The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer Page B

even years later.
     
    ~~EMMA~~
    It was certainly Harriet’s week for flowers. A couple of days after the photo shoot, she received another bouquet, this time at Highbury Foods. Marie from Reception brought it up to my office.
    At first I thought it might be from Philip again. But it was inferior to his in every way: size, style, quality of wrapping paper and the flowers themselves. Harriet buried her face in them, breathing in their non-existent scent.
    I couldn’t help staring. ‘Good grief, I’ve never seen blue carnations before.’
    She looked up and grinned. ‘I bet it’s because I support Saffend United.’
    ‘ This came with them, Darren’s waiting downstairs for the answer.’ Marie held out a rather grubby-looking white envelope.
    I resisted a strong temptation to snatch it out of her hand. ‘Darren?’
    ‘ Darren Griffiths, he’s a driver with Abbey Mill Haulage.’
    I knew immediately who’d sent the flowers.
    Harriet placed the bouquet carefully on her desk, opened the envelope and read the note inside, over and over again. Then she lifted shining eyes to mine. ‘They’re from Rob.’
    As if I hadn’t worked that one out! I moved swiftly into action. ‘Marie, perhaps you could go and see if Darren wants a coffee or something, while Harriet thinks about her answer. We’ll call you when it’s ready.’
    As soon as Marie had gone, I said casually to Harriet, ‘Any particular reason for the flowers?’
    ‘ You can read his note if you like, it’s so-o-o sweet.’
    The note was on cheap paper and the handwriting rather immature, but I could tell he’d given it a lot of thought; there wasn’t a single spelling mistake or crossing out.
     
    Dear Harriet,
    I’ve been thinking a lot about Tuesday night, especially when we went back to your place. If only the girls hadn’t come home early and if only you weren’t sharing your room with Sharon’s friend until she moves into her own house …
    Anyway, these flowers are to say ‘I love you’. They reminded me of your fantastic eyes as well as Southend United.
    Also, Alison told me this morning that she and Tony can’t go to Amsterdam this weekend after all. Like the kind big sister she is, she’s offering me and you their places on the trip. Please, please say yes. You know what it means – two whole days to relax in each other’s company (oh, and with ten other people from the pub quiz team!) and two nights in a nice hotel room together, say no more.
    I could have asked you about this over the phone but I didn’t want you to feel pressured. Just let me know as soon as possible if you can come.
    Love,
    Rob.
     
    Harriet bobbed up and down on her chair. ‘Don’t you think it’s a good letter, Emma?’
    ‘ Ye-e-es, I do,’ I said slowly. ‘Surprisingly good, someone must have helped him write it. I’ve never really spoken to the man, but I wouldn’t have thought him capable of this. On the other hand, there are men who can hardly string two words together, but express themselves quite nicely on paper.’ I handed the note back to her.
    ‘ What do you think I should do?’ I was pleased to hear a hint of doubt in her voice.
    I picked up the proposal she’d been typing for me. ‘Do? Oh, Harriet, you ask the strangest questions. Let him know as soon as possible, as he says.’
    ‘ But what shall I say? And shall I do it over the phone?’
    ‘ I would write, since Darren’s loitering around downstairs anyway. And be absolutely clear, give him no room to misunderstand you. You know, “really honoured … sorry to disappoint … no future in the relationship”. That sort of thing.’ I went quickly through into my room.
    She came after me and stood at the door round-eyed. ‘You mean – say no ?’
    ‘ What else? I thought you were just asking me the best way to say it.’
    She chewed her lip.
    ‘ So you were going to say yes?’ I hoped I sounded suitably incredulous.
    ‘ I – I don’t know. What would you do if you were