gerty was thrilled to see them by the time they’d got back to Samphire Cottage. The Labrador had clearly recognised the sound of the car and the squeak of the gate as they’d headed up the path, and from the whimpering and clicking of claws on the tiles, she was already on the other side of the door as Florrie pushed her key into the lock. As soon as the door was opened, Gerty shot out, her tail wagging with such force her whole body was wiggling.
‘Hello, Gerty-Girl, that’s a grand welcome,’ Ed said, stopping to fuss her as she danced around his legs. Once satisfied,Gerty then shot over to Florrie.
‘Hello, Gerty, it’s good to see you, too.’ The Labrador’s enthusiastic greeting and upbeat energy was a welcome moment of light in an otherwise dark and gloomy evening. ‘Come on, lass, let’s go inside, it’s nippy out here with this mizzle.’ The sea fret that had been creeping in earlier had now enveloped the town in a cold, damp fog. Florrie shivered; she’d been feeling chilled right through to her bones ever since she’d seen her dad in a crumpled heap on the pavement.
Once they’d removed their coats, and Gerty had given them a thorough sniffing, apparently intrigued by the unfamiliar smells of the hospital that lingered on their clothing, they headed down the hall and into the kitchen.
Florrie was glad of the warmth of the room, not to mention the familiar and comforting aroma of toast that seemed to be imbued into its walls. She pulled out a chair at the table and flopped onto it. Ed followed suit, while Gerty went to her bed, watching them both. From her expression she obviously sensed something was wrong.
