Page 45 of My Kind of Happy

‘I’d settle for anyone buying flowers today,’ Nina said, surveying the display of blooms we had on offer.

‘While we have a quiet moment, let’s talk customers.’ I took out my notebook. ‘Who can we sell to who doesn’t currently come into the shop? And how can we sell more to those who do?’

She blinked at me. ‘If I knew the answer to that, I’d have done it long ago. Ooh, hold on, customer.’

The door opened and two women dressed in brightly coloured raincoats and shielded by an umbrella blew in, showering the floor with raindrops.

‘Delphine and Maria!’ said Nina, darting to the door to help them with their things. ‘Come in!’

‘Grazie, grazie. What a terrible day!’ exclaimed one in a heavy Italian accent. I recognised her from the wedding, it was Rosie’s grandmother. She unzipped her yellow waterproof coat and flapped it, sending a second shower in Nina’s direction.

‘But good for the garden,’ said the other, stoutly. She threw back her hood and beamed at us both. ‘Hello, dears.’

She had an elegant white bob, pink lipstick and a dolphin brooch pinned to a purple scarf poking from her pink mac.

‘Humph. Not good for me. My body need sun, like poor lemon trees outside café.’

‘Perhaps you’ve got that thing – SAD?’ said her friend studying her as she peeled off leather gloves.

Maria looked affronted. ‘I not sad, I very happy, just wet. I was born in Sorrento, I like my water in the sea, not falling from sky.’

‘Well, you’re inside now and it’s lovely to see you,’ Nina butted in. ‘Come and meet my new team, Fearne and Scamp!’

At the mention of his name, Scamp got to his paws, stretched and pootled over sedately to say hello.

‘We meet already,’ said Maria, pulling me in and kissing both my cheeks. ‘You do a beautiful job for my Rosanna’s wedding in the big tent. And I bring you this to say grazie.’

She produced a plastic box from her handbag and lifted the lid. ‘Biscotti alle mandorle. You like nuts?’

The box was full of slices of biscotti, golden on the outside and packed with chunks of almond. The smell was making my mouth water.

‘I do. Thank you so much,’ I gasped, touched by her gesture. ‘You’ve made these?’

‘Of course,’ Maria said proudly and tucked an escaped curl back into her bun. ‘Try with a little glass of Vin Santo. Perfetto!’

I promised I would, although it was far more likely that Nina and I would tuck into them as soon as the ladies had left.

‘And we’ve not met but I’ve heard a lot about you,’ said Delphine. She didn’t kiss me, but took my hand in hers and patted it.

‘Delphine lives at The Evergreens, the big Victorian house up on the hill, beautiful gardens with all sorts of flowers,’ said Nina.

‘I know it,’ I said smiling at the old lady. ‘Scamp and I walked up that way last week. The garden in front of the little cottage was brimming with spring colour.’

Delphine’s eyes softened. ‘I’m very lucky to call it home.’

‘Well, I’m lucky too, ladies,’ Nina said excitedly. She put her arm around my shoulders. ‘Because as of today, Fearne is my new business partner. She’s going to help me revolutionise the shop.’

‘Oh, delightful!’ said Delphine. ‘So nice for you to have a partner; having someone to share life’s trials and tribulations with is such a bonus.’

‘I happy for you, cara.’ Maria patted Nina’s cheek. ‘Now you not have to fight that Hoggy dicky head on your own.’

‘You know our landlord?’ I said, surprised.

‘Oh yes.’ She pulled the corners of her mouth down in disgust. ‘He try and screw me for more every year.’

‘More rent,’ Nina explained. ‘Maria used to own the Lemon Tree Café, before Rosie and her sister Lia took over.’

‘He has a nice boy working for him now, molto sexy, eh, Delphine?’ Maria said with a dirty laugh.