Fortune Finds Florist

by Arlene James

  He finally had to come up for air, and got his face smacked by the girls for it. Rolling himself into a sitting position, he put his back to the end of the bed and caught his breath, pulling Sierra up beside him. She’d lost the scarf tied around her head and her hair was loosening from its bun. He couldn’t resist getting a hand into it.

  “Whoo-ee! Best fashion show ever,” he pronounced.

  “Oh, Sam,” Keli said, sitting up with an ear-to-ear grin and pushing hair out of her eyes.

  “That was fun!” Kim exclaimed.

  Tyree dropped the shampoo bottle and started getting out of her gear. “You said we were good models, and I guess we are.”

  “You sure are,” Sam agreed, smiling so wide his face hurt.

  Sierra scooted up underneath his arm and sighed contentedly. “They worked all afternoon to get this ready for you.”

  “Well, it was sure worth it,” he said, looking down at her, “but I have an idea who did most of the work.”

  “You did great, Mom,” Tyree agreed. “Thanks for helping us.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” the twins echoed, and they both scrambled over to wrap their arms around Sierra and kiss her again. She hugged them tight, smiling fondly.

  Tyree just watched, pushing down the “forest bridemaid dress” and stepping out of it. “That thing’s hot,” she said.

  “I remember thinking the same thing at my cousin’s wedding,” Sierra told her, with the twins snuggled down at her side.

  “What’s for dinner?” Tyree suddenly wanted to know. “Dressing up makes you hungry!”

  “Nothing fancy,” Sierra announced, starting to get up.

  Sam beat her to it and reached down a hand for her. She took it, and he hauled her up and against him, wanting very much to wrap his arms around her and kiss her again as he had earlier. Well, not quite. Kim was in the way, however, and Sierra quickly sidestepped to avoid knocking her down, saying, “You girls get changed and washed up. Be sure to put everything away.”

  The three girls hurried to the bathroom, Tyree carrying several yards of the forest-green dress. Sierra smiled at Sam.

  “I’ll jump into some jeans and start dinner.”

  He shook his head. “You don’t have to do that. It’s late to be starting to cook. Besides, you make dinner for me and the twins too often as it is. We’ll pick up something on the way home.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Sierra told him, unwinding the scarf about her neck and starting toward the dressing room. “There isn’t a thing between here and your house. Besides, as much fun as I have with the girls, one of my greatest joys is putting a meal on the table for the people I love.” She smiled and closed the dressing room door.

  Sam stood there an instant longer, his heart in his throat. Then he sat down again in that chair, closed his eyes and pressed his hands together, savoring what had to be one of the sweetest moments of his life.

  After the room cleared, Sam showered and changed in the master bath, then went down to join the others. The smell of frying bacon filled the air. He sometimes made breakfast for dinner himself, so he assumed that was what was afoot. Instead, he found the girls happily building BLTs with slices of potato bread, tomato, lettuce and cheese.

  “We’re having a fat feast,” Sierra said, licking her fingers after piling crisp bacon onto her sandwich. She had fried a mountain of the stuff.

  Sam raised his eyebrows. Sierra usually ate very moderately, but that sandwich was the size of a football. She plopped bread onto the top of it, squished it down with her hand and picked it up, tearing into it with uncustomary gusto. She closed her eyes.

  “Mmm.”

  Sam laughed, glad to see her enjoyment of the monster. He started building his own, filching sliced cucumber in the process. At least she hadn’t added insult to injury by putting out potato chips. He was pleased to see that the girls had restricted themselves to two or three slices of bacon each for their sandwiches. He followed suit, figuring he could allow himself two sandwiches that way, but he hadn’t even got the top on the first one when Sierra dropped hers, slapped a hand over her mouth and bolted.

  “Sierra? Honey?’

  Ignoring him, she tore through the dining room and out into the hall to the powder room. She was puking into the toilet when he caught up with her.

  “Oh, honey, you’re sick. Here, let me help you.” He ripped a hand towel from a ring attached to the wall and wet it beneath the spigot in the sink. After wringing it out, he folded it and draped it over the nape of her neck, then reached around to feel her forehead. She felt cold and clammy, not feverish. “I’m going to call the doc.”

  “No,” she gasped. “Just get out.”

  “I don’t like you being sick like this.”

  “Go away, Sam.”

  “Let me help you, honey. I don’t mind.”

  “Get out, Sam!” she gritted through her teeth.

  Figuring she was embarrassed, he backed off. “Okay. Fine.” He backed out into the hall.

  “Close the door,” she instructed, still bent over the toilet.

  He closed the door. Maybe she was coming down with something, and if she was, the girls would be, too. They were kissing all over each other earlier, after all. He walked back to the kitchen.

  “How’s everybody in here?” The girls looked up from the stools they’d arranged around the center island.

  “Is Mom okay?” Tyree asked lightly.

  “I think maybe all that bacon grease made her a little sick,” he said. “How about you three? Any queasy stomachs?”

  They all shook their heads. “These are good,” Kim said behind her hand so that he wouldn’t see her full mouth.

  “Yeah, but they’re treacherous. Too much fat and other bad stuff.”

  “Guess that’s why Mom never made them before,” Tyree said, taking a big bite of hers.

  Sam washed his hands and finished building his own sandwich, saying, “I’m kind of surprised she made them now, but I guess once won’t hurt.”

  “She said she had a craving for bacon and tomato,” Tyree revealed.

  Sam glanced through the dining room at that closed powder room door, seeming to remember that she’d been nauseated once before and wondering if he should check on her again. He looked to Tyree. “She been feeling okay?”

  Tyree shrugged. “Guess so.”

  Maybe the bacon was off, he thought. He picked up his sandwich and took a bite of it, judging the flavor. If anything was wrong, he sure couldn’t tell. He looked at that door again. “Maybe we ought to make her some hot tea. I’ve always heard hot tea was good for the stomach.”

  “I’ll put on some water,” Tyree said, putting down her sandwich and getting off the stool. Sam divided his attention between Tyree and that rest room door. When the kettle was on the burner and the flame carefully adjusted beneath it, Tyree returned to her meal.

  Sam made quick work of his sandwich, so when Sierra finally emerged, his hands were free. He wiped his hands and mouth and went to her. “How’re you feeling, honey?”

  She smiled wanly and nodded. Her face was splotched and her eyes were red, as if she’d been crying. “I think I’m okay now. It’s been so hectic that I haven’t been eating regularly, and when I’m really hungry my stomach seems to fill up with too much acid and whatever hits it first comes right back up.”

  “That what happened the other night?”

  She nodded, turning away. “I guess the greasy bacon got to me this time.”

  He stepped up behind her and began massaging her shoulders, saying, “I want you to take better care of yourself. You don’t need to be missing meals. Tyree and I are making you a nice hot cup of tea. Maybe that’ll settle your stomach.”

  “That’s sweet, but I don’t think I can manage the tea.”

  “No problem. What would you like?” He stopped the massage, ready to serve her.

  “Milk,” she said decidedly, still not quite looking at him. “Milk and tomatoes.”

  He lifted his
eyebrows at that. “O-kay. Whatever works. But are you sure that’s what you really want? I mean, if you’re coming down with a stomach virus, I’m not sure that’s the best combination. Crackers and tea might be easier on you.”

  “It’s not a stomach virus,” she told him rather impatiently. “I told you. It’s happened before. I wait too long to eat, my stomach fills up with acid. Whatever hits it first comes right back up.”

  “But milk and tomatoes?”

  “The milk will, like, coat my stomach, and the tomato acid will sort of offset what I’ve already got going. Besides, it just sounds good.”

  He got her the milk and tomatoes, watching with bemused interest as she salted the tomatoes and washed them down with the cold milk. Afterward, to his surprise, she seemed fine.

  “You’re sure you’re okay now?”

  “Excellent.”

  “And you’re going to start taking better care of yourself?”

  She looked away. “I’ll start eating regularly. You don’t have to worry about me, Sam. I can take care of myself.”

  “Maybe I like to take care of you,” he said with a shrug.

  She looked at him then. “You like to take care of everyone, Sam. It’s what you do.”

  He couldn’t imagine why that made her feel so sad, but he couldn’t mistake that look on her face. No matter what she said, she couldn’t be feeling too good. “I think I’ll stay over tonight, sleep on the couch, just in case you need anything.”

  She closed her eyes and nodded. “In that case, I think I’ll turn in early.”

  He gave her a quick hug. “You do that. I’ll take care of the girls and the cleaning up.”

  She moved away quickly, and later when he went up to check on her, she seemed to be sleeping soundly. He went back down the stairs thinking that one day, if all went well, they wouldn’t have to sleep apart. Then he could take care of the woman he loved all the time.

  Chapter Twelve

  “How’re you feeling?”

  “I’m fine.” She was always fine in the morning, even this early, but while she was feeling particularly rested and well, Sam looked tired standing there in her kitchen. “How did you sleep?”

  “Okay.”

  “I wish you didn’t have to stay on that couch when you’re here.”

  “Me, too, but it can’t be helped. Listen, if you’re okay, I’ll head out now. Want to get an early start today.”

  “It’s Sunday, Sam,” Sierra told him, her voice containing the edge of a scold.

  “I know that, honey, but this is a busy time. We’re about to start planting.”

  She nodded reluctantly. “Did you at least eat something?”

  “Yeah, cereal and milk. Made some coffee, too. Want me to pour you a cup? You’re looking pretty sleepy there, pretty cute, too, but pretty sleepy.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe later. Do you really have to work today, Sam?”

  “Yeah, I’m afraid I do.”

  “Can I help at all?”

  “Just keep an eye on the girls today. Tomorrow, though, you might start trying to hire us some help around here. We’ve got acres of seedlings to plant, and one pair of hands won’t get it done.”

  Sierra thought that over. “Will you be wanting to interview prospective employees?”

  “Nope. I’ll leave that to you. Just remember that it’s dirty, backbreaking work, not particularly difficult but with lots of bending and stooping involved. I’d go for any age, so long as they have the dexterity to get the job done, and a love of gardening would be a plus.”

  “I’ll place some ads and contact a few employment offices today. How many do you need and when do you want them to start?”

  “I could use one or two right away and, say, four or five more within the next three weeks.”

  “I’ll get right on it, but I warn you, it’s going to take a week or so.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll manage.”

  “Maybe you can take a day off now and again if I get you some help.”

  He jerked his head. “It’s going to be daylight to dark for the foreseeable future, I’m afraid. Once I see we’re going to meet that contract, then I can slack off, but not before. Oh, one more thing.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Make sure that whoever you hire and whatever age they are that they know who the boss is.”

  Sierra rolled her eyes. “Sam, no one will ever doubt who the boss is around S & S Farms.”

  “I meant you, sweetheart.”

  “Sam,” she repeated drolly, “no one will ever doubt who the boss is around S & S Farms. And I don’t mean me.” She stepped close, placing her hands on his chest, and looked up at him. “Just so you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Grinning, he bent and kissed her lingeringly on the mouth. “Eat,” he ordered before he went out to take on the day.

  Sierra lay on Sam’s chest, the top of her head tucked beneath his chin. His hand made lazy circles on her back.

  They’d dressed again after making love in case one of the girls should come downstairs for something, but Sierra had convinced Sam to stay over once more. He had worked so hard and seemed so tired that she hadn’t wanted him on the road. He was insistent, however, that he would sleep on the couch, while she went upstairs to sleep in the guest room alone. It didn’t matter that he would be up and out before the girls so much as turned over in the morning. Sam had his principles, and he wouldn’t let his sisters catch him sleeping with their best friend’s mother, even if he and Sierra already were a couple in the girls’ eyes. So here they lay on the couch in the den, stacked like a layer cake, sexual satisfaction between them. Sexual but none other.

  Sierra closed her eyes, aching with what was in her heart.

  “Sam,” she asked softly, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice, “have you ever thought about having children of your own?”

  His hand never stopped its lazy circuit, drawing comfort and contentment on her back. “As far as I’m concerned, I already have children of my own.”

  “I know. I meant, more children. Have you ever thought of having more children?”

  “Sure. Some day. When I can afford it.”

  Sierra bit her lip. The urge to let it be was powerful, but she just couldn’t.

  “I think I may have left Tyree alone too long,” she said. “I never wanted her to be an only child like I was. I’ve spoiled her. If I’d had another child, I might’ve had an easier time dealing with her.”

  “And you might not have,” Sam rebutted gently, and his hand finally stopped its ministrations. She missed it instantly. “You never know about those things, Sierra. Besides, Tyree’s going to be fine. You say she’s spoiled, and maybe she is in a way, but she’s also generous, and she never lords it over the twins like some kids in her position would. She’s got a good heart. Maybe she’s a little head-strong, but that’s okay. We all get to be who we are, you know, for the most part.”

  Sierra smiled against his chest. “Do you know how wonderful you are?”

  He looked down, drawing his chin to his collarbone. “I don’t think I’m wonderful. You’ve got no idea how I struggle to do right. We’re proof that I too often fail.”

  “Don’t say that,” she protested, rising up onto her forearms so she could look him in the face. “You’re just about the best thing that’s ever happened to me. That’s not wrong.”

  He lifted his hand to her hair, cupping the back of her head. “Okay, but it is hypocrisy.”

  “How so?”

  “Because, honey, if you were one of the girls, I’d want to kill me.”

  “Oh, Sam, no.”

  “I mean it, Sierra. I want my girls settled with men who love them but will also do right by them, men who can pull their own weight. Why do you think I’ve struggled so much with this?”

  Sierra bowed her head, tears filling her eyes. He had as much as said that he didn’t love her. She gulped, trying not to weep. All along he’d said that he wasn’t t
he man for her, presumably because he couldn’t “pull his own weight,” as he put it. The truth seemed to be, however, that he just couldn’t love her the way she loved him, and she couldn’t even blame him for it. All Sam had done was let himself be seduced. No, she only had herself to blame for this fiasco. And yet he cared on some level; she knew that he did. Unfortunately, if she wound up with Sam permanently, it would be more a matter of him “doing right” than a matter of him loving her as she wanted him to.

  Sierra shifted, slid her feet to the floor and stood, thankful for the shadows that wreathed the room beyond the circle of light thrown onto the couch by the lamp atop the table behind it.

  “You don’t owe me anything, Sam,” she told him, her voice a raspy whisper. “This is a situation of my own design. It’s not up to you to make it right.”

  He sat up, swinging his feet off the couch. “That’s not how I see it, and I’m doing my best to work this out.”

  “There’s nothing to work out.”

  “Sierra, we’ve been all over this. You know my reasoning.”

  “And I’m telling you that you’re wrong in this instance.”

  He stood. “You don’t want me to be an equal partner?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying. You’re already an equal partner.”

  “In the business, maybe, and if this had stayed just business, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

  “Then maybe we should just go back to ‘just business’ and let it be,” she choked out.

  He tilted his head. “It’s too late for that.”

  “No,” she refuted, shaking her head, but it was. It was. So when he reached for her, she let herself be drawn into his arms once more.

  “Now, listen,” he said. “I’m going to work it all out. You’ll see. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  Sierra closed her eyes. Sam would always try to fix everything, no matter the cost to himself. God, what had she done to the man she loved? And did she have the strength to undo it?

  “I thought I’d take the girls out for dinner, sort of a girls’-night-out thing,” Sierra said calmly, putting the finishing touches on the sandwich she was making him. “You’re always so tired lately. I figured you could use an evening to yourself.”