The Flower Shop on Foxley Street

by Rachel Dove

  Will gripped his saw tight. ‘She owns it, as you well know.’

  Stuart nodded, a flash of conceited anger showing in his features. ‘Oh I know everything about my wife to be, William. I don’t need a gardener to tell me about her. I know every inch of that woman.’

  Will gritted his teeth, not trusting himself to speak. He started to work again, staying silent.

  ‘Have you got nothing to say? No congratulations, no thanks for the job?’ Stuart walked around the tree, moving closer to look him straight in the eye. Both men stared at each other, their mutual dislike out on show for the other to feast on.

  ‘Congratulations,’ Will said reluctantly. ‘Thanks for the job. Now if you don’t mind …’

  Stuart chuckled. ‘You really are a piece of work, aren’t you. You think you can just come in, with your green fingers and your fancy moves, and take something that doesn’t belong to you?’

  Will couldn’t believe his ears. Belong to him? He made it sound like they were in the sandpit, and Will had taken one of his toys.

  ‘Listen,’ he said, throwing another branch onto the pile, wishing it was Stuart’s face. He came down the ladder, tightening his grip on the saw as he turned to face Stuart. Both men sized each other up. They were the polar opposites of each other. Will wondered to himself how Lily could ever have looked twice at him. At the side of this dude, with his obviously whitened teeth, and expensive threads, he felt like a hobo. He put the saw into his tool bag, rubbing his dirty hands together self-consciously.

  Stuart shrugged his shoulders at him. ‘Er listen, what? Nothing to say to me?’ Stuart poked a finger into his chest, and Will looked down at it, before glaring at him.

  ‘Move that finger or lose it,’ he growled. ‘I am working here. I don’t want any trouble.’

  Stuart jabbed him again. ‘You have this job because I got you the job. I figured that the least you could do was make the place look nice for wedding season.’

  ‘You’re getting married here?’ he asked, his chest tightening.

  ‘Yep, makes sense doesn’t it?’ He pointed up to the club’s expansive patio. ‘We can have our first dance right there, gazebos on the lawn. I might even fit in a few holes before I make Lily Mrs Woodward.’

  Will turned away, picking up the pieces of the wood and throwing them into the wheelbarrow nearby. ‘Sounds great; I hope it goes well.’ He picked up the rest of the wood, threw his tool bag over the top, and started to walk away. Stuart followed him, his whole demeanour as casual as a man having a stroll in the park, not someone confronting a love rival.

  ‘Do you hope it goes well though? Because I can’t help but notice, you seem to have been spending a lot of time with my fiancée. Am I right?’

  Will put down the barrow, trying as best he could to keep calm. It wouldn’t help things if Stuart went to see Lily with a black eye or a broken nose. It would make Will feel better, but a short-term high wasn’t worth hurting Lily for. Or making her hate him. If she didn’t already. She obviously hadn’t told the guy about their recent talks. Will wasn’t about to tell him. Let him think what he wanted to. He wasn’t going to give the guy an inch of leverage against Lily.

  ‘Stuart, I am trying to work here, okay? You’re getting married – great. I don’t care, okay? I worked with Lily on a few projects, and now I don’t. I work here. So unless there is anything else, I really do not give a rat’s arse what you think.’

  Stuart’s grin dipped as Will pushed his face up close to his. Stuart was a good half foot smaller than him, and Will got a kick out of looking down on him. He got the impression Stuart probably did that his whole life, and he found himself wondering once again what Lily ever saw in a man like this. Worse still, Stuart had practically welded her to his side now. Any doubts she had about marrying the guy had obviously been settled. The thought of Lily thinking more of this buffoon than she did of Will ripped his soul in two. He hid the emotion in his face, looking at his opponent squarely.

  ‘Can I go back to work now, boss?’ he boomed sarcastically. Stuart said nothing, stepping back a little. A couple of the caddies, Victor and Joel, were walking back to the caddy store and both men stepped apart. The caddies nodded a hello as they went past. Will stood still, staring at Stuart till he looked away. The man was a coward; he could see it all over him like the dimples on a golf ball. A smarmy, yellow creep. He thought of Lily, spending her life with such a man, and it broke his heart all over again.

  Not your choice, he told himself. It’s up to her, not you.

  Stuart recovered a little, looking at the caddies who were trying and failing to pretend they were not following the exchange of testosterone between the two suitors.

  ‘Anyway, William,’ he said, speaking loud enough for them to hear. ‘If you can get this place shipshape for the 12th, I might just let you keep working here after we leave.’

  Will looked at the two men before focusing his steely gaze back on Stuart.

  ‘Do me a favour, Stuart.’ He smiled as he said it, keeping his body language neutral, aware that they were being watched. ‘Leave me alone, and concentrate on being half the man that Lily deserves. If you can drag yourself out of the slime to do it.’ He saluted him, looking every inch the respective lackey on the outside.

  Stuart smiled back at him, speaking through gritted DayGlo-white teeth.

  ‘I don’t need to deserve her, William. I already won.’

  He walked away, and Will waited till he was a safe distance away before kicking over the barrow.

  ‘Don’t let him get to you,’ Victor said, and Will turned to see the two caddies looking amused behind him. Joel came and picked the barrow up, righting it.

  ‘Yeah, man,’ he agreed. ‘The guy is a total dick, but he will be gone soon. We just have to live through his wedding of the year.’

  ‘Yes, well I don’t think I can do it. I can’t watch her marry that guy.’

  Victor bent to pick up a stray screwdriver from the grass. ‘I know, I have seen her before, in the village? She seemed nice.’

  ‘She is, too good for him.’

  Joel snorted. ‘I know, right? I just don’t get how he gets all the women he does.’

  Will digested the words slowly. ‘All the women?’

  ‘Yep.’ Joel plonked the tool bag back into the barrow. ‘The man is a total horn dog. He sleeps with all the women here: married, single, whatever. It’s the worst-kept secret around here. All the staff know. His mate Max in the kitchens is always going on at him to stop.’

  Joel nodded. ‘I kind of respect the guy for pulling it off, but the wedding? That seems a lot. I know they are moving away after, but still, getting married here, it’s a bit of a risky move for him. Bit cruel for her too – he will have slept with half the guests!’

  Victor laughed. ‘At least! It will be about the discount, I tell you. Rumour has it, his dad got him the job here, but has told him he won’t pay for the wedding till he starts doing better at his golf career. This is his last chance at the family coffers I think, before Daddy dearest cuts him off completely.’

  Will couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He felt sick. He might have been in the wrong, falling for Lily when he wasn’t a free man, but letting her walk down the aisle to a life of lies and humiliation? That was never going to happen on his watch.

  ‘Thanks, guys,’ he said, striding off down the lawn. ‘Do me a favour, lock my stuff in the caddy store and cover for me okay?’

  Victor called after him. ‘Sure, man, but where are you going?’

  Will headed for his jeep. ‘I have a rat problem to take care of.’

  Vic and Joel looked at each other.

  ‘Wow, gardeners are intense.’

  Victor nodded, watching Will run across the green.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Lily woke up, her alarm heralding the start of a new day, but she made no moves to get out of bed. She flicked it off, lying back down against the pillows. She had
to go to work soon, but she couldn’t bring herself to start the day just yet. She felt the familiar heavy feeling in the pit in her stomach, and sighing she picked up her mobile phone. After turning it on, she waited for the notifications to come through.

  Will had been calling her all night, but she hadn’t answered. Stuart had been working late at the club, getting things in order for the wedding. Lily had been surprised when he had mentioned having it there, given that he had always kept her at arm’s length, but she guessed that the call of the discount he would have secured had something to do with it.

  Roger had offered to do the flowers, him and James sharing the cost, and Lily had been touched by his kindness. Especially given their collective dislike of her groom to be. She hadn’t told him about Will being married, she couldn’t bring herself to even say the words, and she hadn’t even bothered to tell anyone about the wedding.

  Her parents didn’t even know. She figured she would have to enlighten them eventually, given that they were her parents, but telling Roger had been hard enough.

  Her phone buzzed into life, beeping over and over. She could hear it vibrating and buzzing on her bedside table, and she lay looking at the ceiling. She felt so empty without Will, so disconnected from her own life. She had to get away. She would get through the next few weeks, and then go. Roger would manage the shop, and she would just leave Westfield, get away. She could even rent out the flat, bring in some extra cash. Stuart had assured her that once the tour started, they wouldn’t struggle but she felt uneasy being reliant on Stuart, even if it was as his new wife. It felt like she was taking monumental steps backward. Her phone rang, and she picked it up, answering without looking at the screen.

  ‘Hello,’ she said flatly.

  ‘Lily!’ Will’s surprised response came over the line. She jumped up in bed, jolted by the sound of his voice.

  ‘Will, I don’t want to talk to you. Leave me alone.’

  ‘No, Lily, please don’t hang up!’

  Lily held the phone to her ear, hating herself for not having the guts to click the button.

  ‘Please, Will, leave me alone.’

  She heard him sigh down the line. ‘Lily, I know you hate me, and I do deserve it, but please, I need to talk to you. Please see me today. We have to talk, I have to explain.’

  Lily shook her head, shaking. ‘No, Will, I can’t, I just can’t. Everything is different now, I –’

  ‘You’re getting married,’ he said bluntly.

  Lily balked. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘Stuart told me. I took the job at the golf course. I need to see you, Lily, please.’

  Lily heard the pleading in his voice and shut her eyes. ‘No,’ she said, and clicked off the call.

  ***

  Will pulled up to Love Blooms. Lily’s pink van wasn’t outside, but neither was Stuart’s douche mobile. He parked up, hoping that Roger had taken the deliveries, but as he got out and walked to the shop, he could see Roger through the window, dealing with a customer.

  He entered, feeling Roger’s eyes on him as he dealt with his customer.

  ‘Thanks, Mrs McQueen, you have a lovely day,’ he said jovially, handing over a bouquet.

  Mrs McQueen nodded to Will on her way out, and then they were alone. Roger looked at Will, shaking his head.

  ‘William Singer, what the hell is going on?’ He shoved the cash into the register, slamming it shut. ‘Are you going to let our girl marry that ding-dong? What’s going on?’

  Will sighed, pointing to one of the stools and taking a hesitant step forward. Roger shrugged. ‘Sure, coffee?’

  ‘Please, strong.’

  Roger made the coffee, looking over at Will in question. ‘Come on then, tell me what happened. Did you fight?’

  Will bit his lip. Lily hadn’t told him.

  ‘I’m married. I told her I was married.’

  Roger slammed down the sugar pot and glared at him. ‘To Kim? You have been married this whole time, and you never said a word?’

  Will held his hands up. ‘I know, I know. I don’t need you to tell me how much of a mess I have made. You really don’t – I screwed up.’

  Roger snorted. ‘Understatement of the century. That explains why she said yes to Stuart. He seems to have made a deal with Daddy dearest: he gets married to Lily and Papa gives him a shot at being a golf pro again.’

  ‘So she’s part of a deal? Does she know?’

  Roger poured the water from the kettle, stirring the cups and bringing them over. He passed one to Will, who eyed him warily. He half expected the coffee over his head, not in his hands.

  ‘I think she suspects, but she wants to leave.’

  ‘Leave?’ Will echoed. Roger took a sip of his brew.

  ‘She’s going with him, on the tour. She’s on deliveries now, hiding from everyone. She asked me to run the shop, even talked about renting upstairs out. She is going to be a golfing trophy wife, on the arm of that idiotic fool, and now I understand why. She won’t even speak to her parents, not that they have a clue anyway.’

  Will gripped the cup tight, taking in what Roger said.

  ‘I think she loves you, you know. How can you do that to her? You pushed her further into his arms.’

  Will nodded. ‘I know, but she won’t talk to me. Will you help me? I need to tell her something. She can’t marry that guy.’

  ‘I don’t like Stuart, but you’re not much better. Does your wife know about you and her spending time together?’

  Will shook his head. ‘It’s not like that, but I can’t explain it easily.’

  Draining the rest of his coffee, he stood up and reached into his coat pocket. Pulling out a piece of paper, he put it on the counter.

  ‘Will you get Simon and Elaine, meet me at this address after work, say 6p.m.?’

  Roger stared at Will, as though deciding something in his mind. ‘Will this help Lily, or hurt her more?’ He stood with his hands on his hips, a deep frown crossing his features.

  ‘I know you love her too,’ Will said. ‘I don’t want to hurt her any more than you do, but I have to tell you all the truth, all of it. Then it’s up to you to help Lily.’

  ***

  Will looked down at the floor, and Roger felt suddenly sorry for him.

  ‘She won’t talk to me. I lost her already. I just want her to be happy, that’s all.’

  He smiled at Roger, and he saw how tired and drawn he was. He looked like a man in pain, and he wondered to himself how such a man could be secretly married, and be such a good person too.

  ‘Tonight,’ he urged, pointing to the paper. ‘Bring Simon and Elaine and meet me there. I will tell you everything, please. I have to go. I’m at the golf club today. I need to keep an eye on things.’

  Roger was still standing there wondering what he meant when he heard the door close. Finishing the rest of his coffee, he walked over and looked at the piece of paper. The address was unfamiliar, but it piqued his interest. A customer walked in looking at the display, and Roger smiled at them.

  ‘Good morning, shout me if you need me.’

  He went into the back, dialling a number from the address book on Lily’s desk.

  ‘Simon? It’s Roger. Yes, yes everything’s fine. Listen, will you and Elaine do something for me later?’

  ***

  Lizzie woke up to an odd noise. She was lying in the spare room, tucked under the duvet on one side of the bed. Her side. In all the nights she had slept in here, she had always slept on her side of the bed. She wondered whether Irvin did too. She heard the noise again. Hoisting herself out of bed, she slipped on her robe and wandered down the stairs. She recognized the noise coming from the kitchen. Irvin was in there, moving his hips to the beat of one of her salsa tapes as he moved scrambled eggs around in the pan.

  Lizzie felt like she had walked into the twilight zone. What the heck was going on? In all their years of marriage, he hadn’t made more than a slice of
burnt toast for a bad breakfast in bed one year. Surveying the kitchen island, she spied smoked salmon, fresh fruit, croissants. She coughed, and Irvin turned in surprise, dropping some eggs off his spatula with a splat. He flashed her a nervous grin, scrabbling to the floor to pick up the pieces of egg.

  ‘Come in,’ he said, ‘sit down,’ clearing his throat several times. He’s nervous, Lizzie noticed. She smiled at him as she saw how much of an effort he had made. He looked dapper: new trousers and a nice shirt accentuating his toned body.

  ‘You’ve lost weight,’ she commented, taking a seat at the table. Irvin looked pleased, bringing two plates of salmon, eggs, and toast to the table.

  ‘I have been walking with Taylor,’ he confided. ‘The man hates driving anywhere he doesn’t have to. It’s quite good actually, nice bit of fresh air. I’ve even started running.’

  Lizzie was impressed, tucking into a piece of fruit from the platter set down in front of her. He had even laid the table, and she noticed he had taken some flowers from the garden, put them in a vase on the table.

  ‘I thought we should talk,’ Irvin said. ‘Taylor rang me this morning, tells me that our Lily has some news.’

  ‘Oh?’ Lizzie asked curiously.

  Irvin took a bite of his eggs, closing his eyes as he savoured the taste. ‘Oh, that’s good. Try it.’

  Lizzie tutted. ‘What’s the news, Irvin?’

  He looked sheepish. ‘Don’t flip your lid, okay. Just listen. Lily is getting married to Stuart.’

  Lizzie jumped in her seat. ‘Married? Since when? I have been trying to get her to set a date for years.’

  ‘Taylor says it’s a rush job, because Stuart is taking her on tour. We dropped the ball, Lizzie, and we need to start working together again. Our daughter is in pain, and we left her on her own while we fought like cat and dog.’

  Lizzie opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it. ‘I haven’t even been to see her since she moved out. I had no idea. Why is she in pain?’

  ‘Remember Will Singer, from the shop?’