Unforgettable Embrace (30 page)

“
What's the big deal?” Rachel asked, after Liz's yelp almost made her jump out of her skin. “Elemis products are made from the finest plant ingredients,” Liz explained, “they use organic herbs and seaweed extracts and blend them with natural oils. They always leave your skin in the most beautiful condition and the smell is divine.”

“
Is it worth nearly giving me a heart attack?” Rachel asked.

Liz paused for a moment for dramatic effect and then thoughtfully said, “hmm yes, I think so.” Rachel punched her playfully on the arm.

“
You'll really like this then,” Rachel said, reading aloud from the brochure, “apparently the spa also uses Spiezia Organics, which are made by a Cornish company using one hundred per cent organic ingredients. Their products have even been certified by the Soil Association for women, babies, men and home.”

“
Sounds good,” Liz said, “I didn't realise there was such a thing as a “soil association”.

“
Me neither,” Rachel said, “anyway, which treatments shall we book? What do you think Jen will like?”

“
Their “Runaway Ritual Pamper Day” sounds good,” Liz said.

“
Yeah, it does actually, and they've included the price of the bathrobe and towel. I usually rob them anyway, so that's a bit disappointing.”

“
Rachel!” Liz put on her shocked face. “I know you'd rob them too if you were brave enough,” Rachel laughed at her friend's face. “When I gave you those Molton Brown accessories I nicked from the hotel in Italy, you were more than happy to accept them, even though you knew for a fact they were stolen goods.”

Liz smiled sheepishly, “well they are gorgeous products.”

“
So which treatments are you going to treat yourself to?” Rachel asked.

“
I think I'd like the “Beauty and Light” Elemis taster facial and the “Heavenly Holistic” one hour Elemis massage,” Liz decided

. “Me too,” Rachel said, “I'll have to give these Elemis products a try after your raving over them.”

“
You will adore them, trust me,” Liz said. “I think we should book the Radiance Facial for Jen and the “Oh so Organic” treatment, whatever that means.”

“
It's quite expensive but she deserves it,” Rachel said.

“
She certainly does,” Liz agreed. “We can have a light lunch at the hotel for an extra five pounds each too.”

“
That's a good idea,” Rachel said, “we'll be so relaxed after all our treatments that we won't want to have to leave to get lunch somewhere else.

“
It looks like we've got everything sorted, finally,” Rachel said, closing her laptop. “I'll check my emails tomorrow and forward the itinerary details on to you and Holly. I'll text Jen to block the dates in her diary, cos it's going to be a surprise for her. I can't wait to see her face when we whisk her away to the airport. She probably thinks we're all just going to go and stay somewhere cheap and cheerful and drink too much champagne for the weekend.”

“
Not us,” Liz said, “we are sophisticated ladies who like to do things in style.”

“
I'm all for style,” Rachel said, “but we'll be having one or two drinks over the weekend too, as well as all our sophisticated indulgences. I'm not that much of a lady.”

“
Me neither,” Liz laughed.

Chapter 41

“
Hurry up, Batt, for goodness's sake!” Rachel snapped impatiently. “I'm about to keel over here waiting for you to get a move on. Do you have be so slow about everything?”

She was trying to pin streamers to the ceiling and was perched rather precariously on the top step of the ladder, with both arms stretched up over her head.

“
You know what, you can find the bloody pins yourself!” Batt shouted. “I've had about all I can take for one day of you and your bad mood. I'm sorry if you're stressed out. I do realise that opening your own business is plenty of reason to be on edge, but you have no right to take it out on me. I'm trying my best to help you. Let me know when you've calmed down,” and with that he stormed out of the shop, slamming the door so violently behind him that the windows rattled.

Rachel almost fell off the ladder in shock. She'd never seen Batt in a temper before, let alone raise his voice at her. This was their first fight. They'd never even exchanged a cross word prior to this outburst. Rachel knew their argument was her fault. She'd been very snippy all morning, biting the heads off Batt and Liz for the past few hours. She climbed carefully down from the ladder and put the streamers purposefully in a pile on the table. Then she sat down and promptly burst into tears.

“
What happened Rach? Whatever's the matter, girl?” Liz asked, rushing over to where her friend was sitting.

She'd left the shop less than half an hour earlier to buy the three of them soup and sandwiches for their lunch in the bakery next door and she was shocked to return to find her friend bawling her brains out. Rachel's initial sobs had now escalated into full blown wailing. She had tears and snot running rather unattractively down her face. Her makeup was all rubbed off and she had big black smudges under her eyes from her mascara. Liz stood and stared at her in silence for a few minutes, not knowing what to say to console her friend. Eventually, she offered her a tissue and a glass of water. Rachel gratefully took the tissue and loudly blew her nose. She took a few slow sips of the water, which helped to ease her sobs.

“
It's not as bad as it looks,” she said.

“
You do look like a bit of an alien head,” Liz smiled, “all red eyes and swollen lips.”

Rachel laughed at her description in spite of herself.

“
I'm just feeling sorry for myself. Everything's getting to me. Tomorrow's my grand opening and I'm nowhere near ready. I have to-do lists coming out of my ears that I'm avoiding looking at with the sheer number of things I still have left to do. I'm starting to panic that I won't have it all done in time.”

“
Don't be silly,” Liz said, putting an arm around her friend.

“
Of course you'll be ready. The opening is tomorrow evening at seven o' clock, that gives us eighteen hours to finish everything.”

“
Yeah, but we have to sleep and eat in that time too,” Rachel said, “so really we only have eight hours.”

“
We have plenty of time, girl,” Liz said reassuringly, “the rest of the deliveries are coming this afternoon, so we have all night to get them sorted. I don't mind missing out on my beauty sleep for one night if it means helping you.”

“
Ah, Liz, what would I do without you?” Rachel said, sniffing loudly.

“
Here get this down your neck,” Liz said, shoving soup and a sandwich at her friend. She wasn't a particularly demonstrative person and tended to get embarrassed when people were emotional around her.

The two friends sat together, in the middle of all the mayhem and mess, eating their lunch in companionable silence.

“
Where's Batt?” Liz asked, suddenly realising he was missing. “His soup's going to get cold and I've got my eye on his sandwich if he doesn't hurry up and eat it.”

“
He stormed out of here in a mood, just before you got back with the food,” Rachel sighed. “That's not like Batt,” Liz said, “he was in great form earlier, humming and singing away to himself.”

“
Well, in fairness, I think I snapped at him one too many times,” she explained. “It was all my fault. I was venting my stress at him and he didn't deserve it. I'm sorry for giving out to you too Liz. I know I've been a right meanie today.”

“
Nothing new there,” Liz said, laughing.

“
Oi, cheeky!” Rachel said, “I promise to be on my best behaviour for the rest of the afternoon.” “I should certainly hope so,” Liz said, grinning, “otherwise I might have to beat you.”

“
I think I'll text Batt and apologise to him too.” “Good idea,” Liz said, “in the meantime, I'll get stuck into the window display.”

Rachel dug her mobile phone out from the bottom of her handbag to text Batt an apology, only to find that he had already texted her.

“
I'm sorry for shouting at you,” he'd written, “ I know you've got a lot on your mind at the moment. I'll be back to help again later, just popping home to mend a fence and cool down. I love you.”

“
I'm sorry too,” Rachel texted back, “it's all my fault. Hurry back. I miss you and love you very much.”

Batt looked so vulnerable and slightly dishevelled as he stood in the shop door that Rachel's heart melted as soon as she saw him. Sometimes she felt such a strong wave of love for him wash over her that she thought her heart would burst. It was often at the seemingly most innocuous moments; like when he was concentrating on something or when he was telling her a story from his past, that she found herself falling more and more in love with him. She rushed over to him and gave him a big hug and a kiss.

“
I'm sorry,” she whispered in his ear.

He squeezed her tight and kissed her hair.

“
I'd love a cuppa,” he said, when she'd disentangled herself from his arms.

“
Coming right up,” she said.

“
I'll finish hanging those streamers,” he said, giving her a conciliatory look. She smiled at him and went and busied herself making the tea.

They worked late into the night to get the shop looking presentable for its grand opening. When they finally finished, it was half two in the early hours of the morning, but the shop looked amazing. Bouquets of flowers in every imaginable colour were bursting from every corner. Pretty streamers hung from the ceiling. The shop was painted in pastel colours of pale pink and baby blue. The window display was of toy Easter bunnies bouncing in between huge chocolate Easter eggs and big bunches of daffodils.

Rachel planned to give the bunnies and the eggs to the local hospital for sick children when her party was finished. The three of them stood back and surveyed their work, looking rather pleased with their efforts.

“
I can't thank either of you enough for all your help,” Rachel said.

“
I'm sure I'll think of a way that you can show me your appreciation later,” Batt said, a naughty look in his eye.

“
Ok, that's my cue to leave,” Liz said, gathering her bag and coat together. “I'll see you two lovebirds tomorrow. Rach, you can thank me with lots of free champagne tomorrow evening.” “Goodnight, Liz,” Rachel and Batt said, laughing.

Chapter 42

“
Congratulations, Rachel, darling, you've done a fabulous job with the place,” Trista said, air-kissing Rachel on each cheek. “I must get you to make up a few bouquets for the salon.”

Trista Fitzgerald-Smith owned the hairdressers across the street from Rachel's shop. She was full of her own importance but in spite of her slightly condescending airs and graces, Rachel couldn't help liking her. She was a glamorous breath of fresh air in the little town, but she was definitely one of those characters who you instantly either liked or disliked.

She was tall, at least six feet in her stockings, but she wore skyscraper heels which made her tower over everyone by another four inches. Her hair was jet black and cut in an immaculate bob. She never had a hair out of place. Her face was expertly made up, with perfectly arched black eyebrows and long, thick eyelashes. She always had a tan, which made her bleached white teeth even more blinding. She dressed a bit like a drag queen, all tight, cleavage-revealing tops and even tighter, short skirts. She had a stunning figure, thanks to regular pilates classes and aerobic workouts at the hotel gym.

“
You'd never think this body had popped out five babies,” she'd smiled, patting her toned stomach proudly, when Rachel complimented her on her figure.

“
Five children!” Rachel had exclaimed incredulously. “You've had five babies!”

Trista had laughed and taken her incredulity as a compliment. That was one of the things Rachel liked most about her. She laughed a lot and seemed to thoroughly enjoy life. She'd been one of the first people to welcome Rachel to the town, giving her the low down on the local characters, and tips on who to avoid and who to befriend. She'd given her advice on where to shop for the best local produce and had even given her a free haircut as a welcome present. She'd invited Rachel to her house for a “girlie night in” where they'd spent the evening watching “chick flicks” on television and drinking too much white wine. Rachel liked Trista's zest and exuberance for life, and enjoyed having a friend who lived and worked nearby.

Rachel's little shop was positively bursting with all the people who had turned up for her grand opening. It seemed as though the whole village had descended on her. The place was buzzing with lively chatter and music. She was delighted to have been asked to join the local small business association. She knew it would be an excellent way to network and hopefully gain more publicity.

Already, she had several orders for flowers for upcoming Easter events. The parish priest had asked her if she would like to arrange the flowers for the church and she'd even had someone ask if she'd consider giving flower arranging classes. She didn't know how she'd get it all done, and was beginning to think she'd have to hire a shop assistant at least on a part-time basis.