Lily's Little Flower Shop by Lisa Darcy

Author:Lisa Darcy [Darcy, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Chapter 23

Andy

* * *

At home on Tuesday evening after therapy, Andy tried to master a new piece of guitar music. His fingers were red and sore. He played a mournful tune, grieving Trish. As he played, his thoughts turned to how kind she’d been when he’d moved to Clearwater eight years earlier after his mother died.

Trish had found him a great rental residential property close to the town centre, and had introduced him to Henry, who was looking for a new shop tenant. Seemingly, everything had fallen into place when Andy moved to Clearwater. Then he met Pamela, Trish’s daughter, and Pamela’s best friend, Edie. He and Edie fell in love and Edie moved in. Perfect. They married. He moved out when their relationship fell apart.

Trish found him his second rental, not quite as nice, but by then, Andy was saving for a home deposit. Then it was Trish again, who sold him this beautiful home. It had been love at first sight; the huge garden, the view, the privacy, so much more affordable than Melbourne real estate.

Andy stopped strumming his guitar and shook his head. He didn’t want to think about Edie. Or Pamela. When he considered that Pamela might stick around, he felt physically ill. Possibly the worst scenario would be Pamela taking over Trish’s business.

Trish? Why, of all people? Her death had knocked Andy more than he cared to admit. He walked into the kitchen to refill his water glass and thought about his conversation with Zena at the wake.

‘I’m so upset,’ Zena had said. ‘At the unfairness. The randomness of life. If anyone was going to get taken out by a fox, why couldn’t it have been Pamela?’

Andy smiled. ‘Evil.’

‘I never said I was Snow White.’ Zena was teary. ‘Being here, it makes you wonder, doesn’t it?’

Andy had taken her hand. ‘You’re not going to die any time soon, Zeen.’

Zena had looked down at their entwined hands. ‘Is this weird?’

Andy squeezed her hand again before slowly taking it away. ‘I’ve been thinking—’

Barry interrupted them, and the moment was lost. Whatever that moment had been.

Andy wondered what he would have said to Zena had Barry not joined them.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He glanced at the wall clock. It was just after 6pm.

‘Pamela!’ Andy said when he opened the door. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘You’re a cheat,’ she barked.

Andy glared at her. ‘Pardon?’

Pamela swayed slightly. ‘You heard me. I saw you holding hands with Zena at my mother’s funeral. Have you no shame? What about Edie?’

Was Pamela slurring her words? No way was he letting her into his house.

‘In the first place, Edie and I are divorced. And in the second place, what I do with my life is none of your business.’ He went to push her out so he could close the door.

‘Don’t touch me,’ she screamed. ‘You’re disgusting.’

He noticed a neighbour peering over a side fence and lowered his voice. ‘I understand you’re upset about Trish. It’s been a difficult time. You’re clearly exhausted.

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