Blooms Bones and Stones Box Set

by Olivia Swift

  “Then you did promise to help with the building work as well,” he reminded her. She told him that doing anything practical was what she liked the most.

  “What about you?” she queried. “What do you do in your spare time?”

  “Have a long lazy time reading books or watching old films,” he told her. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a van drive slowly past. She saw the change in his face.

  “What? What is it?” He shook his head.

  “I think I’m just imagining every van has Duval behind the wheel.” Carly did a complete circle of the surrounding area.

  “Nothing to see now but I bet you were right,” she paused and thought. “You know he is making me really annoyed. He is butting in on our lovely ghost and hanging about at my house. He is appearing at the shop and now spoiling our date.” Dex covered her hand with his own.

  “He cannot spoil our date because you are with me. Come on. Let’s go home.” That made her smile and she held his hand as they walked to the car. It felt the normal thing to do somehow, but she still knew he was scanning around as they went. There was no sign of a van as they drove back to Chestnut Hall and the house was warm and a pleasure to enter. Jazz had finished her garden work and was sitting surrounded by lists and magazines about weddings.

  “Two weeks and nothing ready yet,” she said. “If you can leave Katarina for a couple of hours tomorrow, we can choose dresses.”

  “You see,” Dex said. “More time off already.” They brought the others up-to-date with the latest on Emily and Charley.

  “At least we can tell Emily what happened to him,” Carly said. “But I would like to find out where he is buried. It is so sad that she is still waiting after a hundred years.” The others agreed, but Carly said she thought that with the shop, the wedding, and the house alterations, she would not have a lot of time.

  “I think that I saw Duval in a van as we sat in the restaurant. We should still be very careful,” Dex told the others, and although Carly still felt annoyed about the way he was affecting her life, she agreed to not be alone if at all possible.

  “Maybe we should try and find time to tell his mom what we found out,” she said.

  “Anyway,” Jazz decided, “tomorrow, Kim and I will pick you up from the shop at eleven.” Carly nodded and wondered how Ben had managed with selling jewelry. Evan suggested that he and Dex take the old furniture outside ready for collection in the morning.

  “What a coincidence to find Jules,” he said as he stood up. “His parents are weird, but he’s a great guy.”

  “He says he will be the wedding photographer for you,” Carly told them.

  “That’s great. Another detail dealt with,” Jazz said. Carly plugged her phone into the computer and switched on the printer.

  “He sent you a gift,” she said as she pressed the buttons and Jazz looked mystified. The photo slid out onto the tray, and Carly handed it to her friend. “Evan in the Himalayas,” she finished.

  “Wow, thanks,” Jazz was so pleased as Evan came and looked.

  “Ye gods, that was a few years ago.” Jazz went and filed it away in her photo album, and the men tugged the old sofas, chairs, and table out to the yard where they were due to be collected the next day.

  “Looks better without the junk,” Carly added as they looked around. “Where will the wall go for the kitchen?” Dex paced it out and said he would make a start the next day.

  “But I’ll still collect you from the shop. No driving back alone---okay? I drive you down and bring you back.” Carly agreed. To tell the truth, she was still worried about Jed Duval. Jazz and Evan went back to planning for the big day, and Dex pulled Carly onto the sofa.

  “I enjoyed the unusual date,” he told her and draped an arm around her shoulders. It felt good to lean against him and go over the events of the day. They spent some lazy winding down time watching television and then Carly kissed the top of his head as she set off for her room in the other half of the house. He smiled and watched her go.

  “See you in the morning,” he called softly, and she blew him another kiss.

  The morning was bright and sunny, and Jazz pointed out where the tent would go. The caterer was booked and Kim would provide planters of flowers everywhere.

  “I’ll see a florist today or tomorrow,” Jazz said. “Tomorrow, Evan and I are seeing the minister who will perform the ceremony.”

  “It is so wonderful,” Carly answered. “It will be a great day.” Dex appeared to be her chauffeur. “See you at eleven.”

  The shop still gave her a little flip in her tummy, and she saw that Martin had fixed the sign above the door. It looked fantastic. He had taken the pink color of the paintwork and added the jewel colors and elegant, scrolled writing. Carly gazed at it entranced. Dex dropped a hand on her shoulder.

  “Thanks for taking my suggestion. Martin has done a great job.” They opened up and smelled the gentle hint of lavender. The blinds were lifted, light flooded in, and Carly looked around. Katarina had left the place immaculate, and a note said that the cash was with her father. As she read that, the door tinkled, and Martin came in with the box of receipts.

  “I love the sign,” she told him. “It is just right. Thanks. Let me know how much it cost.” He gave her a figure that was way too low and she protested. Martin waved it away.

  “An opening gift from Katarina,” he said. “She will be in later.” He left for his own place.

  “I’ll stay until she gets here,” Dex told her and started making coffee. Carly pulled out the pieces she needed to finish and started work but stopped again when the lavender scent surrounded her. She accepted the drink and sat in the rear room.

  “Emily, we found out what happened to Charley Rose.” There was an almost tangible feeling in the air, and the place seemed to be waiting. “I’m sorry, but he had an accident when he was on his way to meet you here.” She paused and looked at Dex who took her hand.

  “Poor Charley was knocked down and killed by a runaway horse,” Dex told the air around him. “We are glad we found out but so sorry you never knew.”

  “He was working as a gardener, and we found the newspaper report of the accident. We need to find where he is buried,” Carly finished. There was no response from the air around them and Carly looked at Dex.

  “Do you think she heard us?” A feather floated out of nowhere and landed on the table between them. Carly answered her own question. “Yes, she did hear. Thank you, Emily.” The doorbell tinkled and two ladies came inside to browse. Carly went back to her jewelry making and Dex sold a bracelet, but trade was not as busy as usual. When Katarina arrived, he was not needed and told Carly he would pick her up at closing time.

  Carly told Katarina about the trip to Mapplin, and the lavender perfume filled the whole shop as she related the story of Charley Rose.

  “How tragic,” Katarina said as she heard the tale of the runaway horse. “But how lovely to find an old friend of Evan.”

  “If I go out for an hour or so to choose a bridesmaid dress, will you manage?”

  “Of course, I will,” she said. “I love being in the shop.” Carly’s phone rang and she saw that it was Ben.

  “Hi, Ben. Thanks for yesterday. I did appreciate it,” she told him. He asked if he was needed today because he had no garden work to go to.

  “Jazz is finalizing a plan and I start next week,” he told her. She covered the phone and asked Katarina if she would like Ben around while she was away, and the girl nodded enthusiastically. Carly tucked that little gem away at the back of her mind and accepted his offer.

  “Jazz is picking me up to find a bridesmaid dress,” she told him. “So, the offer is just at the right time.”

  “On my way,” he answered and finished the call as Jazz popped her head round the door and asked if she was ready.

  “Thanks, Katarina,” she called and grabbed her carpet bag. “I don’t look much like a bridesmaid at the moment,” she told Jazz and glanced down at lime green trouse
rs and bright pink top. The hair was still a tasteful paler pink, and Jazz wondered if she would keep it that color for the wedding.

  “It might change before then, but it can come back for the big day,” she grinned at her friend and linked her arm to the car. Kim waved from her own transport and followed them to the best shop in town for this sort of occasion. Jazz took a breath and paused outside of the shop.

  “This makes it real, doesn’t it?” she asked nervously, and the other two took an arm each and pulled her inside. The staff were well used to this sort of sale, and first of all showed them wedding dresses. The two friends sat like judge and jury as Jazz came out with various white dresses. The fifth one was white with pale pink edging. It fitted her like a glove, and the edge was the only decoration along the strapless top. The effect was stunning, and it took their breath away.

  “Wow,” Kim managed at last. “That is perfect.” The assistant drew out two long mirrors on wheels and allowed Jazz the full effect. She felt herself welling up as the assistant handed her a tissue. They were well used to emotion. Jazz nodded without speaking.

  “This is the one?” the sales lady asked, and she simply nodded in return. Then it was her turn to watch the parade of bridesmaid dresses. She knew they wanted a darker shade and nothing overly decorated. The bride’s dress was on a hanger at the side, and nothing seemed to work alongside it until Carly tried a deep purple, fitted dress with a cold shoulder detail and diamante clip at the waist for decoration. Jazz stood up and held the wedding dress. The two were perfect. Kim tried on the same dress, and the sight was just beautiful.

  “Pale pink roses and pink in the planters, Kim,” she said.

  “And my pink hair,” Carly threw in, and they all laughed. Jazz saw to the details and arranged for delivery, and the three of them went for a coffee to talk about what they had just arranged. They were too intent on girl talk to notice the van across the street. Jazz dropped Carly at the shop and found Ben actually enjoying selling a necklace to an elderly lady.

  “This young man is an excellent assistant,” she told her. “In fact, I might take the bracelet as well.” Carly wrapped them in a gift box and tied them with a pretty bow. Ben finished the job by handing them over with the slightest hint of a bow from the waist and then he gallantly opened the door. He came into the back room to find Carly and Katarina convulsed with silent laughter and wiping tears from their eyes.

  “Dex and Evan are good,” Carly told him, “but you are the master.” The man gave another flourishing bow as if he was on stage and enjoyed the joke.

  12

  When Dex came to collect Carly at the end of the day, Katarina slipped away next door. Carly told him about the dresses and Ben’s success as a salesman and showed him the delivery of fairy ornaments that had arrived and been unpacked.

  “Katarina already bought one. They are exquisite,” she told him. “Do you think we could stop by Mrs. Duval’s and give her one as a thank you for the information. These are brand new and I don’t think she will have one in her collection.

  “Good idea,” he answered. They drove away to the house where Jed Duval, the timber merchant, had grown up. As before, the place was very quiet, but Charlene Duval made them welcome and was entranced with the fairy sculpture.

  “That is just a small thank you for helping with the search for the first Jedediah Duval’s father,” Carly told her and Dex explained what they had found out.

  “He was called Charley Rose; he was a gardener, but he was knocked down and killed when going to meet Emily,” he said.

  “So tragic,” Carly added, and they told her one or two other facts they had discovered. “We will try and find the grave, but at the moment everything is focused on Jazz’s wedding.”

  “Has my son been annoying you?” Charlene asked suddenly, and they both looked at her in surprise.

  “He came with the wood for the sign, and we paid him,” Dex said, but they never mentioned anyone outside of the house or that they were taking precautions to protect Carly. The woman hesitated and took a breath.

  “I know he is my son and I also know what sort of man he is. I know he…he follows you sometimes,” she said to Carly. “And I am sorry about that. My husband has always been useless, and Jed takes no notice of me.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Carly said. “It’s kind of you, but you don’t need to.”

  “The thing is,” Charlene went on,” and I have never told another soul this before,” she hesitated. “You have looked into this history, and you’ve seen the photo of the woman you found was Emily Duval.” They both waited. Charlene took a breath. “Jed is not the son of the man I married.” She got that out in a rush and went on. “I was raped.” Carly gasped and said that was terrible.

  “It was a long time ago now. I knew him, and I was married to the man I am still married to so I said nothing and had the baby.” She drew her breath again and produced a photo. “This is my daughter now, and she is married with kids of her own. She is Emily’s great-great-granddaughter. Can you see the likeness?” They passed the photo between them and nodded.

  “Very much so,” Dex answered.

  “She was a few years older than me at school and I never really knew her,” Carly said.

  “What I’m saying is that Jed’s father was a bad man. He is not related to Emily Duval.” She paused again. “I just wanted you to know the facts about your resident spirit.” Then she sat back in the chair as if it had all taken a great toll on her. Carly came and knelt down beside her.

  “We won’t tell anyone what you have just told us, but I am glad that you did. It has been worrying me. If you need anything or if you would like to come and see the rest of the stock, here’s my number. We’ll come and pick you up.”

  “It would be a pleasure,” Dex added and gave her his card as well. “Either of us will help you anytime if you need it.”

  “Will you be alright?” Carly asked, and the woman nodded.

  “Yes, thanks. I feel better for talking to you.” She picked up the figurine. “This is so beautiful.” They left her sitting in the chair inspecting the fairy ornament and climbed back in the car.

  “Wow,” Dex said. “What a revelation.”

  “I knew there was something not right somehow,” Carly answered. “Let’s get back to the hall.”

  “Shall we tell Jazz and Evan?” Dex queried. Carly thought that they would have to and he agreed.

  It was good to see the lights of Chestnut Hall and feel safe in the kitchen. It had been an unsettling revelation. Carly dropped her bag and sank onto a chair, and Dex ran a hand through his hair before splashing cold water on his face.

  “What’s happened?” Evan asked him immediately. He and Jazz both sat on bar stools beside Carly, and between them, they told the story of Jed Duval and his mother.

  “He was always odd,” Jazz remarked.

  “I know we shouldn’t assume that he is like his real father but---“Carly let the sentence trail away, and Dex put his hands on her shoulders.

  “It would explain a lot though,” he said. “His mother is quite frightened of him, I think.” Carly looked at the other three.

  “Right. Enough of the worry. We will keep on the routine. I don’t really want to be on my own just in case, but we have a wedding to prepare for and a house to sort out.”

  “Well said, Carly,” Jazz agreed. “I loved the dresses. There is so much to arrange and all the invitations to deliver.”

  “What color did you go for in the end?” Dex asked. Jazz grinned.

  “You can know the colors, but that is all until the day. The bridesmaids are rich purple and the flowers will be pink roses.”

  “And my hair will match the roses,” Carly added.

  “Sounds good to me,” Evan answered. “We have a photographer, but it occurred to me that there is no one to walk you down the aisle, Jazz.”

  “That’s a thought,” Carly added. “Dex can’t and Rob can’t. We haven’t any older male relatives.
” They all thought about it. Then she laughed and told them about Ben serving the lady like a real gentleman. “He would do it.” Jazz gave it a second’s thought and said she would ask him.

  “Can Katarina and her family have invitations?” Carly asked, and Evan added it to his copious lists. The evening passed in wedding plans and the start of the decorating that was still to do in Evan’s half of the house. Carly pushed Jed Duval to the back of her mind and wielded a paintbrush with enthusiasm. In the end, she was too tired to do any searching online and finished the day happily snuggled against Dex on his sofa. Most of the days in the next week or so flew by in the same pattern. Ben was over the moon to be asked to give his boss away. Katarina started worrying about what to wear, and the topic of conversation everywhere was almost exclusively the wedding. Three days before the big day, the tent arrived. Jazz had employed a contractor she knew to keep the grass cut and the place tidy. The garden looked stunning. Kim filled the planters with masses of pink blooms, and the florist checked with Jazz about time and delivery for the other flowers.

  From time to time, Dex noticed the van that he thought belonged to Duval and he mentioned it to Evan but nobody else. Carly was beginning to let the presence of the man fade away because she had not had any contact and was hoping his mother had talked some sense into him. The big day dawned with caterers and florists in full flow everywhere. Jazz was nervous but trying not to let it show. Evan, Dex, Rob, and Ben had agreed to pink vests and boutonnieres and were keeping each other company as the girls fussed over makeup and hair. Evan was coping with the arrival of officials while Dex, Rob, and Ben showed guests to their seats in the tent. There were arrangements of fresh flowers everywhere, and gentle music set the scene.

  Carly popped back through to Dex’s side of the house where all was quiet to retrieve some makeup in her carpet bag which she had left in the lounge. The place was quiet and peaceful. She straightened up with the lipstick in her hand. She turned, and Dex was standing in the doorway. The long, purple, fitted dress emphasized her figure and the pale pink hair was held in a knot by two jeweled pins. She had made amethyst jewelry especially for herself and Kim, and the effect was magical. Dex drew in a sharp breath and stepped into the room. He stood after a few steps and held out his hands. As she walked towards him, he smiled.