Love in Bloom (34 page)

 

 

I
T WAS PROM
week and the phone was ringing off the hook at Changing Seasons Floral. Hope loved doing corsages and boutonnieres for dances. She loved seeing the high schoolers come in to pick up their orders. The boys came in alone or by twos, venturing into the shop like nervous explorers checking out a foreign world. The girls always came in groups, giggling and excited, eyes shining with anticipation.

Hope still remembered her prom night. She'd never owned a dress as beautiful before or since. She'd wanted to go with Jonathan Edwards, the great love of her life who didn't know she was alive—was there a pattern here?—but she'd settled for going with her buddy Joe Green, and she'd had a great time. And Joe had treated her like a princess. Of course, it had been the prom dress. And the night. Prom night was always magical.

So, now, to help with the magic, Hope made each prom offering
with special care and slipped a small Andes mint into the plastic container, along with a tiny slip of paper with “Dance with all your heart” printed in italics.

“I love that saying,” Bobbi sighed as they worked side by side. “What a great way to live.”

“Yep,” Hope agreed.

“For both of us,” Bobbi added, subtle as a boulder.

Hope leveled a scolding look at her. “I'm living just fine, don't worry. So, don't even think about
helping
me again or your life is going to be considerably shortened.”

Bobbi's face reddened. “I just wanted you to be happy.”

“Well, you completely mortified me by taking that poem to Jason. That was private.” If ever two people needed to stop helping each other, it was them.

“Maybe he needed to know who's really right for him,” said Bobbi, who was still having a hard time admitting she'd done something wrong.

“Now he thinks I'm like some dopey thirteen-year-old with a crush, so thanks a lot. I was so humiliated. I thought I'd die.”

Bobbi kept her focus firmly on the carnations she was wiring together. “I made a mess of everything. I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me you wanted him in the first place? I'd have backed off.”

“He already wanted you, so what was the point?”

“He just thought he wanted me. But what he was getting wasn't really me, anyway. It was you.”

“It doesn't matter anymore anyway,” Hope said with a shrug. “Doesn't it?”

Her sister's all-knowing stare made Hope squirm. The bell over the shop door jingled. “I'll get it,” she said, glad to get away.

But then she emerged from behind the theater curtain and saw Jason Wells walking toward her and wanted to turn tail and run into the back room. Looking at him made her think of some labor
negotiator coming to the table reluctantly. Why was he here? Her heart went into overdrive.

She smoothed her sweaty palms on the back of her pants and forced herself to look calm and polite. “Can I help you?”

He nodded. “I want to order some flowers.”

Okay. He was taking advantage of her peace offering. Good. She nodded. “Who are they for?”

“My grandmother. It's her birthday tomorrow.”

She opened up an order document on her computer. “What would you like to send?”

“She likes chrysanthemums. What do those stand for?”

Hope felt her face flaming. “Truth.” She looked up to see him cocking an eyebrow at her and hurried on, “It's still just a little early for those. How about a pot with herbs—sage for wisdom, rosemary for long life, thyme for strength and courage.”

He nodded, satisfied. “That'll do. Where'd you learn all this, anyway?”

“I found a book at a garage sale years ago.”

“All those books I made the bookcase for were yours.” He didn't necessarily say it accusingly—more like a discovery he wanted to share.

But Hope felt the weight of her deception. She bit her lip and nodded.

“Well, I'm glad it's getting used.” He stood there for a moment, looking almost as awkward as she felt. Then he cleared his throat and said, “My grandmother's in Oregon. You can see she gets that by tomorrow, right?”

“Of course.”

He pulled out his wallet. “Put it on my MasterCard.”

“No. This one's on the house. Remember?”

“You can't stay in business that way,” he said, pushing his charge card at her.

Hope kept her hands firmly on the computer keyboard. “My business is fine.”
It's my life that's a mess
.

He set the charge card on the counter. “I insist.”

“Take your card when you go. You don't want someone stealing it,” she said as she walked into her back room.

She practically trampled Bobbi, who was jumping away from the curtain as fast as she could. “Were you spying on me?” she hissed.

“Spying is a strong word,” Bobbi answered.

They'd gotten into this mess because Bobbi had insisted Hope take an interest in her love life. They weren't going to repeat that pattern in reverse. “Now, look,” Hope began sternly.

The phone rang and Bobbi snagged the workroom extension. Saved by the bell. “It's for you.”

“Were you with a customer?” asked Millie.

“No. This is a perfect time, especially for my sister. You just saved her from strangulation.”

“Well, I'm glad I could be of ser vice to your sister. I'm calling to ask a little favor.”

“Sure. Name it.”

“I'm hoping you'll keep an eye on my garden. I'll be gone for a few days.”

“Oh? Where are you going?”

“On a cruise.” Millie's voice trembled with excitement.

“A cruise? With who?” And then Hope knew. “Altheus, the boy toy.”

“Not exactly,” Millie corrected her. “Altheus the husband.”

“You're getting married? Oh, my gosh. That's fabulous!”

“Who's getting married?” asked Bobbi.

“Millie, from the garden.”

“Millie? That's the one who just turned seventy-five, isn't it?”

“Seventy-seven,” Hope corrected her.

“Wow. Go, Millie.”

“Does your daughter know?” Hope asked.

“No. We're eloping.”

Eloping at seventy-seven. Hope couldn't help grinning. “It sounds really romantic.”

“It is. He is. I'm so happy. I feel like a girl again.”

“And I'm happy for you. When did this all happen?”

“Tuesday night. He gave me a ring for my birthday.”

“And you're just now calling?” Hope teased.

“I've been so busy. We had announcements to send to our friends, and Altheus insisted on buying me a trousseau. I swear, I'm almost overwhelmed. I didn't get out of bed until an hour ago.”

Millie in bed all morning? That wasn't like her. “Are you feeling okay?” Hope asked.

“I'm more than okay.”

Being more than okay couldn't happen to a better person. “When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow,” Millie said breathlessly.

“You tell Altheus to come in this afternoon then. I'll have something for both of you.”

“Thank you, dear, that's terribly sweet of you.”

“My pleasure,” Hope said. “And I really am happy for you.” Not to mention inspired. If Hope ever reached that age, would she be a Millie, always reaching out for something new?

She probably shouldn't wait to find out. “I think I'll take a cruise this summer,” she decided as she hung up.

“By yourself?” Bobbi sounded totally disgusted.

“I'm sure not going to wait for the perfect man to come along. And speaking of men.”

“You know, I think we need a frap,” Bobbi said, edging for the curtain. “Want a caramel frappuccino, caffeine free? Okay, I'll be right back.”

“You owe me fraps for life,” Hope called after her. “And maybe
we'll be even,” she muttered. “Maybe, but probably not.” It was a good thing they were related, otherwise Bobbi would be dead.

 

MILLIE CALLED DEBRA
at work on Friday morning from the deck of the ms
Amsterdam
, using the new Jitterbug Altheus had given her. “Hello, dear. I'm sorry to bother you at work, but I thought I should let you know I won't be home for a few days, so you and the children are on your own.”

“What do you mean you won't be home?” Debra demanded. “Mom, where are you?”

“Well, right now, I'm on a cruise ship, and we're about to depart for Alaska.”

“Alaska!” Debra shrieked. “We who?”

“Altheus and I. The captain of the ship is marrying us this afternoon.”

“Mom, you can't just run off and marry this man. Get off that boat. I'll come get you.”

“No, you won't, and yes, I can,” Millie said, and smiled at Altheus, who hugged her. “Don't worry about my things. I'll come pack them and take them to the new house when we get back. You'll love Altheus's house, by the way. It's right on the lake. We'll have you all over for dinner.”

“Mom!”

“I have to go now,” Millie said, and hung up on her daughter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

O
N MONDAY, THE
shop bell jingled. Hope looked up from where she and Bobbi were stocking the cooler case to see Jason making his way past the arrangements of sunflower miniatures, the red and pink gerberas, and dancing balloons.

She wasn't surprised to see him. Unnerved, but not surprised. Even before she looked up, she'd felt his presence. It was as if the shop suddenly was flooded with testosterone. He was wearing his usual work wear: boots, jeans, a shirt thrown carelessly over a T-shirt. The only thing missing was the tool belt. He'd probably shed that back at the work site. She suddenly had a vision of a male stripper at a party. The tool belt's gone. What's coming off next? The shirt, of course. Jason Wells without a shirt, that had to be an amazing sight.

Oh, bad line of thought. Here came those nervous tremors. She ran a hand through her hair. What was he doing here, anyway?

“Hi, Jason,” Bobbi managed.

He nodded at her and offered a polite hello, then said to Hope, “I need some flowers.”

“You just bought flowers last week,” she informed him.
Way to be a good businesswoman
.

“I know. I need some more, for my secretary. Secretary's Day,” he added.

“That's in April,” Hope informed him.

“I forgot. I have to make it up to her.” He grabbed a beribboned pot brimming with Gerber daisies. “I'll take these.”

“Okay,” Hope said, moving toward the cash register.

“So, what do these mean?” he asked, setting the pot on the counter.

“They can symbolize several things,” Hope said, double-checking the price on the pot. “Innocence, purity.”

“Scratch that. She's gone through two husbands.”

“They also symbolize loyalty and cheer.”

“I guess they'll work,” he said.

“They should. Everyone needs cheer,” Hope said. She wished she could think of something else to say. Why couldn't she think of anything?

He had his charge card out now. “I'm paying this time.”

“I probably owe you flowers for life.”

He half-smiled and shook his head. “Somebody does,” he said, looking in Bobbi's direction.

Bobbi, who had been shamelessly eavesdropping, turned as red as the gerberas and got back to work stocking the cooler case.

Hope felt her face warming, too. Guilty by association.

He scooped up the flowers. “Thanks. I guess I'm done here.”

“I guess so,” Hope agreed.

“Come back anytime,” Bobbi called after him as he left the shop.

Hope leaned on the counter and watched, mentally drooling, as he walked past the window.

“He's interested in you,” said Bobbi.

“That's ridiculous. He couldn't be. He was just interested in you.”

“So? Men are like dogs. They're easily distracted.”

“Look who's talking,” said Hope.

Bobbi made a face at her. “Anyway, he only thought he was interested in me.” She shrugged. “All we'd have had in common was sex. He'd have figured that out eventually and moved on.”

“How do you know Duke won't do that?”

“Because he'll never find a better dance partner than me.” Bobbi's eyes turned dreamy. “Duke's amazing.”

“You said that about Jason,” Hope reminded her.

“I know I made a mistake with Jason,” Bobbi said. “I got confused because he looked right. But Duke, he feels right. I could spend my whole life with that man and never get tired of him. And I don't have to worry about being what he wants. I just am.”

“That's as good a description of love as I've ever heard,” Hope admitted. “But is he a commitment kind of guy?”