Two hours later, they shook his hand and left. Caroline felt exhausted. She didn’t realize even with reading her dad’s wishes, she still needed to make choices. The morning drained her.
“What florist did you want to visit?” Jameson asked her.
“It’s by my old house. I don’t know if it’s still there. My dad always bought my mom a bouquet there. A nice couple owned the place, and Dad always said to support the local shops,” she told him.
Jameson drove to her old neighborhood. Caroline stared in disbelief at the run-down neighborhood, which once thrived with new families with young children. The houses appeared old and shabby. Lawns seemed unkept.
“Do you want to drive by your old house?” Jameson asked, glancing over at her.
Shaking her head, Caroline said, “No. My heart can’t take seeing it if it resembles these. My mom always took great care of her flower garden, and Dad did all the work outside on Saturdays. Plus, I don’t want anything reminding me of my last time there.”
Jameson drove a few blocks over, purposely avoiding her old street. She pointed to the shop, and he pulled into the parking lot. Garrett pulled in beside them.
When she got out, he tipped his hat at her as Jameson came around to escort her inside.
A woman came bustling around the corner as the bell above the door jingled. Caroline smiled, immediately recognizing Mrs. Kennedy.
“Oh, my word. Caroline, is it really you?” she exclaimed, immediately wrapping her arms around her. Jameson stepped aside, letting her greet her acquaintance.
“Yes, Mrs. Kennedy,” she replied. “I’m sorry to tell you my father passed away, and I need to order flowers for his funeral, and I want another bouquet for my mom’s grave.”
“I’m sorry to hear Thomas has passed. He came in a couple of years ago and personally selected the flowers for your mom. On your birthday, he always purchased a dozen pink roses. I don’t know what he ever did with them. He never gave up hope of finding you,” she said, squeezing Carline’s hand.
“Thank you for letting me know,” she said, glancing around at the shop.
“Let’s go have a seat in the back. I can make some tea, and you can tell me how he found you,” Mrs. Kennedy said, leading the way to the back of the shop.
Nervously glancing over at Jameson, Caroline bit her lip. She never thought of what to say if someone asked what happened to her.
“I’m afraid we don’t have much time,” he interjected. “Some of Thomas’ friends plan to bring a late lunch for Caroline,” he explained. “We’re running a bit behind.” Turning to Caroline, he asked, “Did you have an idea of what you wanted for your mom?”
Caroline nodded. “Can I have a spray of red roses with some greenery?” she asked Mrs. Kennedy.
“Of course. What day do you want them delivered to the cemetery?” she asked.
“The day after tomorrow. My father’s funeral begins at two. I’d like them placed on her grave by then,” Caroline instructed.
Mrs. Kennedy wrote everything on her notepad before turning her attention back to Caroline.
“What did you have in mind for Thomas?”
“May I do red roses and white lilies? Maybe a blue bow?” she asked, biting her lip.
“It sounds perfect. Let me get this rung up for you. How big a spray do you want for each?” Mrs. Kennedy asked as she pulled out a booklet, showing the various designs and pricing.
Caroline rubbed her forehead as she glanced at the prices. Sure, she’d have her father’s insurance money to cover it, but it’d take some time before she got the check. Her head began to pound as Mrs. Kennedy explained the differences.
“Caroline, how about we go with these two?” Jameson said, prompting her to focus on the task at hand.
“Mrs. Kennedy, may I purchase this on an account until the insurance money comes in?” she asked, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.
Jameson took her hand. “Pick out what you want. I’ll cover it. We can deal with the details later.”
“I don’t want to put you out. You know the rule about borrowing money from friends,” she whispered as Mrs. Kennedy took a phone call.
“Trust me, I have more than enough. My room and board get covered by the ranch. I pocket my paychecks and invest,” he assured her. “Pick out what you want without glancing at the prices.”
She blinked and browsed the selections again.
