She thought about what it would mean. The Lake District. Lakes. On the other hand, there would also be Molly. Spending time with her would be so much fun. And Jack. And it would give her a chance to get to know Izzy a little better in a more informal atmosphere. Maybe it would be easier away from her own territory.

She’d just make sure to stay clear of all water activities.

“All right.” Decision made, she felt a rush of excitement. “I’ll talk to Celia.”

“Your boss didn’t strike me as the most sympathetic of people. Will she say yes?”

Flora thought about all the weekends she’d worked, all the holidays, and the number of times she’d slogged to the flower market when her colleagues were too hungover or too generally lazy to show up. “I think she’ll say yes.”

Surely Celia would be reasonable when Flora pointed out how flexible she’d been? The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to go with Jack and his girls. By the time she arrived back at work she was fired up and determined.

“Celia, could I please have a word?”

“Not now,” her boss said. “I have four—”

“Now,” Flora said, surprising both of them with the force of her tone.

She almost apologized for sounding so assertive but then realized that you couldn’t be firm one minute and wobbly the next. If she was doing this, she was doing this.

“I wondered if it might be possible to—” pathetic, pathetic. She stopped in midsentence and lifted her chin. “I need to take three weeks off from the middle of July.”

Celia frowned. “Is this some sort of joke?”

Flora’s heart beat faster. Celia wasn’t happy, and Flora preferred people to be happy. But Celia wasn’t her aunt. Flora didn’t owe her anything except her dedication as an employee. And she’d gone way beyond that.

It was time she grabbed a little happiness for herself. “It’s no joke.”

“Staff are allowed a maximum of a week at a time.”

“I know, but I took no vacation time at all last year, and I have worked most weekends and every holiday for—” she searched her brain “—actually since I started working here.”

“You’re seriously asking me for three weeks off?” Celia’s expression was so threatening that Flora had an almost overwhelming urge to apologize and back down. Three weeks? You’re right, it’s a ridiculous request. Ignore me.

But then she imagined Jack and the girls on vacation by themselves. Taking long walks in the forest, and enjoying lazy evenings under the stars. And she knew that if she backed down now, not only would she not get to go on vacation with Jack, but Celia would never stop giving her the armpit work slots.