by Jodi Vaughn
“Do you usually harvest by yourself?” Heather glared at Grayson who was leaning against the fence. She turned her attention to the field of brilliant colors.
“When I first started I did. But I had my children to help. After they married and moved away, I started hiring high school students. Now I can barely get someone who wants to do a hard day’s labor.” She shook her head. “The past couple of years I’ve had to rely on the kindness of my neighbors to lend a hand. I appreciate it but I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You are never a burden.” Grayson shoved off the fence and gave her a gentle look. “At Harland Creek we are more than neighbors, we are family.”
Elizabeth took his hands in hers and smiled. “Thanks for making an old woman feel good.”
He shook his head and laughed.
Heather straightened. “Is there anything else that needs to be done for the flowers today?” She nodded toward Grayson and averted his gaze. “He said you have a schedule written down as to caring for the flowers.”
“I do.” Elizabeth looked up at the sky. “Since it looks like rain, there’s no need to water today.”
Heather looked up and frowned. “But the weather man said it’s not going to rain.”
“The weather man is always wrong.” Elizabeth lifted her chin. “I stopped going by them years ago.” She looked at Grayson. “What do you think, Grayson? Think it’s going to rain?”
He lifted his face to the sky. “Probably get an evening shower.”
Heather bristled. She wished Grayson would leave. She didn’t need him here making her look bad in front of Elizabeth. She needed this job more than he realized.
Heather noticed how Elizabeth cringed when she turned toward the house.
“Why don’t we go inside and you can rest. I can run to the grocery store and make you something to eat when I get back.” Heather gently held Elizabeth’s arm to support her.
“Thank you, Heather.” Elizabeth gave her a grateful look. “You know where Mac’s Grocery store is in town?”
“I don’t think I passed it on my way in.” She had gotten confused when she’d gotten on the town’s square.
“I can take her.” Grayson smiled wide.
Heather stopped in her tracks. Elizabeth turned and smiled. “That would be nice, Grayson. That way you can give her a tour of the town.”
“But I won’t have time today. I need to get groceries and get back here so you won’t be alone.” Heather swallowed.
“Oh, no worries, dear. Agnes is dropping by later this afternoon.”
“Oh, I see.” Heather tried to hide the disappointment in her voice.
After helping Elizabeth up the stairs to the front porch, she reached for the door handle. Elizabeth waved her hand.
“I think I want to sit out here for a while. It will soon be too hot to enjoy a day outside. Might as well enjoy it while I can.” Elizabeth eased herself into a wicker rocking chair.
“I’ll bring you the phone and something to drink.”
“That’s very thoughtful.” Elizabeth rubbed her hip. “Did you get your list?”
Heather held it up. She tossed her backpack on her shoulder.
“Grab my purse and I’ll give you a blank check for the groceries.”
Heather ducked inside and grabbed Elizabeth’s purse off the kitchen counter. She stepped out onto the porch and handed it to the woman. Elizabeth dug around in her purse and pulled out her checkbook and pen. She quickly signed her name and handed the check to Heather. “Don’t forget to pick up whatever food you want or think we need.”
“Okay.” She folded the paper and stuck it in her backpack. “I’ll hurry back.”
“No need.” Elizabeth smiled. “Enjoy your time away from the farm. It might be your last for a while.”
Chapter 7
Grayson eyed Heather as she clutched her worn backpack to her chest. “You can put that in the back seat, you know.”
“No, thank you.” She turned her attention out the truck window as they drove into town. “How far is the grocery store?”
“A few blocks off the square.” He cast a glance at her before turning onto the square. He noticed she reached over for the passenger grab handle.
“Any trouble making it around the square?” He arched his brow.
“There needs to be more signs.” She scowled. “How do people know who gets to go and who has to yield?”
“To be fair, we had a yield sign up, but it got knocked down at the Christmas parade. A combine carrying Santa Claus hit it.”
“What’s a combine?” She looked at him and blinked.
“Are you serious? I thought you were raised in the South. How do you not know what a combine is?”
Her full lips tightened into a thin line and she looked away.
A twinge of guilt hit him in the chest. “A combine is a large tractor. Usually used for harvesting crops.”
After a few tense seconds she looked straight ahead. “I was born in Georgia but lived in Atlanta all my life. Never really been in the country.”
“So your family is from Atlanta?”
“I have no family.” She glanced over at him. “I was an only child. My parents are gone. It’s just me.” She glanced away.
“What about…”
“Is that your sister’s flower shop? Roses and Lace Flower Shop?” She pointed at the pink-and-white-painted building next to the hair salon. Olivia was standing on the sidewalk arguing with Markus who worked for the electric company. Sylvia and Maggie, stylists at the S&M beauty salon, had flanked Olivia and were pointing fingers at the poor lineman.
“Yes. And it looks like she needs some help.”
“I don’t know about that. I feel sorry for the lineman,” she muttered.
He pulled the truck into an empty parking lot in front of the shop. He cut the engine and slid out of the truck.
“What’s going on?” He looked at Olivia who had gone white.
“The electricity is out.” She looked at him with wide panicked eyes.
“Grayson, tell Markus we need electricity at the salon.” Sylvia glared.
“My flowers. What about my flowers?” Olivia’s eyes darted from him back to her shop.
“I’m sorry, ladies. I’m trying to get it on as fast as I can. The guys on the other end of town are working on it. Seems like a squirrel is the culprit.” Markus shrugged.
“Grayson.” Olivia grabbed his hand and looked like she was going to faint.
“It’s okay. He’s working on it. Aren’t you, Markus?”
“I’m doing the best I can on my end. The holdup is the other guys.”
“Sylvia, Maggie. Go on back to your shop. Tell your clients the situation. I’m sure they’ll understand. I’ll be over there in a minute.”
Sylvia and Maggie reluctantly went back to the salon, none too pleased.
“As long as you keep the cooler door shut, the flowers should be okay,” Grayson assured her.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” He nodded. “Let me go get Sylvia and Maggie settled and I’ll be back.” He jogged over to the salon.
Chapter 8
“Wait. I’ve got five arrangements I have to make and deliver today. I need to get into the cooler to the flowers. I can’t just keep the door shut.” Olivia sighed.
“What if you make the arrangements inside the cooler? And then take them all out at once? Would that work?” Heather offered.
Olivia blinked. “Actually, that might. I’ll have to move all the stuff I need inside.”
“I’ll help. That way you won’t have to keep the door open long.”
“Thank you.” Olivia held her hand out. “You must think I’m terribly rude. My name is Olivia McCade.”
“I know. Grayson told me.” Heather stuck out her hand. “I’m Heather Smith. I’m Ms. Elizabeth Harland’s caretaker. I’m here while she’s recovering from hip surgery.”
Olivia smiled wide. “I’m so glad to meet you, Heather
. Come inside. So how did you meet Grayson?”
Heather glanced over at the salon. “He came over to the farm. Your brother is supposed to be taking me to the grocery store since I don’t know the town very well.”
“How generous of him.” Olivia grinned and held the door open. “Come on inside.”
Heather stepped inside. The sweet scent of flowers washed over her. She looked at the wall of balloons and stand of greeting cards along one side of the room. There was a tall shelf with artificial arrangements of varying sizes and flowers. She even had some live potted plants.
Olivia didn’t stop moving as she grabbed a stack of order forms. She headed over to the wall of vases behind the counter and began to gather supplies.
“Need some help?” Heather asked.
“That would be great.” Olivia gave her a brilliant smile. “My assistant, Amy, had a dental appointment and she didn’t have time to go over today’s orders.” She held out the orders to Heather. “If you can read out the name and what the flowers are for, I’ll gather everything. First, let me grab a cart.” She went in the back room and returned pushing a cart. “I’m ready.”
Heather glanced down at the first order. “This first one is for Lois Garfield. To be delivered at the hospital. From Agnes. There’s no last name.”
“That’s okay. We only have one Agnes in Harland Creek.” Olivia smiled.
“She the one with the funny hat?”
“Yes! You already met her?”
“Yes, at Ms. Elizabeth’s.” Heather looked back at the order. “She wants to send a flower arrangement to the hospital for Lois. Card needs to read ‘Get well soon or we’ll replace you at Bunko.’ Heather snorted. “It also says she doesn’t want to send anything too fancy.” Heather looked at Olivia.
“Ah, she wants an arrangement of pansies with a get well soon balloon.” Olivia quickly gathered the vase, green stuff for the vase, and a yellow polka-dot bow. She put them on the rolling cart and turned back to Heather. “Next order.”
Heather held up the next order slip. “This is for Emily Douglas. Also delivered to the hospital. This is from her Sunday school class, congratulating her and her husband on their new baby, Lilliana. They want something nice under seventy-five dollars.”
“They want pink and white tulips and a pink bear with balloons.” Olivia gathered her supplies. “Okay, next order.”
“This goes to Mildred Agnew. Her son Michael wants to send her six roses. Card reads, “Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world.” Suddenly Heather felt very out of place.
“That was easy enough.” Olivia gathered the supplies.
“Next.”
“This is for Samantha Williams at her work. Happy Anniversary. There’s a note that says do something different than the usual roses.” Heather looked at Olivia.
Oliva tapped her finger to her lips and looked at the cooler of flowers. “That’s Amy’s mother. I know. White roses, carnations, and blue alstroemeria, blue delphinium, baby’s breath, seeded eucalyptus, and assorted greenery.”
“Wow, you’re good. I don’t even know what those flowers look like, but it sounds pretty.” Heather arched her eyebrow.
Olivia laughed.
The bell above the door tinkled as Grayson walked in. “What’s going on?”
“Heather is helping me gather my supplies so I can take them in the cooler and make the arrangements in there.”
“That’s a brilliant idea, Olivia.” Grayson nodded.
“It wasn’t me. It was Heather’s idea.”
Heather noticed the change in Grayson’s demeanor. She looked away and back at the last order.
“So this last one goes to the school. It’s for Julia Brooks. I think it’s from her parents.” Heather squinted. “But the card is supposed to read Secret Admirer. And it says price is no limit.”
“Julia is going through an awkward phase. While her friends are all getting boyfriends, she is not. And her parents are trying to make her feel better. Give her a boost of confidence.” Olivia gave her a sad smile.
“I see.” Heather could sympathize.
“What would you want in a flower arrangement?” Olivia asked her.
“Me?” She pointed to herself.
“Yes, you. What were your most favorite flowers you’ve ever received?” Olivia’s eyes sparkled.
Heather shook her head. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never gotten flowers.”
Olivia froze. “Never?”
Heather shook her head, uncomfortable with the change in conversation. She cleared her throat. “What would you want? You did so well with picking out the right flowers for everyone else. Do Julia’s.”
Olivia cocked her head and thought for a second. “I would do tulips and irises. In every shade of the rainbow.”
“And the bow?” Heather grinned.
“A simple white bow so it doesn’t overwhelm the bouquet.” Olivia gathered her supplies and added them to the rolling cart.
“Do you have someone to deliver these? Where’s Amy?” Grayson scowled.
“Dentist appointment. I think Sam said something about dropping by. He offered to help so you can tend to your cows. But I see you got distracted.” Olivia grinned and cut her eyes at Heather.
“I really should get to the grocery store.” Heather shifted her weight.
“Yeah, she needs to get back to Ms. Elizabeth.” Grayson pushed the cart into the walk-in cooler where the flowers were. When he came out, he propped his hands on his hips. “Markus said the electricity shouldn’t be out too much longer. Want me to turn the Closed sign so no one will come in?”
“Yes. Thanks.” She gave a sad smile. “Nobody could buy anything anyway. The credit card machine is electric.”
“Nice meeting you.” Heather gave her a little wave and headed for the door.
“Wait!” Olivia ran to the back room and reappeared with a small bouquet of white daisies wrapped with a bow. “Here. For all your help.”
“I can’t take those.” Heather shook her head.
“Of course you can. They’re a gift.” Olivia held them out.
Heather took the bouquet in her hands and lifted them to her nose. They smelled delicate and light, not at all overwhelming.
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“Now you’ve gotten flowers.” Olivia nodded and headed into the back room.
Heather could feel Grayson’s stare. She chose to ignore him. Lifting her chin and gripping the tiny bouquet in her hand, she walked out the door.
Chapter 9
They drove in silence to the grocery store. Once they got to Mac’s Grocery, Heather looked unsure what to do with her bouquet.
“You can leave them in the truck. I’ll crack a window. It’s not hot enough for them to droop.”
She frowned. “I need to put them in water.”
“Hang on.” He got out of the truck and went around to the bed of his truck. He opened the tailgate, then opened the cooler he kept in the back there and pulled out a water.
He walked around to her side of the truck and opened her door. Unscrewing the bottle of water, he handed it to her. “Pour some out and then put it in the cupholder and keep the bouquet in it.”
“Thanks,” she said quietly before taking the bottle of water. She took a drink before putting her flowers inside the opening.
“I have another bottle if you’re thirsty.”
“No, thank you. Just don’t like to waste.” She got out and shut the door behind her. She headed for the entrance to Mac’s.
He quickly caught up.
“So what’s on your list?” He craned his neck to look at the piece of paper she was holding.
“You know, you can go back and help your sister and just pick me up when I’m done.” She stopped and looked at him.
“She said Sam was coming to help. Besides, I promised Ms. Elizabeth to give you a tour of our town. I wouldn’t be a good neighbor if I didn’t do that.”
“You could go look at your cows, or wha
tever you do with them.” She cringed.
“I looked at them this morning.” He snorted. “I’ll look at them when I get home.”
She glared. “You’re making fun of me.”
“Teasing you. And you are an easy target. Just trying to figure you out,” he countered.
“Don’t bother.” She turned on her heel and headed inside the store.
He fought back a grin.
“Good afternoon,” Mac greeted them.
“Hi, Mac,” Grayson greeted the older man wearing khakis and a short-sleeve white shirt.
“Who’s your friend, Grayson?” Mac smiled at Heather.
“This is Heather Smith. She is the caretaker for Ms. Elizabeth while she gets back on her feet.”
“Nice to meet you, Heather. I’m Mac Conners. The owner of the grocery. How is Ms. Elizabeth doing? We sure do miss her at church.”
“She’s doing okay.” Heather hesitated. “I’m not sure how long she’ll be needing my help.”
“I see you have your list. Let me know if you need any help.” Mac gave her a generous smile before heading over to help the cashier who needed change.
She grabbed a shopping cart.
“Here, I’ll push while you shop.” Grayson didn’t wait for her to respond but nudged her out of the way and turned the cart down the first aisles.
She pressed her lips into a thin line and studied the sheet.
“What do you need?”
“Apples and bananas.” She rushed ahead of him to the produce. She inspected and chose the best apples before bagging them.
He began to pick up a group of bananas, but she shook her head. “No, not those.”
“Why? What’s wrong with them?”
“They’re too ripe. They won’t last long.” She grabbed some bananas that looked almost green.
After she placed them in the cart, she glanced over at the oranges.
“Mac gets those in fresh from Florida. Best oranges I’ve ever eaten.” Grayson pushed the cart by the stand of oranges.
She glanced at the list and then back at the oranges.
“You’ll won’t find any better,” he said again.
