They’d set off early in order to tackle the egged window before the shop opened, a thought that didn’t thrill Florrie thanks to its reminder of the previous evening’s drama. They rounded the corner of Endeavour Road onto Victoria Square, surprised to see Lark and Nate busying themselves outside the bookshop.
‘I wonder what they’re doing out and about so early?’ A frown creased Florrie’s brow, but as they drew closer, they realised their friends had beaten them to their clean-up session.
‘Morning.’ Lark beamed at them as she wrung out a cloth into the bucketful of soapy water by her feet. ‘Thought we’d make a start on this, get it done before you open the shop.’
‘Hiya,’ said Nate, throwing a smile over his shoulder as hescrubbed away at the glass. ‘Bloomin’ pesky stuff this, mind. It’s not keen on shifting.’
‘That’s really kind, but we really didn’t expect you to do it. Your hands must be nithered,’ said Florrie. ‘Let me dump my backpack and I’ll come and take over.’
‘Yeah, we’ll get Gerty in and?—’
‘We know you didn’t expect us to do it, but we wanted to help.’ Nate flashed another smile. ‘Last night was eventful, and you both had enough on your plate.’
‘That’s right. You just get yourselves indoors, do what you’d normally do when you get here. We’ll carry on with what we’re doing,’ said Lark, rubbing vigorously at a particularly stubborn spot.
‘But we can’t?—’
‘Yes, you can, flower. Let your friends help you,’ said Lark, interrupting Florrie. ‘We’re nearly finished.’
‘Maybe you could stick the kettle on? Wouldn’t mind a cuppa when we’re done,’ said Nate.
‘No arguments. Go on, scoot, the pair of you,’ Lark said firmly, shooing them away, her bracelets jangling.
‘Since when did my sweet and gentle friend become such a bossy britches?’ asked Florrie, smiling and making Lark laugh.
‘Since about two minutes ago whenmyfriend wouldn’t listen to me.’ She grinned, affection soft in her eyes. ‘How’s Charlie, by the way?’
‘Much better, thanks. And according to my mum, he’s got the medical team eating out of his hand, making them laugh with his dad jokes.’
‘Ah, bless. That’s so good to hear, flower. You and your mum must be relieved. That reminds me, I’ve prepared some crystals for him and a feel-good aromatherapy spritz. Don’t let me go without giving you them.’
‘Thanks, Lark.’ Florrie didn’t like to say her dad wasn’t exactly what you’d call a believer in the power of crystal healing or aromatherapy oils, but as far as she was concerned, anything wasworth trying, even if it had the smallest chance of helping him on the road to recovery. She’d have a quiet word with her mum – who did make use of Lark’s crystals and had them dotted around the house – maybe she could slip them somewhere he wouldn’t notice and she could give him the odd squirt of the spray when he wasn’t looking. That thought made her smile.
The morning had passed in a flurry of activity, with customers calling in to ask after Florrie’s dad. News always did travel fast in Micklewick Bay. Florrie and Ed were grateful to Lark and Nate for their hard work; they’d managed to get the window gleaming. No one would think it had been caked in dried-on egg first thing.
Jean and Leah had arrived early, Jean beside herself with worry about Florrie’s father. ‘They ought to be ashamed of themselves, that pair, causing such a commotion. Dinah and Bernard would be disgusted if they were still here, God rest their souls.’ Florrie could only imagine what she’d have to say if she knew Dawn had referred to her son as a mistake.
Soon after, Jack and Jenna turned up wearing matching concerned expressions, Jack with a large basket of fruit in his hands. ‘How’s your dad, pet?’ Jenna asked, rubbing her hand up and down Florrie’s arm. Her smiles made a welcome return once Florrie had updated them on his improvement.
‘That’s grand news, be sure to send him our love,’ said Jack. ‘We got him this, to help with his recovery, though I reckon he’d rather have a pint of Old Micklewick Magic.’ He chuckled, handing over the basket. ‘Tell him the next round’s on me as soon as he feels up to it.’
‘I’ll do that, Jack. He’ll be chuffed to hear it,’ said Florrie. ‘And thank you for this.’
‘If there’s anything we can do, just shout up, pet. We’re happy to help in any way we can,’ added Jenna.
‘Thank you,’ said Florrie, touched by their kindness. In fact, she’d been touched by all of their customers’ kindnessand well wishes that morning. People had fallen over themselves to send their regards to her dad.
‘So, Jenna and me have been talking,’ Jack said in his gravelly tones. ‘And we’d like to do another reading – if it’s okay with you and Ed, of course – to make up for last night’s being cut short in the way it was. Call it a gesture of goodwill, if you like, in case folk start baying for a refund – not that I reckon anyone would, mind, but you never know.’
‘We thought it’d be a way of us showing our support of both you and your dad, too,’ Jenna said, smiling kindly.
‘Aye, Jen’s right. We thought we could make it a bit different, maybe have a bit of a Q&A session. What d’you think?’ He looked between Florrie and Ed, his eyebrows raised in question.
Florrie glanced across at Ed, her heart lifting. ‘If you’re sure, that’d be lovely. Thank you.’ There was no doubt in her mind it would go down a storm!
‘Yeah, that’s really generous of you both,’ added Ed. ‘Are you sure you can spare the time? I remember you saying you’ve both got quite a few commitments coming up.’
‘We thought maybe after your wedding, when everything’s calmed down a bit here for you,’ said Jenna. ‘You two just name the day and we’ll fit it in around what we’ve got scheduled.’
