Jill Churchill - The Accidental Florist

"What a good idea, Jane," Dixie piped up. "Now let's don't talk about this anymore, Ted. Make your own decisions, and don't even tell me about them." She was smiling as she said this.

Dixie turned to where the girls were sitting in their high chairs, and said, "I'm right, aren't I?" She nodded her head and both of the girls laughed and tried to imitate the gesture. Mary, who was a year and a half old, dribbled orange juice all over her pink dress. Sarah, at four years, got it right.

Ted was grinning.

Jane called Mel when Ted, Dixie, and the girls had left. She told him about the nice dinner and then asked, "How's your case going?"

"Which one?"

"The Welbournes, of course."

"Not much yet. Both reporters have told me that they've had a lot of calls, but they're all either frauds, or someone who claims to have met them two years ago in Perth, or Sydney, or Orlando. But somebody will turn up knowing how to spell Miss Welbourne's whole name. Then we move in."

Jane went to bed that night thinking about Ted and Dixie. Thelma's death was, sadly, the best thing that ever happened to them. They had both been so relaxed and pleasant at dinner. The relief of not having Thelma around, making their lives miserable, must have been enormous. And would only get better over time.

Then she started thinking about herself. This was Wednesday. At the end of next week, she'd be married. Her parents were arriving next Thursday. Next Wednesday her parents would be packing for the long flight from Denmark to New York then the short one to Chicago. Her dad would send his documents from the meetings in Denmark to Washington.

Thursday Mike would be driving home from Indiana, and Katie would be flying in from Kansas. The civil wedding would be on Friday, and Addie's wedding would be Saturday at five in the afternoon. Suddenly, she realized how close it all was — finally. It was a shame Mel's office wouldn't be ready in time. But that wasn't so important. He'd already hired people to take away his office furniture three weeks after the weddings.

Everything was finally coming together.

Unless Addie ruined it.

Meanwhile, Jane could happily work on the details of her new book. The planning was just as invigorating as the actual writing was. She loved the surprises that her mind served up from time to time during that process.

The week seemed to crawl along though. Every day seemed longer. And hotter. The workers were now putting in windows. The necessary door to the outside in case of fire in the house was completed. But the flooring hadn't arrived, though it had been promised earlier. The outside hadn't been stuccoed yet. They'd considered brick, but it was far more expensive.

Jane hadn't ever heard back from Addie and didn't know if she was coming to the real wedding. But it was a matter of pride not to call her back. Mel was unable to reach her either. But he wasn't worried. He claimed she was a busy woman. She'd show up in time, he assured Jane.

Jane did call the hotel billing department, asking if Addie VanDyne had paid for the hotel booking. She was told that all they'd received was a hefty down payment.

This worried Jane, and even slightly alarmed Mel when she told him. "I'll pay for it if she doesn't,"Jane said.

"No. You won't. I'll hunt her down if I have to drive down there and hammer on her door."

She didn't ask him until two days later if his motherhad paid. "She claimed she did," Mel said. "You might ask if the hotel has gotten it."

"You can do that," Jane said. She knew she was being a bit snippy, and apologized. "Never mind. I don't have a `real' job like you do. I'll call."

"Jane, this isn't your responsibility. I will find out. I'm sorry I tried to shove this off on you. You do have a real job. And it's a more interesting one than mine."

It was turning into a battle of apologies, and she didn't know how to stop it.

Mel called back an hour later. "Janey, the hotel has already cashed the check. If it doesn't bounce, we're home free." The "Janey" part of this statement eased her mind. At least he wasn't mad at her. And she had probably deserved criticism for her nervous behavior.

"Could I persuade you to take me to a nice dinner? On my nickel? I'm desperate to eat something I didn't cook for myself. Can't your Officer Needham monitor any calls you get about the Welbournes? You can take along your cell phone and abandon me if something important comes in."

"That sounds good. I've been living on sandwiches and chips in the canteen."

This time they decided not to go to their favorite expensive restaurant and settled for a chain restaurant with a salad bar. Mel made himself an enormous salad and two rolls. Jane had a shrimp and pasta dish. They were sitting in a corner booth and since they'd gone early, nobody was close to them.

She was determined not to mention his mother, but Mel himself started talking about her after he'd eaten.

"She was tough on me. Wanted me to be a stockbroker so I'd get rich. Every time she got pregnant, I'd wish for another brother to take some of the stress off me. But all I got were sisters. She liked them okay, but made them always dress alike in pink dresses or shorts and shirts. They now wear black, mostly. Just to get back at her, I suspect."

"Pink? How horrible. And dressing all the same, like replicas of each other."

"She was livid when I graduated from college and wanted to go into law enforcement. She thought it was a dirty, nasty job, dealing only with scummy criminals. She wouldn't pay for it. So I put myself through college waiting tables, mowing lawns, pet sitting, and slinging hash at a breakfast place."

"You've never told me about this,"Jane said. "Why not?"

"I never thought I'd need to. To this day, she's disappointed in me, and tells her clients and friends that I am a very successful stockbroker."

"Is this why she also dislikes me?"

"No. She thinks of you as a dumb housewife, spending your time at grocery stores and dress shops."

"Have you ever told her the truth? That I've raised three brilliant kids, and have a job and a very good income?"

"I haven't. It's really not any of her business. She pretends that what's wrong with marrying you is that you're two years older than I am. As if that matters to either of us."

Jane smiled. "At least she's not as outright nasty as my other mother-in-law was."

"And she doesn't live anywhere close to you," Mel said. "Yes, you're right. That's one benefit."

Mel said, "Want a dessert?"

"Yes. Something with gooey hot fudge if it's on the menu."

While they were waiting for dessert, Mel made a prediction. "I suspect this trip for our wedding is probably the last time she'll ever be in Chicago to visit us. And I'll bet you ten dollars she refuses to come to your house to see the office you're building for me."

"That's a bet I wouldn't make. I'm sure you're right. And it's a relief that you don't seem to mind."

"I don't mind at all. When she grows too old to run around selling real estate, she's going to be a very lonely person. She's hasn't earned much loyalty from her children. That's another thing I love about you. Your kids would go to the wall to please you."

Jane teared up at this compliment.

Chapter

TWENTY-TWO

M

ike was the first to arrive. He'd asked his professor for a couple of extra days to spend time with his mother.

He was a bit shocked to discover that Todd had taken over his bedroom. So he just dumped his own stuff in what had been Todd's room.

"How's it going, Mom?" he asked as he galloped back down the stairs.

"Fairly well," she said mildly. "But you need to go and be fitted for a tux today."

"Okay, I'll do it now if you tell me what are all those papers stuck to your dining room window?" Mike said.