Chapter 24

Before Flora and Ralph parted that day, They arranged for him to come round to Gallipot Cottage. She had learned he was only here until the end of the week and had to fly back early on Sunday morning from Manchester. He had tried to get someone in Nigeria to stand in for him for another week but it proved impossible.

So here she was, covered in white paint, sitting at Sybil's desk and sending ‘Grand Opening' announcements on her website and other regional sites. She had spent yesterday in Beck Isle getting more posters printed to display all around there and in Farstone. Even though the consulting room would still smell of paint, she could just shut the door for Saturday. She was determined that her father would be there for her big day. Like a six-year-old with the non-speaking part of a lamb in the school nativity, she just wanted him to see how well she was doing.

Mary was at that moment stocking up the shop, according to Flora's instructions. She needed to go to Jen's soon before Ralph got here, to collect some bistro-style tables and chairs which were stored in an outhouse. The same type as the ones in the coffee area of the bookshop as it was a job lot they had bought cheaply. Flora was hoping for a good day so she could put them on the patio to let people admire the wildflower meadow and have refreshments.

There! She shut the laptop with a thankful finality. She had so much to do, she felt like she should keep moving. Making Mary a cup of coffee, she took it through, meeting her in the hallway with a cardboard box in her hands.

‘Tinctures, it says' said Mary with a puzzled frown.

‘Liquid herbal medicine. It's in small glass bottles so best put them on the shelf behind the counter so they don't get knocked off.'

‘ Right you are.' she moved off.

‘Cup of coffee here for you.'

‘Lovely' drifted back to Flora as she ran a brush through her hair, a contribution to tidying herself up - which didn't work - before going across to the bookshop.

‘Flora!' Jen greeted her with a hug.

What a difference to their first meeting here.

‘Steve's just outside getting any cobwebs with resident spiders from the tables. He'll clean them and bring them through when he's finished and carry them over for you. What on earth have you been doing? You look like Freya! Black hair with the white streak' she laughed.

‘I'm a mess and Ralph's coming soon.'

She called him dad to his face and thought of him as such but it felt better calling him by name in public. She couldn't tell why but it just went along with it anyway. Perhaps a loyalty to Bill Goode? At that moment the shop door opened again.

‘Ralph's already here' smiled Jen. ‘I've just made a pot of coffee. Sit yourselves down at the window tables and I'll bring it across.'

She acknowledged Ralph with a cheery wave and disappeared through the door behind the counter. She'd always felt a lot in common with Ralph in their shared grief for Matty.

‘I saw you coming here as I was walking up. I'm a bit early I know' he apologised.

‘I'm glad you saw me. I'd have hated to miss you. We'd better do as Jen says. Steve's cleaning the tables and chairs and I'm setting them up in view of the wildflowers.'

‘ Ah perfect! I can help you carry them across.'

They sat down at a table which had a good view down the street towards Peverel Hall.

‘I'm just about on schedule' said Flora eagerly ‘I just hope I'm in time to let people know about the Big Shop Opening. At least I think the Farstone villagers will come. If only I could have advertised at the fete.'

Ralph looked guilty.

‘There's no rush you know, Flora. I am proud of what you've achieved. You can show me how the famous meadow is coming along today and I don't need to be at the grand opening to know you'll make a success of it.'

Again, Binky's ‘Madame Morgana' words came back to her – ‘Your life is moving forward in the way you hoped and will bring happiness and success.'

‘ I know you don't have to be there but I want you there. I'd like to look at photos twenty years from now of an important time in my life and know that we were together on that day.'

He took her hand and squeezed it. In his mind, he was going to compare her to Matty, before he realised that although she had elements of both of them, she was her own person and shouldn't be compared to anyone.

‘I will be happy to be there' he said simply. ‘Have you seen the weather forecast?'

‘ I only use it as a very rough guide. The weather signs can be found in many natural ways without having to rely on the increasingly inexact science of meteorology.'

‘So you have seen that it's given rain?' he said knowingly with a wink.

‘Yes' she confessed ‘but I have a good feeling about it, so I'm ignoring it.'

Jen arrived with two cups and a pot of strong roast coffee.

‘Aren't you joining us?' asked Ralph.

‘No, I'll let you two talk. I'll see you on Saturday anyway.'