“Really, it was fine. Mack from next door came in and had a word with the boys, and whatever she said worked. They said sorry and lined up to pay, as good as gold.”

“I’m glad she was there.”

Flora was too. The rest of the day yesterday, she kept thinking about what happened in the shop. Usually she tortured herself over what she should have done or said, but this time, Mack swept into her thoughts and banished the tortured what-ifs, just as she had done yesterday, and the first time Flora met her.

Mack hadn’t swept in and threatened violence. She just had a quiet confidence that exuded power and made all the kids behave. The image of Mack standing at the end of the counter, arms folded and silent, just monitoring the kids, made her heart flutter and a surge of excitement rush through her. And when Mack winked at her? Her stomach twisted and turned in a pleasant way.

She’d always found confidence attractive, since she had none, and Mack exuded the stuff without even trying. How amazing would it be to feel that way, just for a second?

“Flo?”

Flora didn’t notice that she had been lost in her thoughts. “Sorry?”

“Is there anything you’d like me to do first?”

“Would you mind doing me a favour?” Flora asked.

“Anything, what do you need?”

“If I make up some sweets, would you take them next door, just to say thank you?”

Sandra smiled. It was out of character for her to try to make a connection with someone, and Sandra was probably pleased and surprised.

“That’s a nice idea. Aye, what are you going to give her?”

“She mentioned that she loved raspberry fizz bombs,” Flora said.

“Fizz bombs? Interesting choice for an adult.”

Flora laughed. “It is, isn’t it?”

Sandra looked at her strangely.

“What is it?” Flora asked.

“You seem—I don’t know, happier, lighter today.”

“Do I?” Flora hadn’t noticed until that moment that she was. She was distracted and not doing her OCD rituals quite as much. Of course as soon as she acknowledged that in her own head, the urge to do them came roaring back.

Flora always tried to be as discreet as possible around Sandra, but she was sure she had noticed over the years. Thankfully, Sandra never brought it up.

“I better get the sweets together.” Flora turned away and picked up two of the glass gift jars. As well as normal bags of sweets and boxes of chocolates, Sweet Surprise supplied nice glass jars that customers could fill with sweets of their choice as a gift. She filled up the jar with fizz bombs and then took out a bag from under the till. On her way to work, Flora had picked up a few bags of dog treats.

“Dog treats?” Sandra said.

“Yes, for Mack’s little dachshund, Dexter. She mentioned him when she was here.”