by CeeCee James
“You can’t do anything?” Elise looked with amazement at the middle-aged florist. The florist raised her eyebrows and lightly shrugged. “That’s what the order said.” She flapped the paper at Elise. “Four thousand green carnations.”
“That doesn’t even make sense. Who took the order?” Elise asked. She was flabbergasted at even having this discussion.
The woman’s cheeks flushed. She answered, sounding a little huffy, “My assistant, Patrick. But that doesn’t matter. He’s been here nearly a year and he absolutely knows how to take an order.”
Elise raised her eyebrow. “When you saw this, didn’t you consider that there could have been some misunderstanding? I mean, who in their right mind would order this many green carnations for a wedding?”
The florist crossed her arms, clearly done with this conversation. “You’d be surprised what people order. And don’t be thinking you’re getting out of paying for the flowers. You make sure you let your boss know. You aren’t sticking me with the bill for all of these carnations.”
“Well, I’d think after the last mistake at the wedding two weeks ago, you would have wanted to double check this time.”
“That wasn’t my fault. I told Sonya it was hard to get lilies of the valley at this time of year, and we’d better have a substitute. She’s very headstrong. It was lucky I went ahead and had the Dendrobium Orchids on hand just in case.”
Elise nodded. It was true. Sonya didn’t take ‘no’ from anyone, not even Mother Nature. “All right, I’ll let her know what happened.”
At the door, Elise paused then turned around. “Does it say on the form who called in the order?”
“Catalina.” Sonya growled out. “I’m going to kill her. Why would she do that? Why would she insist she wanted hydrangeas and calla lilies, only to order four thousand green carnations? Who even does that?”
Elise shook her head, then remember Sonya couldn’t see her on the cell phone. She’d dreaded facing Sonya and so had called her instead to inform her of the news. Her soft voice was much easier to deal with than her menacing scowl.
“So what do you want me to do?” Elise asked.
“Well, that woman’s going to be having carnations for her wedding.” Sonya bit off each word. “I’ll give Catalina a call and talk with her myself.”
Elise cleared her throat. “Okay. I’m still on the hunt for a hair dresser.”
Issuing a string of curses, Sonya hung up.
That was…pleasant.
Before she could tackle anything else, she sent out an emergency text.
Brad, please tell me you’re coming over tonight.
Man, she was really falling for that man. Just thinking about him made her heart hurt in the best way.
He texted back promptly like she knew he would.
You better believe it, baby.
A smile crossed her mouth. She then sent a text to her best friend.
EEE
It was their code to announce an emergency that had carried over from high school.
Like Brad, Lavina’s text was immediate. I’m at home. Come over and I’ll give you some sweet tea. Or wine. I have both. And if Brad did anything to you, he’s gonna get it.
Chapter 19
“Hello, darlin’.” Lavina’s front door was open and she was leaning out, waiting for Elise to show up. As usual, she was impeccably dressed in fitted pants and a silk blouse. Not to mention high heels. Lavina never went anywhere without them.
Elise smiled gratefully at her friend, but as she walked inside, her stomach was in knots.
“Good heavens. What’s wrong with you? You look like a puppy who just learned he’s about to be neutered.”
Despite how she felt, Elise laughed. “That doesn’t even make sense. A dog can’t possibly know what that means.”
Lavina sat down in her wingback chair and crossed her legs. “You ever take a dog to the vets to get fixed?”
Elise shook her head.
“Then you don’t know. There’s some weird doggy intuition right there. When I was a girl, we took in Claude, our Saint Bernard. It took five of us just to get him out of the truck.”
Elise nodded, convinced. She actually felt like it would take five people just to get her to return to her job.
“So, what’s the matter. Is this a job for sweet tea or wine?”
“Neither. I originally came because I needed some help tracking down a beautician, but on my way here, I received this.” Elise turned her phone toward Lavina so her friend could read.
Don’t plan on getting any sleep tonight. I need you.
“Well that might not be so bad, depending on who it’s from. Brad, maybe?” She raised a penciled-in eyebrow.
Elise snorted. “It’s from my boss, Sonya. It turns out I’ve chosen a terrible career path to walk on.”
“Path?”
“This darn job! I thought it was going to be so sweet and nice. I think subconsciously I pictured a lot of cake tasting and consoling brides that everything was going to be okay. Instead, I’m a ball of stress trying to deal with all of this.”
Lavina smiled calmly. “Don't you worry your pea picking head about any of this. I know this is gonna work out. Maybe we can crumble up some Valium and put it on top of the cupcakes. You have a tasting later today don't you?”
A laugh busted out of Elise. “No, that was a while ago. Anyway, it’s my boss that’s the problem more than the bride.” She looked at Lavina. “Why don’t you just hire me?”
Lavina’s made a slight wince. She stood up slowly. “Wine it is. Now, Elise, you know I love you, but I’m afraid to work together where there are knives available. One of us might possibly stab the other.”
“Vi!”
“I’m just saying we’ve had our heated squabbles through the years. It’s better if pointy utensils aren’t close at hand.”
“I can’t have wine. I’m on the clock for who knows how long.” Elise thought about missing Brad that night and covered her face. “Ugh. My life.”
Lavina returned with a plate of macarons and a pitcher of tea. “Well, have this then. Now, what were you saying about a beautician?”
Quickly, Elise filled her in on the hairdresser problem. “And I have to figure out what to do with four thousand green carnations. Who would even do something like that?”
“Well, green is lucky. Maybe that young bride felt like she could use some luck right about now. And possibly she was afraid to ask for them herself.”
Wrinkling her brow, Elise thought back on Catalina’s hard reaction at the sight of the second venue. “No, I don't think so. She’s very sweet, but there definitely is a hidden side to her. I think she’d cut a girl.”
Fluffing her red hair off her shoulder, Lavina laughed. “Listen to you. Well, maybe there’s another reason. Maybe she feels confident that she can go over Sonya’s head. After all, she’s the one footing the bill.”
Elise nodded. “Maybe that was it. But who would want carnations?”
With a cool shrug, Lavina poured the tea. “Maybe she likes green. Maybe they have some weird meaning for her. In the mean time, let me call my gal and see if she’s free on Saturday morning.”
“I’d really appreciate it. Or at least, give me a direction on who to call.”
“Why didn’t you call your gal?”
“I’m not sure that a place that gives ten dollar haircuts is exactly the quality Sonya is looking for. And I sure as heck don’t want to disappoint her.”
Lavina laughed. “Ten dollars? It costs more to take a dog to the groomers.”
“Hey! Watch it. I’m still trying to get back on my feet.”
“I’m sorry, so sorry.” Lavina held her hands up. “You are doing a good job. Next year though, when you’re in a better place, we’re giving your beautician an upgrade.” She pulled out her cell and dialed the number. Her face was serene as she waited for someone to answer. Then, as if hit by electricity, her face animated with a huge smile. “Tabitha, darlin’?
It’s Lavina. How are you?” The voice on the other end rippled through the earpiece in equal animation and excitement. Lavina listened for a moment, nodding. “Was that red carpet to die for? Absolutely the best fund raiser I’ve been to all year. Could you believe she showed up with him?” More laughter ensued from the both of them.
Elise sat and watched, half impatient to find out the answer, half in amusement to see her friend act like such a socialite. Her eyes narrowed. Wait a minute… Vi really is a socialite. She sighed and took another drink of her tea. Life is becoming a bit too weird lately.
“Well, darlin', the reason I called is that I have a horrid favor to ask of you. My very best friend, Elise—do you remember her? Yes, I do need to bring her in to let you do your magic—anyway, she’s in a desperate search for the most amazing beautician to help with a wedding party on Saturday.”
Lavina’s comments dissolved into a few mmhmm’s. Elise ran her fingers through her shoulder length hair, a bit nonplussed. What’s wrong with my hair?
“Oh, really, darlin’? Oh, she will be so pleased.” Lavina flashed a thumbs up. “Yes, let me just get you her number. I may pop in, too, to give a hand. Okay, I’ll see you then!”
Lavina smiled as she rang off. “So, there you go.” She reached for a macaron and popped it into her mouth.
“Thank you so much. I was seriously thinking I was going to have to kidnap someone.”
“Kidnapping, huh? Well, you know what my Grandmama used to always say,” Lavina raised an eyebrow looking wise.
“What?”
“Don’t do something during the day time that will keep you awake at night.”
Elise smiled, remembering the old woman. She always wore an apron and had just the pinkest cheeks. “Your grandma was wise. Plus, the hairdresser would be trying to get away and stuff.”
Lavina nodded sagely. “Unless you decided to off them.”
Elise choked on her cookie. “Too far, Vi, too far.”
Chapter 20
T-minus 2. It was ten in the morning when Elise finally straggled back home. Sonya wasn’t joking and had kept Elise up all night long assembling candle holders, place cards, and counting and ironing tablecloths. She decorated the toasting flutes, the unity candle, and cake servers. Even as of eight this morning, she was on the phone making sure all the deliveries, including the lattice archway, flowers, and cake would be on time.
Sonya had taken over hiring more workers to be at the venue to decorate, and they were arriving today. Her boss had sent her home to sleep, telling her to keep her phone next to her. “I’ll call you when I need you,” she’d said, her hair still swooped back exquisitely in its wave on the top of her head.
Elise left, feeling like a dog who’d spent the night rolling in a soggy heap in the yard. She checked her face in the car’s mirror and rubbed under her eyes. “I have bills to pay,” she reminded herself, before snapping the mirror back up.
She unlocked her front door to discover Brad asleep on her couch. He opened one eye and his arms to welcome her. She walked over, dropping her purse, and collapsed next to him.
“Hey, baby,” he whispered.
“Don’t smell me. Don’t look at me. I am disgusting right now and feel like a zombie. But my heavens, I sure needed this.”
His arms squeezed tighter around her and he kissed her head as she buried into the warmth of his chest.
“You’re the best looking zombie I’ve ever seen.”
Elise smiled. “It’s just too bad for you.”
“What is?”
She snuggled in a little deeper. “If you only could market your hugs, you’d make millions of dollars. These are more calming and soothing than anything on the prescription market.”
Brad laughed. “Lucky you, then.”
“Any more word on the Craigslist Bandits?”
“Yeah. An informant told us that the bandits haven’t left town.”
Her eyes flickered a tiny bit at the news, but the comfort of his arms was too great. Exhausted, she fell asleep with him gently caressing her back.
The next thing she knew, she was teetering on the edge of a mountain created by green carnations. Miles and miles of carnations as far as she could see. Everything was green. Down at the bottom, a tiny Sonya and Catalina yelled at her to make the flowers work. They turned into ants and crawled on her face trying to get in her mouth.
She awoke with a start. No. It was just Max tickling her face with his whiskers as he sniffed her nose. Her heart pounded as she glanced around. The living room was bright with the afternoon sun. Groaning, she sat up and stretched.
The scent of bacon hit her, making her feel human for the first time in a while. She arched her back and rubbed her face. Max had jumped from the couch and was immediately underfoot as she stood to her feet and stumbled to the bathroom.
The vision greeting her in the mirror was as bad as she thought. “Brainsss…” she muttered in her best zombie voice. She scrubbed her face clean and brushed her hair and teeth. Another check in the mirror proved that nothing else was going to help but a shower.
She hurried into her room for a clean t-shirt and wandered into the kitchen.
Brad stood in front of a sizzling frying pan with a dish towel tucked into his pants. “Hey, baby.”
“Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe how late I slept. And that smells so…” her eye caught the package of turkey bacon on the counter. “Turkey bacon! Why would you bring that travesty into my house?”
Brad laughed. “You’re going to love it.” He flipped a piece over with a fork.
“I’m not going to love it,” Elise said doubtfully. “I barely like eggs, and only if they’re covered in salsa. I eat eggs so I have an excuse to eat bacon.”
“Why don’t you just eat bacon by itself, if you don’t like eggs?”
“There are rules to follow,” Elise raised her eyebrows. “The same rules that involve saying ‘no’ to turkey bacon.”
He winked at her. “Just give it a chance and see what you think.”
Elise closed her eyes. “You’re going to make me do this, aren’t you?”
“Can’t be afraid to try new things.”
“I’m not afraid to try new things…”
Brad looked at her triumphantly.
“That I know I’ll like!” she amended loudly as she scooped up Max.
“Have some coffee. Maybe that will help.”
“I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute to collect myself here,” she responded. “Fake bacon is kind a blow.”
He laughed and rifled through a cupboard for a plate. “Let me work my magic.”
His voice was low and sexy and she couldn’t keep the smile from her face. She buried her face into Max’s fur. I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world.
“Tell me about Catalina. How’d it go?” he asked, cracking a few eggs in a pan.
“I like her. I’m not usually good with passionate people, but she’s fun. She only experiences extreme feelings. Like she's devastated about the venue, but adores the cakes and Doritos. She cracks me up.”
She sipped her coffee and continued. “There’s only one thing that bothers me about her. There’s this run-away teenage girl that hangs around the circus. Catalina just wants her gone; she’s not interested in the poor girl’s welfare.”
“Really?” Brad frowned and dished up two plates. He had hidden hash browns, warming in the oven. Without being asked, he returned from the fridge with the salsa and set it on the counter next to Elise. “How do you know about the girl?”
Elise stared at the salsa and then looked up at Brad. “Come here,” she said, reaching to hug him. “Thank you.”
He kissed her, long and slow. “Hey, I’ve worked through the night a few times. I know how it goes. Now eat up.”
“So about the girl. Her name is Lucy.”
“Lucy, huh? Why am I not surprised you know.”
“I saw her the other day in the alley.”
“Which alley?”
<
br /> “The one by the jewelers.”
He arched an eyebrow.
“I can’t help it if there’s a lot of action happening around there lately.” Elise bit into the bacon. Hmm. Not bad. Not real good either, but not bad. “Anyway, I offered her a sandwich and we talked. Honestly, I wish I could have helped her more, but she ran away.” She gave Brad a guilty look. “So much has happened lately, I forgot to tell you about the painter’s mask.”
He paused with the fork half-way to his mouth. With a sigh, he set the fork down and waited. Elise recognized the tactic right away—his patented, “I’ll just wait until you say something.” She’d seen him do it before with suspects.
“I mean it. It was an accident!”
He took a sip of coffee and nodded.
“It was hanging in the bathroom of the diner.”
“The same diner the waitress disappeared from.”
“It’s across the street from my work.” She was a little put-out.
“I know, I know. I just have this weird feeling that even if it was across town, somehow you’d find your way there.”
Elise took another bite of bacon to avoid answering.
“So you think the girl left it? Lucy?”
“I can’t see any other way it would have gotten there. She mentioned she could help me.” She shrugged. This bacon wasn’t getting better.
“Where is it now?”
“In the trunk of my car.”
“Covered in fingerprints,” he finished.
“Ugh. I’m sorry. Again.”
He shook his head. “I just wish you could be there to hear how I have to word this, time and time again, to our chief. He’s either going to demand I arrest you for tampering, or he’s going to deputize you and arrest me.”
“I’m really sorry.” She widened her eyes in her most innocent look.
Brad snorted and crunched on a piece of bacon. He tossed it back on the plate with a grimace. “This really isn’t that good, is it?”