SERIES Say It With Flowers by Jan Snook
A nudge in the right direction was all that was needed for that month’s competition . . .
meetings, but the problem was I forgot to take it off.”
He stood up to help Sheila take the empty plates away.
“I always used to wonder why the songwriters talked about heartache,” Diane said. “But the ache was real when I saw your grandad off the next morning.
“We’d had dinner together after I went off duty, then sat over coffee in the hotel lounge till midnight.”
“How could you have talked for so long and not realised you were both pretending?”
Diane wondered how the young were so perceptive sometimes.
“That song was playing everywhere at the time, and I had it constantly in my head,” she said.
“I was determined not to be the other woman.”
“Tell me Grandad tore his cheap ring off and raced back to you before your heart ached too much.”
Jodie was obviously a romantic.
Diane laughed.
“He didn’t realise he still had it on till he was halfway home.”
She caught her husband’s eye. He was looking sheepish.
“It took him a few weeks to pluck up the courage to come back.”
“And then I had to work hard to persuade you there wasn’t someone else at home,” he said. He took Diane’s hand. “But it was worth it all.”
“Forget dessert for a minute.”
Jodie went over to the music player.
“I’m going to put that Tulsa song on again.”
She pulled some of the chairs away from the table to create a space and reached out to her grandparents.
“The anniversary couple are going to have a dance.”
“Go on, then,” Diane said, leading her husband into the space Jodie had cleared for them.
“It’s been fifty-odd years. It’s probably finally time to forgive Gene Pitney.” ■
DON’T forget it’s the club meeting on Thursday,” Alison said as the flower-arranging class packed up their things.
“Are you all entering the competition?
“Some of you will be going up to the intermediate class in the next couple of months.
“We are very proud of you all, aren’t we, Jen?”
“Absolutely.” Jennifer nodded.
“How many points do we need?” one of the students asked.
“Thirty points,” Alison said promptly, “and they soon mount up.”
When the last student had left the classroom, Jennifer turned to Alison with a frown.
“Are any of them anywhere near going up into intermediate?”
“I’ve got the list in here somewhere,” Alison said, rummaging in her bag.
Jennifer looked over her shoulder.
“Poor Emily’s not going to get into intermediate in the near future,” Jennifer pointed out.
“Matthew’s already got fourteen points – that’s not bad going in three months.
“If he gets another first on Thursday, he’ll only need another few points and he’ll be going up a class.
“Are you sure you’re not helping him?” Alison teased.
“You’ve seen him in class; he doesn’t need my help!”
“You don’t seem to be pleased for him,” Alison said, surprised.
“I am. It’s just that the only old novice is Jessie; all the rest are our students.
“She still needs another four points, but she rarely gets anything.
“It will be humiliating for her if our lot overtake her. I mean, she’s been a novice for I don’t know how long.”
“Several years,” Alison said sadly. “And she tries so hard.”
“Right,” Jennifer said firmly. “She’s got to come second on Wednesday.
“She might benefit from a little bit of advice . . .”
It was fortunate that, every Friday, Jessie came to the library where Jennifer worked, and the next day she was ready.
“Jessie, have you planned what you’re doing for the competition this month?” Jessie beamed.
“I think a simple vase of daffodils, that’s what says ‘spring’ to me. Everybody likes daffs, after all.”
“That sounds lovely,” Jennifer agreed, “but maybe it’s a bit simple? For a competition, I mean.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but the demonstrator is a friend of mine, and her favourite flowers are grape hyacinths.
“Why don’t you use some of those?”
The moment she’d gone, Jennifer rang Alison.
“She’s going to the supermarket right now.” “I’m on it.”
Alison bumped into Jessie by the fish counter.
“What are you doing for the competition, Jessie?”
Jessie explained about the simple vase of daffodils and grape hyacinths.
“That sounds lovely,” Alison said wistfully. “I have the perfect container – it’s exactly the right colour blue.
“Would you like to borrow it? It’s not exactly a vase. You’d need a pinholder and some leaves. Arum italicum pictum, maybe?
“I could give you some of those as well, if you like. Come and pick them up this evening around six.”
Matt was instructed to bring Edna round as well, which he duly did.
“I’m just a beginner, of course,” he said when Jessie had described her arrangement, “but what do you think about adding some iris . . .?”
“I came second!” Jessie said over coffee at the end of the next meeting. “That gives me thirty points! I’m in intermediate!”
Alison, Jennifer and Matthew beamed at her pleasure.
“Thank you so much for all your advice,” she said seriously. Then she smiled again.
“But actually, the most helpful advice came from Edna, as we were leaving.”
“Edna gave advice as well?” Jennifer asked.
“She did. She said I should join your classes.
“She said your students were going from strength to strength, and that I should join them. So I will.”
More next week.