The Tulip Terror

by C L Bauer

“They really need to listen to the professionals.”

  Lily sighed. “Well, at the very least they shouldn’t listen to some crazy coordinator or a headstrong aunt who just has to bring something from her yard.”

  Abby was laughing before she could get her words out. “Oh, she did bring something from the yard alright.” Lily joined her in the laughter until they both snorted and had tears in their eyes.

  Lily headed home. Abby had a great idea. A bath would be the perfect way to end this day. She ate some cheese, brought her wine with her, and soaked until her skin was white and wrinkled like a Shar Pei dog. She shuffled the five feet from tub to the bed and drifted off to sleep. She’d cringe the next time a bride wanted red peonies.

  Chapter Eight

  By the time Lily was in shorts and an old tee shirt, Mort was attempting to dig up something in the backyard. “Drop it. You know better.”

  The DEA drop out canine paid attention immediately and began to run circles in the grass. Mort was now Abby’s dog and whatever discipline she had acquired was completely gone. She was a couch dog who loved potato chips. Weren’t we all?

  Lily grabbed the mail and sat down at the desk to write out bills. She shuffled through the mail and saw one unusual envelope. The post office box on the return address was in Germany. Her name was in Dev’s handwriting. Finally.

  She opened it carefully, several pages of handwritten papers were in her hand. She shook the envelope to make sure he hadn’t sent sand. What was she thinking?

  Honey, do you know that this is the first time I’ve ever written a letter home to the woman I love? I’m discovering I’m not very good at this love letter stuff. You should be laughing now, I hope. I really miss you. It seems I enjoy your company. I miss our talks, laughing with you, eating out. I miss food, but really they feed us pretty well when we’re in camp.

  We are very successful at what we are doing, but I’m afraid we really will be here the entire summer. It’s a little warm!

  How are the weddings? The shop? Abby? How’s Jeremy doing in DC? This is a very big step for him and the boy has some skills. Who knew that video games could get you a career in the FBI? He has a long road, but I think he’ll be just fine.

  Now, about you and me, I love you so much. Have you started planning our life together? Surely, you have some post-it notes somewhere with bedroom colors, how you want to decorate my office or maybe future addresses in Kansas City? I am willing to move. If there isn’t an opening, we can commute until there is. I don’t want you to think that you have to give up anything for me. I want to give to you. I want to give you the life you deserve and the love you need. You have always stepped up to the plate when we’ve faced challenges and I thank you for trusting me and bearing with all this uncertainty.

  I’m sure Dad and you have been talking. He really loves you. I bet Aunt Pat and you are as thick as thieves.

  I can’t wait to see you again, to kiss and hold you. You know, when I couldn’t get you out of my head, it was because you had already wiggled into my heart. Too sappy? I thought about it for a few minutes. Please appreciate it.

  Tell Tom I said hello and that we had steak and lobster after one of our missions. He’ll be jealous. Saw some kids I knew from years before, and they are now in the military here. I was very proud of them. Many of their friends are dead. They went another route, the wrong one.

  Speaking of wrong, how is Mort? Is she being a good girl? Do we want a dog of our own? Also, are you sure you could care less about planning a wedding? Hopefully, you and your bestie, Gretchen, have everything planned. I do think we should get married as soon as we can, don’t you?

  I better sign off. I haven’t written a letter in so long I hope it was up to your standards. Just take a red pen to it if you have to. You know you want to!

  Dad can help you get word to me if you’ve run off with some other federal agent or if you are currently living on an island after your lottery win. I will join you on said island; if you are with the new guy, I still might join you. I could use a dip in the ocean right about now.

  I love you and not a day goes by that I don’t think about you and what you are doing. I know you clean on Monday, plan on Tuesday, buy flowers on Wednesday, begin work on Thursday and Friday, deliver on Saturday and go to church on Sunday. I’m so ready to be on your schedule.

  Take care and I will see you soon. If you are with that other guy, make sure you get me my own room and my own case of beer. If you’re on the island just waiting, I prefer a king bed and rum if the island is in the Caribbean.

  Love,

  Dev

  And he was gone with that last word read.

  Chapter Nine

  Going out to dinner and to Kansas City’s outdoor theater, Starlight, was a true experience for Lily. What had she been thinking? Abby had taken a few days off to visit Jeremy in DC so her companion was unavailable and Dev was still MIA. His dad had called her one night to check in and to tell her Dev said hello. On Monday, a small package had arrived at the shop. Inside, three French soaps were packaged in the most perfect flower covered boxes. The simple note featured just his name. Obviously, he’d ordered it online, but at least he was thinking about her.

  That package and the letter kept her going. She was planning and thinking constantly about what their future would or could be. She was scared spitless. And that’s when she had thought it would be a good idea to take Gretchen to Starlight. Obviously, her defenses were down. It was like having the flu and someone brings you soup. You can’t really appreciate how good the soup is, but you eat it anyway. It was so nice of the person to bring it to you, but you were going to throw it up within the next hour. But it was so thoughtful!

  “You have good seats,” Gretchen remarked as she settled into the metal chair. “Don’t they have cushions?”

  “You can rent them over there,” Lily said as she pointed to the shop. She scanned the program for the sponsor sheet. If there was a gold star on the page, you won some sort of giveaway. “Darn, nothing.”

  “What?”

  “Give me your program and let’s see if you won anything.” Lily looked at the page and saw the star. “Are you kidding me? I have been coming here all my life and you get the giveaway. That is just wrong.”

  Gretchen swiped the coveted item from her hand. “I’m lucky, what can I say?”

  Right before the show, The Jersey Boys, began, they asked for the winner to come up on the stage to receive the gift. Gretchen pranced, sashayed in all her glory to accept a $200 gift certificate from one of Lily’s favorite local jewelers. Lily only laughed as Gretchen almost mauled the executive director, leaving a very large lipstick imprint on the side of his face. The crowd roared and Lily sunk into her chair as Gretchen returned to her seat and handed her the certificate.

  “Use this on Dev’s ring.”

  Lily was absolutely speechless. The crowd stood for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, and Lily continued to look at the woman beside her rather than at the flag. Who was Gretchen Malloy? Had they really gotten her wrong all these years? No, she was still obnoxious, but there was a wonderful being underneath the layers of makeup and powder, the perfect hair, the long attached lashes, the large earrings that hung to her shoulders and the over-the-top clinging clothing. Perhaps she was a lost angel inside a retired Las Vegas showgirl’s body?

  Lily’s usual little Starlight family weren’t even there to see the act of generosity. On the other hand, it was safer for them. The men would have been in jeopardy when the lights went down. Apparently, they had exchanged their tickets for another night.

  “Lily, the show is starting. Stop staring at me.”

  “But that was so kind of you.”

  “I can be nice now and then. Hush, the music is beginning. Did I tell you I met Frankie Valli once in Atlantic City? Oh, what a night. I believe it was late September. It was an amazing night.”

  Lily shook her head and rolled her eyes. She was becoming very talented in both exercis
es, especially and only when she was around Gretchen. Thankfully, the music did begin. The show was entertaining. Everything was going along just fine until “Frankie” began to sing Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You. He strolled into the audience.

  Lily began to panic as he came closer. Please stay away, but no. What have I done, Lord? Of course, the actor came right over to Gretchen, spotlight engulfing them, as he sang the entire song to the mooning woman. Lily watched in suspense, with a held breath at Gretchen’s restraint. She saw the coordinator’s hand moving lower down the actor’s back. Thankfully, “Frankie” finished his song before Gretchen could continue any lower. Dev had been such a better, well behaved companion when she brought him as a guest to one of her favorite places in the city.

  On the way back to Lily’s house, Gretchen was humming. “Thanks for tonight. I really enjoyed it.”

  “I’m glad you could go.” Lily continued to drive. It had been an enjoyable night, except for the wayward hand incident.

  “I’m serious about the money. Use it to buy his ring.”

  “Alright, but we’ll have to see if the certificate has an expiration date.”

  Gretchen stopped humming. “Are you ready for all this change? Really ready? Maybe moving?”

  Lily sighed. She’d thought it over so many times but now saying it out loud would make it real. “Yes. I am so ready.”

  “Then, when you get the chance, when you both are in the same place at the same time, marry the man. Have whatever life you can with him, will you? Please, don’t wait a second longer because sometimes, that time is taken away from you.”

  Lily was at a stop, waiting for the light to turn green. Gretchen was no longer humming. Her face was turned toward the window. She suspected she wasn’t looking at anything; she was seeing someone in the past, perhaps her sister or the man that got away? Could shallow Gretchen be deeper than an ocean of emotion?

  “Gretchen, I really had a wonderful time tonight. Thanks for being there for me.” Gretchen patted her shoulder. The moment was lovely and then Gretchen became Gretchen again.

  “I think “Frankie” wanted to take me home, don’t you bestie?”

  Chapter Ten

  “Did you bring the bed?” Lily asked as Abby led the German Shepherd inside the house.

  “Yes, I did. It’s still in the car. I have the food, her bowls, her treats and her toys. That should be all she needs for the long weekend.” Abby was removing the lead from around Mort’s neck. The dog immediately jumped up to greet Lily, rising almost eye-to-eye with her. She nuzzled and licked her once and then jumped over to the sofa to settle in.

  “Abs, I have bowls.”

  “What was I thinking? I barely finished packing this morning and now I’ve got to go as soon as we unload the car. I can’t wait to see Jeremy.”

  Lily followed behind Abby to gather the remainder of the dog’s supplies. Geez, the dog had more packed than Abby did.

  As they set up the items in the kitchen, Abby kept looking down at her own engagement ring. “How do you do it? All this time apart is insane.”

  “Well, I’ve been alone a lot in my life and I didn’t think anyone would come along. I’m willing to have patience, just this once.”

  Abby laughed. “You’re never patient, but you have been learning.”

  She looked down at her watch. “I have to go or I’m going to be late.”

  “You sure you don’t want me to drive you?”

  “No, I get in so late it’ll be great to just jump in the car and go home to bed. I’ll get the dog at the shop the next day.”

  “Alright,” Lily said as she gave her a last hug. “Tell him hello and have a wonderful time. DC on the Fourth of July is magical. My sister and her family took me down on the mall a few years back. There’s nothing like it.”

  Abby was almost to her car. “Jeremy says he can see the mall from his apartment. I’ll check in. Have a quiet holiday, and don’t do any work.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lily said as she offered her own form of a salute.

  She turned to look at the already sleeping canine who took up the entire sofa. “Well, girl, it’s just you and me now.” Her computer pinged. Dev was calling in. She hit the button to connect and saw his wonderful, now very tanned face.

  “Hello beautiful.”

  Mort heard his voice and joined her on the chair.

  “Is that Mort?”

  “I’m dog sitting while Abby visits Jeremy over the holiday. They’re having separation anxiety.”

  Dev heard a somber tone. “And you’re not?”

  She offered a smile, but her facial cue was one of sadness. “Oh, I miss you, but I’m trying, really trying to hang in there. How do you do it?”

  “I keep busy. I listen to music. I read. Was June good?”

  Now she could talk about work and she could overcome how much she wanted to tell him she missed him desperately. “Actually, between the weddings, funerals and assorted deliveries, I had the best June ever. We were busy. Even I felt overwhelmed a couple of times.”

  There was some sort of movement behind him. Lily saw the back of another man who quickly moved out of the screenshot. “You are never overwhelmed. You are resting over the holiday, right?”

  “I’ll try,” Lily sighed.

  Dev appeared to be looking around. “Gretchen isn’t there, is she?”

  Lily laughed. “No, not today. I have to tell you that she and I have actually been talking. There might be a nice person under all that makeup.”

  “Impossible!”

  “No, really. We’ve gone out a couple of times and she checks in on me. She is pushy though, always asking questions about us.”

  Dev looked straight at Lily. “About a wedding? How do you feel about planning something when I get done here?”

  Lily’s breath caught. She gulped. “That would be great, but seriously, I don’t need to plan much. I just want to be your wife. Like you said, we can figure out everything after that.”

  Dev scratched the back of his head. “I did say that, didn’t I? And you’re very sure you don’t care about planning anything? I mean, if you really mean it then we need to call the Guiness Book of World Records people because you are the only woman on the face of the earth who doesn’t care about a wedding.”

  “I just want one,” Lily murmured.

  “So, as soon as I’m out of here and can carve out some time, you and I have a date, a date to get a date to get married.”

  She smiled. “That sounds about right for us and this relationship.”

  Lily heard some sort of siren going off. Dev looked around quickly.

  “Lily, I’ve got to go. We’ve got something going on. I love you. I’m out.” The screen went blank. He was gone.

  Mort cocked her head and looked at Lily questioning what had happened. “I know girl, I don’t understand either. I just have to have faith.”

  She hugged her companion. Faith, such a powerful word of future quality intentions. The term “if only” should be replaced with “when it will”, questions needed to be answered with trust, and disappointment would be replaced by love. Sunday, she and God would be talking a lot, again.

  Chapter Eleven

  Bernard Notte’s hotel was on the Promenade des Anglais, allowing him just a short walk into Nice, France’s old town. The sun seemed warmer than usual. Even the breeze off the water did not provide relief. Europe was having a very hot summer; tourists were expiring as they stood in line for the Eiffel Tower, and here in Nice everyone was seeking refuge in the sea or in air conditioning.

  He wore a white straw hat with a wide brim, very colonial looking. His white linen shirt was over loose linen pants. He’d just come from Mykonos and had blended in very nicely. That’s what he always wanted to do. He passed a few market stalls. Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers were brought in daily, but it seemed the vendors had closed early in this heat. Artisans were beginning to display their wares of watercolors, oils and painted tiles. There was so
me good art but most were of poor quality, at least in his eyes. The tourists were swarming around them like great works of art. They reminded him of starving citizens during the French revolution, fighting over one piece of bread. They were sad little people.

  He was relaxed, but in control. Everything was going very well since the beginning of this year. As soon as he had departed the country of his birth, and his son had been arrested, his life had truly begun. His mother wasn’t running his life financially with all her little trust fund rules; the government had stepped in and “rescued” her from her grandson and only son. Apparently, he had an illegitimate granddaughter. The old woman would be happy with that little news. He shook his head as he thought of how many times Garrett had made mistakes. Well, that one was a whopper. But he was happy. He was his own boss. He liked his life now for the first time in many years.

  He was reaching the café, searching for just the right table. A man sat under one of the covered tables, a large umbrella masking his appearance. His features were shielded by his very expensive looking sunglasses. His shirtsleeves were rolled to expose tan skin and a Rolex on his right arm, a gold bracelet on the left one. The man’s light blue buttoned shirt was open enough for Bernard to notice a large gold cross around his neck. The jewelry looked like a piece he had seen in Turkey.

  His glass of wine sat in reach of his relaxed hand. He was left handed. That didn’t matter, but lefties had their challenges in a right handed world. Bernard understood that; they had one thing in common besides greed.

  The man stood as Bernard came to the edge of his table. He removed his glasses. His tanned face contrasted with light grey eyes and dark brown hair. “Mr. Notte?”

  “Oui, Mr. Pierce?”

  The man extended his hand to the chair opposite him and motioned for the waiter. “Please, what will you be drinking?”

  “A glass of champagne.”

  Pierce’s eyes narrowed. A man who knew what he wanted and always got it. “Champagne pour mon ami, s’il vous plaît.”