Page 81 of This Feeling

“Sean stopped by, heard you, and then turned around and left. He had this crazy idea you were having an affair, since he saw you leaving a Lake Placid hotel with someone a while back.”

“Oh my God,” Sean said, cradling his head as he rocked back and forth. Sean was really having a bad twenty-four hours and I got immense joy in knowing I got to witness every glorious moment of it.

“What?” Maddie practically screamed. “That wasPastor Martin! I was meeting with him about renewing our wedding vows. How could he not remember Pastor Martin?”

Sean jumped up. “You were leaving ahotelwith him! What was I supposed to think?”

“That’s because we were married there, you idiot! I was booking the same reception room where we got married. Sean, why in the world would you think I’d ever cheat on your father?”

Declan and I exchanged amused looks.

“I’m sorry! And I didn’t see who you were with this morning.”

“It was your father!”

There was an awkward silence before Declan asked, “So…have you and Dad always been into sex in the kitchen, Mom? I just need to know where to avoid when over for dinner.”

I reached over and hit Declan’s arm as Sean groaned.

“I am hanging up now!”

The line went dead, and Declan started to laugh. “Thatis how you nip shit in the bud, little brother.”

Sean looked like he was about to be sick. “I don’t know what’s worse. Thinking Mom was having sex with a stranger, or knowing it was her and Dad.”

He gagged and covered his mouth.

“As fun as this family drama has been, I’ve got to get ready for work. Sean, you know the way out.”

“You’re kicking me out?” he asked.

All I did was lift my hand and wave.

Declan

The bell above the door rang as I stepped into Crazy Daisies. There were about four people in the store, and it didn’t take me long to find Harper. She was behind the counter wrapping a bouquet of flowers in pink tissue.

“How exciting!” I heard her say, as I moved farther into the shop.

A woman was looking at some flowers in a vase, and she turned toward me as I neared. “Do you work here?”

“Um, no, but I can try to help.”

“A good friend just received a promotion, and I hoped to send her flowers. Is there a certain flower that means congratulations? Like a red rose means I love you, a white is for purity…that kind of thing.”

I glanced around the area. “You can’t go wrong with sunflowers, tulips, carnations, or even daisies.”

“Are these daisies?” she asked, as she pointed to some Gerbera daisies.

“They are, yes. And they’re one of my favorites. Gerbera daisies are what they’re called.”

“Wonderful! I’ll take these. But can I get them in a vase? Oh, do you deliver?”

“We do deliver, and yes, you can pick out any vase you’d like,” Harper said, approaching with a wide smile. “Deliveries will go out early this afternoon, unless you need another day.”

The young woman smiled back. “This afternoon is perfect.”

“Great, the vases are all over here,” Harper said, as she motioned for the woman to follow.

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