He shook his head. “Can’t be too careful. This guy is unpredictable and he’s escalating. Which is usually when they make mistakes. He’s got a hard-on for you and I don’t want you unattended.”
I scrunched up my nose and made a face at his “hard on” comment. “You just ruined the awesome of the hard on I did have on me earlier. One I really wanted.” I pouted. “Now you’re gonna have to work me up all over again.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Come on, sweet girl. Let’s get you to work.”
When we arrived at Perfect Petal a patrol officer was already waiting. Jonah saw me inside, looked around shrewdly, and nodded before briefly pecking me on the lips and giving me a strong edict to stay inside at all times. No doing delivery runs or going out to get lunch. I confirmed we’d order lunch in and I’d be too busy working and playing with my niece later on to worry about getting out and about.
Once I updated my Auntie Delores about the coming and goings and texted all of my crazy sisters, I set about getting to work. I was a machine. Needing the mindless work to allow my brain to think about all that had happened.
A few short days ago I was shot, saved by a hot FBI guy, and fell into a deep crush on said hot guy. Then my apartment was ransacked by the same crazy man who would have killed me had Jonah not saved me. I’d lost a friend, not a best friend, not even a super close one, more of a good acquaintance, but I liked Katrina. She was cool and so nice. She didn’t deserve to be caught up in this. Then again none of the women he hurt, including myself, deserved anything this psychopath was doling out.
Then I had the most amazing day with Jonah, met his parents, and met his nasty ex-wife, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it gave my guy the opportunity to open up about her. Finding out how she’d ruined their marriage was a blow. It would have been for anyone. Learning that your wife betrayed you with your brother would be hard enough, but seeing it in living color had to be like watching a tornado shred through your childhood home. And I could tell from how repeating the story gutted him that the wound was still sore. Though I truly believed him sharing it with me, offloading that hurt onto someone else’s shoulders, helped take some of the weight off him.
And now there was another body.
In my freakin’ car.
I shook my head and clipped some big fat pink Gerbera daisies and plunked them into the waiting vase. The person who ordered them had chosen a sunshine yellow glass vase that would look amazing with a mix of bright pinks, whites, yellows, neon green, and some pops of purple. It was a birthday order and I loved doing the happy designs. Made me smile with all the joyful colors.
Just as I wrapped a bright green satin bow around the yellow vase, finishing off the order, a pitter patter of tiny, fast feet came running into the big, open design space in the back.
“Auntie!” Rory screeched as she entered the back room.
I crouched down and opened my arms. She slammed right into me and I lifted her up and spun around in a circle making her squeal with glee. I kissed her all over her pretty face and neck until she started kicking her little feet. Those suckers were like mini punches. She’d make a good soccer player one day.
I tucked her to my hip and focused on her see-through, amber-colored eyes. Genesis wasn’t one to boast or brag, especially since she worked her butt off in school and college to become a social worker but her child was the most beautiful I’d ever seen. Her African-American, Korean, and Caucasian genetics made my niece stunning. Genesis was constantly getting stopped by people in stores to admire Rory. And on top of it all, the little girl was the most social creature ever. Loved everyone and everything.
“How’s my big girl doing? You ready to help Auntie make flowers?”
“Yes!” She clapped her hands.
“Where’s my little doll-face?” Mama Kerri’s voice echoed through the room as she entered. She placed her hands on her hips. “I see you found Auntie Simone.” She came over to us both and kissed me on the temple than grabbed Rory’s chubby little hand and kissed the inside of her palm until she laughed. “You got her? I’m going to help Delores with some customers up front. They’ve got the two front desk clerks out doing deliveries.”
“Of course.” I bounced my girl. “We’ve got this.”
“Yay!” Rory clapped again, her joy clear on her face. I used a towel to shove aside any dangerous clippings that she might get into then set her on the table. She got up onto her knees and reached for a white daisy. “Pwetty.”
“It is, baby. It’s a daisy.”
She repeated the word. I grabbed the next vase, this one a short, squat, fat, dark green glass. I took the daisy and clipped half of the stem off. “Now put it in the vase like I taught you.”
Rory placed it in the center. For a while I clipped flowers and greens and handed them to her to place into the vase. Every time she put one in, she’d look at it and repeat, “Pwetty.” To her it was a game and I was on board for it. Hearing her joy and laughter and seeing her cute toddler smiles was filling up my cup to full. Soaking my soul in pure innocence. Exactly what I needed.
Mama Kerri entered and leaned against the worktable, watching Rory place the flowers. They were haphazardly put in, but I could move them around just so and it would be perfect.
“She balance you out?” she asked knowingly.
“Filled me right up to full with love and light.” I smiled wide.
“Excellent.”
“You didn’t have to come today, you know.” I clipped another flower and handed it to Rory.
“I do know. I also know that one of my youngest girls is going through something tough to manage. Which means it’s time for her mama and sisters to rally around her and show her the way of sisterhood and family, in order to keep her head above water.”
I hooked my mother around the shoulders and pressed my face against her neck, feeling her pulse thump against my face. Her flowery scent mixed with all the others in the room, but I could still feel her energy wrapping around me in a blanket of comfort.
“Thanks for coming by today,” I whispered against her neck.
“It’s my pleasure to check in on my girls. No thanks needed. I’m glad you got some time with your niece. Sometimes seeing life lived through the eyes of a child can heal many hurts. I wish more people could find that peace.”
“Yeah, me too. Now check out what Rory did, Grandma!” I pointed to the wonky flower display. Rory put her arms out exactly like I did, copying me, her little tongue poking out of the side of her mouth.
“See Gam-Ma, pwetty!” Rory exclaimed happily.
Mama made a big deal oohing and aww-ing over the bouquet.
Which is also when I heard a booming voice rumble, “Where is Simone?” from somewhere in the front of the shop. I knew it was Jonah even though I’d never heard that frightening tone from him.
Mama and I looked at one another worriedly and beat feet to the front.
The second his haunted gaze hit mine, I ran to him. He wrapped me in his arms and pressed his face to my neck. His entire body trembled, gooseflesh appearing on his forearms. I could see Ryan standing outside pacing back and forth, his cellphone plastered to his ear, an angry expression marring his gorgeous features.