'You're caught up.' With her gloved hand, Roz scratched an itch under her nose. 'So's everyone else. Lord, Ruby's beaming like she's been made a grandmother again, and Steve wants to high-five me
every time I see him.'
'They love this place.'
'So do I. The fact is, this is the best year we've ever had. Weather's part of it. We've had a pretty
spring. But we've also got ourselves an efficient and enthusiastic manager to help things along. But
end of the day, quality's still the byword here. Quantity's second.'
'You're right. Of course you're right. I just can't stand the thought of running out of something and
having to send a customer somewhere else.'
'Probably won't come to that, especially if we're smart enough to lead them toward a nice substitution.'
Stella sighed. 'Right again.'
'And if we do need to recommend another nursery ...'
'The customers will be pleased and impressed with our efforts to satisfy them. And this is why you're
the owner of a place like this, and I'm the manager.'
'It also comes down to being born and bred right here. In a few more weeks, the spring buying and planting season will be over. Anyone who comes in after mid-May's going to be looking mostly for supplies, or sidelines, maybe a basket or planter already made up, or a few plants to replace something that's died or bloomed off. And once that June heat hits, you're going to want to be putting what we've got left of spring and summer bloomers on sale before you start pushing the fall stock.'
'And in Michigan, you'd be taking a big risk to put anything in before mid-May.'
Roz moved to the next tray of cuttings. 'You miss it?'
'I want to say yes, because it seems disloyal otherwise. But no, not really. I didn't leave anything back there except memories.'
It was the memories that worried her. She'd had a good life, with a man she'd loved. When she'd lost
him that life had shattered—under the surface. It had left her shaky and unstable inside. She'd kept that life together, for her children, but in her heart had been more than grief. There'd been fear.
She'd fought the fear, and embraced the memories.
But she hadn't just lost her husband. Her sons had lost their father. Gavin's memory of him was dimmer— dimmer every year—but sweet. Luke was too young to remember his father clearly. It
seemed so unfair. If she moved forward in her relationship with Logan while her boys were still
so young ...
It was a little like no longer missing home, she supposed. It seemed disloyal.
As she walked into the showroom, she spotted a number of customers with wagons, browsing the
tables, and Hayley hunkering down to lift a large strawberry pot already planted.
'Don't!'
Her sharp command had heads turning, but she marched right through the curious and, slapping her
hands on her hips, glared at Hayley. 'Just what do you think you're doing?'
'We sold the point-of-purchase planters. I thought this one here would be good out by the counter.'
'I'm sure it would. Do you know how pregnant you are?'
Hayley glanced down at her basketball belly. 'Kind of hard to miss.'
'You want to move a planter, then you ask somebody to move it for you.'
'I'm strong as an ox.'
'And eight months pregnant.'
'You listen to her, honey.' One of the customers patted Hayley on the arm. 'You don't want to take chances. Once that baby pops out, you'll never stop hauling things around. Now's the time to take advantage of your condition and let people spoil you a little bit.'
'I've got to watch her like a hawk,' Stella said. 'That lobelia's wonderful, isn't it?'
The woman looked down at her flatbed. 'I just love that deep blue color. I was thinking I'd get some
of that red salvia to go beside it, maybe back it up with cosmos?'
'Sounds perfect. Charming and colorful, with a whole season of bloom.'
'I've got some more room in the back of the bed, but I'm not sure what to put in.' She bit her lip as she scanned the tables loaded with options. 'I wouldn't mind some suggestions, if you've got the time.'
'That's what we're here for. We've got some terrific mixed hollyhocks, tall enough to go behind the cosmos. And if you want to back up the salvia, I think those marigolds there would be fabulous. And have you seen the perilla?'
'I don't even know what it is,' the woman said with a laugh.
Stella showed her the deep-purple foliage plant, had Hayley gatherup several good marigolds. Between them, they filled another flatbed.
'I'm glad you went with the alyssum, too. See the way the white pops the rest of your colors? Actually, the arrangement there gives you a pretty good idea what you'll have in your garden.' Stella nodded toward the flatbeds. 'You can just see the way those plants will complement each other.'
'I can't wait to get them in. My neighbors are going to be green with envy.'
'Just send them to us.'
'Wouldn't be the first time. I've been coming here since you opened. Used to live about a mile from
here, moved down toward Memphis two years ago. It's fifteen miles or more now, but I always find something special here, so I keep coming back.'
'That's so nice to hear. Is there anything else Hayley or I can help you with? Do you need any starter, mulch, fertilizer?'
'Those I can handle on my own. But actually'—she smiled at Hayley—'since this cart's full, if you'd have one of those strong young boys cart that pot out to the counter—and on out to my car after—I'll take it.'
'Let me arrange that for you.' Stella gave Hayley a last telling look. 'And you, behave yourself.'
'Y'all sisters?' the woman asked Hayley.
'No. She's my boss. Why?'
'Reminded me of my sister and me, I guess. I still scold my baby sister the way she did you, especially when I'm worried about her.'
'Really?' Hayley looked off toward where Stella had gone. 'I guess we sort of are, then.'
* * *
While she agreed that exercise was good for expectant mothers, Stella wasn't willing to have Hayley
work all day and then walk close to half a mile home at this stage of her pregnancy. Hayley groused,
but every evening Stella herded her to the car and drove her home. 'I
'And after we get home and you have something to eat, you can take a nice walk around the gardens.
But you're not walking all that way, and through the woods alone, on my watch, kid.'
'Are you going to be pestering me like this for the next four weeks?'
'I absolutely am.'
'You know Mrs. Tyler? The lady who bought all those annuals we helped her with?'
'Mmm-hmm.'
'She said how she thought we were sisters because you give me grief like she does her baby sister.
At the time, I thought that was nice. Now, it's irritating.'
'That's a shame.'
'I'm taking care of myself.'
'Yes, and so am I.'
Hayley sighed. 'If it's not you giving me the hairy eye, it's Roz. Next thing, people'll start thinking she's my mama.'
Stella glanced down to see Hayley slip her feet out of her shoes. 'Feet hurt?'
'They're all right.'
'I've got this wonderful foot gel. Why don't you use it when we get home, and put your feet up for a
few minutes?'
'I can't hardly reach them anymore. I feel...'
