“I’m really going to push Dad to come home with me again, if he gets out,” Jane interrupted the silence. “This wouldn’t have happened if he’d been at home where he belongs.”
Hunter and Peggy agreed with her. The conversation picked up involving elderly relatives and their care. None of them mentioned the trial again.
“Well, I have to go.” Hunter glanced at her watch. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything new. I assume you’ll do the same.”
“I will,” Peggy promised. “Thanks again for taking the case.”
Jane lingered a little longer, talking about the way her father was when she was a child. “It’s terrible to see this stranger. I don’t know what to do about it. He doesn’t think rationally, but he’s not a child. I can’t send him to his room.”
“He’s one of the most rational men I’ve ever met,” Peggy disagreed. “I don’t understand why he prefers to live on the street. But it’s certainly not because he’s a half-wit.”
“You think it’s me, don’t you?” Jane wrung her hands.
Peggy squeezed her arm. “Of course not! It’s him. Something inside of him won’t let him rest. I wish I understood it more, and I could help. But it’s not anything you’ve done.”
Jane thanked her, then gathered up her belongings. “I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know, too, if you hear anything.”
“I will.” Peggy smiled as she watched the younger woman leave the cafe. Talking to her made her think about her relationship with Paul. How much was there between them that neither of them understood?
“Your friends eat like rabbits,” Anthony told her with a laugh. “Next time bring somebody with an appetite!”
Peggy promised she would and thanked him for lunch. She walked back to the Potting Shed, for once glad to see her customers had thinned out. She sent Keeley home when she saw how tired she looked and had Selena wait to leave until she could take Shakespeare for a short walk.
“You think Keeley’s okay?” Selena asked her when she got back.
“I think she’ll be fine,” Peggy answered. “She needs time to get her strength back. Losing a pregnancy isn’t only the physical aspect. It’s the emotional one as well.”
“I can’t believe she was pregnant! Especially with that old guy’s baby. What was she thinking?”
“That he wasn’t all that old?”
Selena ducked her head. “I guess I should go before I say anything else stupid. See you later, Shakespeare. Bye, Peggy.”
When Selena was gone and the shop was empty, Peggy called in her monthly plant order. She included some poinsettias for Christmas as well as a large supply of paper-white narcissus. Besides some decorations and a few gift ideas for gardeners, it was the only consideration she gave the holiday season. Christmas wasn’t as big for her as for some other retailers.
Feeling accomplished when the order was in, she sat down behind the counter and put her leg up on a basket. Her knee was feeling a little better, but she might have to give some thought to a few sessions of physical therapy, as the doctor suggested. It was still a little stiff, and she didn’t want to give up riding her bike.
She picked up the newspaper and glanced through it, checking out competitors’ ads as well as some news stories. A short mention in the society page caught her attention. Ronda McGee had filed for divorce yesterday. Peggy’s eyes narrowed and lost focus as she considered what that could mean. It might not have anything to do with Mark’s death. But on the other hand . . .
Before she could consider her actions, she looked up the address of the McGee household on the computer. She could empathize, take Ronda some tea and a plant. It was the least she could do. They were passing acquaintances anyway. After her thoughts that morning about Bob McGee, she had to know what happened. The best way was to go to the source.
She waited impatiently for the hands on the big clock to swing to six. A few customers straggled out of the dark courtyard and purchased some bulbs and a few planters. Peggy talked to them about their needs and explained what they had to do to see their plants flourish. All the while she kept glancing at the clock. Impatience made her edgy. She called for a taxi at 5:40 and started shutting down the shop.
The new lights by the loading dock made the whole area bright again. The maintenance crew finally installed them that day after the furnace was repaired. As predicted, no shadows lingered. Satisfied, she shut off the back lights and locked the door. At the same time, she heard the front door open and close. She should’ve locked it.
Smile fastened firmly in place, even though her heart was pounding, she turned to greet what she determined was going to be her last customer of the day.
“Am I too late? I suppose I should’ve called.” Steve waited by the counter for her. “I finished with a patient and thought about surprising you with a ride home. Surprise!”
Peggy didn’t know what to say. “That was . . . thoughtful of you. But I already called for a taxi.”
“You can cancel it. We can go out for dinner, and I’ll take you home.” He studied her face. “Unless you had other plans.”
“Not exactly. There’s this one thing I need to do. . . .”
“Great! You close up; I’ll cancel the taxi.” He picked up the phone. “Which company did you call?”
“It might be best if you don’t come with me,” she suggested, trying not to hurt his feelings.
“What is it? Are you meeting someone else?”
“Not the way you make it sound,” she said. “It’s something else about the Warner murder. You might not want to get involved.”
“I’m already involved. I went to the Warners’ with you, and I ate pancakes at your house with all your police
