Page 94 of Second Chance Summer
‘Good speech. I can see you’ve done this before,’ Penny said.
‘Not to an audience like this.’ She felt like she’d just been let out of school for the big holidays.
‘Good for you for doing it! It was a big ask after what you went through.’
‘No problem. You’re welcome,’ Lily said. ‘I’d love to go and look at the stalls properly now and mingle with the makers.’
‘Off you go then,’ Penny said. ‘If you can fight your way through the hordes, as Muriel calls our customers!’
Lily thought that fighting her way through hordes would be a breeze after making her speech. She dived into the crowds, hoping to meet up with Sam and the family, but the place was so packed, it was like trying to find a mate at a music festival. Occasionally she caught a glimpse of Étienne or Sam but then, tantalisingly, lost them again.
People kept stopping her to chat to or pose for selfies, and she was fully aware that her main role was to speak to the makers and punters.
Delicious scents wafted from a stall selling candles, melts and diffusers concocted from flowers grown on the islands. There were pouches and cosmetic bags in sustainable fabric and lots of original artwork. She was particularly taken by a range of notebooks and stationery with gorgeous paintings of the sun rising over Stark. There were coasters adorned with puffins, scallop trinket dishes and baskets made from old fishing rope.
She could have bought so many things for gifts and resolved to order her birthday and Christmas presents from the makers when she returned.
She spoke to as many of the stallholders as she could, asking about their processes, their inspiration.
Each one was passionate about their work and the place where they lived. Some were well-established while others were still trying to carve their niche and make a living.
Her mind whirled with ideas. Of course, Lily also wanted to sign up some of them to the Lily Loves label, to see if they could sell their work through the website. She could envisage a new and unique range: Lily Loves Scilly.
Today wasn’t the day.
She halted near a stall next to the canteen. Good spot, she thought, watching Morven and Damon. Their time stalking her on Stark clearly hadn’t been wasted, judging by the collages and flat lays created from shells and pebbles and other materials.
One end of the stall was taken up by moody black-and-white photographs of local scenes that could have graced the cover of a grisly thriller. It was certainly an original take on Scilly.
She approached the stall and pointed to a flat lay of a fish made from colourful shards of plastic. Damon scurried to the far end of the stall, intent on ‘tidying’ a display of prints.
Morven wasn’t so shy. ‘He’s too scared to speak to you but he is sorry,’ she said, well within the hearing of her partner-in-crime.
‘Apology accepted,’ Lily said, quite pleased that Damon was scared of her. Served him right.
She picked up a fish artwork created in vivid shades of teal, blue and turquoise. It was both cute and original. ‘I haven’t seen these before.’
‘I’ve just started working on them.’ Morven curled herlip in disgust. ‘Plastic rubbish washes up everywhere but at least I can clear some of it up while I’m beachcombing and repurpose it. I found some of the plastic for this one in the bay by the ruined cottages on Stark,’ she added, leaving Lily unsure if she was being provocative or not.
‘Well, I really love it and I think I’ll take it.’
Morven’s lips parted in surprise. ‘You’re just saying that to make me feel good.’
Lily went to replace the flat lay on the stall. ‘If it bothers you, I can leave it?’
‘No!’ Morven rolled her eyes. ‘Do youreallylike it? It’s one of my favourites.’
‘I wouldn’t have said so if I didn’t. The colours are gorgeous and it will brighten up my office.’
‘Your office. You’re going back then?’ Morven sounded genuinely amazed.
‘Well, yes … I have to. I’m leaving on Monday morning.’
‘Oh.’ Was that a hint of disappointment in her voice? Then she said, ‘The fish is twenty-five quid, you know.’
‘OK.’ Lily mused. ‘For a piece of original art made from found items, by a new artist, I’d say that was a fair price.’
‘I should have charged more then!’ Morven declared, putting the fish in a paper bag stampedMorven’s Creations.
