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 close?”
“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,
