Playing for Keeps (28 page)

I felt like such a bitch.

“I know you’re in shock and need time. I’m not trying to take your place, Grace—”

I studied her suspiciously. Was she a mind reader on top of it all?

“—but maybe fate has more in store for you than what you expected.”

The storefront in the Pearl District popped into my mind—bright and full of flowers, just like I’d always envisioned it. Then Pete walked in with a little boy in hand. The boy had unruly brown hair he inherited from his mom but his blue eyes were his dad’s.

Gulp.

I blinked to clear the image. I realized my hands were shaking, and I hid them before Clarice and her sharp eyes noticed.

“Think about it.” She headed for the living room. At the doorway she turned around. “If you need someone to talk to, call me. I’d like nothing more than to be friends. I’d like to think if I had a daughter, she’d be just like you.”

I said nothing. I had no idea what to say.

She smiled sadly and left me to my confusion.

Chapter Twenty-two

The individual who takes his opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.

— Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The good thing about discovering Clarice when I did was that I was too busy to dwell on her and Daddy. It was the week before the wedding and I had the chaos of the upcoming nuptials to deal with.

Riley’s parents came back. Yes, to stay with us again. Riley wanted them to stay at his apartment but he already had a bunch of guests from out of town crashing there. So Fawn and Leif pitched their tent in our yard.

Daddy barely batted an eyelash at their appearance. I did hear him grumble under his breath about the enemy invasion but he wasn’t overly vocal about it. He hadn’t said much since the night I met Clarice. I wasn’t sure what the deal was. Was he embarrassed to be caught making out like a teenager? I was just glad he steered clear of me. Angry?
Me
? You got that right.

Chloe, on the other hand, adapted right away. When she met Clarice the day after the bachelorette party, her comment was “cool” right before she went to take a long nap. Later, after sleeping the day away, she said, “Clarice is so hot. Can you believe Daddy scored with her?”

No, I couldn’t believe it, and I didn’t want to.

Yes, it was so cliché: new woman in my dad’s life, taking mom’s place, etc., etc. But it really wasn’t like that. It had nothing to do with my mom, because I knew Mom wouldn’t want Daddy to be alone for the rest of his life. She was generous that way.

My issues were purely and selfishly about me. I was
so
not like my mom, and I hated realizing that.

Frankly, I was petrified. Suddenly my world was changing and I didn’t like change. I liked to make sure everything was safe before I took a step. Now, everyone was prodding me to get going and I wasn’t prepared. I wished I were more like Nell, who leaped without a second thought and dealt with the consequences later.

I tried to talk to Celeste about it. I called her Monday from work.

She answered the phone with a giggle. “LunaVerse.”

“Celeste?”

“Hold on, Gracie.” She muffled the phone, probably with her hand, but I heard her giggle and say, “I have to take this call, Marc. Go look at the books on Tantric sex. Third aisle, to the back.”

Marc? I frowned.

“Okay, I’m back. What’s up?”

“Who’s Marc?”

“Remember the limo driver from Saturday?”

“No way.”

“Yes.” I could hear the smug grin in her voice. “I won the bet with Chloe. Not that she cared. She snagged this really cute guy after you disappeared. What happened to you anyway?”

“Pete wanted to talk.”

“Ha! I bet that’s what he wanted to do.”

I hated that I flushed beet red.

“So did you guys kiss and make up?”

“You could say that.”

I spent part of Sunday with Pete, and we were cool now. Kind of. I felt like there was a thin wall between us, a distance I wasn’t sure how to breach. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to. If I kept Pete at a safe distance, it’d be better for both of us.

“Well, at least you wisened up about Pete before it was too late.”

“Yeah.” I pouted.

“Okay, Gracie, what’s going on? You sound like you did when you found out there was no Santa Claus.”

“You didn’t know me when I was that young.”

“Figure of speech. If you didn’t call to lament about Pete, there’s got to be another reason. Spill.”

“Daddy’s seeing another woman.”

“A-ha,” she said, like she was Freud.

“Before you say it, I do
not
think she’s trying to take my mom’s place.”

“Then what’s the problem? I think this is the best thing that’s happened to you in years. Aside from Pete.”

“Why is that?”

“Because now you have a
get out of jail free
card and you can use it guilt-free.”

Sometimes talking to Celeste was like trying to unscramble a riddle. “I have no idea what you mean.”

She sighed. “You can explore your options. Get out and live your life. Do things you’ve always wanted to without feeling guilty that you’re not doing your duty. You’ve served your time and parole is up, baby.”

“I don’t want parole.” Jail was comfortable.

“Get over it.” I heard a masculine murmur in the background and Celeste giggled again. “Gotta go. I’ll call you. Enjoy the air on the outside.”

I hung up. I didn’t really get what I was after from her.

I finished work (no sign of my dad all day) and got into my car to go home. Only somehow I ended up in front of my store, which was still up for sale. I parked my car across the street, sat there, and stared.

“This is so stupid.” The words slipped from my mouth, startling me.

What was I doing here? Where was this whole thing going? It was a fantasy, like Santa Claus. It was time I let it go. You had to grow up eventually, right? “I’ll do the flowers for the wedding with Sarah and that’ll be that.”

I waited for someone or something to answer—to give me a sign. But there was nothing except for an overwhelming sense of heaviness.

To handle all the last minute details for the wedding, I decided to take Tuesday through Friday off from work. Good decision on my part because there was more to coordinate than I realized. With the guests arriving from out of town, I was virtually playing concierge. I didn’t mind. Getting to arrange flowers with Sarah made up for all the other drudgery I had to endure.

It was Friday afternoon, the day before the wedding. We’d been grooming flowers and assembling the ceremony arrangements all day—since eight o’clock—and we were going strong. In fact, I felt like I could keep going for another two days straight.

“This is so great.” I stuck a lily in the vase I was arranging.

“Creating is such a rush. That’s why I keep working at the flower shop, even though my boss is a dragon lady.” Sarah tied an iridescent ribbon around a vase. “I think you should make the bride’s bouquet.”

I looked up from the table bouquet I was making. “Me?”

“It’s just a bouquet, and you’re a natural.” She set the vase aside and reached for the one I gripped in my hand. “Besides, I’m here to help you. You’ll do great.”

I wasn’t as confident, but I was eager to try. “Let’s do it.” I searched all the buckets until I found the roses we were going to use for the bouquets and boutonnières. I pulled them closer to the table. “Where do I start?”

“Which do you want to do first? Your bouquets or Nell’s?”

I gazed at the two-tone Ecuadorian roses we’d bought for Nell’s nosegay. In keeping with our autumn motif, they were creamy on the inside and rust colored on the outside. Full and absolutely gorgeous. I was itching to get my hands on them. “Nell’s.”

“First thing you need to do is groom each flower.”

Right. Pull off the funky petals and remove the thorns and extra leaves. No problem.

Sarah reached for a bunch of the creamy roses we selected for Clo, me, and the guys. “I’ll start on the boutonnières.”

I nodded, concentrating on my task. This was so amazing. The feel of the flowers between my hands—I couldn’t describe it.

As I finished each rose, I set them in front of me until I had a huge pile. “Done. What’s next?”

“Wrap the thin stems in wire—”

I nodded and reached for the spool. “So they won’t wilt.”

“Exactly. Then you trim the ends and gather them in the shape you want, wind wire around the whole thing, and wrap it all in the ribbon.”

“Got it.” I painstakingly made the wire supports and then bunched the roses together in a full, round bouquet. I followed the rest of Sarah’s instructions and suddenly—
poof
—I had a bouquet.

“Holy crap.” I did it. I reverently handed it to Sarah to get her approval.

She studied it, turned it left and right, taking her time in looking at every detail down to the way I tied the bow.

Finally, she looked up at me and smiled. “It’s a fine bouquet. It’s like you were meant to do this.”

“You really think so?”

“Woman, how you’ve managed to keep from becoming a florist all this time is beyond me.”

If I were a crier, tears would have flooded my eyes at her praise. I sat there and basked in my accomplishment.

Daddy and Clarice walked in.

I stiffened. I hadn’t heard the front door open or close. I wished I’d had some kind of warning.

My dad came to a sudden stop. He looked around the kitchen, scowled, and said, “What the fu—” His eyes widened and he glanced at Clarice, who frowned at him. He cleared his throat. “What the
heck
is going on here?”

“Hello.” I nodded at both of them, taking note of the way she was holding his hand. I hadn’t figured my dad for the handholding type. “We’re doing the flowers for the wedding.”

Clarice let go of my dad and stepped forward. I was too busy noticing that Daddy seemed reluctant to let her go to realize she was reaching for Nell’s bouquet. “May I?”

I’d barely opened my mouth when she gently picked it up. She examined it thoroughly, just like Sarah. She was frowning when she looked at me. “Did you do this?”

Was it that terrible? Maybe Sarah said it was nice to spare my feelings.

“Because it’s the most beautifully constructed bouquet I’ve ever seen.” Clarice handed it back to me.

“Really?” I absently accepted it.

“I wouldn’t lie to you.”

No, somehow I knew she wouldn’t.

She reclaimed my dad’s hand. “You have talent, Grace. You have the loveliest garden I’ve ever seen, and you obviously know how to put flowers together. I’m surprised you aren’t in landscaping or floral design.”

“Like maybe running a flower shop?” I asked carefully.

“Exactly. I think you’d do brilliantly.” She glanced at my dad. “Don’t you think so, Joe?”

“I—” He looked perplexed, like a fish caught in Jell-O.

Clarice elbowed him.

“
Ow
. Yeah. Right,” he said lamely.

“What about the studio?” I couldn’t see my dad doing the books every month.

“It’d put me out. Who’d do my marketing? And pay the bills?”

Clarice elbowed him again. Hard apparently, because he let out a big “oof.”

“But I’d find someone to handle it,” he mumbled. He glared at me, which told me he wouldn’t be happy about it. But then he pulled on my ponytail as if to say he’d do it if it was what I wanted.

I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.

Not that it mattered, because Nell chose that moment to burst through the back door. “Goddamn it, Gracie, what have you done to my dog?”

George ran past Nell and buried his head in my lap, trying to get as close to me as he possibly could. I automatically buried my hands in his fur and rubbed him behind his ears. “What’s wrong with George?”

“What isn’t wrong with him?” Fists propped on her hips, she glared at her dog.

I lifted his head and stared into his eyes. Translated, his look said
If you have any affection for me at all, you’ll save me, Grace
. I nodded and scratched him under his chin.

He visibly relaxed, leaning all his weight against me. Good thing I was sitting down. I’d have toppled over otherwise.

Clarice bent to pet George. “He seems like a well-mannered dog.”

Score points for Clarice. She just moved up in my estimation.

Nell scowled. “Who are you?”

Oh yeah. Nell hadn’t met our dad’s new girlfriend yet. I forgot to call to tell her too.

Daddy cleared his throat. “Nell, this is Clarice. My friend.” Emphasis on the word
friend
. “Clarice, my daughter Penelope.”

Clarice smiled graciously and extended her hand. “I’m happy to meet you, Penelope.”

Nell shot me a questioning look as she shook Clarice’s hand. “Call me Nell.”

“You must be excited about your wedding tomorrow. You’ll make a lovely bride.”

Any hesitation Nell had toward Daddy’s new flame melted right then and there. She beamed. “That’s so kind. Thank you. You’ll be coming to the wedding with Daddy, right?”

Clarice beamed right back. “It’d be my pleasure.”

Welcome to the family, Clarice.

George whimpered a little and looked up at me. I nodded and he eagerly ran out the kitchen door into the yard.

Nell scowled after him before turning her anger onto me. “What the hell have you done to him?”

“I have no idea what you mean.” I acted indignant, but inside I was giddy. He loved me.

“Ever since I picked him up after I got back from Paris he’s been mopey and argumentative. He started peeing on my rug again and eating my best shoes.”

“Really?”

She glared at me. “Don’t sound so pleased.”

It was hard not to when you found out the guy you loved loved you back.

Nell banged her fist on the kitchen table. “He ate the shoes I bought to wear with my wedding dress, Gracie.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Daddy nudge Clarice forward. They exchanged another one of those intimate looks and Clarice nodded.