Thirty and a Half Excuses

by Denise Grover Swank

  I watched Thomas get out of his car and slam the door shut. “The only good thing about having a teen with a loud car who drives too fast in the neighborhood is that he gives Mildred someone else to complain about besides us.”

  Joe’s eyes lit up in a playful challenge. “Is that right? Then I’m not doing my job well enough.” He pulled me back to his chest and lowered his mouth to mine.

  I laughed and pushed him away. “Oh, no you don’t. I’m hungry. Do you want me to cook dinner?”

  He grinned. “I’ve already got it started.”

  One of the perks of having Joe as a boyfriend is that he not only cooked, but he cooked really well. “What are we having tonight?”

  “I fired up the grill. We’re gonna have steaks.”

  “Be careful. Mike will think you’re invading his territory.” The words were out before I thought about what I was saying.

  Joe sobered. “What’s the latest on Violet and Mike’s separation?”

  “Vi thinks he’s about to file for divorce.”

  Joe winced. “And how’s she doing with that news?”

  I shook my head, twisting my mouth to one side. “Better than I expected. She’s devoting all her attention to the nursery and the kids.”

  “I guess it’s good that she’s got something to focus on.”

  “Yeah.” The breakup of her marriage still shook me up. I had thought Violet and Mike had the most stable, happy marriage of anyone I knew. But it turned out their relationship wasn’t all peaches and cream. There were problems she and Mike had been sweeping under the rug for years. It made me even more determined to make sure Joe and I were honest with one another.

  I looked around. “Where’s Muffy?”

  “She’s playing with the boys.”

  My little dog was an ugly mutt nobody wanted until I saved her from a farmer about to take her to the pound. She looked like a cross between a rat and some sort of terrier with her pointy ears and snout. Her short gray and black fur had become softer and less wiry since her adoption. She had been timid and scared at first, a lot like I was at the time. Both of us had come a long way in the last four months.

  She loved playing with the little boys who’d moved into the house next door. The house where Joe had lived for a little over a month while he was undercover. Remembering that piece of information set my stomach rolling. “How long can you stay?”

  “I’ll be around for the grand opening ceremony, but I have to leave by noon.”

  I grabbed his face between my hands, holding back tears. “I’m gonna miss you.”

  He sighed. “Me too.”

  We were subdued for the rest of the night. Joe reassured me multiple times that the nursery would be a success. But I knew he couldn’t guarantee that. No one could. Besides, since my visions made me the town pariah, I couldn’t help thinking that my involvement could potentially hurt our business. My vision about the televangelist gave me hope, but when I told Joe about it, a frown wrinkled his forehead. “Be careful in any dealings with Jonah Pruitt, Rose.” The way he said it caught my attention.

  “You know something about him?”

  He’s eyes leveled with mine. “You know I can’t discuss state police matters.” His voice lowered, making sure his full meaning came through.

  Jonah Pruitt was being watched by the Arkansas State Police. That was interesting news. We’d just have to make sure he paid up front.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning, I was so anxious I could hardly eat breakfast. The nursery opening had me on edge, but Joe’s assignment worried me more. If the nursery failed, it was only money. But there was only one Joe.

  “I’m gonna be fine, Rose.” Joe could read my mind like a book, or more accurately, he could read my face. “This isn’t the first time I’ve gone undercover. Or even the tenth. I know what I’m doing or I wouldn’t be doing it.”

  I nodded. He was right. But I was still scared to death.

  I let Muffy out one last time before we left, my gaze drifting to the end of the street. School had already started for the day, but Thomas’s car was still parked in the driveway. His mother was going to be fit to be tied. He already had a raging case of senioritis, and it was only September. It would be a miracle if he graduated in May.

  After I put Muffy in the bathroom, Joe and I drove to the nursery separately. Violet was already there when we arrived at around 8:30. As I started uncovering the flowers on the sidewalk, Aunt Bessie pulled into the parking lot. She wouldn’t have missed this for the world, so Violet and I had recruited her to work the register after the ribbon cutting ceremony.

  When she got out of her car, she was grinning ear to ear. “Look at you, Rose! A business owner!”

  “I know, hard to believe isn’t it?”

  She pressed her lips into a smug smile. “Not so hard for me. You’re smart, and you love flowers. And if you use your gift to your advantage, you’ll increase your sales even more.”

  I stared at her in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  She leaned in close, lowering her voice. “You can read them, child. Find out what their yards look like and make suggestions.”

  My eyes widened. “That doesn’t seem right, Aunt Bessie.”

  Tsking, she walked into the shop. “There’s no sin using the gifts God gave you.”

  I had always trusted Aunt Bessie, but she was suggesting that I purposely try to have visions. I usually did everything in my power to not have them.

  I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. It was going to be another hot day. Opening in the fall had seemed like a good way to ease into the business. But it sure didn’t feel like fall with this heat wave. The forecast was for a high in the low nineties. I worried it would keep people from buying their autumn foliage.

  Our fall hours were nine to six, and the official ribbon cutting ceremony had been set for eleven, so we had a couple of hours to prepare, which was a good thing since Violet was all a tizzy. The mayor and several members of the city council were coming, but the more important guests were the Henryetta Garden Club. Little did I know that Violet had been wooing them for over a year.

  Even though our official opening was later in the morning, several customers showed up when we opened the doors at nine. Violet had done a great job with marketing and promotion, and the whole town was talking about our store. Our location helped too. We’d taken over an abandoned floral shop on the edge of the town square that came with a parking lot and a dilapidated greenhouse. Joe had spent the past several weekends working on the greenhouse, and it looked amazing. I understood why he wanted to be there for the grand opening. He was almost as much a part of the nursery as I was.

  Mike’s parents arrived at around 10:45 with Violet’s kids, five-year-old Ashley and nineteen-month-old Mikey. They saw Violet and squealed, running across the parking lot to her. She squatted and scooped them in her arms, kissing each one of them on the cheek.

  I stood next to a chrysanthemum display, my heart bursting with envy.

  “How many kids do you think you want?” Joe had snuck up behind me, his gaze on my niece and nephew.

  My mouth parted in surprise. We’d never discussed children before other than the generic we both want a family someday. We’d barely begun skirting around the idea of something permanent. I hesitated, worried I’d scare him off if I told him three or four. “How many do you want?”

  He draped his arm around my shoulders and looked down into my face with a grin. “A houseful.”

  “Me too.”

  He planted a kiss on my nose. “Just one more reason we’re perfect for each other.”

  “Ewww…” Ashley groaned. “Aunt Rose is kissing her boyfriend.”

  Joe held me close and winked at her. “So what’s new about that?”

  Ashley giggled. Joe dropped his hold on me and chased her around the building, trying to tickle her.

  Days like today filled me equally with contentment and the want for more.

&nb
sp; A crowd began to gather, and I stood by the corner of the building. While most of the citizens of my town preferred for me to keep to myself, there were a few exceptions, like my best friend Neely Kate. As soon as she jumped out of her car, her face lit up.

  “Look at you! You’re a small business owner now!”

  Neely Kate had gotten married a couple of months earlier, a big event that had matched her larger-than-life personality. The wedding was beautiful, just like I’d seen in a vision. She’d planned on quitting her job after her honeymoon, but then her boss, Jimmy DeWade, was arrested for murder and two counts of attempted murder—on me—and Neely Kate had to take over his position. She hated every minute of working in the courthouse, but thankfully, she didn’t blame me for it. She had reason to: I was the one who discovered that her boss was a murderer.

  I put my hands on my hips, allowing a little excitement to override my anxiety. “I think we’re ready.”

  She spotted Joe over by the greenhouse, and her mouth turned up into a wicked grin. “I see your man is here.”

  “He’s just as much a part of this as I am. Heaven knows he’s put in enough time and manual labor.”

  She nudged my shoulder and winked. “I bet he got paid back with a different kind of manual labor.”

  “Neely Kate!” I laughed, then shook my head with a pretend scowl. The garden society ladies were beginning to arrive, and I had enough strikes against me.

  “I won’t be able to stay long, but I had to come wish you good luck.”

  “Well, be sure to get a piece of cake before you go. I ordered a sheet cake from the Piggly Wiggly bakery, and they put our logo on top.”

  Neely Kate smirked. “You didn’t use Ima Jean’s bakery?”

  “She was gonna charge twice as much.” I had to pinch pennies where I could.

  She shook her head, puckering her mouth in mock sympathy. “You’ll pay for that and more, in ways other than money.”

  I had a feeling she was right.

  Several minutes later, the mayor arrived and Violet showed her first signs of nervousness, running her fingers through her hair and tugging at her skirt. She hurried over to Neely Kate and me, glancing over her shoulder. “Do I look okay?”

  “You look beautiful, Violet.” Neely Kate beamed. “He’s bound to notice.”

  I turned my confusion to Neely Kate. “Who are you talking about?”

  Violet shook her head. “Never mind. Have you seen Miss Mildred?” She bit her lower lip and surveyed the crowd.

  “No, but I wasn’t lookin’ for her either.” The less I saw of that woman, the better.

  “She promised me she’d be here. As president of the garden club, if she doesn’t come…”

  “She loves you, Violet. If she said she was coming, she’ll be here. Maybe she had trouble getting her car started. You know how old that thing is.”

  “You and I both know that old Cadillac is like a cockroach. Even a nuclear bomb couldn’t kill it.” Violet took a deep breath and smoothed a hand over her stomach. “I’m so nervous I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”

  I grabbed Violet’s hands. “You are amazing, Violet Mae Gardner Beauregard. You created this from nothing! Two months ago it was an abandoned building, and look at it now! It’s bursting with flowers and happiness. You did that.”

  “No, Rose. You’re just as much a part of this as I am. You and Joe.”

  “But you had the dream, Violet. You did the homework. This would never have happened if it weren’t for you.” I looked at the assembled crowd. There were over fifty people present, and I suspected they weren’t just here for the sheet cake. “The townspeople of Henryetta love you, Violet. That’s why they’re all here, ready to cheer you on and buy flowers from us. They’re here to support you.” Part of me was a tiny bit jealous of that fact, but I’d lived with it for long enough to accept it. This was Violet’s moment, and I wouldn’t begrudge her that. “Now get up there and cut that giant ribbon.”

  Her eyes flew open. “We’re doin’ it together.”

  Violet’s world was hanging on this business. Mine was hanging on the man walking toward me. “I’ll come up there with you, but I’m gonna stand to the side and let you do all the talking.”

  She nodded and turned to face the crowd, smiling as she walked to the front of the store. Someone from city hall had draped a red ribbon across the sidewalk in front of the entrance and tied it to the racks holding flats of flowers.

  When Joe reached me, he was beaming with pride. “It’s your big moment, darlin’. Now get over there with Violet.”

  Neely Kate’s eyebrows rose. “He’s right. You earned it.”

  “After all the work you’ve done, you’re coming too.” I slipped my hand into Joe’s and pulled him with me.

  Brody MacIntosh, the recently elected mayor, stood at Violet’s left, holding a ginormous pair of scissors. Brody was a good-looking man, and newly single since his wife had taken off with the manager of the Walmart in Lafayette County. Every unattached woman in Fenton County was after him, and a good portion of the married ones too. Since he owned the local lumber yard, he had looks and money, and his newly gained political position also gave him power. Although, for the life of me, I couldn’t see how being able to vote on the trash pickup day made him more attractive.

  I kept to the side and let my sister have her moment of glory. I hated to be the center of attention, but it would be odd if I wasn’t at the front with Violet since it was the Gardner Sisters Nursery. I scanned the crowd, thankful almost everyone was focused on my older, more beautiful sister. My gaze stopped when I locked eyes with Mason Deveraux, the assistant district attorney, and he offered me a hesitant smile.

  I had been introduced to Mason when I was picked for—and then kicked off of—the jury for Bruce Wayne Decker’s murder trial a couple of months ago. Mason and I had a rocky start after I literally bumped into him in the courthouse, but we ironed out our differences and became friends. That’s why I found it odd, and more than a little hurtful, that he’d practically ignored me the few times we’d run into each other since then. Whenever I mentioned Mason’s behavior to Joe, he’d just scowl and change the subject, not that I was surprised. The two of them had known each other in Little Rock, but they refused to elaborate on the circumstances. In any case, it was clear that their acquaintance had been less than amicable. As far as I knew, the only time the two of them had gotten along was when they worked together to get me out of jail.

  Jonah Pruitt was also in the crowd, standing toward the front with his too bright smile and some of his church people flanking him. A cameraman stood next to them, his camera pointed at the ground.

  I scanned the crowd for Miss Mildred, surprised to see her hobbling over to the crowd from the sidewalk. Her face was red, and she looked flustered. Maybe the heat was getting to her, because despite what I had told Violet, Miss Mildred was never late for anything.

  Brody got everyone’s attention and gave a little speech about Henryetta being built on entrepreneurial spirit and how supporting the Gardner Sisters Nursery was supporting the determination and drive of single mothers, starting right here in our own hometown. He gave Violet an appreciative grin and although her back was turned to me, I could feel her practically swoon.

  Violet was not immune to the Brody MacIntosh charm.

  He handed her the scissors, and the two of them cut the ribbon together.

  Joe tensed, and I grabbed his hand. I knew he was feeling indignant on my behalf, but it didn’t bother me. Much.

  The crowd broke into applause when the ribbon fell, and Jonah Pruitt immediately walked sideways toward Violet, making sure not to turn his back to the crowd. The cameraman had his camera pointed at the reverend as he stepped in front of Brody and snatched up Violet’s hand in a handshake. Turning to the camera, Jonah flashed his toothy smile. “I’m Reverend Jonah Pruitt, the pastor of the New Living Hope Revival Church. As a new member of this community who wants to support local businesses, I’d
like to be your first customer and order enough flowers to cover the grounds of the New Living Hope Revival Church!” The crowd broke into loud applause.

  Violet’s smile spread across her face. She cast a glance over her shoulder at me, but Joe’s hand tightened in mine. He leaned into my ear. “I mean it, Rose. Be careful with that man.”

  “I have every intention of being careful.” I was gonna insist on at least half down. Maybe two-thirds. I had seen his church before, and I knew there were a number of landscape beds around the building. The income we could make from this job would be more than we’d budgeted for the entire month.

  “And can you plant them as well?” Reverend Jonah asked.

  Violet’s eyes widened as she looked over at me.

  I nodded. “We sure can.” We’d figure something out.

  “Rose,” Joe grunted my ear.

  Brody pushed his way around Jonah’s side, trying to regain the limelight and take control of the event. “Well, look at that, folks. Our new-to-town televangelist has stepped up to show his support! Thank you, Reverend Pruitt.”

  Jonah flashed his mega-watt smile. “Just doin’ my part.”

  Miss Mildred pushed her way to the front, thrusting an elbow into Jonah’s side to get him out of the way. Everyone wanted their moment in the spotlight. “As president of the Henryetta Garden Club, we welcome Violet and the Gardner Nursery as an asset to the town.”

  The crowd clapped politely.

  Joe tensed beside me and muttered under his breath. “That’s Gardner Sisters Nursery.”

  I squeezed his hand. “Joe, it’s okay.” Miss Mildred had not only made an appearance, but she’d given our business the Garden Club’s stamp of approval. Violet had to be ecstatic.

  “The hell it is.”

  He started forward, but I tugged him back and ran my hand up and down his upper arm. “Joe, it’s really okay. I’m used to it.”

  “Well, you might accept that attitude from the people in this town, but I sure don’t see Violet correcting her.”

  My stomach cramped. Joe was right.