Collette Bonnar's short stories: The Mystery Valentine

“She’s in one of her moods again,” Wendy groaned.

“What’s new?” Chloe raised her eyes.

“Ah well, Valentine’s Day is around the corner, maybe she’ll brighten up when she gets the red roses from her mystery man,” Pamela declared.

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In Drury’s Department Store, a few of the staff were having their mid-morning break in the canteen. Mildred Drury was the boss and proprietor of the thriving ladies department store in the bustling town of Ardlone. She was in her early forties and still single.

In the past, she never appeared to have a man in her life but that seemed to have changed in recent years. Large bouquets of flowers and bunches of red roses started to arrive on her birthday and Valentine’s Day, bringing a smile to her otherwise sour face. While she was an astute business woman she was known as a battle-axe in the workplace. Speculation was rife among her employees as to who the mystery suitor might be, but she led a very private life and the guessing game was ongoing.

Unbeknownst to her staff, there had been a man in her life some years previously. But the relationship had manifested in a bitter experience that left Mildred Drury shaken and disillusioned for a long time…

She thought Mike Thornton was ‘the one.’ He was charming, good-looking, showered her with compliments and rang her daily.

He dined her in very swish restaurants and plied her with gifts. That year she was looking forward to a romantic dinner on Valentine’s night in a nice upmarket restaurant. However, on the morning before Valentine’s Day Mike rang to say that he would have to cancel their dinner date. But he told her that he would be sending her an extra special delivery from the florist.

She hurried home on Valentine’s evening, eager to receive the romantic gesture and message. Perhaps he’s planning to surprise me and have a little velvet box with the sparkler in among the roses, she thought optimistically even though marriage never came up in their conversation. She waited patiently for over an hour and finally when the doorbell rang, her heart leapt as she rushed to answer it. She was expecting to see the florist’s van parked outside but was flabbergasted to see a very angry, tall, blonde woman who thundered at her. “Are you Mildred Drury?”

“I am,” Mildred answered, stunned.

“I’m Patti Thornton. I suppose you were expecting a large bunch of expensive red roses,” she spat, her face contorted with rage.

“Well…” Mildred stammered.

“If you want them they’re in the bin at No 10 Foxes Grove, Kilbracken - where he lives with me - his wife and four children. I’ve heard all about you. My friends were right. You are no oil painting. You’re just one pathetic and desperate woman.” She was now screeching at the dumbstruck Mildred. “The florist assumed the flowers were for me, my not-so-bright husband forgot to address the card. Huh! He didn’t forget to write the card though - no mistaking the handwriting. Darling Mildred. Indeed.”

Her voice dripping with sarcasm, now rose to a blood-curdling yell. Patti Thornton, incensed, shook her fist at the bewildered and badly-shook Mildred. “Stay away from Mike, ‘cos if you don’t I’ll picket your shop with a placard… THIS SAD LOSER STOLE MY HUSBAND. We’ll see how that helps your business.” With that, the scorned wife stormed off into the February night.

Since then, Mildred Drury gave all men a wide berth. However, in recent years her young employees were intrigued to see flowers arriving for Miss Drury on special occasions. There was a lot of discussion as to who the man in her life might be.

“Probably married.” She overheard one of them whisper one day.

Perish the thought, she shuddered as her mind drifted to Mike Thornton.

A few days before Valentine’s Day, Chloe was in the stockroom pricing dresses. Mildred walked in but didn’t see her as Chloe was hidden from view by the rails of clothes.

Suddenly, Miss Drury’s mobile phone went off. “Oh, thank you for returning my call,” she gushed. “Oh, don’t apologise. I understand how busy you are at this time of year. Yes, it’s the same as before but would you mind making it two dozen and can you put in one of those cute little red teddy bears.” She then gave a girlish giggle. “Yes, the one that says; I love you and the message on the card is as usual. I think you have my credit card details from last time.”
Mildred Drury snapped the phone shut and went off to her office.

Mystery solved, Chloe thought as she crept out of the stockroom and back to the shop floor. She wondered what the other girls would say if she told them. Her thoughts drifted to her own fiancée and the happy Valentine’s Day they would have together. A deep sense of pity swept over her for her boss.

As she joined her cheery workmates, Chloe resolved that the mystery Valentine would remain just that. A mystery.