“The flower shop we always go to just off Sunset Boulevard,” Lainey answers.
“I’d also like to stop at a Walmart to get some groceries,” I add.
“We can go to Ralphs. It’s closer.” Lainey grins at me. “And then The Sweet Spot for milkshakes.”
During the drive, I look at my goddaughter and ask, “Is there anything you’d like to do for your last two days before you go back to school?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know.” She thinks for a moment. “Porsha and I can go to the spa for manis and pedis.” Lainey’s gaze drops to my hands, then she adds, “Maybe you should come with.”
I chuckle. “Is that your way of telling me my hands look bad?”
“No. But your nails would look pretty with some nail polish on.”
I glance down at my short nails and scrunch my nose. “Okay. Give me the name of the spa, and I’ll make an appointment for us.” My gaze returns to Lainey. “Do you think I should invite Porsha’s mom?”
She nods. “You could get to know her better.”
“I’ll put in more effort with Charlotte for you.”
Izak parks the SUV on the side of the road, and we wait for Tyler to open the back door before we climb out.
I walk with Lainey into a cute little flower shop and glance at all the pretty arrangements.
“Hi, Lainey,” an elderly woman says as she comes out from behind the counter. “I haven’t seen you in a while.” Her eyes flick to me, then she asks, “Where’s your mom?”
Shit.
My heart squeezes painfully in my chest, and I instantly worry about Lainey.
I quickly place my hand on her shoulder and tug her against my side before I say, “I’m Nova, Lainey’s godmother.” I hold out my hand to the woman, and after we shake, I explain, “We lost Rachel recently.”
“Oh no!” A shocked expression ripples over her face. “I’m so sorry to hear that. She was such a lovely person.”
Lainey turns her body into mine and wraps her arm around my lower back.
“We’re just here for some fresh flowers,” I mention so we can get out of here.
“My name is Esther.” She gives us a compassionate smile, then gets to work. “I just got the most beautiful pastel-colored roses and peonies in.” She points at a bunch of buckets containing the flowers.
“They are lovely.” I nod.
“Good. The usual amount?” Esther asks as she takes one bunch after the other from the buckets.
“Ah ... please. That would be great.”
While she’s busy, I brush my hand over Lainey’s braid and whisper, “You okay?”
Her eyes are brimming with tears as she asks, “Can I wait in the car?”
“Sure.” I glance at Tyler, who immediately steps closer when Lainey walks in his direction.
As soon as she gets into the back seat, Esther says, “Such a sad thing. What happened?”
God.
My voice is hoarse with sorrow when I murmur, “She had cancer.”
Esther wraps newspaper around the stems. “You had to have known her well to be Lainey’s godmother.”
