One Wish

  He shook his head and chuckled. “Now, Ray Anne is a good woman and I think she loves those boys like they’re her own, but she’s...” He cleared his throat. “I don’t know if Ray Anne even knows how old she is, but she’s not as young as she looks. She’s probably too set in her ways to live with a man like me and three teenage boys. She’s particular and fussy. The way we got it worked out is good. I live with the boys, she lives in her own house. She visits, invites us over sometimes, and then there’s the times those boys grant me leave and I visit my lady without them chaperoning. It verges on a perfect life.”

  “Wow. All that happened at once?”

  “Pretty much,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d ever be this settled.”

  “In two houses,” Grace said with a laugh.

  “Aw, it won’t be two houses forever. Justin passed his GED and we’re looking into college courses. Scares him to death but the boy is smarter than he thinks. Danny’s in high school, Kevin’s almost done with middle school. Before I know it, I won’t be that necessary to them.”

  “Oh, I bet you’ll be the dad for a long time to come. Maybe even a grandpa.”

  “Hush now,” he said, grinning. “We’re in the grandparent prevention program at my house. Those boys don’t need any more complications. Now, Grace, I should take my lady some pretty flowers. She worked so hard over Christmas to make sure me and the crew had a great holiday. That woman is a dream come true. What’ve you got that’s perfect for her?”

  “I just cleaned out the bin,” she said. “Would you like a bouquet or an arrangement?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “What’s the difference?”

  “The last flowers I sold you in the square vase—that was a bouquet. A table arrangement is like a centerpiece for her table or bedroom dresser. I have some lavender and white roses, hydrangea, lilies—the pretty green and white ones. Next week I’ll have a new crop of calla lilies.”

  He contemplated for a second and she was thinking what a good catch he must be—a man with tender feelings, strong enough to take on a brood of teenage boys and sensitive enough to think of his lady with flowers. “Just make something pretty, Grace. Fifty bucks or so?”

  “Wow, you do love that lady.”

  “Every time I think of her I want to fill her house with flowers. Ray likes pretty things. I waited a long time to find someone like her.”

  “What’s it like, asking three teenage boys if you can go out on a date?”

  He laughed. “A lot of monkey business, kissing noises, that kind of thing. Especially the younger two—I can’t wait till they have girlfriends. I’m planning to be relentless and obnoxious, they’ve earned it. So, how much time do you need on the flowers?”

  “Thirty minutes, tops. Want to wait?”

  “I think I’ll go get lunch at the diner while you work, then come back. Can I bring you anything?”

  “That’s so sweet,” she said, shaking her head. A couple of weeks ago she might’ve said, Yeah, your younger brother! But now there was Troy. “I’m good. I’ll get right on this. And don’t forget to put in your order for Valentine’s Day roses early!”

  Twenty minutes later the bouquet was finished—white, lavender, dark green and a little blue delphinium. She might’ve put extra love in the bouquet just thinking about Al and Ray Anne, finding each other a bit later in life. Here she’d been thinking that at twenty-eight she was long overdue.

  When Al picked up the flowers they had a brief discussion about her need for help in the shop and he said Justin might be able to run some deliveries for her if he didn’t have to pay for gas. Al promised to ask him.

  When she was alone, her personal cell rang and she answered.

  “Hey there, flower girl. What are you doing?” Troy asked.

  “Ah, you do know how to use a phone. I’m doing flowers. Beautiful flowers. How about you? Wanna go see the waves?”

  “You’re adorable, you know that? I’m going to work for Cooper today and tomorrow, but Sunday is my day. And I go back to school on Monday. The flower shop is closed on Sundays. So—what should we do?”

  “This implies you want to have an adventure? Is that it?”

  “Let’s take 101 south, check out the redwoods, drive into the Humboldt County mountains and maybe break bread with some illegal pot growers. We can have a picnic in the redwoods. We might have to have it in the car—it’s going to be kind of cold but sunny. Except back in the trees, it’s dark and cold.”

  “How do you know it’s going to be chilly and sunny?”

  “My phone says it’s going to be sunny with a high of forty-five degrees.”

  “What did we do before smartphones?”

  “Listened to the farm report. So, what do you say, flower girl? Date?”

  In all the places she’d been, from China to Charlotte, North Carolina, she’d never been to the redwoods. “I think that could be fun. We should pack extra clothes this time in case you have to show off again.”

  “Yeah, I’ll take that under advisement. So, that’s Sunday. I’ll be at Cooper’s tonight. It’s Friday night. A clear and cold Friday night so there will be people. There might be teenagers on the beach with their fires and shenanigans. If you’re not tied up with the knight or the vampire or some loser Navy SEAL you could always come out.”

  “I could, but I should think about it. Ever since I’ve had a fun coach some of my boyfriends have felt neglected.”

  “I’ll be here till nine or ten, depending on people. I’ll follow you home to make sure you get in safely. Because I’m such a gentleman.”

  “I’m sure you would. Let me see what I have to do.”

  “You do that, Gracie.”

  No one had ever called her Gracie or flower girl. She loved it.

  She went to Cooper’s at almost eight, climbed up on a stool, her cheeks rosy and her fingers like icicles. It was a perfect night on the beach and there were three different fires surrounded by people, mostly young people.

  “Hi,” Troy said, smiling. He grabbed her hand. “Whew. Cold.”

  “I walked over,” she said. “I might need a ride home.”

  He smiled wider. “Gotcha covered,” he said, a twinkle in his eye.

  * * *

  Troy found lots of things he could do with Grace. She had never dated like this before. They drove down the coast to the redwoods, another day they went up the coast to Ecola Beach. They drove over to Eugene, and they drove up into the snowy Oregon mountains on a clear day. They went out to dinner twice and saw two movies. She went with him to a couple of high school basketball games and she closed the shop early one Saturday so they could drive to the university for a Ducks hockey game and they watched the Super Bowl together—just the two of them. They always ended the dates with more of that wonderful kissing. And with Troy always dangling the suggestion of an overnight. Grace kept pushing that idea back for now. But they made out every night. Every. Night. She really couldn’t get enough.

  She found herself watching one of her favorite comfort chick flicks a lot—The Holiday. It was sweet, warm and fuzzy and she thought Troy looked very like Jude Law, except for the dimple. Grace was falling in love.

  Because Grace and Troy had been seen around with Iris so often, not much was made of the fact that Iris was now missing—she was a newlywed, after all. In fact, Troy and Grace ran into Iris and Seth at a high school basketball game and they seemed completely unsurprised to see Troy and Grace together.

  Then Iris popped into the shop one day after school. She’d been doing that quite regularly since Grace bought the shop. Iris liked to make her own flower arrangements and Grace gave them to her cheap. But, since she’d been married, the visits had become rare. Grace already had the workroom cleaned up. “I haven’t seen you in a while,” Iris said. “Are you anxious to clos
e?”

  “I’m in no great hurry, but no one will be by now. People who want flowers after five call ahead—they know I’ll stay open for them to pick up if I can. This married business—I don’t see that much of you anymore!”

  “Because now I go home and cook! If I don’t, Seth’s mom will try to feed us every night and we can’t have that. And I run errands and do laundry and get caught up on my homework before Seth comes home.”

  “You cook? Oh, God, has he filed for an annulment yet?”

  “Very funny. I’m getting better, but sometimes he cooks. Have any flowers you can spare? I could use something cheery in the house—this weather can be a downer.”

  “Oh, I know exactly how to perk you up,” she said, going into the cooler. She brought out a bottle of nice sauvignon blanc and two icy glasses she kept in there for just such an occasion. “Ta-da! You can pick your flowers while I get the corkscrew out of my desk.”

  “You are a good person, Grace,” Iris said, approving of the wine and going into the cooler. Grace had the wine poured by the time Iris returned with a selection of flowers. Iris knew exactly where to get clippers, tape and a vase. She chose a very attractive oval vase to hold the bouquet. “I’ll return it, of course,” Iris said.

  Grace passed her a glass of wine and lifted her own. “To your new status, Mrs. Sileski.”

  “Thank you, Grace,” she said. “And should we toast a new relationship for you? You seem to be spending a lot of time with Troy.”

  “You left him lonely,” Grace said with laughter in her voice.

  “Oh, please don’t tell me he’s complaining that I’m off the market! I thought we had that all taken care of!”

  “He’s not complaining, Iris,” Grace said, taking a sip of her wine. “But we’re just friends.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Oh, yes. I asked, as a matter of fact. He said he needs someone to play with. And so do I, since you decided to get married!”

  “There’s no question about it—Troy is fun.”

  “The fun coach,” Grace said with a laugh, then she told Iris about the giant wave until both of them were laughing hysterically. Grace told Iris about some of their fun dates, but she didn’t mention the more personal things, like all that wonderful kissing.

  After a glass of wine and a very beautiful bouquet were both done, Iris said it was time to get home.

  “I bet Troy’s not just looking for fun,” Iris said.

  “Oh, I bet he is,” Grace replied. “But so am I.”

  Grace locked the front door behind Iris, lost in thought. Why can’t I let myself lean on Iris, give her the whole story? She might know how I should guard my heart because I’m starting to fall in love and Troy isn’t looking for love. Especially from me.

  She went back to the workroom, put the cork in the bottle and heard a light tapping at the back door. She looked up and smiled.

  “Ah, I see you’ve been working hard,” Troy said, pointing to the wine bottle.

  “I was about to put this back in the cooler. Iris came by to make herself a bouquet,” she said. “You just missed her,” she added, watching his expression.

  “I saw her earlier,” he said, picking up the glasses. “I’ll carry these up for you.”

  “You saw Iris?” she asked.

  “I see her at school every day, Grace. Want to go out for Chinese?”

  “I need a shower,” she said.

  He reached for her. With the wineglasses in one hand he lifted her chin with the other and put a sweet kiss on her lips. “Want to have a shower and I’ll go get takeout? Or, if you need help with that shower...”

  “I’ll manage,” she said. “So, you’re hungry for Chinese?”

  “I am. And I want to ask you something. Want takeout or should I wait for you to have a shower?”

  “What do you want to ask me?”

  “Hold on. I’m going to soften you up first. Is there a beer upstairs?”

  “There are two,” she said. “You go get dinner while I wash off the flowers. How long will it take you?”

  “Forty minutes, tops,” he said. “You okay to lock up?”

  “I do it every day, Troy. Just get going.”

  This was what it was like to go steady, she thought. Just a couple of small things missing. Like, there was no future and he wasn’t falling for her. Well, if nothing else, it was good dating practice. Troy was a great date, after all.

  Troy’s question was a simple but difficult one. The high school was having a Valentine’s Day dance and he wanted her to be his date. He was going to chaperone. “Oh, God, that’s almost the busiest day of the year for me!” she exclaimed.

  “How late do you stay open?”

  “Just till six, but I will be toast! I might be the worst date of your life.”

  “I can help you after work, help you clean up the shop and lock up. How about deliveries?”

  “I have a little part-time help with that. Justin Russell, Al’s boy, is running some flowers for me before he goes to work at the station and he’s going to be sure to help that day—I already told him it’s madness, but there could be good tips. Oh, Troy, what if I’m no fun? And it’s a dance! I love to dance, but I might be knee-walking tired.”

  “The next day is Sunday. You can sleep all day,” he begged. “Come on. I want to take the prettiest girl in Thunder Point to protect me from all the teenage girls.”

  “Really?”

  “You are the prettiest girl in—”

  “No,” she said. “To protect you?”

  “Okay, I can handle them,” he said with a laugh. “Come with me, Gracie. We’ll dance. Put a sign on the shop door. Closing promptly at six on Valentine’s Day so make arrangements to get your flowers early or ask for delivery. The flower girl has a date.”

  * * *

  Grace couldn’t resist him. And while everything else felt casual, even the kissing part, this felt like the real deal. She asked if the right dress was going to be an issue.

  “Not for you,” he said. “All the high school girls are competing with each other and trying to impress their dates. But you already have me. You can wear a barrel if you want to.” And that was exactly the right thing to say, but she warned herself not to get too excited. At least not until he said something that sounded like we’re more than friends.

  Valentine’s Day met all of her expectations for craziness. Grace started early and made up as many bouquets as she could ahead of customers. The preordered roses had been ready the day before and by the end of the day every rose in the shop was gone, along with many other arrangements. Justin started deliveries early and continued right up till five o’clock. Without him, she’d have been lost. She tried to stay ahead of the mess but in the end she left a lot of it—she could give the shop a good cleaning on Sunday.

  She would have liked a little extra time to get dressed, but even rushed as she was she went to more trouble than usual with her hair and makeup. Grace wore her maid of honor dress, a sleek little black number and the only fancy dress in her arsenal. She usually pulled her hair back to keep it out of the way of the stalks and stems, but for this date she wore it down. It had grown long, past her shoulders. She even used the curling iron!

  “Wow. You clean up good!” Troy said when he picked her up.

  Grace expected to stand around a punch bowl with a bunch of teachers while the high school kids danced, but it was so much more than that. She was immediately enchanted. The high school gym was beautifully transformed with painted murals, twisted crepe paper streamers, snowy scenes, balloons, glitter balls, white and colored twinkle lights. The bleachers were pushed all the way back and the gym floor was circled with small round tables covered with long white tablecloths. Candles and little centerpieces decorated each table and there was a di
sc jockey at one end of the dance floor. To enter the gym the couples walked through a heart-shaped arch decorated with hearts, clouds and snowflakes and their pictures were taken as they appeared. The chaperones hung back and chatted among themselves; only a couple had brought dates or spouses. As the music played, almost everyone danced, and refreshments were being served by volunteers.

  It was magical. Grace had never been to a high school dance. She’d never been to a high school!

  Iris was at the dance, of course. “No date tonight?” Grace asked.

  “My date is patrolling the parking lot and looking for trouble. I’m sure he’ll cruise through the dance once in a while.”

  “Are police necessary?” Grace asked.

  “Seth is a little overprotective. He likes to feel the kids are as safe as possible. And since I have to be here anyway...” Iris was pulled away by another chaperone with a question.

  A young man approached Grace and Troy. “Is this your girlfriend, Mr. Headly?”

  “Yes, this is Grace Dillon, Ms. Dillon to you.”

  He gave a short bow. “Would you like to dance, Ms. Dillon?” he asked politely.

  “Ah, I...ah...”

  “It’s entirely up to you, Grace,” Troy said. “Jerome here won’t put any moves on you because he knows I’d have to kill him.”

  “Is it all right?” she whispered to him.

  “No slow dancing. Those are mine,” Troy whispered back.

  Grace began what became a series of dances with a variety of young partners who were funny and charming and devilish. It was obvious they thought it was a real hoot to get Mr. Headly’s girl on the dance floor. Whenever the music slowed Troy was instantly at her side, cutting in, holding her as closely as he dared at a high school function. It seemed as if all the slow dances were crooned by Michael Bublé, but she was surprised by the wide variety of music, from oldies to current rock. There was even a line dance performed to the strains of Aretha Franklin singing “Chain of Fools.” It took Grace about two seconds to learn it and Troy joined in. “Am I dancing with students too much?” she asked.