Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde (13 inch ebook reader TXT) 📕

‘I'll organise that then. Anythingelse?'

‘Itmight be as well to contact the local paper. They might like to send someone along. It is a first,after all.’

She skippedout of the room, inexplicably happy. Her mock AntiquesRoadshow wasgoing to be a stunning success thanks toCharles. And to her, of course, but mostlyCharles. A real 'television' expert would mean more to the punters than anynumber of people who just kneweverything there was to know about antiques. It was a cynical thought,she realised, but true.

The daysbefore the sale merged into a blur of activity, and Flora had never felt so happy andfulfilled. Annabelle didn't seem to bearound much, but Flora and Charlesbecame a team. They were not quite equals, thought Flora, but she was no longer the idiot child.

*

'ThankGod it's not raining!' said Flora as she looked out of herwindow very early on Wednesday morning. 'We don't haveto worry about people not turning out because of the weather.’

Now all shehad to worry about was what to wear. It was important, what she lookedlike. Should she be businesslike in a suit? Practical in jeans? Orpretty in the dress that Charles had complimented? Nocontest, really. She plugged in her travel iron and foundthe dress, hand-washed the previous Sunday and now a crumpledmess. She arrived at the hall an hour later, a little chilly, but confident that the sun would soonwarm her.

Charlesappeared shortly after she'd let herself into thebuilding and had started putting white sheets on thetrestle tables that had been put up the day before.

‘Good morning,' he said.

‘Hi,'she said, suddenly feeling incredibly shy and wishing she'd worn jeans.

‘You'llget your dress dirty. Why don't you put on an apron? There's a drawer full of them in the back room.'

‘Good idea.'She left Charles with the tablecloths and foundherself an apron. Someone had once told her that there wassomething very sexy about a woman in an apron over a pretty dress.

When shecame back Charles was talking with two men in tweed jackets and flanneltrousers. They were bothelderly and distinguished-looking.

‘Thisis Flora Stanza. Flora, this is Bob Butler, and this is George Woodman. They've both been in thebusiness since Noah was a boy, butthey're rivals, not friends.’

They bothlaughed. 'And we've neither of us been goingquite that long, but long enough.' Bob Butler took Flora'soutstretched hand. 'You look far too young to be a co-director of an oldestablished business, if you don't mind my saying so.'

‘I amquite young, but I like to think I'm picking it up. What do you think, Charles?' Although she was only making conversation, she found she waspathetically eager to hear his answer.

‘Oh yes. Flora's doing very well. Thiswas all her doing, you know.’

GeorgeWoodman looked around sagely 'Well, there's no saying how many people will turnup, but it's a good idea.'

‘Imust get on,' said Flora. 'I'm going to put the kettle on when I've donethe cloths. Tea, coffee?’

The mentold her what they wanted. 'Nice to have a pretty girl to make you tea,Charles,' one of them said as Flora left.

‘Weall make tea from time to time at Stanza and Stanza, even the directors,' said Charles. Flora felt very pleased:Charles had referred to her as a director – yes! At five to nine Flora peered out of the window to see if anyone she knew had turned up, terrified she'dbe greeted by an entirely emptystreet. 'Argh!' she shouted.

‘What?' Charles came running.

‘About a million people! All queuing upoutside, clutching things.'

‘You'dbetter let them in then,' he said with a broad grin. 'They're all there because of you, you know. It's a good thing I told the local television news teamabout it. This'll be very good advertising for us. Do you need a handwith those doors?’

*

'It'sjust like it is on television,' said Virginia a couple of hours later.She was now in charge of the snack bar. Flora, justback from the supermarket, put two four- litrecontainers of milk down on the counter. 'Here you are. Thatshould keep you going for a bit, anyway. It's amazing! We'llhave made a fortune on the snacks alone.' 'A man wastelling me that he and his wife had driven all the way over from Trowbridge. Theywere so excited tohave their pot examined by Eric Someone.'

‘Oh,you mean the expert? He's awfully nice, isn't he. A real charmer.'

‘Theywere certainly very happy. Now, have you had anything to eat, Flora? You've been running about since the moment you got here, probably at sparrow'sfart, looking after everyone else.Let me make you a nice ham roll.’

Flora hadbeen dreaming of ham rolls since about ten a.m. when she'd remembered shehadn't had breakfast. Now she hadn't had lunch, either. 'That would be lovely. I keepseeing people coming away from here with their trays andI've had to stop myself mugging them. I'd love a cup of tea, too.'

‘I'llmake you a fresh one. Oh my goodness, look who's just come in.’

Floraturned round. 'Annabelle!' She instantly felt guilty, convinced Annabelle was goingto tell her off, although it was obvious the whole event was a stunning success.

‘It'sall right, she's not coming over,' said Virginia. 'She's seen Eric Someone and has gone over tohim.'

‘Phew. I'msure I should still be writing down people's names andaddresses and getting them to sign up to sell their treasures, or something moredirector-like.'

‘Keepingus supplied is very important, and Louisa's doing a great job, now her mother's come to take her little boy home. Don't you worry about Annabelle.’

Floradidn't know her mixed feelings about Annabelle were quiteso apparent. 'It was really kind of Louisa to come in on one of her days off.'

‘It'sall hands to the pump at Stanza and Stanza - or it is now you've joinedus.'

‘Virginia!That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me!'

‘It'sonly the truth. Annabelle, on the other hand, doesn't show anything likeyour commitment.'

‘Butit's different for her.' Flora tried to be fair. 'It's only her fiancé'sbusiness, not hers.'

‘Sheknew what she was taking on when they got engaged, though.'

‘Whenyou're in love, you don't always take practical things intoconsideration.’

Virginiafrowned. Flora was aware that all around thempeople were busy and felt guilty for wasting time, but