by Cindy Kirk
“Lindsay.”
The shout of her name had Lindsay turning to see her former boss cross the street and make a beeline straight to her.
Shirley, owner of the Enchanted Florist, was a tall woman in her early fifties. Auburn hair, styled in a layered bob, flattered her square face. The smile on her red lips couldn’t quite disguise the lines of weariness edging her brown eyes.
Now that Lindsay had a better idea of what was involved in running a floral shop, she understood why the woman seemed perpetually stressed.
“It’s good to see you.” Shirley’s gaze took in Lindsay’s long-sleeved jersey dress in muted earth tones coupled with brown ankle booties. “You’re looking well.”
“Thank you.” The woman’s assessing gaze made Lindsay glad she’d dressed up for her noon meeting at Eliza’s house. Though it would just be her, Eliza and Ami, Eliza always looked so, well, so perfect.
As her blasted seller’s certificate had yet to be issued, she’d had plenty of time to get ready. She’d taken her time this morning, doing her makeup in a way that made her eyes look large and even more blue. She’d even pulled out the special foundation that hid the scar on her cheek.
“It’s nice to see you.” The warmth in Lindsay’s voice appeared to surprise Shirley. But Good Hope was a small town. Her path and Shirley’s would continue to cross in the years to come.
Besides, after shedding a few tears, Lindsay had concluded Shirley had done her favor. For a number of years, Lindsay had needed to step outside her comfort zone. Without a push—or kick in the pants—she’d likely have stayed put. Though it wasn’t flattering, Lindsay viewed herself as one of those birds that had to be shoved out of a nest in order to fly.
“How have you been?” Shirley posed the question with what appeared to be genuine interest.
For a second, Lindsay thought about replying with a simple fine. After all, what was there to say? Since her business hadn’t yet gotten off the ground, she had nothing to report. And she wasn’t about to bring up the pregnancy, though she knew the time was drawing near to announce to the Good Hope world that she was having Owen’s baby.
Yet, cutting a conversation short, especially when someone had deliberately sought you out, wasn’t the Good Hope way. Besides, she had plenty of time before she needed to be at Eliza’s home.
“I’ve been keeping busy.” Lindsay paused then brought up the elephant in the room. “I suppose you heard I’m starting my own floral business.”
The smile remained steady on Shirley’s lips. “Someone may have mentioned that to me.”
“Floral design has always been my passion.” Lindsay met the woman’s gaze head on. “I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life.”
When Shirley said nothing, Lindsay felt compelled to fill the silence.
“I understand the Enchanted Florist is, at heart, a family business.” Lindsay kept her tone light. “It was only natural that once the twins got older, you’d want them to be more involved.”
Shirley huffed out a breath. “Kids nowadays are eager for more responsibility, even when they aren’t really ready to take it on.”
Even though it had been only a few weeks since Lindsay stepped away from her duties at the Enchanted Florist, it appeared there was already trouble in floral paradise.
The first couple of days after she quit, Lindsay would have rejoiced at the knowledge. When she’d walked out the door, she’d wanted nothing more than for Shirley’s business to suffer.
Perhaps the fact that she’d soon be a mother herself had given Lindsay new perspective. While she didn’t appreciate how Shirley had treated her, she understood the woman’s desire to increase her daughters’ roles in the business.
“I’m sure the girls will find their way. In no time at all, they’ll be seasoned veterans.” Lindsay’s lips turned up. “Remember my first job as a designer? I did the wedding and reception flowers for that bride in Egg Harbor.”
“She told you what she wanted and made it clear she wouldn’t welcome any input from you or me.” Shirley chuckled. “You gave her what she asked for.”
“She’d picked all strong-smelling flowers for the reception tables.” Lindsay shook her head. “She was furious with us when the guests complained.”
“You gave her what she wanted,” Shirley reminded her.
“Even if she didn’t want to hear it, I should have warned her.” That was one lesson Lindsay had never forgotten. “Now, I’d speak my piece. If she still wanted those flowers, well, she couldn’t say she wasn’t fully warned.”
“The twins will need to learn that lesson.”
“They will.” Lindsay placed a hand on Shirley’s arm. “They’re smart girls, and you’ll be there to guide them.”
“That’s kind of you to say.”
Lindsay didn’t know what to think when Shirley’s eyes took on a sheen. “It’s been a difficult couple of weeks. We have so many orders, and the girls are, well, inexperienced.”
“All that business is a good thing.”
“It is,” Shirley agreed. “Except when you can’t keep up.”
A few heartbeats of silence followed.
“If you need help, and it works with my schedule, I’d be happy to lend my expertise to get you over the hump.” The offer was out of Lindsay’s mouth before she could stop it.
Shirley’s eyes widened. “You’d do that? After what I did to you?”
“You didn’t do anything except give me a much-needed kick in the backside to get me to follow my own dreams.” Lindsay grinned. “I’d be happy to help. But I’m warning you. I don’t work cheap.”
Lindsay’s emotions were in a tangle as she climbed the steps to Eliza’s front porch. The more she thought about her former employer’s predicament, the more she realized Shirley had only herself to blame.
Though returning to the Enchanted Florist made financial sense, it somehow felt as if she’d conceded a battle before a single shot had been fired.
Before even launching her new business, she’d put herself back under Shirley’s thumb. Heaving a sigh, Lindsay raised a hand to knock.
The door swung open before her knuckles touched the thick oak.
“I’m happy you could come by on such short notice.” Eliza’s megawatt smile had Lindsay taking a step back. “Come in. Come in.”
Though her friend was dressed in her trademark black, the sparkle in her eyes and the wide smile were definitely not what she expected from Eliza.
“I’m not sure why we’re meeting.” Lindsay studied her friend, whose text had seemed deliberately vague. “Does this have something to do with the homecoming displays?”
“Ami is in the parlor. She brought over cherry pie cookies. It’s a new recipe.” Eliza waved a perfectly manicured hand. “I’ve already had one. I think she’s got another winner.”
The woman’s flushed cheeks, broad smile and happy chatter were worrisome signs. “Who are you, and what have you done with Eliza?”
Her friend’s trill of laughter only added to Lindsay’s unease. Other than on her wedding day, she’d never seen Eliza so, well, so joyous.
Ami sat on the divan sipping a glass of lemonade. Eliza quickly filled a crystal tumbler for Lindsay. After handing it to her, Eliza commandeered the throne chair. This, at least, was expected behavior.
Lindsay smiled at Ami. “Eliza said you brought some new cookies for us to try.”
Ami gestured to a box on the coffee table. “I wanted to put them on a plate, but Eliza told me not to bother.”
Okay, this was downright creepy. Eliza had never been one to eat cookies directly out of a box. The puzzled look in Ami’s eyes seemed to agree with Lindsay’s assessment.
With Eliza munching happily on a cookie and Ami appearing content to sip lemonade, Lindsay took a stab at getting the party, er, the conversation started.
“I ran into Shirley on my way here.” Lindsay quickly summarized their interaction, then added, “I agreed to put in a few hours each mornin
g at the Enchanted Florist until my business takes off.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Eliza set down her glass with a decided thump. Her gray eyes narrowed and flashed. “Why would you do that after the way she treated you?”
Warmth flooded Lindsay. Here was her friend, the woman she knew and loved.
“I need money,” Lindsay admitted. “Since leaving the Enchanted Florist, I have lots of expenses but zero income. Don’t worry. She’s making it worth my time.”
“Why don’t you just bend over and ask her to pretty please kick you again?”
“Eliza.” Ami shot the brunette a warning look.
Eliza waved away the rebuke and turned to Lindsay. “You should have told her that if she has too much business, you’d be happy to take it off her hands.”
“It does seem like you’re taking a step backward.” Ami coupled the comment with an apologetic smile.
“It made sense at the time.” Lindsay sighed. “But right now I feel like one of those kids who graduate from college with high hopes only to move into their parents’ basement a couple months later.”
“It’s not at all the same. You’re only helping Shirley temporarily,” Ami insisted. “You need money, and she needs the help. Win-win.”
“Way to talk out of both sides of your mouth, Ami.” But Eliza’s chiding words held no bite. “Bottom line, Shirley doesn’t deserve help. If I was Lindsay, I’d never have gone back.”
“You might if you needed money bad enough,” Ami told Eliza. “If you recall, I went to work for Beck at Muddy Boots to earn money for my store’s furnace.”
“You went to work for Beckett Cross because you thought he was hot and you wanted in his pants.”
“You behave.” Ami swatted her friend’s arm. She couldn’t contain her laughter.
Eliza smirked and took a bite of cookie.
Lindsay rolled her eyes, but felt herself settle at the teasing banter. “Well, Shirley is definitely not hot.”
“How much do you need?” Eliza leaned over as if intending to pull her phone from her bag and make a financial transfer right then. “The money can be in your account today.”
Ami lowered her cookie, her gaze settling on Lindsay. “I can lend you whatever you need.”
“Thank you both, but you’re doing enough already.” Lindsay softened the refusal with a smile as her heart swelled with love for these two women who always had her back.
When Eliza opened her mouth to protest, Lindsay lifted a hand. “Forget Shirley. We’ve wasted enough time talking about her. I want to know what has you so giddy.”
Shock skittered across Eliza’s face, followed by a haughty expression. “I don’t do giddy.”
“Today, you do.” Ami’s teasing tone and smile were infectious. “C’mon, spill. What has Eliza Kendrick ready to burst into song?”
Lindsay expected Eliza to stall, perhaps make them beg.
Instead, a Cheshire cat smile lifted her friend’s lips. “Kyle and I are pregnant.”
Ami squealed and launched herself at Eliza, nearly upending her glass of lemonade.
“You’re going to have a baby?” Lindsay choked out the words.
Eliza returned Ami’s hug, then sat back and grinned. “Well, I don’t plan to give birth to a dog.”
Lindsay snorted out a laugh.
Ami clasped her hands together. “I’m so very happy for you and Kyle.”
“It’s wonderful news.” Caught up in her friend’s joy, Lindsay didn’t take time to identify the emotions battering her heart. “Tell us all. We want the deets.”
“Well, we’d been trying for a couple of months.” Eliza’s smile turned wicked. “That’s been a whole lot of fun.”
“Did you do a home pregnancy test?” Ami circled a hand, showing Lindsay that she wasn’t the only one eager for details. “Beck and I were super nervous when we did ours. My hand was shaking so much I nearly dropped the stick in the toilet.”
“It was the same with us.” Eliza’s lips curved in remembrance. “Kyle didn’t go into work. Once we had the results, we celebrated into the night.”
Eliza ended with, “We took flute glasses of club soda to the porch swing. While gazing into a sky filled with a million stars, we discussed our hopes and dreams for our baby.”
Lindsay thought of the test she’d done in the privacy of her bathroom and the panic that had gripped her when it came back positive. She shook off the memory and visualized Eliza’s scene. “That’s so romantic.”
Eliza nodded, her expression turning dreamy. “It was.”
A pang of longing had the next question stumbling out. “Did Kyle go with you to the doctor when you confirmed the pregnancy?”
“He wouldn’t have missed it.” Eliza let out a happy breath. “The second we left the office, we called his parents. Lolo is overjoyed at the thought of being an aunt. Once school is out, she’s determined to come and help with the baby. She made sure we knew she’s a Red Cross-certified babysitter.”
Eliza paused as if realizing she’d been babbling. “Sorry. It’s just that a couple years ago, I never imagined being this happy.”
“You and Kyle should enjoy every moment.” Ami’s eyes went soft. “Beck was over the moon the first time we found out we were pregnant. I thought maybe he’d be a little calmer this time around, but he’s just as excited.”
Eliza’s gaze shifted from Ami to Lindsay. “The cherry on top of this very fabulous sundae is that our children will grow up together. They’ll be classmates and friends.”
“We’ll do playdates, and once they’re in school, we’ll sit together during programs and sporting events.” Ami clasped her hands together. “It will be absolutely wonderful.”
“I’ve already started thinking about how I’m going to decorate the nursery.” Eliza’s voice shook with eagerness. “Of course, we want to find out the sex of the baby first.”
“You could do what Beck and I did and decorate in primary colors,” Ami suggested.
As the two women debated the merits of various color schemes, Lindsay sat back and listened. She didn’t have the time or the money to decorate a nursery. Heck, she’d be lucky to be able to afford a crib.
Still, dreaming of shopping with her friends for baby items had a smile forming on her lips.
“How does that sound to you, Lin?”
Lindsay had lost track of the conversation when her mind had wandered, but to admit as much might squash the buoyant mood in the room. “It sounds wonderful.”
“You’ve got something spinning in that head of yours.” Eliza wagged a finger. “What is it?”
Lindsay smiled and settled her gaze on Ami. “I was thinking Eliza and I are lucky to have you and Prim.”
Ami inclined her head, puzzlement furrowing her brow.
“You’re experienced mothers. You’ll be there to give us tips on how to navigate those early days with a newborn.” With a start, Lindsay realized she’d also have Owen. He was an experienced father.
While she wished she’d had an excited husband beside her when she found out she was pregnant, wished she could have rejoiced instead of worried when the test was positive, she chose to be thankful for all the good things in her life.
“Prim and I will certainly help in any way we can.” Ami’s lips curved. “Those first couple of weeks can be harrowing. But holding the new life you created with the man you love, well, there is nothing quite as wonderful.”
The new life you created with the man you love…
While she and Owen might not be married, their baby girl would grow up knowing she was deeply loved. Not only by her mother, but by her father, too. A man who wanted to be in his child’s life so badly that he was willing to marry a woman he didn’t love.
“I’d like to propose a toast.” Lindsay lifted her glass of lemonade high. “To our children. May they grow up healthy, happy and surrounded by love.”
Her phone buzzed only seconds later.
“It’s Shirley,” Eliza deadpanne
d, “telling you not to forget to wear that hideous uniform when you come in.”
Chuckling, Lindsay pulled the phone from her bag and brought up the text.
“Who’s it from?” Ami asked.
“It’s from Owen.” Lindsay smiled. “Asking me out to dinner.”
Twenty
Owen wove his way through the crush of people to where Lindsay stood by the exterior door to Bayside Pizza.
“They said it’ll be thirty minutes,” he told her. The sheer number of people standing around made Owen wonder if the hostess had underestimated the time. “Is that okay, or would you prefer to try somewhere else?”
“I don’t mind waiting.” Lindsay moved closer, as if to ensure he could hear her over all the voices in the small waiting area. “This is odd. They’re never this busy on a Monday.”
“I asked the hostess. Apparently, they’re running some kind of special.” Owen slipped his arm around her shoulders. Because it was crowded, he told himself. “I gave them my number. They said they’d text if we wanted to wait outside.”
“In that case, why don’t we take a stroll down by the water?” She stood so close he could smell the sweet scent of her lemony shampoo. “I know you like to walk.”
After Mindy died, she’d taken many long walks with him. She’d listened as he’d shared his anger, pain and overwhelming sorrow. They had become good friends during that time. But there was still much more to learn, to discover, about her.
Owen held the door open. He took Lindsay’s arm as they navigated the steps, then headed in the direction of the shoreline. “Tell me about your day.”
“Not much to tell.” She shot him a sideways glance and smiled. “What about yours?”
When he opened his mouth to mention David had stopped by, Owen stopped himself. Time for that later. “Did you spend the day at home, or did you go out?”
He feared that without direct questions, she might try to redirect the conversation back to him.
“I spent some time at Eliza’s house.”
“Details.” He offered a teasing smile. “Toss me a bone.”
She rolled her eyes, but her lips quirked upward. “Okay. Because the weather was nice, I walked to her house.”
