by Judith Keim
Marty grinned. “You’ve got a great sense of design and color. When specific plant or flower choices need tweaking, that’s something we can easily talk about. The soil here can be tricky. Lots of clay. That can affect the growth and long-term success of whatever is planted.”
Happiness rolled through her in a wave. “It would be wonderful to have you help me with plant choices. Thank you.”
“I like you. You’re not only creative, you’re a hard worker and smart as a whip. Like your grandmother.”
She felt a smile spread across her face. Gran would be so pleased by his words.
“Okay, now let’s talk about the Jansen project. There’s one change I’d like to see,” said Marty.
By the time she left his office an hour later, her head was spinning with new ideas. Marty Caster knew plants and this area. Not only could he give her suggestions, he also gave her the reasons for choosing any plant he talked about. She felt as if she’d just attended a college class.
###
Em became even busier, but as she told Devin during one of their nightly calls, it was a dream come true to be able to have her own business. “The only problem is that Tinker and Marilyn aren’t getting along. I’m waiting for Marilyn to become discouraged and leave on her own. In reality, I need her to step up or give me the opportunity to hire someone else.”
Devin chuckled. “I love seeing this change in you, Em. You sound like a boss. Are you happy with your life now?”
“I love being here in Ellenton with my own business, but I haven’t given up on the idea of adoption. I’ve always wanted to be a mother. I had more baby dolls than anyone I know. In fact, I’ve saved a couple for a little girl of my own.”
“You sound like a real mom. It suits you.”
“I don’t mean to sound pushy, but do you have any news on the child we discussed? I know, I know. I need to be patient.”
Devin chuckled. I’m working on it. There are details to sort through. The moment I have news, I’ll let you know. Okay?”
“Yes. That’s all I can ask of you.”
They talked about his work and then ended the call. But long afterward, Em thought of their conversation. She hoped the day would come when she had the chance to set her idea of adoption into motion.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
As her business grew at a steady rate, Em found herself pulled back time and again to Rainbow’s End. While she chafed at the responsibility, she knew she had no choice but to spend more time there until things settled down. Gran would hate for Em to notice, but she was getting forgetful. One night, she left the store to go home with the lights on and the front door unlocked. Thankfully, Em had decided to drop by a while later and found it that way. Gran had become angry when she’d mentioned it. Em understood she was embarrassed and decided to say nothing to her family about it. Even so, she was determined to talk to both Tinker and Marilyn to make sure they were aware of the situation.
And, while covering for Tinker, when Em discovered Marilyn had made a huge mistake in reconciling the money taken in that day, mistakenly crediting an account rather than charging it, her worries increased. She decided to talk to Tinker about becoming manager of the store.
###
After store hours, Em and Tinker walked to Jake’s, a small bar off Main Street that had a great choice of wines and tasty appetizers.
Seated at a small table in the corner, Em and Tinker quickly ordered. The place was filling. They talked about the new spring design Tinker had drawn up for one of the businesses for whom they did regular jobs. “I love the work you’re doing, Tinker, with both the business end and the floral designs.”
Tinker’s face brightened. “I’m pleased you’re happy. It means a lot.”
Em took a sip of her red wine, mentally crossed her fingers, and said, “I’d like to offer you the position of store manager. I think you’re ready for it, and so am I.”
Tinker’s face fell. “I’m sorry, but I have to say no. I’ve recently received new scholarship money, and I just signed up for some college courses. I can’t let anything stand in my way of earning a degree. I promised both my parents and Rob. But I’m very happy to continue working for you on a part-time basis.”
The air in Em’s lungs escaped in a puff of disappointment. “My own business is growing so fast, I need to have someone reliable to take over for me. Marilyn will admit to anyone that she’s not very good with numbers, and her work with flowers is just okay.”
Tinker studied Em, her blue eyes troubled. “Ordinarily I wouldn’t say anything, but Marilyn is definitely thinking of leaving. She told me she’s planning on telling your grandmother soon.”
Em felt the blood leave her face and return in a flush of dismay. She’d just taken on two new clients with the promise of getting the work done quickly. Filling in for Marilyn in the store and adding flower design to her schedule would impact her available time. She couldn’t mess up her new business. Her reputation would be ruined if she couldn’t keep her word about getting the jobs done on a timely basis. Leaning forward, she heard her note of desperation as she asked, “Do you know anyone who could help me?”
Tinker’s brow furrowed and then smoothed as her lips curved. “Bart Lovell was a wonderful mentor to me before he sold his share of Town Florists.”
“He’s retired, isn’t he?”
“Yes, but I think he realizes he made a big mistake leaving the business. He can be a bit of a perfectionist, but he’s smart, and his designs are cool. I learned a great deal from him.”
“Hmmm, I wonder how he and Gran would get along?”
Tinker chuckled. “It could be very interesting. They’re a lot alike.”
“Do you think he’d be amenable to working for two women?” Gran had hired a man to work for her early on and, when it didn’t work out, she’d vowed to hire only women.
“I think he’s bored enough to give it a try,” said Tinker. “Though it took time to get used to his manner, I like him a lot.”
“Okay, give me his information, and I’ll give him a call. I need someone right away.”
The waitress brought over the pear and blue cheese flatbreads they’d ordered.
“Let’s relax and enjoy this time together,” said Em. She liked Tinker and was eager to know more about her. She’d just taken a bit of her appetizer when a young man approached the table.
“There you are, Tinker. I tried calling you, but no answer. I left a message telling you I’d be late getting home.”
Tinker grinned. “So, will I. Rob, I’d like you to meet my boss, Emerson Jordan. Em, this is my fiancé, Rob Gardener.” She chuckled. “And, yes, the name is perfect for me.”
Em laughed with her, liking the way Tinker and Rob were gazing at each other as if they were not only lovers but best of friends, as well.
“Please join us, if you can.”
“For one minute,” he said. “I’m meeting a client interested in purchasing a building for a new business.” He smiled at Em. “Tinker likes working at Rainbow’s End. I’ve seen some of the work she’s done, and I think it’s great.”
“She’s very talented,” Em agreed. “I wish I could get her to be my manager, but she says she has to work on getting her college degree.”
Rob turned to Tinker.
“I was offered the job, but turned it down,” Tinker explained. “If I don’t get my degree now, it’ll never happen.”
“It’s your choice, but I agree.” He checked the door as a middle-aged man entered. “Gotta go. Wish me luck.” He gave Tinker a quick kiss on the lips and left the table.
“Rob’s trying to make it big in the commercial real estate business,” Tinker said. “He’s off to a good start.”
“He’s very friendly and pleasant. I’m sure he’ll do very well.”
“I’m hoping to get my degree in Interior Design so I can help him with projects in the future,” Tinker explained. “We hope to have our own business buying properties and rehabbing them.”
/> Em hid her surprise. Tinker’s appearance seemed playful, but she was a serious person.
Conversation turned back to Rainbow’s End, and after a while, Em left to go to the flower shop to call Bart Lovell. Even if he might be a little difficult to get along with, she had every intention of hiring him. The true test would be if Gran liked him.
###
Before Em placed a call to Bart Lovell, she googled his name and came up with major details about his life. She liked the idea that he’d lived in Hornwell for most of his life and was active not only with Town Florists but with a number of charity organizations. To look at his craggy, handsome features and stern expression on his promo file, one would not expect him to be a softie dealing with flowers.
She punched in the number with high hopes. If, as Tinker had said, he was bored without his business, she might be in luck.
The voice that answered was low and crisp. “Hello.”
“Mr. Lovell, this is Emerson Jordan calling for Rainbow’s End. Tinker Belle suggested I call you. I’m wondering if we might set up an appointment to discuss having you manage the flower shop.”
“Tinker suggested it, did she?” Bart said.
“Yes, sir,” Em said. “I understand you’ve retired from Town Florists and might be willing to help us out.”
“Does Julia Jordan know you’re calling me?” he asked.
Surprised, Em floundered. “Uh, not really, but I’m managing the shop for my grandmother, and after setting up my own design business, I find I need someone to take over a lot of the duties of running Rainbow’s End.”
“Well, if Julia agrees to my discussing it with you, call me back. She and I have known each other for a long time.”
“I see. Let me talk to her, and I’ll get back in touch with you either way.”
He chuckled. “Got a bit of spunk in you, like her. Okay. Let me know.” He clicked off the call before Em could say goodbye.
As she did many nights, Gran walked into the store as Em was going over the daily figures. “What’s new, sweetie? How’d we do today?”
“Not bad for a Wednesday. I think the new ad campaign featuring ways to make your room ‘more alive’ is working with both plants and flowers. How are you feeling?”
“Very good. Better than I have in a long time since the fall.”
“Great, because I have something that I wish to discuss with you. I’ll finish up here, then I’ll lock up, and we can move into the back office.”
“Okay. How about a cup of tea?” Her grandmother winked at her. “Or some of my sherry.”
Em laughed. “Do people even drink sherry anymore? Let’s open the bottle of wine the Winston Hotel sent you. This has been quite a day, and we need to talk about a lot of things.”
“Sounds serious. Okay, wine it is.”
After Em finished going through the tally for the day, she shut off the lights and went into the back office.
Gran was sitting there with two glasses of white wine and a plateful of cheesy crackers from the gourmet shop a few doors down. “Ready whenever you are.”
Em sank down into a chair with a sigh. She lifted her glass of wine and clicked it against her grandmother’s. “Here’s to Rainbow’s End. May it continue to thrive.”
“I’ll toast that,” said Gran. “It’s taken me years of hard work to get to this point, but we’re holding on against the fact that every grocery store around now sells plants and flowers.”
“Our commercial accounts make the difference. Businesses of every kind love the service and the products we give them. Among other things, I’m thinking of hiring someone on a more permanent basis for our flower delivery service.”
“Oh, but Jeffrey has done that for me for years,” protested Gran.
“I know. And now his grandson, Sonny, wants the job. He’s working his way through college. After seeing what Tinker has gone through to find the finances to go to school, I want to give Sonny the chance for a regular income.”
“I see,” said Gran. “I suppose Jeff will continue to be as involved as he can be. He has aged, poor soul.”
Em hid the smile that was tempted to cross her face. She wondered what Gran would say if she knew people talked about her that way. “I understand Marilyn is going to be leaving us.”
“Oh? She’s made up her mind?”
“Apparently, she spoke to Tinker about telling you sometime soon. Tinker told me after she turned down the offer to manage the store for us.”
“She turned it down? But why? And when did you offer her that?”
“Earlier this evening, she and I talked. She’s found scholarships for her college courses and has signed up for them. She’ll continue to work for us on a part-time basis but can’t take on the job of being manager. However, she did recommend someone to me.”
“Oh?”
“Tinker worked under Bart Lovell at Town Florists. She speaks very highly of him. He’s sold his share of that business but might be persuaded to work for us because he’s bored.”
Gran set down her wine glass on the desk, her eyes ablaze. “That pirate!”
“Whoa! What’s that all about? He told me he wouldn’t consider the job unless you approved. What’s up with that?”
“It’s a long story,” said Gran, looking away from her.
“I’ve got time to listen,” Em said gently.
Gran turned to her. “This will call for another glass of wine.”
Em gave her grandmother a puzzled look. Gran never had more than one glass of wine. She poured her a little more of the chardonnay and sat back to listen.
“Bart and I became friends back when your father was young. I was fairly new in town, left alone to raise my son.” Her memory formed a smile. “He was a handsome man, someone all the single women in town much admired. But after we dated, he told me I was the only one for him. Me, with a child? Of course, I didn’t believe him. Turned him down cold. I’d been deeply disappointed by one man, why would I want to marry another?”
Em studied her grandmother. She was still a beautiful woman, but now, a woman she didn’t really know. “Then what happened?”
“Shortly after that, I convinced one of the local banks to lend me money to open the flower shop. The only reason they gave me the money was because they’d heard the rumor that I was about to marry Bart. I, of course, didn’t let them know I’d turned him down. If they’d known that, they would never have given me the funds.” She shook her head. “Back then, sexism existed to a much greater degree. Single women had a tough time of getting loans, even if they owned a home.”
“So, you got the loan and opened the flower shop. What then?” prompted Em.
Gran straightened in her chair and pounded the desk with her dainty fist. “Bart found a partner and decided to open Town Florist to compete with me. That’s what!”
“He did that just to spite you?” Em couldn’t hide her surprise. The background information on him indicated a very charitable man.
“Well,” Gran replied. “He said he was doing it to help out a friend, but I knew it was to get back at me. He had other businesses in the area. I was certain that he didn’t actually need a flower shop.”
“Maybe he likes working with plants and flowers,” Em suggested. “Tinker said she learned a lot from him.”
“Humph,” muttered Gran.
“Would you have a problem working with him?” Em asked. “Surely, there’s no reason to hold a grudge this long, and, just think, he’d be working for you. Nice way to end the situation, I’d say.”
Gran’s brow knit with worry, then she grinned. “We could try it. In a way, it would be sweet revenge.”
“But, Gran, if we hired him, we’d all have to get along. It doesn’t sound as if you want to have him here. Not really.”
“We’re a much bigger, more successful operation than his. Maybe that would be a good way to end this quiet battle between us, my being his boss.”
Em looked at the gleam in her grandmother’s eye an
d laughed. “Bart Lovell is a well-respected man, a generous person noted for all his charity work. Surely, he can’t be that bad.”
“He isn’t bad at all,” Gran said. “It’s just that we never got to work out our differences. He was married within a year after my turning him down.”
“Well, then, let’s see if he’s willing to come on board. It might be a good way for both of you to forgive and forget.”
Gran studied her. “You know, you’ve grown up a lot since you’ve been back in town. If Bart is willing to work here, I say go for it. But if any of that old-fashioned attitude of thinking he can tell me what to do comes back, he’s gone. Understand?”
“Yes,” Em said quickly and firmly. She was dying to see how this unknown bit of drama would play out. “I’ll call him first thing in the morning and let you know. Would you like to be there when I phone him?”
“Absolutely not,” said Gran so stiffly that Em knew how much she cared.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The next morning when Em called the number Bart had given her, he answered on the second ring. Amused, she said, “Good morning, Bart! How are you?”
“Just fine. I suppose you’re calling to tell me Julia has no interest in my helping her at Rainbow’s End.”
“Actually, I’m not. She’s happy to have you join our staff. In fact, I was wondering if you could come over to the store this afternoon for some training. I’m busy with my personal clients this morning but could meet with you around two.”
“That would be acceptable,” he said with enough crustiness that she wondered if they’d made a mistake to think of hiring him. He didn’t sound like someone eager to take orders from her or anyone else.
She hung up the phone and called her mother. After the usual pleasantries were exchanged, Em said, “Did you know Gran and Bart Lovell were once serious about each other a long time ago?”
Her mother chuckled. “I’ve heard stories about it from your grandmother, but I have a feeling that her version is only one side of things. Why?”