Chapter 20

TWENTY

Once she'd finished her food, Florrie used the excuse of a trip to the loo to send a quick text to Ed – he'd told her earlier he'd keep his phone on while she was out in case her Friday night plans changed and she needed a lift back. An idea that involved helping Jasmine out of her childcare predicament the following day had been growing in her mind and she'd been itching to set the ball rolling. That it would kill two birds with one stone had only added to the thrill. She just needed to check that Ed would be up for it. As an added bonus, it was something that could be included in The Happy Christmas Memory Project.

How does sledging & snowman building with Zak & Chloe sound for tomorrow if I can get cover for the bookshop? Fxx

A wide smile lit up her face when he replied immediately.

Sounds great! Count me in!

‘Yay!' Florrie did a little dance on the spot and fired off a speedy reply.

Fab! Thank you! Fxx

Next, she texted her mum to see if she'd mind covering for her in the bookshop the following day. Though Paula had already helped out so they could go ice skating, she knew her mother wouldn't mind doing another shift, especially if it got Jasmine out of a difficult situation. Paula had known Jasmine since she was a small girl and thought fondly of her and her children.

Like Ed, her mum replied quickly saying she was only too happy to help, especially once she'd heard the reason behind it.

On the way back to the table Florrie took a quick detour, peeking through the door to check on the weather. She was thrilled to see the snow had continued to fall since they'd arrived and now everywhere was covered in a blanket of the stuff. It wasn't sufficient to worry about them getting home – Bear had the Land Rover, after all – but it was enough to boost her hopes that her plans for tomorrow would be put into action.

‘You okay there, Florrie?' asked Maggie as Lark eased out of the settle and let Florrie slip back in. ‘That's a massive smile you've got on your fizzog.'

‘You're right, it is,' said Jasmine, observing her with interest. ‘I thought you'd just popped to the loo, but you look like you've been up to mischief. Think I might have a quick trip there, see if I come back smiling like that.' She cackled.

‘I think I'll join you before a queue starts forming,' Stella said, dryly, her mouth twitching with a smile.

Florrie couldn't help but laugh. ‘Hey, you shouldn't be talking like that, young lady, especially since you're all loved up with Alex.'

‘Clearly old habits die hard,' quipped Jasmine, earning herself a mock dirty look from Stella.

Florrie pushed her glasses up her nose, willing her friend to agree with what she was about to put to her. ‘So, I have a suggestion to make, Jazz.'

‘Ey up, that sounds ominous,' said Jasmine.

‘Well' – Florrie met her friend's gaze – ‘as you now know, Ed has never built a snowman before, never had a snowball fight, and has never been sledging so I wondered if it'd be okay if we borrow the kids tomorrow? I mean, who better to show him how to do those things than Zak and Chloe? I've already checked, and my mum says she's happy to stand in for me at the bookshop, so that wouldn't be a problem.' Florrie was keeping her fingers crossed Jasmine wouldn't think the offer came out of pity for her childcare headache. ‘I've run it by Ed, and he loves the sound of it. And if there isn't enough snow, then our plan B is to go to the cinema and see the latest Christmas film instead – seeing a Christmas film at the cinema's something else he's never done and is a contender for The Happy Christmas Memory Project. We'd finish off with a pizza. I should add, we're both already buzzing with excitement for the idea and would be massively disappointed if the answer's no. What do you think?' she finished with a hopeful smile.

All eyes turned to Jasmine.

She took a moment, clearly mulling it over. Florrie watched her friend's face for clues that might reveal how her suggestion had been received. ‘Are you sure about this?' Jasmine asked, sounding half-convinced. ‘I mean, having my two little horrors for the day? Much as I love them to bits, they can be a handful, and they're wound up like tops at the minute, what with Christmas on the horizon. You do realise you'll be completely knackered by the end of the day, don't you? And what about all your aches and pains from ice skating? How will you manage with that?'

Florrie laughed. ‘We'll be fine – moving about actually helps. And we won't care if we're knackered. We'll have had a great time, it'll be so worth it, and besides, we'll have Sunday to recover.'

‘Well, if you're sure… I know the kids won't need asking twice… I'd love you to take them snowman building, sledging and all the rest of it. Thanks, Florrie, you've just made tomorrow a whole load easier for me.' A huge grin spread across Jasmine's face, unmistakable relief in her eyes.

‘Fantastic!' Florrie's smile mirrored Jasmine's. ‘And it's me who should be thanking you. We'll have loads more fun with Zak and Chloe being involved. I so can't wait.' She rubbed her hands together gleefully. Much as she'd been dreading the disruption heavy snow could cause for their expected deliveries and scheduled reading with Jenna Johnstone, Florrie had decided it would be best to park that concern for now and deal with it if and when the problem arose. Instead, she'd focus on something positive for Ed and helping out her friend. Hopefully, with the salty air, any snow would be gone by early in the week – provided they didn't get any more, of course.

Before they knew it, landlady Mandy was ringing the ship's bell above the bar, signalling the end of the evening. ‘Time, folks,' she said, her cockney accent floating over the burble of chatter. The friends made a move to leave.

‘Flaming 'eck, that surely can't be the time, can it?' Lobster Harry was leaning against the bar, his bleary eyes betraying that he was on the wrong side of several pints of Old Micklewick Magic. He turned his attention to his half-drunk pint of beer, downing it in one. ‘I'll have another couple if you don't mind, Mandy, love,' he said, as he wiped the froth from his mouth with the back of his hand before releasing a belch that ricocheted around the room.

‘Charming.' Stella's top lip curled in disgust as she fastened the toggles of her sheepskin coat, making the others giggle.

‘Good old Harry,' said Lark.

Outside, Florrie gasped as she was hit by a wall of bitingly cold air, her eyes taking in the crisp covering of snow that was sparkling in the glow of the pale winter moon suspended in a star-strewn sky. Woodsmoke from the pub's fire drifted out of the chimney, reaching upwards. A thrill started dancing in her stomach. The snow wasn't deep enough to cause problems, but there was enough to put her plans into action the following day, provided a thaw didn't set in, of course. She felt her excitement building. Looks like we'll be sledging and building snowmen tomorrow!

She spotted Bear's Land Rover parked up by the side of the pub, steam billowing from its exhaust, the odd snowflake swirling in the beam of its headlights.

‘Blimey, it's raw out here,' said Jasmine, her breath curling out in front of her as she headed away from the Jolly. In the next moment she let out an ear-piercing screech as she lost her footing and landed on her bottom with a muffled thwump . ‘Wargh!'

The friends all looked on, alarmed.

Florrie clutched her hand to her chest. ‘Jazz! Are you okay?'

‘Oh my God. These flaming boots!' She threw her head back and let out a loud hoot of laughter. Seeing she was unhurt, her friends followed suit, their giggles hanging in the frosty air.

Florrie and Stella helped her to her feet, almost losing their footing in the process which only added to their hilarity.

‘What are you like, Jazz?' said Maggie, as she dusted snow from the back of Jasmine's padded jacket.

‘Hopeless, I'd say! I've got a soaking wet bum and it's flippin' freezing – I wouldn't be surprised if I got frostbite on my butt cheeks.'

‘Need a hand, Jash?' said a voice behind them.

The friends turned to see Ando Taylor swaying precariously under the light of the pub's sign.

‘The offer'sh shtill open, if you're intereshted.' He gave an exaggerated wink followed by a leery smile.

‘Jeez, when's he going to get the message?' Jasmine said, sotto voce, rolling her eyes. ‘And it's still a no, Ando.' She turned away from him.

‘Shuit yourshelf,' he said, before staggering his way back into the pub.

‘You all right there, Jazz?' Bear leapt out of the Land Rover, laughing as he went to open the heavy rear door.

‘I will be once I'm in the Landie and not risking my life walking across this death-trap of a path.' She grinned as Florrie hooked her under one arm and Stella the other, her feet slip-sliding over the snow as they made their way towards him, leaving the Jolly in the same way she arrived.

The living room at Samphire Cottage was toasty warm after the chill of outside. A lively fire was dancing in the grate and the soft lighting cast a cosy glow around the room. Florrie was curled up beside Ed on the sofa, sipping a hot chocolate and listening to their classical music playlist. A wave of contentment washed over her and she leant into him, resting her head on his shoulder, his head touching hers. He'd just finished sharing the details of the research he'd carried out for the tearoom that evening. He'd evidently covered a lot of ground in the time she'd been out. She loved how enthusiastic he was for it, that he was so clearly invested in the bookshop's future. It went some way to overriding the doubts that had arisen since his father's phone call.

Gerty groaned from where she'd been snoring on the rug in front of the fire. She heaved herself up, wandered over to the sofa and flopped at Ed's feet with a harumph .

‘Looking forward to tomorrow?' Florrie asked.

‘Very much.' She could hear the smile in his voice. ‘I think it's a brilliant idea having Zak and Chloe join us. We'll have a great time with them. I don't think I've ever met two more enthusiastic kids.' He gave a chuckle as he started to rub Gerty's tummy with his feet. The Labrador stretched out, luxuriating in the attention.

‘Oh, they're that all right.' Florrie laughed, too.

‘I meant to ask earlier, but have you got a sledge, or do we need to buy one in town?'

‘Mum and Dad have still got a couple from when I was a kid, they're in their shed. My dad used to love sledging, too. He said he'd dig them out and drop them off in the morning when he brought Mum to pick up the keys for the bookshop.'

Florrie had just got her words out when Ed's phone started ringing from the coffee table, slicing through the relaxed atmosphere and making her jump. Ed tipped his head back and gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Not at this time of night.' Gerty jumped up and put her head in his lap, sensing his change in mood.

They both knew the call could only be from his father. Florrie held back from asking him if he was going to answer it. She wondered how long it would take for him to realise the sooner he spoke to his dad, the sooner this bombardment would stop. And the sooner she'd feel more settled, knowing what had prompted this latest round of phone calls, not to mention what Jean Davenport had to do with it.

Ed let the call ring out, but it wasn't long until his phone pinged announcing the arrival of a voicemail message.

He glanced at Florrie and rolled his eyes. ‘I'm turning that dratted thing off until after we've been sledging with Zak and Chloe.' With that, he snatched up his phone and did just that. ‘I'm not going to let anything spoil tomorrow, especially when there are kids involved.'

‘Ed, don't you think it might be?—'

‘I just want to focus on us having a good time with Zak and Chloe, then I'll think about talking to him, okay?'

‘Okay.' Florrie smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Progress! ‘I promise, we're going to have a great time tomorrow.'

‘That's what's important right now,' he said, his shoulders relaxing. ‘I'm way more excited about going sledging than a bloke my age should own up to.' He gave her a heart-melting smile.

‘Oh, you've clearly never heard my dad on the subject,' she said.

‘Remind me to bring it up next time I'm having a pint with him at the Jolly.' They both chuckled at that, the mood lifting instantly.