Now as she rested her head on her pillows, Constance allowed herself a moment to reflect on the evening. She’d so enjoyed the look on the other residents’ faces as she’d staged her grand entrance at dinner time. In her batik print finery, she’d glided—glided might be a stretch—made her way across the parquet floor in her beautiful ballet flats with her head held high knowing the ball of floss atop her head was now tamed into smooth rippling waves. She’d even been accosted over her bowl of summer pudding by Jean and Iris. They were desperate to know as to where she’d gotten her dress and who’d done her hair.
Jackie had done a marvelous job with Isabel too. She looked so pretty when she left the salon; she was a beautiful, bright butterfly that one. She wondered what Rhodri thought of her new look; she’d put money on romance being afoot there, not that either of them knew it yet. At the thought of the handsome young Rhodri, her eyes flitted over to the armchair against which the canvas Quarr rested. He’d kept his word and dropped it in. Constance was smitten with both Rhodri and his artwork and tomorrow she’d arrange for Bill, Sea Vistas’ jack of all trades, to hang the canvas for her. It had been so very generous of him, she thought as her eyes began to droop.
Ginny, inadvertently sending Isabel to her, had brought some colour back into a world that had become rather beige, she thought, pulling the covers up until they rested under her chin. Her last thought as she drifted off was that she could rest easy now she’d found the right person to pass Molly’s journal on to.
Chapter 33
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Isabel strode down the Esplanade. She’d just had a cup of tea with Constance and checking her phone she saw she still had plenty of time until she was due at the Rum Den. It was such a lovely day; she’d sit down by the pier and soak up a bit of sun while she could, she decided spying a spare bench seat. She glanced down at it with a frown and wondered if an albatross was responsible for the monstrosity deposited in the middle of it. She perched to the right to avoid getting the mess on her pants and leaned back enjoying the soft breeze. It was almost balmy today, and the water was twinkling, there were far worst places to while away half an hour, she thought.
The apple cider vinegar and cherry juice had been a resounding success, Constance had informed her cheerily that morning. She’d enjoyed her breakfast for the first time in a long while. The gout was no more, and Ronald had a new lease of life by the sounds of things. Isabel crossed her fingers upon hearing this; she hoped she wasn’t going to be asked to find a herbal equivalent for the little blue pill as Constance filled her in on how he’d taken to having a morning dip before breakfast. She was certain he timed it to cop a look at Nancy from three doors down, a sprightly figure in a one-piece swimsuit at a mere seventy-years-of-age.
Isabel jumped as her mobile rang and with a glance at the caller display she saw it was from Don.
Five minutes later she shoved her mobile back into her jeans pocket and got up from the seat. It seemed Molly’s remedies had procured another success with young Chloe having experienced pleasing results. Don had rung on his daughter’s behalf to place another order for more of the same insisting, however, that this time she must let him pay for it. It amused Isabel as she made her way toward Union Street that he saw her as his herb broker. Nothing was stopping him going to The Natural Way himself, but she was pleased he’d left it up to her. It gave her a reason to pop in on Delwyn and ask her how she’d enjoyed her night at the Rum Den.
Delwyn had called in for a drink as she’d said she would, and the timing had been perfect with Rhodri propping up the bar deep in conversation with Nico. Isabel had introduced her to them, and they’d chatted for ages, all seeming to hit it off.
‘Hi,’ Isabel called out, stepping inside The Natural Way. The shop was empty except for Delwyn who was stood with a perplexed expression marring her pretty features over a stack of boxes. They were piled in the middle of the shop, and she looked up from them with her hands on her hips to smile a greeting.
‘Hey, Isabel, good timing. I was just wondering where to start with this little lot the courier’s not long dropped in. I wasn’t expecting a delivery today, and you are the perfect excuse to ignore it for a bit longer.’
Isabel grinned back. ‘Glad to be of help.’
‘Are you here as friend or customer?’
‘Both. I’ve been asked to pick up more horsetail tea and honey, and I wanted to see if you enjoyed your night at the Rum Den. Oh, and before I forget, the apple cider vinegar and cherry juice have worked wonders on Ronald’s, from Sea Vistas, gout.’
‘That’s good to know, and I had a great time, thank you for introducing me properly to Rhodri and Nico. They’re a nice couple. I’m going to try my hand at a spot of pottery too. And what about you? You’ve got the beginnings of a cottage industry on the go with all your potions.’
‘I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s nice to know they were successful and that I’ve helped a little girl feel better and an old man for that matter too.’
‘It does make you feel good when your suggestions help
