Authors: Angela Verdenius
“Lay it on the line, sister,” Del replied.
“Say it like it is.” Ash smiled.
“Don’t hold back on my account,” Dee said.
Molly placed her sandwich down. “Look, I was scared to commit to Kirk, but I did, and look where that got me.”
“Shotgun wedding.”
“No, you idiot. Well, yes, but it also got me the most perfect man in the world, a baby coming-”
“A white rat and two chooks,” Del added unhelpfully.
“And a life I wouldn’t trade for anything.” Molly softened. “Sometimes you just have to put it out there.”
“I did,” Dee said. “Three times.”
Molly dropped her forehead onto the table.
“Okay, okay. Fine. I can see what you’re saying.”
“Thank God.” Molly’s voice was muffled. “I couldn’t do this again.”
“Well, Del’s not hooked up yet,” Ash pointed out.
“Oh, Jesus help me.”
Ignoring Molly, Del gazed at Dee. “So, you’re going to give him a chance?”
“I’m going to think about it,” she replied cautiously.
Molly didn’t raise her head from the table. “Someone shoot me.”
“I’m not someone who trusts easily, okay? It takes a little time.”
“For crying out loud, you’re killing me!”
“Maybe you need to learn to meditate.”
Molly lifted her head to glare at her.
“Wow. Okay.” Dee held her hands up, palms outwards. “I’m thinking about it okay? Chill, Morrison.”
Molly looked oddly at her, then a slow smile spread across her pretty face.
“What?”
“I said that to Kirk not long after I met him. Maybe that’s an omen.” Molly looked at Del. “It’s an omen, right?”
“Sure, you go with that.” Del patted her hand.
“So, change of subject.” Ash pointed at Dee’s arm. “What’re the police thinking of those broken pots?”
“No clues.” Relieved to be off the subject of Ryder and feelings in general, Dee fingered the water proof dressing lightly. “The jerk didn’t leave any calling cards.”
“Huh.” Molly frowned. “Do they think its kids?”
“Your husband is a copper, hasn’t he told you?”
“Kirk doesn’t discuss his cases with me.”
“He’s your husband.”
“Some things are confidential.”
“So shag it out of him. You’re good at that.”
“Has Kirk been boasting of my sexual prowess?”
“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Del said.
“I can,” Ash replied dryly.
Dee’s eyes narrowed. “Confidentiality may be true, but I also know people in stressful jobs discuss things with their spouses.”
Molly huffed, glanced away.
“I bet he’s discussed things with you before.”
“I’m not saying a word. You can beat me with a broomstick and I wouldn’t say.”
“How about a tree trunk? Bet you’d squeal like a pig then.” When Molly just cut her eyes sideways at her, Dee grinned. “I bet Kirk says some things to you, and you’re as closed-mouthed as he is. I respect that.”
“Really?” Molly’s eyes widened. “You respect me?”
“Let’s not get too carried away. I said I respect the fact that you can keep your mouth shut. Big difference.”
“Thank God. I was thinking you’d been replaced with an alien overnight.”
“I might actually take the respect bit back.”
“Too late.” Molly popped the last of the sandwich in her mouth, spraying out a few crumbs as she said, “Truthfully, you know as much as I do about this vandalism. They have no clue.”
Del and Ash looked at Dee.
“Bet I know,” Dee muttered.
“Yvonne?” Del circled the rim of her soft drink can thoughtfully. “You really think she’d do this?”
“You don’t?”
“I’m not sure.”
“The mad bitch ran me off the road awhile ago. Do I think she would break some pots as well? Hell yeah.”
“The police know, so undoubtedly they’ll talk to her,” Ash said.
Dee glanced at Del.
“Oh shit.” Molly frowned. “You did tell Kirk about Yvonne, didn’t you?”
“Sure.”
“Dee!”
“I said I’d pissed her off. Yes, I told him. Geez, what kind of an idiot do you think I am?”
“You want me to answer that truthfully?”
“Do you want me to hit you with a tree trunk?”
“Girls,” Ash said warningly. “No violence, especially towards a pregnant woman.”
Molly smiled smugly.
“I can wait until after the sprog has sprouted,” Dee said. “In fact, I’ll pencil you in on my calendar.” The door bell jingled and with a sigh Dee got to her feet. “Duty calls.”
“Yeah, we better get back to work as well.” Molly stood and started collecting the lunch wrappings while Ash picked up the empty tins.
Dee strode out, only to falter at the sight of the woman standing by the counter. Tall, slim, regal, neat black hair in a shiny bob that just brushed her shoulders, dressed in a pair of tight-fitting jeans and pale pink blouse, a pair of high-heeled sandals on her elegant feet.
Hells bells, Mrs Montague was in her shop.
“Uh oh,” Del breathed from behind her. “Ryder’s mum.”
“It’s all good.” Taking a deep breath, Dee plastered a smile on her face and resumed walking.
Mrs Montague looked towards her, and it was like looking at a feminine Ryder. Where her son was sinfully handsome, Mrs Montague was a stunning beauty. Her son might be one of the most eligible bachelors in town, not to mention outlying towns, but Mrs Montague had been one of the most sort-after single women in her younger days. In fact, there were a few men who wouldn’t have minded having a fling with her now even though she had been happily married for years and was devoted to her family.
The only difference between her son and her was that Ryder had been happy to bed the female population since he was a teenager, whereas his mother had been very prim and proper. Ryder’s father, on the other hand, had been a bit of a player like his son in his younger days, though thankfully he’d settled down. No man would be fool enough to dally on the side when he had a wife like Mrs Montague. One - he was too deeply in love with his wife, two - he was devoted to his family, three - she’d kill him if he ever thought to dally. Three good reasons to settle down.
“Hello, dear,” Mrs Montague greeted Dee.
“Hi, Mrs Montague.” Dee slipped behind the counter, feeling a little safer with the bulk of it between her and Ryder’s mother. “What can I do for you today?”
Mrs Montague smiled as Dee’s friends and cousin sidled past. “Hello, girls.”
“Mrs Montague,” they all chorused respectfully.
Cripes, it was like being at school all over again, wondering what one of the adults was wanting with the kids.
As Mrs Montague turned to face Dee again, Molly and Ash slipped out the door, Del following, but not before she looked at Dee, made a phone gesture with her thumb to her ear and little finger to her lips, pointed to Mrs Montague’s back and mouthed “Call me”.
Ignoring her cousin, Dee smiled politely at Mrs Montague.
“I won’t mess around, dear,” Mrs Montague said. “You’re seeing my son.”
“Not really.” Dee managed not to let the smile slip. “Kind of.”
“He spent the night with you.”
“Extenuating circumstances, I assure you.”
“You cared for him while he was sick. I thank you for that.”
“No worries.”
Play it cool
.
“I was very surprised one of his Aunts couldn’t look after him.”
“They were unwell.”
“He has a lot of friends.”
“I’m sure a lot of the ladies would have loved to play nurse.” Dee bit her lip and coloured when those dark blue eyes, so like her son’s, levelled on her. “I mean…”
“I know what you mean, dear,” Mrs Montague said coolly. “Ryder’s made quite an impression around town and beyond.”
Geez, that was putting it mildly.
“However, it was you who stepped in and looked after him, even made him take medicine which was a miracle in itself.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
That level gaze ran over her face assessingly. “Friends.”
“Since childhood.”
“I know since when. But Dee, my son no longer thinks of you as just a friend.”
“Um…” Dee didn’t know where to look or what to say.
Mrs Montague continued in a perfectly reasonable, no-nonsense tone. “That boy has finally made the best decision of his life. Took him awhile to wake up to the fact that the woman for him was right in front of his face this entire time. He’s a bit of a
dumb arse
at times.”
Uh oh. Dee swallowed.
“But know this, Dee, he may be a
dumb arse
at times, but once he’s laid his heart at a woman’s feet, he won’t ever stray.”
Crap on a stick, she couldn’t believe Ryder’s mother was actually talking to her like this, it was damned uncomfortable. Not to mention a little freaky.
Mrs Montague looked her right in the eye. “I’d be proud to have you as my daughter-in-law.”
Jesus! Dee’s face reddened. “Mrs Montague, I…um…look, this is a little awkward.”
Mrs Montague arched one elegant brow.
“I’m not so sure Ryder really cares for me like that.”
“Cares? Dee, he does more than care for you.”
“I’m not totally convinced-”
“Don’t worry, you will be.”
“Mrs Montague, I-”
The door bell jingled and they both looked around to see a huge bunch of roses walk through the door. Actually, it looked like a huge bunch of multi-coloured roses, but there was someone staggering under the load.
Dee gaped. “What the hell…?”
“Delivery for Dee Miller,” a man’s voice came from behind the bouquet.
Mrs Montague started smiling as she stepped aside.
The huge bouquet was dumped on the counter to reveal a slightly breathless man. “You Dee Miller?”
“Well, yeah-”
“Thank God. Oh, before I forget.” He dug a small envelope from his top pocket and handed it to her.
“Wait a minute.” Dee took the envelope. “Where are the roses from? We don’t have a florist here.”
“Ellor’s Loop.” The man grinned. “Some man is really sweet on you, Ms Miller.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You came all the way from Ellor’s Loop? That’s a two hour drive!”
“Yep. Got the order this morning, bloke said no excuses he wanted the roses delivered today, he wanted every rose he ordered even if we had to get them from other florists and raid every rose bush in town, they had to be aromatic and they had to be in one bunch.” The man winked. “Lucky girl.” He walked out.
Dee looked at the huge bouquet of roses.
“Ten dozen roses, all colours, mix of buds and full blown.” Mrs Montague sighed dreamily. “Ryder takes after his Dad. What a sweet boy.”
The roses were beautiful, their fragrance filling the air, their colours brightening the shop.
Warmth filled Dee, swelling out from her heart, and she reached to touch one delicate petal. Cripes, Ryder had actually paid for this huge bouquet and had it delivered from Ellor’s Loop. He’d never done that for any of the women he’d dated in the past. He’d given them a small posy, sure, a bunch of flowers from the small bouquets that filled the buckets outside the service station and in the supermarket, but this? Never.
“And you think he only cares for you?” Mrs Montague grinned widely. “Think again, Dee.”
A blush reddened Dee’s cheeks. “Um…I have to take these upstairs and get them in water.”
“You do that.” Mrs Montague plopped her handbag on the counter. “I’ll watch the shop.”
“What?”
“Well, you said it yourself, dear. Those roses need water. Go upstairs and get them into vases and I’ll watch the shop.” When Dee just gaped at her, she flapped her hands. “Shoo, dear. Now.”
There really wasn’t much choice. Dee didn’t want the roses to wilt, and she needed someone to watch the shop unless she locked the front door for several minutes.
“Thanks Mrs M.” She gathered up the roses, which made for a heavy load, and staggered down the aisle, through the kitchenette at the back and up the stairs.
By the time she reached the kitchen, she was a little breathless. Okay, the huge bouquet was sweet, heart-warming, made her feel special, but man, they were also bloody awkward in such a huge bunch.
She had to dig out every vase she owned, which was a grand total of three, so she added a glass jug and a couple of over-sized plastic mugs her sister-in-law had given her the previous Christmas.
Finally the roses filled the flat, vases and jug and mugs scattered in the lounge, kitchen, one in the bedroom and one on the sideboard on the landing. The air held the perfume of roses, the brightness of the colours a delight to the eye.