Page 54 of My Kind of Happy

Chapter Sixteen

Nibbles, check, sparkling wine, check, price list, check … My eye roamed the shop as I mentally ticked off everything on my list. Everywhere and everything looked perfect. The shop floor was swept, the windows were smear-free and sparkling and every single bloom on display was at its freshest and most fragrant best.

‘I think we’re ready, Scamp.’ I bent down to his bed and stroked his head. His tail thumped companionably against my leg. ‘Everything, I’m pleased to say, is under control.’

The only thing missing at the moment from Nina’s Flowers was Nina herself. But I wasn’t concerned, she’d phoned yesterday morning and told me not to worry but that something unexpected had come up and she’d had to go to London urgently. She’d promised faithfully that she’d be here before the party this afternoon at three. Strictly speaking, it was an open day to drum up new business, but as long as she was here, I didn’t mind what she called it.

As promised, Sam had emailed me a list of companies who might order flowers and we’d invited over a hundred businesses to come and see what we had to offer. We hadn’t had many responses, but I knew from experience that business people often made attendance decisions late in the day, depending on their other priorities.

Nina hadn’t been as enthusiastic as I was about my attempt to attract a corporate clientele.

‘Corporate flowers are just a chore to be ticked off by some faceless person with a to-do list. When I make up a bouquet for someone, the best bit is seeing the pleasure on their faces. Create a big centrepiece for a hotel reception and the person who ordered it simply looks over and tells you where to put it. There’s no emotion involved.’

‘Possibly not,’ I’d agreed, ‘but we can’t choose our customers based on those who’ll show the most appreciation, can we?’

The side eye Nina gave me implied that she thought we could.

‘I suppose not,’ she’d admitted. ‘But it’s just not what I saw my shop doing, that’s all.’

‘And crawling out of the back door, commando style to avoid the landlord is?’ I’d asked.

‘Fair point,’ she’d conceded, breaking into a smile. ‘OK, I’m in, but I’m in charge of ordering refreshments for the party.’

I gave Scamp one last tickle and stood up, catching sight of myself in the shop mirror. Not bad: the up-do I’d wrangled my hair into this morning was largely still intact, thank goodness. I turned left and right, checking my outfit. Not jeans for once but a long maxi dress and ankle boots: practical and professional.

There was a fizz of excitement in my stomach. The sort I used to have just before a big presentation to my paper industry clients. It was a sensation I hadn’t felt in months and I welcomed its return.

Just then I heard the rumble of Nina’s van in the courtyard behind the shop and moments later she came flying through the door and into the front of the shop. Scamp leapt up, turned a few circles and barked, pleased to see her.

‘Fear not, for I am with you!’ Nina dropped her bags and stared around the shop. ‘Bloody hellfire, Fearne. This all looks amazing!’

I followed her gaze, pleased with our efforts. ‘It does, doesn’t it.’

The area towards the back of the shop which had always been under-used was now our new workshop space. Lucas had helped us source a big chunky table from one of his suppliers and this took centre stage. On it were piles of floristry supplies including sprigs of fern and thorn-free roses in every hue, which Nina would be making into buttonholes to give away to our guests. A trestle table held glasses, soft drinks and bowls of crisps and olives, a crate of fizz was chilling in the cold store and on the counter was a display featuring glossy pictures of floral arrangements which Nina had done previously.

‘It all looks so …’ she sounded choked up ‘… impressive.’

‘Teamwork makes the dream work,’ I said lightly.

‘No, this is you, this is your work.’ She gave a sudden laugh. ‘You don’t need me at all. I don’t know what I was worried about.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, nothing.’ She picked a piece of stray leaf from her sleeve. ‘I suppose I thought no one would care about the shop as much as I do.’

‘Don’t talk daft,’ I gave her a shove with my shoulder. ‘And of course, I need you. Look at all those gorgeous flowers in the photos. You did them.’

She opened her mouth as if to argue but changed her mind. ‘Oh, I almost forgot: I bought you something.’

She rifled in one of the carrier bags and pulled out a parcel beautifully wrapped in tissue and tied in raffia.

‘I thought it was about time you had your own special set.’

I tore off the wrapping. Inside was a matching set of floristry scissors and secateurs in their own leather holster. ‘I love them, thank you,’ I said, genuinely moved.

Nina took a deep breath. ‘And thank you. From the moment you rocked up here pressing your nose to the glass on the day of Rosie and Gabe’s wedding you’ve done nothing but help me. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you. But from the bottom of my heart thanks. For everything.’

‘You’re welcome.’