“Makes sense,” Carmine said and went back to his paper. Inwardly, I grinned. Carmine had that enviable quality of accepting and moving on.
“You’re the best, period.” No longer afraid to show affection, I hugged Frankie and caught Jeannie’s smile of satisfaction.
“He is the best. So when do you start this program? When the summer comes, you can even do a little minicamp for kids. Maybe they wanna grow vegetables too.”
Not a bad idea. “I’ll bring it up with Rose. I have to go to the store soon and start my shift.”
“We gotta get going anyways. Carmine don’t like to leave the store for too long with only one person.”
Frankie and I walked them to the front door, and we all stood on the porch. I’d placed several Adirondack chairs and a small table on one side of the stairs and planned a swing for the other side. With a pang, I now realized Jeannie would be selling the house, and I’d probably not get the chance.
The scent of the many roses nodding in the breeze filled the air, and I could see the bumblebees zipping from bush to bush. The leaves of the tall oaks rustled. I’d miss this house. In a way, it felt more like home than any other place I’d lived. I regretted never meeting Josephina, but it was my own damn fault. Frankie had invited me every time he went to see her, but I’d never wanted to make the time to visit some “old lady” as I remembered saying.
Before they all left, it became imperative for me to say something and make amends.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, and the three of them stopped chatting to stare at me.
“I’m sorry I never made the time to come visit Josephina whenever Frankie asked me to. I thought it was a waste of my time to come see some old lady. But now, after all these months of working on her house and hearing you all talk about her, I’m ashamed I never met her.”
“It takes a big man to admit things like that. But you know what?” Jeannie stood before me. “I think you do know her. Anyone who took such care of her precious house and her roses felt her magic. Remember we told you there was magic in this house?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, in my heart I believe she’s lookin’ down at us and giving us her sign that she approves. So you may not have met her, but she knows you.”
In a funny way I understood Jeannie, and when she gave me a hug, for the first time I felt my life was on the right track. Maybe that was Josephina’s sign. Her magic.
After Carmine and Jeannie drove away, Frankie walked with me to the garden center. When we entered the store, Rose was sitting behind the counter, reading the paper and drinking a cup of coffee. Her eyes lit up when she saw Frankie.
“Well, look at you. I ain’t seen you in forever. Gimme a hug.”
I grinned and went to put my lunch in the mini fridge, while Rose and Frankie caught up.
“Still with the dancing and fashion? I’m expecting to see you in a magazine one day or on television.”
“I’ve changed direction. I’m in business now. I’m a marketing director for an entertainment company.”
Impressed, Rose nodded. “Good luck. I know you’ll be successful. You got that sparkle. I told Josephina from when you were a little boy and she used to bring you in here and you’d dance around for me. I usedta say to her, ‘Look at him. He’s gonna be a star one day. He’s gonna go places.’”
Flushed with praise, Frankie gave her a quick kiss and a hug. “Thanks, Rose. I hope you’re right. And I gotta go. Don’t wanna make my new boss angry with me. Aaron, I’ll see you tonight. We got that appointment at seven, remember?”
“Yep. I got it marked down.” All my appointments with Dr. Morrell were entered into my phone and written in a small notebook I’d started carrying with me to make sure I didn’t forget anything. “See you later.”
Frankie kissed me and left, the bells above the door jingling when it shut. Rose finished her coffee, and we went through the inventory, deciding what should be put on sale so as to move them quickly before they went out of season. We also decided what the kids would start planting when the program began.
A few customers wandered in throughout the morning, but it wasn’t that busy and it gave me time to design the sign for the children’s after-school planting program. I hung it in the window and went outside to check it out and make sure it was straight.
“Is this something new?”
A tall, thin woman in a suit stood behind me. She looked about fifty and had sleek, dark hair in a bun and a nice smile. I especially liked her funky, beaded earrings that swung as she spoke.
“Yes.” I explained what I hoped to accomplish, and I could tell her interest was piqued.
“What a wonderful idea. I’d love to discuss this with you further. Do you have any more information?”
“Sure, come inside, and I can give you a flyer and you can meet Rose. She owns the store.”
“I’d love to.” We walked inside, and I went to get her a flyer.
