Page 110 of My Kind of Happy

I sat up straight again and we smiled at each other sadly; it was such a rubbish end to a happy day.

‘I’m going to find Pandora now and have a few things out with her.’ Sam shoved his hands in his pockets looking very glum. ‘I guess this means we’ll have to take a rain check on that dinner.’

‘Probably for the best.’ I swallowed down my disappointment.

‘Chin up,’ he said, kissing the top of my head chastely. ‘I’m not giving up yet. And I’m glad I’m the loser, because now there’s no getting out of having dinner with me.’

A laugh bubbled up inside me; he’d done it again: managed to make me happy even when times were hard.

‘Every cloud has a silver lining,’ I said with a grin. ‘See you soon.’

He laughed and headed out to his car with the bouquet for his mum.

As soon as Sam’s car had vanished from view, I made a snap decision to close the shop early. I needed some fresh air and some time to work out what I was going to say to Nina. I quickly tidied up the shop, topped up the water in the flower buckets and flipped the shop sign from open to closed.

Scamp and I got into the van and I wound down the windows to let in some cool air. I’d just strapped us both in when my mobile rang again. I smiled with relief when I saw Laura’s name flash up.

‘Boy, am I glad to hear from you,’ I said, relaxing back in my seat. ‘You wouldn’t believe everything that’s happened to me today.’

Laura laughed shakily. ‘Ditto.’

Scamp settled down on the seat, sensing he could be here some time and I fondled his ears, a renewed sense of relief washing over me that he was still here and not halfway to Yorkshire with Ethel and Carole.

‘So what’s up?’ I asked.

‘I don’t know where to begin.’ She let out a long breath. ‘There’s good news and there’s bad.’

I frowned, not liking the vibes I was getting from her down the line. ‘Laura, are you sure you want to do this over the phone? I can drive over if you like.’

‘No, not today, tomorrow maybe, but I … we … just not tonight. Thanks,’ she added as an afterthought. She sounded high-pitched and panicky.

‘OK’ I said softly. ‘Tomorrow, that’s no problem. I’m here for you whenever.’

She groaned. ‘I’m sorry, I’m all over the place. Right, here goes: I know I told you not to do any more wedding flowers, but will you make an exception for me and Hamish?’

‘Of course! You know I will.’ I held my breath, wondering what was really going on here.

‘Thank you,’ she said in a wobbly voice. ‘He’s just proposed and I said yes.’

‘OH MY WORD, this is so exciting!’ I squealed. ‘Congratulations. Tell me everything: how did he propose? Have you set a date? And who’s going to be maid of honour? Oh, Laura, I am so thrilled for you!’

My reaction to this wonderful news was so exuberant that it took me a while to pick up on the fact that Laura didn’t seem to be laughing with me.

‘Hamish proposed to me in the garden at Dad’s, under the rose arbour. He was wonderful, he told me that I made his life complete and if I’d be his wife he’d make it his mission to make me the happiest woman on earth.’

‘That’s so romantic!’ I exclaimed, but my brain was sounding the alarm, something didn’t fit.

‘And I’m hoping that as well as being my florist, you’ll also be my maid of honour.’

‘I’d be delighted,’ I said, aware that she still hadn’t mentioned the bad news.

Laura continued as if I hadn’t spoken. ‘Hamish is already on his way to start the ball rolling. We’re going for the first date possible. It takes a minimum of twenty-eight days to do the legal bit, so I’m hoping we can do it about thirty days from now.’

My eyes widened. ‘So you and Hamish are hoping to get married in July?’

‘It’s Dad, you see,’ Laura blurted out, her voice finally cracking. ‘He’s ill. Properly, seriously ill. Hamish and I have been with him all day today. And if we don’t get married in a hurry, he might never get the chance to walk me up the aisle. I’m losing him, Fearne and he’s the only family I have left.’

‘Oh, darling, I’m so sorry, your poor dad,’ I said, my own voice wavering. My heart ached bitterly for her. Just when she and Hamish were enjoying their life together.