Miss Moonshine's Emporium of Happy Endings: A feel-good collection of heartwarming stories

by Helena Fairfax

  And suddenly Laura saw things clearly. ‘You knew,’ she said, horrified. ‘You knew about his gambling.’

  Olivia wouldn’t meet her eye. ‘There was a bit of trouble when he was at university,’ she admitted. ‘But he doesn’t do that any more. He’s better. He promised me he was better. He just needs our support.’

  For the first time since Laura had known her, Olivia looked her age. ‘You need to speak to James,’ said Laura quietly.

  Which was exactly what she planned to do.

  Daisy

  Well! Who would have thought that the perma-tanned weatherman had secrets!

  Daisy had been kept entertained on her commute home, watching Laura and her gay friend grow more and more merry on the wine. She might even have felt a tiny twinge of sympathy for Laura when the dragon lady appeared to spoil the fun, if not for the fact she’d recently begun to sense a certain level of judgement coming from her, especially where Mark was concerned. Which was rich, considering Daisy had also sensed just how much the other woman liked to look at Seth.

  At home, she found Seth in the kitchen.

  ‘Lasagne?’ She kissed his cheek and put all thoughts of Laura out of her head. ‘You know I’m on a diet.’

  ‘There’s a large salad to go with it. And you don’t need to diet.’

  ‘Right answer.’

  He handed her a glass of wine. ‘You look tired.’

  ‘I’m still having these weird dreams.’ She’d told Seth about them. ‘Do we know any artists?’

  He considered. She could actually see his thoughts processing, like the computers he loved so much. ‘Can’t think of any. You’re dreaming about art?’

  ‘She’s supposed to be a successful artist but she doesn’t seem to do much work. There’s a lot of staring at a blank canvas.’

  ‘A message from your subconscious?’ suggested Seth. ‘Waiting to paint your future?’

  She laughed. ‘Maybe. How was work?’ She kept her tone casual.

  ‘Busy. Mark has a new project. He’s out of the office a fair bit but hopefully it’s raising our profile so I don’t mind the extra work.’

  ‘That’s good.’

  He nodded. ‘It was a brilliant move to partner up with him. It’s handy being able to leave someone I trust in charge when I’m not there.’

  Daisy kept her gaze lowered.

  ‘I’m pretty sure he’s got a woman on the go,’ continued Seth.

  She almost choked. ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘We shared a house all through uni, remember? I know that look. He’s cagey though. I’m beginning to suspect she’s married.’

  Daisy played with her food. ‘But he seems happy?’

  ‘Very. I hope it works out. I’d like to see him settle down. He doesn’t have a great track record with women, as you well know. Remember that Spanish au pair?’

  Daisy wasn’t interested in Mark’s previous conquests. ‘While I think about it, I’ll be away on Friday. Sarah’s invited me to see the new baby.’

  ‘Friday? That’s a shame. I could have come with you but Mark’s out of the office that day.’

  ‘I don’t think she’s up for too many visitors just yet anyway,’ Daisy said quickly. ‘But I can’t wait to see the baby. I’ll probably be late back.’

  ‘No problem.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘Are we thinking we like babies now?’

  Seth had never made any secret of his longing to be a father.

  ‘We’ll see how cute this one is,’ she said evasively.

  Laura

  At first James had been full of bluster. Then full of anger. In the end he had broken down. He promised to do better. He offered up his second phone. He swore he would actually go to the Gamblers Anonymous meetings she’d thought he was already attending. But Laura had had enough. He had lied to her almost every day of their marriage and now it was over.

  After he left, she started painting again. Day after day, portraits of Seth. On the narrowboat. Playing with Bonnie.

  Like her, Seth was living a lie. Only he, poor soul, had yet to find out.

  Seth

  On Friday, Seth had forgotten Daisy was away until he let himself into the empty house, Bonnie skipping in front of him. One of the good things about being self-employed was being able to take his dog to work.

  He checked his phone. A voicemail from Daisy saying she was on her way home and should be there in half an hour.

  Should he make something for dinner? It had been a long day without Mark to lighten the load at work and he decided he was too tired to cook. Fish and chips it was, then. If he left now he should be back just as Daisy got home.

  ‘Fancy a walk?’ he asked Bonnie. Stupid question. She leapt and bounced, barking with excitement, and her plumy tail knocked something off the coffee table. Bending down, he found Daisy’s opal necklace and he shook his head. Why did she leave things like that lying around? She’d be the first to complain about the vet’s bill if Bonnie swallowed it, which she was more than capable of doing.

  He put the necklace in his jacket pocket then clipped on Bonnie’s lead. ‘Come on then.’

  Laura

  Laura was stunned.

  She had tentatively tried to tune into Daisy, but suspecting she was spending the day with Mark she had been ready to make a quick exit if necessary.

  Time after time she had felt nothing and now, suddenly… Seth?

  Her shock was so great she almost severed the connection but at the last minute, managed to grab it and hold on. It was tenuous, nothing like the link she had with Daisy, but it was there.

  Seth must have the necklace. And somehow she and Seth were connected.

  He was talking to the dog, something about a vet’s bill, which made her smile.

  Laura “walked” with him and Bonnie through a pleasant neighbourhood. A man said hello. A young boy with his mother stopped to pat Bonnie. Laura liked that he seemed to know his neighbours

  After ten minutes he stopped outside a fish and chip shop, leaving Bonnie outside where he could see her.

  Another ten minutes and he was back out in the evening sunshine, making the same journey in reverse. Somewhere in the distance she heard sirens blaring – a city sound that used to be so familiar but one Laura rarely heard in Haven Bridge.

  Daisy still wasn’t home. Seth put the oven on to keep their supper warm, then checked his phone. No new messages.

  When he called Daisy’s number it went straight to voicemail.

  ‘Should we eat ours now?’ he asked Bonnie, who thumped her tail in agreement.

  The dog barked one second before the doorbell rang. Laura noticed a blue flashing light outside the window.

  ‘I’m coming,’ Seth called as the bell sounded again. He took his jacket off on the way to the door. Hung it up –

  The connection snapped.

  One year later …

  Laura

  Since the divorce, Laura had entered into one of the most productive phases of her career. Her workshop was filled with new canvases, so many she had eventually agreed to an exhibition at the local gallery.

  Today, after calling in to see how the exhibition was going, she popped in to Miss Moonshine’s for a chat. They hadn’t exactly become friends but Laura had come to enjoy her company, and for her part, Miss Moonshine didn’t seem to mind her presence.

  Laura hadn’t had so much as a glimpse of either Seth or Daisy for over a year now, though her imagination continued to run riot.

  ‘Do you think the necklace is finished with me?’ she asked Miss Moonshine.

  ‘Perhaps,’ said Miss Moonshine, putting the kettle on.

  ‘I mean, Daisy might just have got fed up with being watched and stopped wearing it.’

  ‘True.’

  ‘Or she could have chucked it away.’

  ‘Also true.’

  ‘Or something might have happened to her.’

  ‘It might.’

  Miss Moonshine was like a therapist, listening without ever voicin
g an opinion.

  Laura stood up to leave. ‘Do you think Napoleon would like a walk by the canal?’ she asked.

  The two women looked at the tiny dog, who was, as usual, sleeping in his equally tiny basket. Napoleon’s little body didn’t move but Laura heard a soft growl.

  ‘I think not,’ said Miss Moonshine. ‘He rather went off the canal after he fell in during the celebrations for the coronation.’ The dog’s head snapped up and he glared at her. ‘Which is something we don’t talk about,’ said Miss Moonshine hastily.

  ‘Coronation?’ Laura frowned. ‘What coronation?’

  Napoleon cocked his head at Miss Moonshine, as if he too was interested in the answer.

  ‘Er, the May Queen,’ said Miss Moonshine. ‘Of course I mean the May Queen’s coronation. They have it every year on the canal as part of the flower festival.’

  ‘Oh. Of course.’

  Leaving the shop, Laura walked along the canal anyway, since there was nothing waiting for her at home. Finding a sunny bench, she sat down, watching the stately passage of the narrowboats.

  The simple truth was, real or imaginary, she missed Seth and Daisy. More than she missed James.

  A narrowboat nosed round the bend and she watched idly as it approached. A dog stood on deck, like a figure head, tongue lolling. A collie, like Bonnie, she thought wistfully.

  As the boat drew closer the dog began to bark. The man steering called out but the dog didn’t stop. In fact the barking grew more frantic. Now the dog was running in excited circles. Laura worried it might fall in the water. Presumably the man did too. His voice sharpened. And then, to Laura’s astonishment, the dog launched itself off the boat.

  She jumped to her feet in alarm. The boat was too far out for the dog to land safely and sure enough it splashed into the water, surfacing a moment later and doggy-paddling towards Laura.

  Still yelling, the man steered to the bank.

  The collie had reached the side now but it was too steep for it to clamber out. On her knees, Laura grabbed for it. Luckily it wore a collar and she managed somehow to haul it to safety. Her reward was to be knocked on her backside as the wet dog licked her face.

  The man was on the bank, tying the boat up. ‘I am so sorry. I have no idea what got into her. She’s never done anything like that before.’ He dragged the dog off Laura and offered a hand to help her up. ‘Your dress! Sorry. Bonnie, that’s enough!’

  Bonnie? Taking the outreached hand, Laura looked up into the greenest eyes she had ever seen. Seth?

  ‘I can’t believe she just did that,’ he repeated, bemused.

  Seth?

  ‘Are you OK?’

  Seth? It couldn’t be.

  Her shocked silence seemed to worry him. Or maybe it was the stupid expression on her face.

  ‘Are you hurt?’ he asked anxiously.

  ‘I… I’m fine.’ She finally found her voice. ‘No harm done.’

  Laura wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him like a long-lost friend, but of course she could do no such thing.

  Seth? And Bonnie? Bonnie and Seth? She tried to wrap her head around it but couldn’t. Seth, in the flesh. The fit, hard-muscled flesh.

  She looked beyond him to the boat, searching for Daisy, but saw no sign of her or anyone else.

  ‘I don’t know what got into her.’

  ‘It’s OK. Really.’

  ‘Look at the state of your dress. Let me pay for it. Or dry cleaning. Or something.’

  ‘It’s just a bit damp.’

  Bonnie took that moment to shake herself, showering them both with even more canal water.

  Seth made a face. ‘Then let me at least buy you a drink.’

  ‘There’s really no need.’ She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

  ‘Please. You’ll be doing me a favour. I don’t think I’ve spoken to anyone but this crazy dog for days.’

  He hadn’t spoken to anyone? Again she glanced past him for a glimpse of Daisy.

  Seth followed her gaze. ‘Some men buy a Harley Davidson. Others a sports car,’ he said ruefully.

  ‘Are you saying a narrowboat is your mid-life crisis?’

  Emotion flickered in his eyes but he smiled. ‘Something like that. I’m Seth, by the way. Now, about that drink?’

  ‘Laura.’ There was no way she was turning his invitation down so they walked a short distance to a pub with tables outside. Seth went in while Bonnie rested her wet head on Laura’s knee.

  ‘She doesn’t always take to strangers,’ said Seth, returning a few minutes later with the drinks. ‘It’s almost as if she knows you.’

  Laura thought back to the times she’d been connected to Daisy. The dog had always somehow seemed to know when she was there.

  ‘So,’ asked Seth. ‘Are you on holiday?’

  She shook her head. ‘I’ve lived here over a year now. In another 20 I might be considered a local. What about you?’ With effort, she kept her tone casual, but she had so many questions.

  ‘Travelling. Where the fancy takes me.’ Again she glimpsed a deep emotion. This time it registered as pain. ‘Some might call it drifting.’

  ‘On your own?’

  ‘These days.’

  So where was Daisy? Laura was so desperate to know, she was practically hyperventilating, unable to believe he was really here, and at the same time, terrified she would say something that would reveal how much she knew about him.

  ‘If you are free tomorrow, would you have lunch with me?’ asked Seth, suddenly. ‘To apologise properly?’

  Laura felt she knew him well enough to know that meant Daisy was out of the picture. ‘I…’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said quickly, his face colouring. ‘That was presumptive. I’m not very good at this.’

  ‘I’d love to,’ she said. ‘I’m divorced. Oh heck, I didn’t mean – I’m not very good at this either.’

  ‘Great. I don’t mean great that you’re divorced, I mean – oh hell.’

  Suddenly they were both laughing.

  As they stood up to go, Seth turned serious. ‘Laura, I need to get this out of the way, and sooner rather than later. My wife died last year. I’m new to all of this. It’s just been me and Bonnie for a while now.’

  Her heart stopped. Of all the things she had considered, this was not one of them. ‘D – died? H – how?’

  ‘Car accident.’ He swallowed. ‘Along with my best friend.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, stunned.

  ‘So am I, for telling you like this, but I thought it was only fair. Still want to have lunch?’

  She nodded wordlessly and he looked much relieved. ‘I’ll make lunch on Firefly if that’s OK? If you give me your number I’ll let you know where I’m moored.’

  The sun was still shining, but watching him walk away, Laura shivered.

  Daisy was dead? And Mark too? Poor Seth. How on earth had he survived a double blow like that?

  Her blood ran cold. Did he know about Daisy and Mark?

  Laura could barely swallow around the lump in her throat. Seth was real and he was single and he had asked her out.

  Yet what she knew could break his heart all over again.

  *

  She went on the date. Of course she did. She could no more have kept away than she could have decided not to breathe that day.

  Bonnie announced her approach and Seth appeared so quickly he must have been watching for her. Her heart leapt as he took her hand to help her on board.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Rain wasn’t part of the plan. We’ll eat inside if that’s OK with you?’

  Inside, the narrowboat was as neat as a pin. ‘This is great,’ she said, and meant it.

  ‘I know. Can’t carry much baggage with this as your living space.’

  ‘You live here? I mean, you don’t have a home?’

  ‘Not any more. I’ve been rethinking my life since…you know. Empire building seems a bit pointless these days so I sold my house and my business and bought this.’ He
grimaced. ‘I warned myself not to be maudlin. Should have listened to my own advice.’

  The meal he served was simple but delicious. Laura almost asked if he had stocked the fridge with gourmet foods like last time and only just caught herself.

  There was no lull in the conversation. Not one. It was the perfect first date. Except standing in the shadows was Daisy. Not literally, of course, but Laura could feel her presence coming between them.

  She knew Daisy’s secret. And she had a secret all of her own.

  And Seth had to know about both before their relationship could go any further.

  ‘Seth, there’s something I have to tell you.’

  ‘You don’t like boats? Or dogs?’

  She shook her head and took a deep breath. ‘Remember how you said Bonnie seemed to know me?’

  ‘Yes?’

  She gulped. ‘This isn’t easy.’

  He was still only curious. ‘Tell me.’

  ‘It’s about Daisy.’

  Seth went very still. ‘I never told you her name.’

  Oh Lord. There was no going back now. ‘Did she ever mention strange dreams about a woman? An artist?’

  ‘What’s this about?’ he demanded, face reddening. ‘Do you think this is funny?’

  She was making a complete mess of this. Unable to think of anything else, she reached into her blouse and drew out the fire opal.

  Seth paled. ‘How the hell did you get my wife’s necklace?’

  ‘It’s not Daisy’s. It’s mine. My dreams started over a year ago when I bought it.’

  ‘This is ridiculous,’ he said curtly. ‘I don’t know what your game is –’

  ‘You and Daisy had a garden party. Then you went on a narrowboat holiday. She wasn’t keen and invited some friends to join you.’

  His expression hardened but he said nothing.

  ‘The necklaces somehow connected us. We could see and hear what the other person was up to. I don’t understand it. Neither did she.’

  Still he said nothing.

  ‘I know it sounds crazy. But there’s something else. Something important. It’s about Daisy and Mark…’

  ‘About their affair?’ he said savagely.

  She was startled. ‘You knew?’

  ‘They died in his car. I couldn’t understand it until one of our “friends” finally took pity on me and explained. Tell me where you fit into all this.’ he said coldly.