Jill Churchill: The Accidental Florist

Chapter

TWO

T

he next morning, when Jane went out for the newspaper, Shelley was coming inside with hers. They made no mention of the day before. Shelley looked as chipper and normal as Jane did now that Jane had fixed her hair. The cats had indeed eaten all the spilled cat food and Jane had cleaned up the floor. "I have coffee brewing. I found a new brand at a Starbucks in Kansas. A hint of hazelnut flavoring, I think. But not saying so on the container. Want to try it out with me?"

"Sure," Shelley said, pitching her own newspaper on her kitchen porch. "Isn't it odd that all the houses on this block were constructed with the kitchen in the front of the house?"

"I like it that way," Jane said. "I can sit at the kitchen table and see what's going on along the street."

"So do I," Shelley agreed. "This coffee is good. I wonder if our own Starbucks carries it as well?"

"I've always just had their mocha when I buy it there. We'll have to go look and see next time we stop by."

"Are you ever going to marry Mel?" Shelley asked.

Jane gawked at her. "Surprisingly, I've been thinking a lot about it. You know he tried to give me an engagement ring that awful Christmas that his furnace died, and he and his dreadful mother, Addie, stayed here. I said I'd keep it for later. But he decided I might lose it and he took it back and put it in his bank lockbox."

"Do you suppose he still has it? After all, you and he have had a very long, happy relationship and now that you're going to have only one child at home most of the time, you should consider it."

"Do I have to propose to him?" Jane asked with a glint in her eye.

"Why not? You're an independent woman. Not a wimp. The worst that could happen is that he'd turn down the offer. And you know he wouldn't."

"I'm fairly sure you're right. I'd like for him to live with me in this house. It would mean giving up several closets and cleaning out the other half of the garage for his precious MG."

"When did you become so practical?" Shelley asked. "All these years hanging out with you," Jane replied.

"You're the most sensible, practical woman I know. Except for your give-'em-hell driving habits."

"You'll note, I hope, that I've never been in an accident," Shelley claimed.

"But other people you terrified have ended up in ditches, I'd bet."

"I never look back," Shelley said proudly.

Jane was quiet for a few minutes and then said, "I'm going to have to plan my proposal to Mel. I don't think, `You wanna get married, big guy?' is quite appropriate."

"Ask first if he kept the ring he tried to give you. Would that be a way to start a proposal?"

"Good idea. Thanks."

As it happened, Mel called Jane later in the day and said, "Want to go to your favorite pricey restaurant tonight? I have something to tell you about."

He sounded so serious that Jane was scared. Was he getting ready to dump her just as she was about to propose marriage?

"Of course I'd like that," she said, trying to make it sound as if she meant it.

"You sound wary," Mel said. "It's not a bad thing. Just something I suggest you and Shelley might want to do."

Jane sat down at the kitchen table, thinking that he'd come to understand her a little bit too well. "I can't wait to hear what it is. What time should I be ready?"

"I've already made reservations for seven. Is that okay?"

"It's fine. I'll leave a sandwich and chips for Todd." "Can't he do that himself?" Mel asked, sounding sincerely confused.

"Sure he could. But I'm a mom."

Mel was quiet but relaxed as they drove to the restaurant. They always had a private booth where they couldn't be overheard. The waiter handed them the poster-sized menus, asked if they wanted a drink while they studied the menu, and disappeared to get each of them a glass of the house merlot.

They both knew what they wanted. Jane chose a green salad and chicken scalloppine. Mel wanted a salad and the largest filet mignon on the menu. They might choose desserts later.

The waiter returned with the restaurant's signature rye bread rolls and butter along with their drinks, took their orders, and disappeared.

"What is it you wanted to tell me about?" Jane asked when she'd finished a roll and tasted her drink.

"It's about your and Shelley's safety."

"I don't understand. Is this police work? Are we in some kind of danger we don't know about?"

"In a way. But it's not a police secret. Women are attacked far more often than men. Men tend to fight back, and I don't think either of you would have the strength to do so. There is this tough old woman who teaches women how to better protect themselves. I thought

it would be useful to you and ease my mind about your welfare."

"But Shelley and I don't go bar hopping at night. We know better than that."

"That's not the point. And crimes against women don't always happen at night anyway."

"Is it expensive to take these classes?"

"No, they're almost free. You only pay a couple bucks for the rental of the meeting hall."

"When do they start?"

"Next Monday. Two a week for two weeks. And further lessons in self-defense if it interests you two." He reached into a pocket inside his suit coat and handed her a sheet of paper. "This is all the information. It would really ease my mind if you knew more about protecting yourselves when you're out and about."

"I'll show this to Shelley,"Jane said, perusing the items on the list. "It meets during the day, I'm glad to say."

"She does night classes, too. For women who can't get off work in the daytime. I'm glad you're considering this."

"I'm sure it will be interesting to both of us,"Jane said. She folded the paper and tucked it into her purse. She'd noticed that the waiter was hovering.

Stuffed to the brim with rolls, salad, and dinner, they strolled out and got into Mel's car. As he approached her house, Jane said, "Could we stop for a few minutes at that little park down the block before you drop me off?"

He glanced at her, wondering why she wanted to do this, but did as she asked. When he turned the ignitionoff, Jane said, "Do you just happen to have kept that engagement ring you tried to give me long ago?" Mel grinned. "I did. Do you want it back?"

"Yes. It's time. Past time, in fact."

"It's in my safety-deposit box. I'll bring it over tomorrow. Janey, are you sure you want it?"

She tried to hug him, but it's hard to do in a little MG. "I'm absolutely sure I do."

Mel stepped out of the car, came around, and gave Jane his hand. "Get out of there right now. I want to kiss you without either of us getting hurt trying it in the car."

Jane was very late getting home. She could see from outside that Todd's room was dark. She all but danced up the stairs.

The next morning Mel dropped in on his way to work. He didn't look quite as happy as he should have.

"What's wrong? Has the ring gone missing?" Jane asked.

"No, it's my mother."

"She's missing?" Jane asked.

"I wish she were. I made the mistake of calling her to tell her the good news that we're getting married…"

"She didn't take it well, I guess,"Jane said, not the least bit surprised.

"It's not exactly that. It's…"

"Mel, spit it out and get it over with. She's refusing to come?"

"Far from it," he said. "Let me put the ring on your finger and we'll sit out on your patio and talk about it."

They sat close together and Mel reluctantly explained. "See, I'm her only son."

"I know that."

"But she says your parents have two daughters."

"That's true. So what is the problem with it?" She was looking at the ring on her finger, smiling, and thinking she'd forgotten how beautiful it was. "Your mother also has two daughters. She mentioned them that Christmas she stayed at my house."