“I’m not sure if I should feel insulted or flattered.”
“Definitely flattered. My mother is an amazing woman.”
I grinned. “Then I’ll take the compliment.” I leaned against the door. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
Mason took a step closer. “You know I’m here if you need anything. I don’t mind. But the police can do more than I can. I mean it, next time call them before you call me.”
“You’re presuming there will be a next time.”
An amused grin spread across his face. “You’re suggesting there won’t be?”
I lifted a shoulder into a half-shrug. He had a point; if history kept repeating itself, there would be.
He shook his head with a chuckle. “Goodnight, Rose.”
“Goodnight, Mason.”
I watched him drive away, and then locked the door and went to get my small jewelry box from my dresser. Sitting on the bed, I lifted the lid to the white box and a tiny ballerina with a net skirt popped up. The box was more fit for a preteen than a twenty-four-year-old woman, but Daddy had given it to me for my thirteenth birthday. I’d never replaced it for two reasons: One, it was one of the only things he had ever given me outright, without Momma’s inclusion. And two, I didn’t have much of anything to put in it. My birth mother’s ring had come in a ring box which I kept tucked in my underwear drawer. Truth be told, I hadn’t opened the ring box in several months, the jewelry box in even longer.
I sorted through the pieces until I came across what I was looking for, the dainty gold chain with its filigreed gold crucifix. Aunt Bessie had made sure to tell me it was made of real 18ct gold. Momma had rarely let me wear it, telling me it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear something so gaudy every day. As a girl, it had killed me to let it sit in the box, and sometimes I’d sneak it out of the house and put it on after I got on the school bus.
Laying the chain across my palm, I studied the cross. Aunt Bessie had even had my initials engraved on the back. RAG. Lord knew I’d been teased mercilessly about that fact when the other kids in school found out. Which incidentally was when one of the mean girls in my class noticed my necklace and asked to try it on. I’d relented—anything to fit in with my classmates—but she’d taken one look at the initials and tossed it back to me with a nasty insult.
I hadn’t worn it since.
I was done with letting people make me feel worthless. Sure it had happened in the sixth grade and Theresa Hopper didn’t even live in Henryetta anymore, but the necklace would be a reminder to stand my ground.
I lifted the chain and fastened it around my neck.
Rose Gardner was done backing down.
Chapter Seven
When I got to the nursery the next morning, Violet was waiting with her hand on her hip. “You didn’t think to call me about getting attacked? Again.”
I started to ask her how she knew, then stopped. Of course, it was big news, and Henryetta was a small town. It would have been more surprising if Violet hadn’t heard.
I waved my hand as I tossed my purse behind the counter. “It was nothing. Mason thinks someone heard that poor Miss Dorothy died and tried to break in to steal her jewelry.”
Violet’s father-in-law showed up just as she was about to give me a tongue-lashing. Giving me the evil eye—which just about screamed We’re not done talking about this—she turned to him with a smile.
“Thanks for letting us borrow your truck, Gary. If you want to take my car, I’ll switch with you later today.
“Don’t be silly, Violet. You’re like a daughter to Shelia and me. We’re so proud of what you and Rose have done,” Gary told her with tears in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on in that fool boy’s head, but I hope he doesn’t think we’re gonna turn our backs on you.”
Violet teared up as she threw her arms around his neck, and her voice broke as she held onto him for several seconds. “Thank you.”
I wasn’t sure what Mike’s parents knew, but as far as I could tell, there was plenty of blame to go round. I wasn’t happy that Mike had left Violet, but I’d also seen the misery she’d put him through with years of belittling and badgering. Still, to be fair to Violet, he’d just about squashed any thoughts she’d ever had of being anything more than a wife and a mother.
As we began to slide the flats of flowers on the pickup bed, we quickly realized it was going to take more than one trip. Gary drove the first load to the church, and I followed him in my car. After we set the first batch on the sidewalk, Gary returned to the nursery while I unpacked my gardening tools from the trunk of my car.
Violet and I had inherited our love for flowers and gardening from our father. We’d spent most of the warm weather months of our childhood outside planting, weeding, and pruning. Later, I realized it was my father’s escape from my mother’s razor-edged tongue. But as a child, spending time outside with my father was where I found most of my happiness. Since I still lived in my parents’ house, my shed was full of shovels, rakes, pruning shears, and any other tools we might need.
While I waited for Gary to return, I called Neely Kate. I had several minutes to kill, and other than a few minutes we’d seen each other at the grand opening, I hadn’t talked to her in over a week. I knew she’d be at the courthouse, but she hated her job so much she always answered, welcoming the distraction.
She answered on the second ring. “I was just about to call you. I heard about your incident last night.”
“Is there anyone in Henryetta who hasn’t?”
“Doubtful. You can tell me all about it at lunch this afternoon.”
I groaned. “Oh no. I forgot. I can’t. We got a big order to plant flowers and prune the landscape at the New Living Hope Revival Church.” I eyed the church entrance. Jonah’s car wasn’t in the parking lot, but I was still keeping an eye out for him. He made me nervous, and I didn’t want to be caught alone with him.
“I thought you just sold the flowers. I didn’t know y’all did the plantin’ too.”
“We didn’t plan on it, but that was the only way to get this job, and it’s a big one. This is more money than we’d expected to make in a month.”
“Well that makes sense, I guess, but are you planting ‘em all yourself?”
“No, I hired David Moore and Bruce Wayne Decker to help. They should be here any minute.”
She paused. “The stoners?”
I sighed, starting to doubt the wisdom of my plan. “I was desperate.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
My gaze focused on the front doors of the church. I could feel Rhonda’s eyes staring me down through the office window. I suspected she was gathering the rocks for my stoning later.
“So tell me about last night.”
I told her everything, including the bit about the St. Jude’s necklace they’d found in Miss Dorothy’s backyard.
“Huh.”
“What? You know something?”
“Well, maybe. Maybe not. My grandma was close friends with Miss Laura. Several days after the funeral her daughters got together to start cleaning out the house. But they noticed all her jewelry was missing as well as a few silver pieces. They called Grandma to see if she knew what Miss Laura had done with her things. She didn’t have a clue. She suggested they call the police, but they told her they had a cousin who’d been hanging around Miss Laura, taking advantage of her kindness. They suspected she’d just given the jewelry to her, especially since there wasn’t any sign of a break-in.”
“We have to tell Mason.”
“Nuh uh,” Neely Kate groaned. “I ain’t gettin’ involved.”
“Neely Kate!”
“It’s a coincidence, Rose. I suspect Miss Laura’s niece stole the jewelry or convinced her aunt to give it to her. Everyone knows she’s addicted to meth. Which brings us back to your new employees.”
“They’re not addicted to meth. They simply have a fondness for pot.”
Neely Kate laughed. “Call it what you like, but an add
iction is an addiction.” I heard someone in the background, then Neely Kate groaned. “I gotta get back to work, Rose. Call me if you find out anything else.”
“You too.” I hung up as Gary returned with the second load of flowers. We were halfway through unloading them when David pulled up in a beat-up yellow Pinto, with Bruce Wayne in the passenger seat. After they parked, they sauntered over to us, a wary look on their faces. In light of Neely Kate’s comment and the way they looked this morning—like they were coming off some sort of bender—I was having second thoughts about hiring them. They might be able-bodied men, but I wasn’t sure how willing they were.
“Thanks for showing up,” I said, handing a flat of burnt orange chrysanthemums to David.
He took the tray, acting like something was going to jump out and bite him.
I motioned over to a partially-filled bed on the east side of the church. “You can set it on the ground over there.”
David wandered off while I handed the next flat to Bruce Wayne.
He hesitated, looking down at the ground before peering up at me through his scraggly bangs. “I never got a chance to thank you.” He cleared his throat. “For what you done for me.”
My breath caught in surprise. “You’re welcome, Bruce Wayne.”
He didn’t move, and I waited. I’d learned he was a nervous guy and pushing him wouldn’t help.
“When David said you offered us a job…” He swallowed. “Thank you. I got one too many strikes against me in this town. I’ll try my best not to let you down.”
I’d never considered the fact Bruce Wayne might have difficulty finding a job with his history. One could argue he’d brought it upon himself, but he still had rent and bills to pay. “Well, that’s all I can ask. And you both are helping me out more than you know.”
“If you need anything, anything at all, Miss Rose, you just let me know. I’m your man.”
His words shocked me. First, he called me Miss Rose, a term usually reserved as a sign of respect for older women. Bruce Wayne was older than me, so I knew he used it with the utmost respect. Second, the conviction in his voice told me he meant it. If I needed help, he’d be there for me. But the problem with drug addicts is that unreliable is their middle name.
Nevertheless, a lump burned in my throat. I hadn’t expected anything in return when I sought to clear his name of murder charges. I had done it because it was the right thing to do. “Thank you, Bruce Wayne.”
He nodded and trudged after his friend.
Gary stood at the back of the truck, his hands on his hips, as he watched the guys setting the flowers next to the bed. “Be careful with those two.”
I wiped sweat from my brow, keeping my gaze on them. “They’re harmless.”
“They’re criminals.” His tone was harsh and unforgiving.
I suspected half the town’s attitude about me was harsh and unforgiving. She’s strange. She’s a gossip. They’d sure been willing to accept that I’d murdered Momma with little proof. Maybe that’s why I felt a new kinship with Bruce Wayne. We’d both been discounted by the townsfolk of Henryetta.
Gary left to get the last load of flowers as I told the guys what I needed them to do. David balked at the instructions, but Bruce Wayne bobbed his head. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll get it done.”
“Hard at work, I see,” Jonah drawled behind me.
Startled, I jumped. I hadn’t seen him pull up.
He rested his hand on my arm. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Rose.”
I backed up, searching his face. “Sorry. I was just concentrating so hard, I didn’t hear you walk up.”
“I love that kind of dedication.” He eyed the guys next to me.
“Jonah, this is David and Bruce Wayne. They’re going to be doin’ most of the manual labor.”
To my surprise, Jonah reached out to shake their dirty hands. “Nice to meet you boys. Welcome to the New Living Hope Revival Church. I hope you feel at home here.”
Bruce Wayne, who was used to scorn, latched onto Jonah’s warmth. “Thank you.”
“Do either of you boys have church homes?”
David snickered, but Bruce Wayne shook his head, looking Jonah in the eye. “No, sir.”
“I’d be honored if you’d consider attending my church. We welcome everyone here.” He paused to let his full meaning sink in.
Bruce Wayne bobbed his head, looking down. “Thank you.”
Jonah clasped his hands together. “Well, I’ve got to get to work before Rhonda takes me to task. It’s gonna be another hot one today. You boys don’t be shy. Be sure to come inside and cool off or get some cold water. We can’t have you coming down with a heat stroke. You make yourselves at home.”
As Jonah walked off, I glared at David. “Don’t you be goin’ in there and taking a nap.”
He scrunched his nose. “Who said I was gonna?” But he didn’t look like a man who’d been wrongfully accused.
“Don’t worry, Miss Rose,” Bruce Wayne said. “I’ll keep him in line.”
I had serious doubts about that. What little I’d learned about their friendship dynamic during Bruce Wayne’s trial was that David was the leader. Nevertheless, I didn’t have time to stay here all day supervising. “Bruce Wayne, I’m gonna leave you in charge. I’ve got to run back to the nursery, but I’ll stop by after lunch to check on your progress.”
“You bringin’ us lunch?” David asked.
I sighed. “I’ll bring you something, but you have to get the beds on this side of the building cleaned out and pruned before you can eat it. I’ll be back in about three hours.” I had serious doubts they could do it, but maybe the incentive would work.
When I got back to the nursery, Violet was talking to a customer about azaleas. She looked up and smiled. She seemed unusually happy today, but then again, she had reason to be: Business was going well, and she had a date.
She pulled me aside. “I haven’t had time to get started on the pots for Reverend Jonah. Can you? Besides, I don’t want to get too dirty. Brody is picking me up from here to go on our date.”
“Oh.” I still had a hard time imagining her with someone besides Mike. “You know I love making planters.” And we both knew that she’d be better at dealing with the customers. It was an unspoken agreement between us. “Where are you two going?”
A smile softened her face, and I was surprised how shy she looked. “He said he was taking me out to dinner.”
“I’m happy for you, Violet.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Really?” Her chin trembled. “I know how hard this is for you and everyone else. It’s gonna be an adjustment.”
I pulled her into a hug. “This is your life, Violet. You deserve to be happy.”
“Thank you, Rose. I’ve been so envious watching you and Joe together.”
My lips parted. “Envious of me?”
“You two are just so happy and in love. You have no idea how much I wanted that. I’m so happy to have found it too.”
I narrowed my eyes. “But you and Brody just met.”
Fear and guilt slid over her face, and then it was replaced by a mask of fake happiness. How had I never noticed that either? How long had my sister been hiding behind the masquerade of her life? I missed the Violet who’d been my confidant and best friend. When had I lost her? I suppressed a sigh. In some ways, I had lost her when Momma died. When I decided to start taking control of my own life.
Violet wiped imaginary dirt off the counter and scrunched up her nose. “How’s it looking out at the church?”
She was hiding something, but I decided to let it go for now. “They were just getting started when I left, but Bruce Wayne seems determined to repay me for helping exonerate him by doin’ a good job.”
“And the other guy?”
I shrugged, unwilling to admit to my doubts. “Jonah seemed pleased to meet them, and he welcomed them to come inside to cool off when they get too hot.”
She scowled. “They’ll end up spending most of t
he day inside that church.”
I could see why she might think so, but I decided to trust Bruce Wayne.
The next several hours flew by as I did what I loved. Working with flowers. I’d been so busy with the chaos of life lately—Momma’s murder, dating Joe, being picked for Bruce Wayne’s jury, opening the nursery—I hadn’t had much time for my hobby, now my business. But putting my hands in the cool soil and transferring the plants to new containers—to new lives—I experienced a peace I’d never found with people, not that I’d had many people in my life before Momma’s murder.
Joe had changed all of that.
I missed him more than I cared to admit. How could I live twenty-four years without a man, and then find myself so attached to him after four months that I found it difficult to breathe when I wasn’t sure he was safe? Worry for his safety was a constant, anxious current beneath the surface of my skin. But Mason’s revelation that he knew about Joe’s secret, along with what Joe himself had said, raised it to a higher level. Everyone was ashamed of something in their past. Lord knew I had plenty of regrets. But I’d shared all my painful secrets with Joe. There was hardly any part of me he didn’t know, yet I couldn’t say the same about him.
Mason’s suggestion that Joe should have told me was nipping at my faith.
But wasn’t faith believing in something even when you didn’t have irrefutable proof? What was I doubting? Joe’s love for me? No, I was as sure of Joe’s love as I was that the sun would rise in the morning. The scary realization was that I wasn’t sure who Joe really was. It was no secret that his job was pretending to be someone else. What if Mason was right? What if the Joe I knew wasn’t really the Joe I thought I knew?
Nausea bubbled in my stomach. I needed to stop this and focus on what I did know. Joe loved me for all he was worth. What did it matter if something had happened in his past? The truth was, I was a totally different person before Momma’s murder, and he wasn’t holding that against me. I needed to give him the same trust.
After I prepared six pots, I decided to take them to the church when I went back with the guys’ lunch. But fitting them in my old Chevy Nova proved to be a challenge. There was no doubt a few of them could fit on the back seat, the question was how to fit them in the door without ripping off the blooms. I put a hand on my hip, staring at the car. I was sure this wouldn’t be the only time we had this issue, and we couldn’t count on Violet’s father-in-law to help us out every time. Especially if she was gonna start dating again.
Thirty and a Half Excuses Page 7