Page 46 of Courage, Dear Heart

They both laugh, unashamed.

Sabrina shrugs. “Maybe a little snooping.”

“Fine, I’ll allow it.” I laugh along with them. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of easy, playful banter with other women. Probably since college. I’ve never had a big circle of friends, and without siblings, I’ve never experienced their kind of closeness. Sheila is the closest thing I have to a sister. “Investigate all you want—I mean, what kind of flowers are you looking for?”

“Is there a flower for gossip?” Sabrina asks.

“Actually, yes. The cup and saucer vine, but I don’t have any of it.”

“You’re joking,” Elsa says.

“No, not at all. It’s a vine with beautiful purple flowers that look like a cup. They spread like crazy, hence the association with gossip. It needs hot weather, so not ideal for New York.”

Maddie comes back holding a sunflower nearly as tall as her. “Jamie picked this one for me.”

I smile at them. “Excellent choice. If you take good care of it, it will last two weeks.”

It’s then I notice Angela slinking closer, taking extra time to finish the arrangement she’s been working on. I raise an eyebrow at her and she takes the vase she’s been working on into the refrigerator case.

I turn to the sisters. “All right. Go for it. What do you want to know?”

Sabrina opens her mouth and Elsa stops her. “No. We’re not here to interrogate Jillian.” She turns back to me. “We wanted to stop by and say hello. I know you’re busy, so we won’t take more of your time.”

“It’s fine, really.”

Sabrina nudges her sister, then turns back to me with a grin. “We came here to ask if you might like to join us for a little girls’ night sometime. Dinner, drinks, maybe some shopping if you’re up for it.”

The invitation catches me off guard in the best way possible. I haven’t done anything like that in a long time, but the thought of it—of being part of their circle and having fun with a group of friends is a much-needed escape. “I’d lovethat. Is it okay if I bring my friend Sheila along?” I don’t want to leave her out.

“Of course. The more, the merrier,” Elsa says.

Sabrina winks. “Good. I want to pick your brain about edible flowers. I’ll text you about it tonight. And make sure you’re ready for some sisterly bonding when we go out.”

I’m filled with lightness. For a moment, surrounded by Elliott’s sisters, his niece, and Jamie, I catch a glimpse of what it might be like to have a big, loving family. To be part of something bigger than my little corner of the world.

I walk them to the door, Jamie at my side.

They both hug me as they say goodbye. “I’ll text you soon. And, by the way, Jillian,” Sabrina adds, her tone a little softer, “I’m really glad Elliott met you.”

The sincerity in her voice tugs at something deep inside me, and I find myself smiling. “Thank you, Sabrina. I am too.”

TWENTY-TWO

Elliott

I lied.I didn’t wait for tonight to see her for our dinner date. I stop at the store during my Saturday morning jog. I slip in as a customer is leaving. The riot of colors and sweet scents welcomes me, and a sense of calmness takes residence in my chest. I’m starting to understand why she loves this store so much, why people pay a lot of money for flowers that will be disposed of in a week. There’s a sense of joy and peace in being surrounded by this much green, red, pink, and yellow. The forest sounds playing on hidden speakers adding to the atmosphere.

“You so pretty.”Daisy is the first to see me.

Jillian looks up from the papers she’s shuffling through, and a smile lights up her face when her gaze finds me half hidden by a bucket of sunflowers, each yellow flower bigger than my head.

Daisy makes a whistling sound.

“You know, you’re the only one she makesthat sound for. No idea where she learned it from. It wasn’t me. I can’t whistle.”

I walk to the counter and smile. “Good thing Daisy doesn’t have hands. I have a feeling she’d be groping me like that little old lady when we first met.”

“Mrs. Smith? She asked about you the last time she was here. You seem to be making an impression with parrots and little old ladies alike.”

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