Page 11 of A Future in Blossom

Jaime burst out with a laugh. “Goodness no. We’ll bring fancy porta potties for the guests. I meant staging for food.”

“Oh. Yes, of course, you can use anything. But ... it’s just an empty field.” Tessa still felt bewildered.

“Tessa, as long as the greenhouse arrives on time, we can turn this field into a winter wonderland. Trust me on that. You’d be amazed what can happen with the right lighting.”

Two cackling crows in a nearby tree snapped Tessa out of last week’s conversation with Jaime. “Dawson, what do we need to do to get that greenhouse here?”

Down on all fours, he’d been smoothing sand along the pathway and stopped to look up at her. “We need to wait for my buddy to bring it over the hill. Any day now, he said.”

“He’s been saying that for over a week.”

He sat back on his heels. “He’s been busy.”

“But it’s all flat packed, right?”

“Tessa...” It was his warning voice.

“Dawson, this greenhouse was your idea in the first place. Jaime’s Opposite Wedding will give us a jump start on the flower farm. So how do we get it here? How can we make it happen?”

“I guess ... get to Asheville and find a way to haul it here ourselves.”

Tessa dropped the rake in her hands. “Then let’s go get it.”

eight

Just living is not enough ... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

—Hans Christian Andersen

JAIME

As soon as she got the news from Tessa that the greenhouse had arrived and was in the process of getting installed, Jaime called Liam to fill him in. “They rented a huge flatbed truck to haul it from Asheville and caused an enormous traffic jam.”

“Excellent news!” he said. “The sooner this wedding can happen, the better. Does Dawson know when it will be ready for the electrician? I realize he’ll need a few days, but I’d like to give the bride’s father a firm date.”

“A few days? You’re kidding, right?”

“Not kidding.”

“We haven’t even decided on the invitations. I’ve narrowed it down to three options, but the printer needs at least a week.”

“There’s been a change of plans. The bride wants to call the guests and invite them personally.”

“But just a few days ago, she sent me the wording she wanted in the invitations.”

“Apparently, the bride went to the hospital yesterday with false labor and was sent home. Her father is eager to hurry things along.”

“So no invitations?”

“Nay. One less thing for the to-do list.”

Disappointing! Jaime had found some beautiful paper samples from Japan.

“I’ll be in Sunrise in thirty minutes.”

She glanced at the wall clock in the flower shop. “Where are you?”

“Highlands. Checkin’ on a few things. Gotta run. I’ll pick y’ up at the shop.”

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