by Olivia Swift
“But Uncle Mel,” Glenda’s voice joined the conversation with a wheedling and whining sound, “you know I’ve always loved you both. Surely you want me to be happy and Charles needs the money to save his business.”
“Tough,” his dad replied. “It takes a lawyer and that is the end of it. Now go away, both of you, and leave me in peace.”
“I will find a way to get you the money, darling,” his mother said to Glenda. “I know you cannot marry Jules now, but I still love you.”
“Mother, for heaven’s sake. The bitch just wants your money. Grow up.”
His mother replied that she had always loved Glenda and nothing had changed.
“Just out of interest, Glenda. Did you trash Miller’s house?”
“I most certainly did not,” Glenda said in an affronted tone. “I have better things to do with my time.”
“But you got her fired,” his mother put in. “It was me who sent a couple of employees to show the little peasant girl what she was up against.”
Jules started to shout at his mother but his dad got in first.
“Really and truly, when will you learn to live in the twenty-first century? People don’t do that anymore. They run businesses like businesses.”
“It’s good to tell people that they can’t mess with you,” his mother replied, and Jules shouted them both down.
“Miller is not a peasant girl, and even if she was, she is worth all of you lot put together.” Miller smiled behind the door. There seemed little point in interfering until Jules spoke to Charles le Coup, who had said nothing at that point and Miller was surprised he was in there as well.
“You can stop waving that stupid gun around,” he told him. “Charles whatever your name is, you have no idea what you’ve taken on with this little witch as a wife.” Miller smiled but then realized that there was a gun in the kitchen with Jules.
15
Miller held her breath and Jules’s father spoke again.
“We’ve all been around guns before, Monsieur le Coup. I don’t think that you have. Put it down and get out while you can.” His voice was very calm and authoritative, but Glenda was having none of it.
“He can still shoot you or your precious son.”
“Then you would never get any money,” Jules told her. “For heaven’s sake Glenda, take him away. He isn’t even holding it right. We can sort out this money in a lawyer’s office.”
Miller was starting to work out where they were standing, and she knew that Glenda was nearest to where she was. Jules was at the other side of the room, and she thought that Charles was halfway between them. She had no idea where the two older people were, although she thought the father was to her left. She looked around the laundry room and spotted a huge and heavy copper pan. She tiptoed over and carefully lifted it from its hook. Then she listened at the door again.
Glenda was asking his mother for the cash again.
“Can you not find it in cash for me, sweetheart?” She was wheedling, but his mother said that there was no way she could find that sort of cash. The woman now sounded a bit weary.
“I am sorry my darlin’. If you had given me some warning, I could have managed to have it for you.”
“What about you, Jules? What would you pay to have me gone and be able to cuddle up to your little redhead?”
“You know full well that you would never get any money from me. He can shoot me if you like, then he goes to jail and nobody wins.”
Miller felt her temper rise and pictured the woman on the other side of the door. The last thing she wanted was Jules shot. There was a slight movement from the other side, and she let her redhead side take over. She burst through the door and found the revolting Glenda just at the right distance for a baseball swing. She lifted the pan and swung hard. It caught Glenda square on the forehead and knocked her against the wall where she slid to the ground and moaned pitifully.
“Grab the gun,” she shouted to Jules, and dove for the Frenchman’s legs. He went down in a flying tackle and the gun slid across and under a cupboard at the side. After the initial surprise, Jules jumped onto the man as well, but he was a well-made individual and fought back quite strongly. He kept trying to throw them off, and they kept holding him down on the ground. Miller was still holding his legs as tightly as she could, and Jules was pressing his shoulders to the floor, but the head kept coming up again and again.
“You have no chance against two mad redheads,” Jules panted and grinned across the struggling body at the raging vision that had charged to his rescue. The man was not giving up that easily and kept on rising until they both used a lot of weight to push him back down.
“Redheads. You are all crazy,” he grumbled in a French accent and panted. There were a lot of swear words in French.
Jules’s father was not a young man but he was still strong, and he left his chair and came over.
“Let the son of a redhead do the rest,” he said and swung the pan hard, hitting Charles le Coup on the head and the man slumped backwards and ceased to struggle. He looked at his wife.
“Get your precious jewelry and get out,” he said. “I’ll sue for divorce tomorrow.” She stared at her husband with some contempt and looked at Jules.
“Why did you not marry her and make it all one family?” she asked, but didn’t expect an answer because she walked out of the room.
“I’m not getting up in case he comes around,” Jules said.
“Me neither,” Miller added, and then looked at him. “What about doing things together? I thought we had a deal. Then you take off and leave a note.” Jules Callander started to laugh and looked at his father.
“This is very strange, but Dad, meet the woman I want to marry. Miller Hollenbeck, meet Mel Callander.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Miller,” the man said “and I’m relieved to know you are not Glenda Marine.” That made Miller laugh as well, and the three of them were still laughing when the sound of the police sirens could be heard in the driveway. The Frenchman was still slumped on the floor, and Glenda was moaning slightly against the wall.
“I’d better go and let them in,” Mr Callander said and padded off to the front door.
“That was probably the worst proposal in the history of the world,” Jules said. “I’m sorry. I will do it better later.” She leaned across the body they were still holding down and kissed him on the lips.
“It was a wonderful proposal and I accept,” she told him as his father led Mallarchy Mackay and Felix Sanchez into the kitchen.
“There’s a gun under the cupboard,” Miller told them. “It slid there when I dove for his legs.”
“Dove for his legs?” Felix Sanchez asked in amazement, and Mackay said that they had better have the whole story. It took quite a while to tell every detail, and uniformed officers handcuffed Glenda and her husband until paramedics could ensure that they were going to be all right. The Frenchman had a lot to say in French, and Sanchez surprised them all by rattling off a string of French himself to let him know that he understood every word. Glenda was quietly sobbing and declared that everyone had taken advantage of her and it was not her fault at all. She tried her charm on paramedics and detectives and it failed miserably. They were taken under guard to the hospital for more checks.
When they asked to speak to his wife, Callander told them that she had left but would make a statement the next day.
“She’ll have gone to stay with her friend.” He gave the address. Miller called her mother who was desperately worried about what had happened. The police finally left and Jules asked if his dad would be okay by himself.
“Yes thanks, son. Come back and see me when you have time.” He looked at Miller. “You as well, my dear.”
She laughed. “We will. I liked the way you hit him with the pan.”
“Many years of pent-up annoyance in one final swipe,” he said. “I might retire and putter in the garden now.” He came with them to the door and told them he would fire the new secr
etary.
“Call Maggie,” Jules said. “She might come back.”
They drove back home in one car and left the other to be picked up the next day. It was now mid-mornin and Jules turned the car into a parking slot and went around to open the passenger side.
“Come and walk in the park,” he said, and offered a hand. It was a beautiful day and when they reached a pretty spot, Jules dropped to one knee and made the proper proposal in full view of anyone in the vicinity. She pulled him to his feet and threw her arms around his neck.
“Of course, the answer is yes. I love you so much it hurts.” The people round about gave them a round of applause and they waved their hands in thanks. Holding hands, they walked back to the car and drove the rest of the way to give Rick and Maddie the news. There was the full story to tell as well. Maddie produced lunch and they were all able to relax. It was over and the real story had been told.
“I’m glad you are seeing your father,” Rick told him. “It was brave of him to do what he did and safeguard the money. He must have known that there was a possibility of something happening like that. Miller called Carly and asked if she and Jules could come up to Chestnut Hall in the evening.
“Of course,” Carly said. “Any particular reason?” Miller said that they had solved the problems and would tell them all together.
“So, you are safe again?” Carly asked and Miller told her that they were free to start work properly now. She and Jules took a car and went to collect the one they had left behind. They didn’t go into the house but stopped off to tell Marvin about the outcome of all of the trouble.
“I guess it’s competition,” Jules said, “but we are looking for somewhere to display both Miller’s things and my prints,” Jules said.
“As long as you are not on my doorstep and the things I find can be refurbished, I don’t mind,” he said and then he stopped and thought. “I saw a barn yesterday. It was on the roadside and not up for rent but maybe the farmer could be persuaded.”
“Sounds good,” Miller said and asked where it was. It was out of town, and as Marvin said, he was right in the center of town, so they went to have a look on the way back.
In the evening, they drove up to Chestnut Hall to find the four people who lived there ago to hear all of the details. With coffee in hand and Molly Kim swinging in a cradle with little moving patterns keeping her amused, the story of who had been the culprit was related once again. They all howled with laughter to hear how Miller had burst in with a pan and hit Glenda on the head.
“I knew I didn’t like her at all,” Carly said. “I’m glad she’s arrested. I hope you hit her really hard.”
“She was determined to get money out of your mother no matter what it cost,” Dex added. “A really nasty piece of work.”
“She and my mother were as thick as thieves---always have been and I’m glad that it has all come to light,” Jules told them. “Glenda’s husband needed the money to save his business apparently.”
“Maybe the dealership will go out of business and nasty Cardoon will be out on the street.” Miller grinned at the thought.
“Anyway, you are safe and can start this business,” Evan said. Jules told them that they had seen a barn and it was a possibility.
“What will you call it?” Jazz asked and together they both said, “Redheads.”
Jules stood up and said that he had one more announcement. He handed Evan the tiny camera and asked him to take a few shots.
“What on earth for?” Evan asked, but took the camera anyway.
“Over the knocked-out body of a Frenchman, I told my dad that this was the woman I wanted to marry.” He was interrupted by shouts of joy from Carly and Jazz. He went on, “I asked her again in the park to make sure she knew it was not a joke. And now, in front of friends--- cue photo Evan---.” He dropped down onto one knee and took her hand in his own. “Miller Hollenbeck, will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs Callander--- as soon as possible?” There was a breathless silence in the room as they waited for Miller’s reply. Evan clicked the camera, and Miller stood up slowly and looked around.
“Yes,” she shouted. “Yes, yes, yes!” She threw her arms around his neck. Evan went click, click, click, and Dex rushed away to find a bottle of bubbly to toast the good news.
Jazz came and put her arms around both of them.
“Happily ever after guys. Happily ever after.”
* * *
THE END
* * *
Copyright © 2017 by Olivia Swift
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
1
Kim Summers rocked her baby niece as she watched her sister, Jazz, devour one of her special cakes. They were relaxing in what had been their family home, which was attached to the garden center. Since Jazz had married and moved into Chestnut Hall, the house was all Kim’s. The sisters were both slim with dark-blond hair, but despite the slender figures, both of them liked to tackle almost anything that came along. Their father had always grown plants for sale and Kim continued in that vein, but Jazz had opted to restore other people's gardens.
The house had taken on Kim’s personality since Jazz left and was largely given over to sewing and quilting. The living room had a large, old, quilting frame that took up a huge amount of space. The tiny stitches making the pattern, all done by hand, were testament to her sewing skills.
“When does the extension start?” Jazz asked, and Kim’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Tomorrow. I am excited and worried at the same time. The little shop will still operate for as long as we can, and the machinery will stay away from the public. If it gets dangerous we will have to close the shop for awhile.”
“Then you will be able to have a grand opening for the new garden center,” Jazz observed as she brushed her crumbs away. “Can I have a look to see where everything will be?”
“Of course,” her sister replied, and Jazz took her daughter back to wander out into the nursery. It had expanded, ever since Jazz had married and left to live with her husband. The greenhouses were filled to bursting with stock that had to be looked after, and Jamie, the new gardener, was potting up new plug plants that had arrived from the wholesalers. He waved a hand and kept on going.
“He’s a good worker,” Kim said as they arrived at the shop. “Knows his plants, thank goodness. Remember that man who said he was a gardener and killed the whole season’s stock?” Neither of them would forget that episode.
Cherie, who ran the register in the shop was talking to a customer as she handed out wrapped goods, and the two sisters went behind the building. Kim pointed her hand in a broad sweep and told Jazz that everything there would be a parking lot.
“The present parking lot will be covered with the new center and then it will join up with the present shop. That is probably when we will have to close for a few days.”
“So, what is first?” Jazz asked . . . and the answer was that Rob Manners would start on leveling the new parking lot and laying some asphalt.
“That will give the customers somewhere to park, and we can start to lay foundations for the new building,” Kim added. Jazz nodded and looked around.
“It will be enormous. You will have to keep Rob well supplied with cake,” Jazz laughed.
“He does love cake,” her sister replied. “And he is a good friend. I know I can trust him to do a great job and not rip me off.”
“Strange how we never knew he went climbing in the army and turned out to be an old buddy of Evan’s,” Jazz pondered. “Talking of whom, he will be wondering where I am and missing his daughter.” She was strapping Molly Kim into the car seat when she asked about the crafting and quilt aspect.
“I forgot to ask how you are doing that,” she said.
�
�I have seen some dividing sections that can be moved around as you want, to change things. There will be a general craft section that sells all sorts of glues and patches and stuff and a quilters’ separate place with materials. It is hugely popular. It will have new quilts for sale and some antique and preloved ones as and when I find them.”
“Then the indoor plants and all of the garden accessories,” Jazz added, and her sister told her that there would be a lot of flower-arranging supplies as well. “Sounds fantastic.”
“I would like a small coffee shop as well. People do like to sit and have coffee when they visit, but whether that can be done in time is probably a bit too much to expect. It all has to be finished in time to set up the grotto for Christmas, for Santa Claus.” She laughed. “I am trying not to panic.”
She leaned in to kiss the baby and then waved her sister off. Kim gazed around at what was now empty space, but in her head, it was a whole new world.
“The quilting will be taking a back seat for some time,” she thought and then went to see if Cherie needed a hand. Two regular customers came and asked about the new plans, and Kim took the chance to ask what they thought about a coffee shop. The couple was enthusiastic and told her it would be good to have somewhere to sit.
“My old legs cannot do what they used to do,” the woman told her with a smile, and Kim noted that down in her head as well. She took the woman’s basket to the counter for her and rang the plants up on the register.
“I’ll give you a staff discount of ten percent,” Kim smiled, “as advisors to the management.” The lady said, in that case, she would have another ivy plant as well, and Kim obligingly went across to find one. After the people were served, Kim asked Cherie what she thought about the coffee shop idea, and the girl agreed with the customer that seats would be appreciated. They talked about the various, different departments that would have to be dealt with and how many more staff they would need. She valued Cherie’s take on things because, in the shop, the girl was her right-hand man. They had worked together long enough for Kim to know that Cherie could be trusted to buy the right merchandise and would take responsibility.
