Page 9 of A Future in Blossom

CLAIRE

Claire felt like she was working on a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. She was finishing the order of flowers for Jaime’s client’s wedding—or was it Liam McMillan’s client? She had no idea. All she knew was that this Opposite Wedding was for a very wealthy, very pregnant bride, and that the wedding and reception were supposed to be held in the greenhouse on Tessa’s land, which had yet to be delivered and installed.

The whole situation still felt dizzying, as if she might be caught in a dream. She couldn’t get over seeing Tessa walk into the shop with Jaime like she used to. She couldn’t get over the fact that the three girls were suddenly swept up together into a whirlwind of wedding planning, moving full steam ahead. Ideas and what-ifs were bursting from them, like fast-popping corn kernels ... because the astonishing thing about what Jaime called this “Opposite Wedding” was that there was no limit to the budget. No concernabout costs. None. She couldn’t believe it when Jaime told her not to worry about fees for express shipping. “Shutup!”

“It’s true. Liam loves everything we’ve planned. He says to go ahead and send him the bills.”

“The perfect man,” Claire said, her hands clasped over her heart dramatically. “Jaime, you’d better marry that man before I do.”

Jaime tossed a spray of viburnum at her. “Liam and I have a strictly professional relationship.”

Claire picked up the winter flowering viburnum. Such a perfect filler. Being back in Rose’s Flower Shop, she felt like a kid in a candy shop. So many options! She’d never appreciated the endless varieties of flower arranging until she moved to Savannah and worked for oh-so-traditional MaryBeth at Same Day Delivery. “Liam McMillan would not be in Sunrise if his feelings for you are strictly professional.”

“Well, you’re just wrong about that.”

Ohreally? Claire barely held back from pointing out how Jaime’s face turned bright red when she was embarrassed. She’d forgotten that telltale sign. She’d forgotten a lot of things. She’d worked so hard to erase that August night of the fire that she’d also blocked out all the sweet memories of the girls’ friendship. How they seemed to be able to work in perfect harmony. How they inspired each other and made each other better. Rose was always telling them that they had something special, something people longed for all their life. Did they listen? Nope.

They were listening now, but Rose wasn’t doing any talking. Chris told Claire that Rose had gone to Mexico, but he didn’t say why. When she opened her mouth to ask another question, Chris shook his head. “You know the drill. No questions until Rose is ready.” Of course, he didn’t have any idea when she’d be back. Very mysterious, and a little annoying. On the other hand, the girls were so busy getting ready for the Opposite Wedding on top of the shop’s regular demands, as well as holiday orders, that they didn’t have much time to dwell on Rose’s absence.

Claire was putting the finishing touches on a bouquet for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and stepped back to appraise it just as Tessa popped in the workshop door. “Greenhouse delivered?”

“Not yet.” Tessa admired the bouquet. “Asters?”

“They’re for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.” Claire tucked one last purple aster in the back and tipped her head. Something was still missing. “Asters represent wisdom and prosperity, in that order.”

“I forgot.” A wistfulness came into Tessa’s eyes. “I forgot how much you loved the language of flowers.” She studied the arrangement with a thoughtful look on her face, then walked to the cooler, reached in, and brought out one yellow chrysanthemum. She clipped the stem and slipped the blossom into the front corner of the bouquet. And would you believe, it was just what was needed? The yellow blossom made the bright center of the asters pop. It provided the element of surprise.

Claire looked up.So Tessa.She was full of surprises. “You nailed it.”

Tessa laughed. “It’s your arrangement. I just added one flower.”

“The right one. The right place for it.” Claire set down her clippers.

“It’s late in the season for asters. Where’d you find them?”

“I ordered them from a grower in Colombia.”

“Hopefully, by next summer,” Tessa said, “Rose’s Flower Shop won’t have to import flowers at all.”

Claire wondered. “Think you’ll really be able to get flowers out of that dustbowl by summer?”

“Yes I do,” Tessa said, “and thank you very much for that vote of confidence. Be glad we haven’t had rain. I’m crossing my fingers the rain will hold off until that greenhouse gets bolted down.”

Jaime frowned. “So when is the greenhouse going to arrive?”

“Soon,” Tessa said, suddenly interested in lining up tools on the workbench. “Very, very soon.”

Jaime wrinkled her nose. “Tessa, everything is riding on that greenhouse.”

Tessa set shears in the row of tools and took a few steps to the door. “Do not worry. That greenhouse will be installed and ready in plenty of time.” Without looking back, she lifted her hand in a wave as she reached the threshold of the workshop door.

And suddenly Claire was seventeen years old again, watching Tessa make a fast exit because Jaime or Claire had asked her a question she didn’t want to answer. She remembered it vividly. It happened whenever something was asked...

Something ... something ... what was it? Something about Tessa’s neighbor. The mystery author. Everyone in town was fascinated by him. Obsessed with him. First off, he was supposed to be super successful, though Claire wasn’t much of a reader and didn’t care about books. More of interest to Jaime and Claire, he was crazy good-looking. The girls would quiz her on what she knew about him, hoping for everyday details—Did she ever see pizza boxes in his trash? Did he work out? No one ever saw his wife. What was she like?—but Tessa never wanted to talk about him. She’d suddenly make a fast exit. Like she did now.

Weird. It startled Claire how vivid memories could be lodged in your brain, waiting for a trigger.

A text came in and Claire stopped to read it.

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