‘We’re pleased you’ve found somewhere more suitable.’ Florrie so desperately wanted it to be true.
‘Oh, and I don’t suppose you know who could be sending us bits of smashed up snow globes or yanking down the Christmas tree above the bookshop door, do you? The police are onto it, but we’ve been asking around, too. Interestingly, the same names have been cropping up. It’s looking like there’s a family connection with the little cherub who threw water over our till.’
Stella’s words of warning about not getting on the wrong side of Dodgy Dick surfaced in Florrie’s mind, sending a pulseof alarm rushing through her. She willed Ed not to say anything further.
‘I know nowt about what’s been going on at your poxy little bookshop. And I wouldn’t be seen dead going in there now. I’ll thank you not to trouble me about it anymore.’ With that, the window rolled up and Dodgy Dick went to race off with a dramatic wheelspin, but the car stalled with a noisy splutter instead.
Florrie and Ed walked away, snorting with laughter.
‘What a turkey,’ said Ed. ‘I reckon he got the message.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ said Florrie.
‘Look at that sky,’ said Ed, his words floating out in a cloud of condensation. They were making their way home, hand in hand, after Stella’s cocktail party and had paused a moment on the top prom. Frost was sparkling on the ground, the chilly air pinching at their skin.
‘It’s beautiful.’ Florrie tipped her head back, taking in the vast expanse of inky-black studded with millions of twinkling stars that stretched out above them. The iridescent glow of the pale moon shimmered on the sea below. It made for a magical sight. It was only then did she realise they were standing beside Mr and Mrs H’s bench. ‘Oh, look where we are.’
‘I know, it’s why I stopped here. I just needed a moment with my grandfather.’ Ed smiled down at her before tilting his face heavenwards. ‘I know you and I didn’t have much time together, Grandad, but I loved every single one of the minutes we shared.’ His chest heaved as he sucked in a deep breath. ‘And thank you with all my heart for leading me to Florrie. I’ll be forever grateful.’
‘Oh, Ed.’ Florrie leant into him, resting her head on his shoulder, following his line of sight. ‘Thank you, for bringing Edto Micklewick Bay, Mr H.’ Her voice was thick with emotion. ‘I know I wasn’t best pleased at first, but now I’m ever so glad you did.’
Just then, a cloud floated across the sky and large featherlike snowflakes started swirling down.
‘I reckon he heard us,’ she said, blinking back tears.
‘I reckon he did,’ Ed said softly, their eyes meeting as he kissed her tenderly.
*
