Page 17 of Save the Dance

“We’re all set, then? Meet here in …” Jason waited for her answer.

“Five minutes?” she said, filling in the blank. “I just need to grab my camera and drop my laptop off in my room.” She glanced down, surprised to see that while they’d talked, she’d cleaned her plate.

“Terrific.” Jason grabbed his phone from the table. “I’ll wait for you in the foyer. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll let everyone know we’re on our way.” Their eyes met as he stood. For a long second, he lingered, his phone in his hand. Just when Tara was going to ask if he needed something else, he pressed the device to his ear and strode from the room.

Ten minutes later, Jason escorted her to a serviceable town car parked under the porte cochere. “We’ll start with a visit to one of my favorite places in Heart’s Landing, Forget Me Knot Flowers on Bridal Carriage. For over forty years, the shop has been a mainstay for brides who want only the best.”

Tara bit back a smile. Jason didn’t know it, but their first stop was sure to point out one of Heart’s Landing’s flaws. It’d be difficult for any florist, no matter how long they’d been around, to compete with New York’s flower district. At least once a week, she rose early and roamed up and down the aisles, choosing an exotic orchid for a friend’s birthday one time, assembling a bouquet of freshly picked wildflowers to brighten her cubicle at work another. So far from the hustle and bustle of the big city, she doubted Heart’s Landing could even offer half as many choices.

Her conviction suffered a minor setback a few minutes later, however, when she stepped beneath a rose-colored awning. She whipped out her camera, unable to pass up the chance to capture one of the prettiest table settings she’d ever seen. In the display window, floral swags created curtains around an elegant centerpiece that dripped orchids on satin ribbons from a stunning arrangement of ivory roses, hydrangeas, and wispy baby’s breath. From an open doorway came the heady scent of flowers and greenery.

Tara took a deep breath. Somewhere in the mix, she caught the sweet, sweet smell of hyacinth. The flowers grew everywhere in Savannah, and a wave of homesickness swept over her. How many Saturday afternoons had she and her mom spent on their knees in the flower beds around their home? Back then, she’d complained about the late-summer sun that had beaten down on her while she worked fresh compost into the soil, dug holes, and planted bulbs pointy-side up. But it had been worth every bit of effort when the hyacinths bloomed in the spring. Now, with Jason trailing in her wake, she followed their scent, wandering an aisle crowded with beautiful arrangements until she reached the counter where her favorite flower bloomed in clay pots.

“I’m Mildred Morey. Welcome to Forget Me Knot Flowers.” Her silvery hair shining, a woman wearing a green apron over a rounded middle stepped forward. “It’s such an honor to welcome you to Heart’s Landing.”

Tara wrenched her gaze from the flowers that reminded her so much of home. “You have a beautiful shop, Ms. Morey.”

“All my friends call me Mildred. I hope you will, too.” A pleased smile played about the owner’s lips. “As for Forget Me Knot, we do our best to give every bride her dream wedding. Flowers play a huge role in her special day.”

Tara whipped out her notebook. She refused to let herself get so taken in by the cuteness of the shop that she forgot what she’d come here to accomplish. She glanced over a list of questions Regina had provided. “If I was planning a wedding, what could I expect you to do for me?”

Mildred maintained a steady smile while she spoke. “We handle everything, from the initial design work to the final delivery and cleanup. Our brides trust us to take care of every detail while they relax and enjoy their special day.”

The answer was exactly what she’d expect from a top-notch florist, but her next question was sure to uncover Forget Me Knot’s weak spot. “And if a bride wants something really exotic?” She waited for Mildred to prove her right.

“I think the best way to answer that question is to show you our workroom.” Mildred led the way between swinging doors to an area where dozens of varieties of flowers crowded immense glass-fronted coolers. “We like to say that this is where the magic happens.”

Long wooden worktables filled a space the size of a small gym. Beyond them, colorful ribbons spilled from large reels along the back wall. Vases in every shape and size lined sturdy-looking shelves. At one of the tables, a young man and a woman wrapped satin tape around the base of boutonnieres that featured birds of paradise. Farther down, another pair of workers skillfully assembled lilies, waxy leaves, and frangipani into low centerpieces. The back room smelled like Hawaii and, for a second, Tara could almost see palm trees and women in grass skirts.

“You asked about exotic flowers.” Mildred plucked a stem from a cluster of bright red blossoms. “The Garrison wedding is a good example. It has a tropical theme.”

Tara nodded. The ceremony was one of three she’d chosen to attend. “This is all pretty amazing,” she admitted, “but what if a bride chooses flowers that are out of season? Or impossibly costly?”

Mildred’s lips thinned. “I never encourage false expectations. If she has her heart set on heirloom roses, and my suppliers can’t get them, or they’re out of her budget, I let her know up front. We can usually find a substitute. Once in a while, though, the bride will go somewhere else. In which case, I wish her the best. The important thing, no matter what, is her happiness.”

A heaviness draped itself across Tara’s shoulders. Discovering the town’s Achilles heel might be more difficult than she’d anticipated. She tapped her pen against her notebook. “What was your biggest challenge in the past year?”

“That’d be Jennifer Longley’s wedding.” Merriment danced in Mildred’s eyes while the florist smothered a laugh. “The one she came here to plan. Not the one she ended up having.”

Behind her, Jason coughed. Tara’s head swiveled. Both Mildred and Jason wore the same amused grins. Her curiosity aroused, she asked, “What set that wedding apart?”

“It started off as a small affair, but the bride kept changing her mind. As it turned out, there was nothing simple about that wedding at all.”

“Ooooh, that sounds interesting.” Tara cupped her chin. “Tell me more.”

“For that, you’ll need to talk to Jennifer.” Mildred’s kind eyes crinkled. “It’s her story to tell.”

“And where would I find her?” Tara leaned forward, eager to find a chink in the town’s united front.

“She’s Alicia Thorn’s assistant. You met her this morning at the Captain’s Cottage. She’s Jennifer Bell now.”

Tara scribbled a note. “Right. She married the owner of I Do Cakes.”

“None other.” Jason checked his watch. “In fact, we’re headed there next. Are you ready?”

“I think so.” She turned to Mildred. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but your shop has definitely exceeded my expectations. I love the flower district in New York. I wasn’t sure anything could compare with that. But this is pretty special.”

As she headed for the door, Tara’s lips thinned. The current top wedding destination in the country had a stellar reputation and, from what she’d seen so far, the town deserved it. But with her job and her parents’ respect at stake, she couldn’t fail in her assignment. She’d find a fatal flaw if she had to turn over every rock in Heart’s Landing. She supposed it was too much to ask, but she crossed her fingers and hoped, for her own sake, that something would go terribly wrong before the day was out.

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