Lisa Carter - The Bachelor's Unexpected Family

Now she wasn’t so sure. The encounter with Canyon Collier had left her feeling oddly exposed. She shrugged off the vague feelings of vulnerability. Anyone would be shaken after almost being run over by an airplane. And she pushed the incident to the nether regions of her mind.

Her gaze traveled over the ladies at the meeting. Sixtysomething Mrs. Davenport held court in a brocade armchair strategically placed at the unofficial head of the room. According to Caroline, Mrs. Davenport was a social force to be reckoned with in Kiptohanock.

Librarian Evy Pruitt perched in a nearby chair. The pastor’s wife, Agnes Parks, smiled at Kristina while Mrs. Davenport waxed on about Lenten altar cloths. And there was also Caroline’s sister, Honey Kole. She owned the Duer Fisherman’s Lodge. Her darling baby daughter dozed in her car seat on the carpet at Honey’s feet.

Kristina bit off a sigh. She’d always wanted more children. But Pax had been deployed so often that he thought after Gray was born, one child was enough.

Honey played with the pearls at her throat. “What about breakfast after the Easter sunrise service?”

The other ladies hid their smiles behind teacups. And Kristina got the distinct impression if anyone was likely to challenge Mrs. Davenport’s leadership, Honey Duer Kole might be the one to do it.

Which was fine. Kristina had no social aspirations. By nature, she was more worker bee than queen bee.

An officer’s wife learned early to tune in to the fine nuances of base politics. It was how you furthered your husband’s career, kept your family intact and survived the long deployments with fellow military wives.

Finally, the discussion shifted to the topic Kristina was interested in—the altar flowers. Bending, Honey smoothed the pink blanket tucked around her daughter. “It’s so inconvenient to have to travel out of town for floral arrangements.”

Mrs. Davenport peered over the top of her purple reading glasses. “And considering the expense, it behooves us to find another solution.”

Behooves? Mrs. Davenport reminded Kristina of the high-society clients with whom she’d worked as a part-time floral assistant during her college days in Richmond.

“The inn’s garden won’t be at its best till May.” Honey’s lips pursed. “What about your garden?”

Mrs. Davenport—the only one in casual, coastal Kiptohanock to wear purple tweed—lifted her chin. “Inglenook will also not be in full bloom until Garden Week in May.”

Kristina had never actually known anyone whose house had a name.

Honey gave Mrs. Davenport a measured look. “Which, of course, works out perfectly for you.”

Mrs. Davenport sniffed. “Inglenook has taken the Garden of the Year award for the last five years.”

“Perhaps not this year.” Honey batted her lashes. “It’s probably best not to count your trophies before they bloom.”

Kristina’s mouth twitched. Garden divas. Got it. Stay out of the fray.

Mrs. Parks shook her head. “Ladies, let’s get back to decorating the sanctuary of the Lord this Sunday.”

As if taking on a life of its own, Kristina lifted her hand. “What about an arrangement of sasanqua camellia? I have several bushes in bloom right now...” Horrified, she dropped her hand into her lap.

What on earth had possessed her to violate her personal policy of always flying under the radar? Rule one in navigating tricky social hierarchies—keep a low profile.

Evy leaned forward, her trademark heels planted on the pine floor. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Her ponytail swished as she angled toward Mrs. Davenport. “Don’t you, Margaret?”

Mrs. Davenport stared at Kristina. “Do I know you?”

“Kristina Montgomery,” she whispered and knotted her fingers in her lap. “My son, Gray, and I just moved to Kiptohanock.”

Margaret Davenport’s nose wrinkled. “A ‘come here.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She was whispering again. “Weston Clark’s sister.”

“Which makes you related to the Duers.” Mrs. Davenport pinched her lips together. “By marriage.”

Already she’d fallen afoul of village politics. Blacklisted by association.

Honey bristled. “As is Evy.”

Margaret Davenport, also known as the Kiptohanock grapevine, had a soft spot for the young librarian. Behind her fashionable horn-rimmed glasses, Evy’s blue eyes sparkled.

Honey placed her palms on the armrests. “Which makes Evy my sister, too.” She threw Mrs. Davenport a small smile. “By marriage.”

Kristina should’ve asked Caroline, her sister by marriage, to draw Kiptohanock family trees to avoid any genealogical land mines.

Mrs. Davenport steepled her hands under her chin. “And where exactly do you live, Kristina Montgomery?”

“Outside town. Toward Locustville. I bought the Collier house.”

Mrs. Davenport fluttered her hand. “Why didn’t you say so in the first place? Eileen Collier’s garden used to be a showplace.” Her lip curled. “Before that no-good grandson of hers made her a recluse.”

Canyon Collier, the no-good grandson? Despite how she appreciated him taking Gray to task regarding his attitude, unease needled Kristina. She needed to find out more about her attractive pilot neighbor. For Gray’s sake, of course.

“The camellias sound lovely.” The reverend’s wife smiled. “What about the other Sundays of Lent leading to Easter, ladies?”

Kristina raised her hand again. “I have a garden border, mostly of fragrant old-fashioned violets.”

Her eyes widened. Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut?

Yet she held her hands in front of herself to demonstrate. “We could place the violets in tiny frogs and group them around the base of the cross—”

“Purple violets would match the altar cloth.” Mrs. Davenport uncoiled a smidgen. “And in my considerable experience, anyone who knows about a floral frog can’t be all bad.”

Not a ringing endorsement, but nevertheless...

Evy swiveled. “What’s a frog?”

Mrs. Davenport motioned for Kristina to continue.

She took a breath. “Frogs are used in the bottom of vases and bowls to hold flowers upright in an arrangement. The frogs are usually made in a woven grid of wire spikes. Or a frog can be a round glass disk with holes. Popular in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.” She flushed and fell silent.

Honey nodded. “Do you have any frogs we could use for the altar arrangement?”

Kristina didn’t usually talk so much. She was far more comfortable fading into the background. But flowers were a passion of hers. “I have my grandmother’s collection of vintage frogs. Colored Depression glass.”

“Depression glass?” Mrs. Davenport’s eyes lit. “I love Depression glass.” She waved a beringed hand. “In fact, I collect those myself.”

The baby stirred in her car seat. Honey lifted Daisy and cuddled the child in her arms. “Sounds wonderful. Anything else blooming in your garden, Kristina?”

Kristina tilted her head, thinking out loud. “I have white and mauve Lenten roses. Some blooming daphne also.”

Mrs. Davenport’s steely gaze softened. “Lenten roses for the Good Friday service. What could be more appropriate?” A frown creased her brow. “But with my work at the library, I’m not sure I could get to your house and put together a bouquet this week.”

Evy patted Mrs. Davenport’s arm. “You’re always saying how you’re too busy because of social obligations. Why not put Kristina in charge of the altar flowers this Lenten season?”

The newlywed librarian winked at Kristina. “Anyone who knows the Latin name for a camellia probably can be trusted to arrange the flowers.”

Agnes Parks straightened. “An excellent idea. After all, you promised to help me run the Easter egg hunt on the square, Margaret.”