Page 16 of Crazy for You

Moving to Georgia to get her degree was phase two of her “new Emma” plan. Phase one involved cutting loose and having fun while she was still here in Haven. And she planned to have a lot of fun. Just not at this exact moment because, right now, she was borderline late for a meeting.

She closed her laptop, grabbed her purse, and headed for her car. Ten minutes later, she was hustling across the town square, careful not to lose her footing in the damp grass. Her bosses, Lucas and Mary Pratt, the owners of Artful Blooms Landscape Design, had asked her to meet them here, which meant this was probably a pretty big project, and she didn’t want to make a lousy first impression on the potential new client by being late.

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she picked her way around a puddle. Last night’s rain had drenched things, but in her line of work, a solid soaking could be a blessing, too. It saturated deep down into the soil, which was great for the plants. She caught sight of Lucas and Mary on the far side of the square, talking with several well-dressed people. She was pretty sure one of them was Lorraine Hanaford from the Haven Town Council. And the guy in the gray suit looked like—gulp—Terrence Clemmons, the mayor of Haven.

What in the world? She usually got called in to consult with homeowners or small business owners looking to spruce up their landscaping.

Emma smoothed a hand over her hair as she approached the group.

“Emma!” Mary gave her a warm smile, waving her over. “We’re so glad you could join us.”

“Sorry I’m late,” Emma said.

“We just got here a few minutes ago ourselves,” Lucas told her.

Mary made introductions. In addition to Lorraine Hanaford and Terrence Clemmons, the other two men in the group were James Daniels from the Town Planning Committee and Donald Ray with the architectural commission.

Emma shook hands with everyone. What in the world was she doing here? Uncertainty swam in her stomach.

“The town has recently approved a memorial to be built here in the town square honoring our local military members who have given their lives serving their country,” Mayor Clemmons told her.

“Oh, wow.” Emma clasped her hands in front of herself. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Mary and Lucas have done fantastic work for us in the past so we brought Artful Blooms in on the project,” he said.

“And Lucas and I will be backing you up, but we want you to lead the project, Emma,” Mary told her, her eyes shining with affection.

“Me?” Emma breathed. This was a big project, a huge responsibility, and much more public exposure than she’d ever had in the past. This was the kind of work portfolios were built on.

Mayor Clemmons’s dark eyes were kind. “Your brother Derek’s name will be on the memorial, of course. When Mary and Lucas suggested you, we thought it especially fitting that you would be the one designing the memorial garden.”

Emma pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m really honored, you guys. I don’t know what to say.”

“We’re very humbled by your brother’s sacrifice and the other service people whose names will be memorialized, and we know that you will do them proud.”

“Thank you.” Although her connection to Derek made her a little uneasy. Had she gotten this job on her own merit or only because her brother died overseas? Either way, she was going to throw herself into it full force and make sure no one regretted choosing her.

They talked for a few more minutes before the town representatives headed back to their offices. Lucas and Mary lingered to go over some preliminary details. Emma was already so indebted to them both. They’d hired her when she was a teenager with no family, no money for college, and desperate for work. She’d always loved to be outside and get her hands dirty so helping to install their landscape work had been a perfect way to earn a paycheck.

Over the years, she’d discovered she really loved landscape design and had worked her way up to managing her own projects. Lucas and Mary planned to retire at the end of the year, which was one of the reasons she’d finally taken the plunge and applied to the program at the University of Georgia. She would need a new job when they retired, and she’d always dreamed of opening her own landscape design business. A degree would be a good first step, plus a new beginning, leaving Haven behind.

Emma looked at the empty stretch of grass in front of her, the space she’d just been tasked with filling. Butterflies flapped around in her belly.

“The Town Planning Committee is rather well known for being difficult to please,” Mary said. “Don’t be discouraged if it takes you a few tries to come up with a design they like.”

“Really?” It felt like one of those butterflies had just lodged in her throat. What if she screwed this up and didn’t come up with a design they liked in time?

“They’re an eclectic bunch,” Lucas said. “They’ll be expecting something traditional but unique.”

“Traditional but unique,” Emma repeated. “I can do that.”

“And Lucas and I will be here to back you up anytime you need us.” Mary rested a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe you and I can get coffee later this week and go over some ideas?”

Emma sucked in a breath and nodded. “I’d like that.”

“This might be our last project together,” Mary said, a hint of sadness in her tone. “You’ll give us a beautiful new addition to the town commons before you go off to college.”

“I hope so.”

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