Change of Heart

by Judith Keim

  “Where do you want this delivered?” Em asked him.

  The man gave her the address of the St. Mark’s Rehabilitation Center. “This isn’t for my wife. I promised an old, deceased friend that I’d take care of this for him for as long as his wife lived.”

  “You mean before he died he asked you to do this for him?” Em’s eyes filled with tears. It was such a romantic gesture.

  “Yes. I live in the next town, but each year I come and place the order for him.”

  “I’ve been working here for only a few months, but that is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard,” gushed Em, blinking rapidly to stave off fresh tears.

  Just then, her grandmother entered the store carrying a small pile of mail. She waved at the gentleman. “Well, Michael, nice to see you. That time of year again?”

  “Hi, Julia. It’s good to see you.” He exchanged smiles with Em’s grandmother.

  “I was sorry to learn about Angie’s death,” Julia told him. “How are you doing?”

  He shook his head. “After a year of mourning, I think I’m finally ready to accept she’s gone. In fact, I was hoping I could convince you to go to dinner with me. May I call you?”

  “I’d like that, Michael. Thank you.” A rosy hue filled Gran’s cheeks.

  Observing them, Em’s heart filled. Was this a love story in the making? From the looks they were giving each other, it might be. She could already see how perfect the two of them would be together.

  Michael shuffled his feet. “Well, I guess I’d better go. I’m meeting a bunch of guys for coffee. We do this once a week.”

  “That sounds very nice,” said Julia. “Sort of like my group of women meeting for wine and talk every week.”

  They stood facing one another. Em wondered if they realized the smiles stretched across their faces were telling a story of their own.

  Michael turned to go and then turned back. “I’ll call you later today, Julia.”

  “That will be fine. I’ll wait for your call.”

  After he left the shop, Em faced her grandmother. “I think he likes you, Gran. Really likes you, if you know what I mean.”

  Her grandmother shook her head. “That’s what I meant the other day, Emerson. You take a moment and weave it into a romantic fairy tale. A bit more realism will keep you from getting hurt. Michael is a lovely man, as was his wife, Angie. We’ll go out to dinner and enjoy ourselves, but that’s it. I have no intention of falling in love at my age. Why would I want to change my life? I have all the freedom I want without getting entangled with someone else.”

  Em let out a sigh. “Okay. I won’t mention it again.”

  “That’s my darling granddaughter,” Julia said, patting her on the shoulder, a little sign of encouragement. “Now let’s see what else is happening here.”

  She bustled away toward the back of the shop, leaving Em to wonder why her grandmother wasn’t the least bit romantic. Maybe, as you got as old as her grandmother, dating, marriage, and everything that went with them just weren’t important anymore.

  Em was cutting the thorns off the stem of a yellow rose when Kat returned her phone call.

  “What do you think?” Em whispered a silent prayer for a positive response.

  “I’m in. I can pay my share. The place is fantastic, and I have leftover vacation from this year that I can apply to next year and not miss out on my normal number of vacation days. I’ve already checked out bikinis online. I found a black one that even I think is dangerous.”

  Em laughed. Kat had a beautiful, tall, lean body and liked to show it off. This easy acceptance of herself was part of the fun of being with her.

  “I’m so happy you’ll do this. Knowing I won’t have to cope with Valentine’s Day will help me get through Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. I’ve gone out a couple of times since Dave suddenly decided we weren’t a couple, but I’m sick and tired of the dating scene here in the city.”

  “Come on out to the country for a weekend,” said Em. “It’ll give you a change of pace.”

  “I might do that,” said Kat. “A change will do me good. I’d better go. Boss man is coming.”

  Em clicked off the call. Her previous boss didn’t condone use of cell phones during work hours. In his early sixties, he didn’t understand younger people’s use of social media or the need to even occasionally, not frequently, check one’s cell for updates and social news.

  As Em called the realty company, excitement poured through her like a balm to heal her wounds. “We’ll take it for the full ten days.” She smiled as she uttered the words, already feeling better about the future. Maybe Gran was right, she thought. She didn’t need a man to make her happy. She had girlfriends like Kat.

  ###

  The week leading up to Thanksgiving began the blur of long days preparing fall flower arrangements for individual customers and business clients as far away as New York City who depended on Rainbow’s End to decorate their offices. It hadn’t been easy for Gran to build such a strong business, but she had a way of appealing to people with a sense of honesty that most liked.

  Thanksgiving was spent at her parents’ house, with Elena, her husband, Andrew, and their dachshund, Daisy, a nice addition to the usual presence of her parents and Gran.

  After the Thanksgiving meal, Elena and Em were happy to do the dishes for an opportunity to talk privately.

  “I want to thank you again for the suggestion of renting Seashell Cottage in February,” Em told her sister. “It’s made such a big difference to me to have that to look forward to.”

  “Have you heard anything from Jared?” Elena asked, giving her a worried look.

  “Not one word,” said Em, as she stacked dishes beside the sink. “It’s just as well. I’ve decided to follow Gran’s idea and not worry about finding a man. As she says, she has a lot of freedom, and she wants to keep it that way. Me, too. I’m done with dating.”

  Elena finished rinsing a large serving platter and studied her. “That doesn’t sound like you, Em. You’ve always wanted to be married, have a big, fancy wedding, and a lot of kids. As a young girl, you had more dolls than anyone else, declaring them your family.”

  “I know, but Gran says I have to be more realistic, that I always fantasize about things. Better for me to change, stop looking at relationships through pretty rose-colored glasses, and protect my heart.”

  Elena frowned at her. “She’s telling you that because you two are so alike. Gran’s heart got broken, but that doesn’t mean yours will be broken again.”

  Em held up her hand to stop her. “I don’t want to talk about it. Right now, I have to get through Christmas and New Year’s, then I can relax and think about my trip to Florida.”

  “Okay. I won’t say another word, but I do worry about you. How are things going here?”

  “I love working in the flower shop. And I’ve been thinking about going into the landscape design business. That’s another reason for not rushing into a new relationship.”

  “Your own business? Like you always talked about before you got into marketing?” Elena asked. “That’s a great idea. You’re so creative! I wish I had your talent.”

  “Ha! You’re like Dad. All business. What would Andrew have done without your support to get him through medical school?”

  “Yeah, but accounting is boring to some people,” sighed Elena.

  “Jared wasn’t boring,” said Em, and stopped. “Come to think of it, sometimes he was. Especially when he discussed some of the work he was doing for clients. Not actual names, of course, but numbers and details that seemed very complicated and, yes, downright dull.”

  Em smiled at her sister. “But you’re not boring. In fact, you’re bright and beautiful.” Two years older than she, Elena was a pretty down-to-earth person who exuded a lot of warmth along with a quick, eager brain. She had the Jordan strong nose, and a hint of pink in her blond tresses, making them a strawberry-blond that nicel
y offset her green eyes.

  Elena hugged Em. “Thanks. I need to hear things like that, especially now that I’m starting to show my pregnancy and am feeling quite heavy.”

  “Remember, if it’s a girl, you promised I could be her godmother.”

  “That’s a deal. But I think Andrew is hoping it’s a boy.”

  “I can’t wait to become an aunt,” said Em.

  “Oh, Em,” said Elena, turning to her as she wiped a pot dry with a kitchen towel, “you have no idea how wonderful you are. When a guy really falls for you, it’s going to be hard and for forever.”

  “I hope so. I love it when I see how some people are with one another. Let me tell you about a friend of Gran’s. It’s the sweetest story ever.” Em slid the pot Elena handed her into its proper place in the cupboard and poured herself a cup of hot decaf from the coffee maker.

  Sitting opposite her sister at the kitchen table, she told the story of Michael Leaman, the act he did for a deceased friend, and how blushed Gran’s cheeks had become when he’d asked her to go to dinner with him.

  “Did she go?”

  “Yes, but she hasn’t said a word about it since, and I’ve put off asking her about it, hoping she’ll mention it on her own. Of course, we’re so busy at the flower shop at this time of year, we never seem to take a break together.”

  “How is it working out for you having to live with Mom and Dad?” said Elena. “We haven’t had the chance to really talk about it. Quick phone calls and texts don’t compare to a heart-to-heart talk, like now.”

  “I’m glad it’s temporary. After I come back from Florida, the new townhouses by the river should be completed. I’ve put a deposit down on one of them.”

  “Ah, here are my girls,” said their mother, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

  Though not related, Donna Jordan with her prematurely gray hair and bright-blue eyes looked remarkably like her mother-in-law—tall, slim, and with aristocratic facial features that she’d passed on to her daughters. Their father had, apparently, taken a ribbing for the likeness when he’d first brought Donna to meet his mother. But neither of the women complained; they’d hit it off at the beginning, though after a while, Donna extricated herself from the flower shop and went back to school for her teaching degree. Word was, they liked each other better that way.

  Talk continued about the upcoming holidays. Elena and Andrew would spend time in Philadelphia with his parents instead of coming to Ellenton. Though her mother tried to be fair about it, Em knew how deeply disappointed her mother was about the arrangements. She liked her daughters around her.

  Gran entered the kitchen and joined them. “My favorite part of the holiday. Being with all my girls.”

  Elena patted the empty chair beside her. “Sit right here, Gran.”

  Em gazed around the table at the others, and her heart filled. People called her unrealistically optimistic, but why wouldn’t she be when she was lucky enough to be part of a family like hers?

  The lights blinked off and on again.

  “Looks like the storm that’s been forecast for this afternoon is coming in,” said Gran.

  A shiver crossed Em’s shoulders. Life could be so unpredictable.

  CHAPTER TWO

  With Elena and Andrew visiting Elena’s in-laws for Christmas, the holiday seemed empty. Even Daisy was missed, though the dachshund was a bundle of energy, sometimes causing distress to Walter, the tabby cat Em’s mother had adopted as a bedraggled kitten.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us to the Davis’s New Year’s Eve party?” her mother asked. “You might run into some of your old friends.”

  “I’m positive.” Em suppressed a shudder thinking of all the questions she’d be asked about why she’d left New York and if she was about to be engaged to the man whom she’d brought home for the Fourth of July celebration.

  After her parents left, Em sat alone in the family room. The fire glowed a pretty orange in the fireplace and seeped a welcome warmth into the cool room. Curled up on the couch, she clicked on the television eager to see another Christmas movie. When she realized it was nearing the end of the story, she pressed the mute button and turned away from the screen. This film would, no doubt, be shown another time, and she didn’t want to ruin it by seeing the end.

  Fighting loneliness, she got up, went into her bedroom, and stared at the summery clothes inside her closet. The trip to Florida would be good for her.

  On a whim, she called Kat. When she heard Kat’s request to leave a message, she was pleased to think of her out partying. Kat was someone who’d always find a good time.

  Em returned to the couch, wrapped a blanket around herself, and settled down to watch other people’s lives unfold on the television screen.

  ###

  After the holiday rush was over, putting the flower shop back into order took time. Em didn’t mind. Each day spent doing that brought her closer to February and her vacation.

  One evening, she was finishing up for the day, exhausted from training Marilyn on year-end procedures as Gran had directed, when her cell phone rang. She checked caller ID. Kat.

  “Hey, girl! I haven’t heard from you in forever!” cried Em. “Did you get my messages?”

  “Yes, I got them,” said Kat, her voice unusually quiet, reserved.

  “So, where were you? Why didn’t you answer my calls or my texts? Is everything all right?”

  “Yes and no,” Kat said.

  “So, give me the good news first,” said Em. She didn’t understand why some people always wanted the bad news first.

  “Okay,” Kat said, letting out a long, slow breath. “The good news is I’m dating a wonderful guy. He’s even talked marriage and a future together.”

  “What? How long has this been going on?” squealed Em, thrilled for her friend.

  “Since New Year’s Eve,” Kat replied quietly. “We were invited to the same party. We got to talking and suddenly everything clicked.”

  “If that’s the good news, what’s the bad news?” Em asked, as a knot of suspicion began to unravel inside her.

  “It’s Jared.” After a long stretch of silence, Kat said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but as it turns out, we’re perfect for each other. We mesh, you know?”

  Em gripped the edge of the table and hung on as the room began to spin. It had to be a bad dream. A nightmare.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m cancelling the trip to Florida with you,” continued Kat. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay any fees myself. I feel so bad about this, but it’s way too late. I can’t turn my back on Jared. I love him.”

  “He’s already talked with you about the future?” croaked Em, her voice high and tight.

  “Yes,” Kat said.

  On legs gone weak, Em gingerly made her way to a sink, wet a cloth with cold water, and lifted it to her forehead. “I see.”

  “I don’t want you to worry about Seashell Cottage. I’m going to pay all cancellation fees. That’s only fair.”

  Only fair? The whole scenario was horribly, impossibly unfair. Couldn’t Kat see that?”

  Em set down the cloth and forced herself to stand erect. “I’m not cancelling the trip to Florida. The idea of staying at Seashell Cottage has kept me going for months.”

  “Who are you going to get to stay with you?” Kat asked.

  “That really isn’t your concern,” Em said, forcing a firmness to her voice that she wasn’t easily capable of at the moment.

  Kat sighed. “I suppose you hate me. I wouldn’t blame you if you did. I would’ve told you before now, but it happened so fast I wasn’t sure it would last. Now, I know it will, because he says he feels the same way about me as I do about him.”

  “Look, Kat. I’ve got to go,” she said, unable to tolerate another minute of Kat’s exuberance about the man who’d broken her heart.

  “I’m sorry. So very sorry,” Kat said, and clicked off the call.

  Em lowered herself to the floor, u
nable to stop the tears trailing down her cheeks.

  ###

  Later, after she felt as if there were no tears left inside, Em lifted her phone and called her sister.

  After Em had done her best to get the details out without a few more rounds of tears, Elena said, “I’m so sorry. That stinks. I can’t believe Kat would ever do something like that to you. You were best friends, weren’t you?”

  “Not really. We were city friends who shared an apartment with others,” Em answered truthfully. “And office friends.”

  “Still, that hurts,” Elena said. “What are you going to do about the cottage? How can you afford to pay for it yourself?”

  “I can’t, but I couldn’t let Kat know that. Besides, like I told her, the idea of this vacation has kept me going through the lonely holidays, and I can’t, I won’t stay in town for Valentine’s Day. What am I going to do? Do you know of anyone who would have the time and money to share the cottage with me?”

  “Not offhand, but let me think about it. Soldier on. Things are bound to get better.”

  “I know, because they can’t get worse,” Em sniffed, stemming another flow of tears.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Uncertainty filled the following days. Em had no idea how she could pull off the vacation she’d wanted and now needed more than ever. Working in the flower shop helped to divert her attention. The varied colors, textures, and aromas of the flowers and plants inside the store calmed the waves of betrayal that sometimes washed over her, questioning her judgment of character. What bothered her most was Jared’s willingness to discuss marriage so quickly with Kat. She’d waited in vain for months for him to propose.

  Gran came up to her one day and squeezed her shoulder. “Things are meant to be,” she said quietly. “Whenever a window closes, a door opens. Even when you can’t imagine it, your life will improve. I don’t want you to worry about that vacation you planned. Something will work out. I wish I could pay for it myself, but I can’t.”

  Just when Em thought she couldn’t produce another tear, her eyes filled. “That’s so sweet, Gran, but I could never let you do that, anyway. It just wouldn’t feel right.” She hugged her. “I love you so much!”