Trouble In Bloom by Heather Webber Read Free Book Online Page B

back, Deanna was still at the nursery, and everyone else had left for the day.
    I finished up some paperwork, flipped through a Burpee's
    catalog for inspiration for a mini scheduled next spring. I kept having a vision of a garden. A peaceful, fragrant space with trickling water and a hammock. I doodled my initial impressions on a drawing pad. Somehow I'd work it into one of my designs.
    Glancing over at Roxie and Nels, I noticed Nels nodding off. His head kept drooping forward, then jerking upright.
    "Why don't you two go get some lunch? I'm just going to be doing paperwork until meeting with Deanna at three." I slid open my desk drawer, pulled out a couple of take-out menus for nearby restaurants.
    They looked at each other, then Roxie stood up and snatched the menus out of my hand. I think she still blamed me for her carsickness. She'd been okay on the way home, though, thanks to a quick run to Walgreens for some Dramamine. Too bad my sister Maria hadn't been around—she always has some on hand to use as impromptu sleeping pills, despite warnings from everyone about proper usage.
    "Should we order in?" Roxie asked Nels.
    He looked at me.
    "Really, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to work on a design, then meet with Deanna. After that I'm going to head home to get ready for tonight. Bo-ring."
    "Okay, okay!" he said. "We'll go out. But we'll be back soon. And if Bobby calls—"
    "Don't tell us," Roxie said. "If we don't know, then we won't care."
    "Okay."
    She tipped her head, looked at me. "I like that eye shadow."
    "Majestic purple."
    "It goes well with your eyes. Makes them not so . . . "
    "Muddy?"
    "I was thinking moldy."
    My eyes were a dark green that bordered on brown. Unfortunately, moldy was an apt description. "Thanks. I think."
    BeBe's bark announced Brickhouse's return before the
    chimes on the door. I heard her cluck—I assumed at Roxie and Nels. "Going somewhere?"
    "Lunch?" Roxie answered. It came out as a question rather than a statement. It was clear to me Brickhouse Krauss terrified her.
    "Ach. Not very professional, are you?"
    I walked to the doorway. "Stop scaring the poor girl, Mrs. Krauss."
    BeBe strained at her leash until Brickhouse finally let go. BeBe galloped over to me, threw her paws on my shoulders and slobbered my face.
    Brickhouse turned toward me. "Scare? Me? I'd nev—"
    The pair made their escape as Brickhouse froze, staring at me. I'd known the woman for fifteen years, and I'd never seen her speechless. Until now.
    I pushed BeBe off of me, rubbed her ears.
    Brickhouse finally found her voice. "What the hell happened to you?"
    I laughed. I couldn't help it. "Perry."
    "Your mama's going to have a heart attack. You better call and warn her."
    I probably should, I thought.
    She stepped closer, inspecting. "It's about time, Nina Ceceri, that you started acting like a girl."
    I rolled my eyes. "Don't go getting all nice on me now."
    She clucked. "Ach. I don't do nice."
    "I'm aware."
    Her lip twitched and she smiled. Brickhouse Krauss actually smiled. At me. Miracles never ceased.
    "Come, BeBe," she said. "Some of us have work to do."
    I closed my door and went back to my desk. I played a game of FreeCell and lost. Then I waited five minutes— just long enough to know that Roxie and Nels were well and truly gone—and flipped open my phone. I'd been waiting all day to make this call, but had to get rid of Roxie and Nels first.
    Tam's home phone rang and rang until it finally went to voice mail. "Tam? It's Nina. Are you there? The camera people aren't here right now, so if you're there, please pick up. Is Nic really sick? Or a—"
    "She's fine, Nina," Tam said, picking up. "I didn't mean to worry you."
    I hadn't really believed Nic was sick, so I hadn't been too worried. "What's going on?"
    She sighed. "Those cameras. I can't deal with them."
    "Why? Wait. You don't have any outstanding warrants, do you?"
    "No! Well, not that I know of." Her cultured drawl was part Queen Elizabeth, part