Page 11 of His Old Lady

Chapter 3

Faye

The water system, plumbedthrough the greenhouse, sent a fine mist through the air. Faye brushed the hair off her forehead with the back of her dirty hand. The warmer temperature inside the building dried what water landed on her.

Grabbing the handles of the wheelbarrow, she pushed a load of old potting soil to the end of the greenhouse and dumped the contents in the compost barrel. She picked up the hose and sprayed the mixture down, then gave two turns to the handle.

"Faye, are you out here?"

She shut off the water and looked toward the front opening, spotting Jenna. Happy to see her friend, she waved her in and met her halfway down the center aisle.

"I thought you were going to get your haircut today," she said.

"I'm on my way there now." Jeanna clasped her hands together. "I came to beg a favor from you."

"You know I'll help in any way I can. What do you need?"

"My sister came into town for her baby shower and is staying with my parents—"

"I remember you telling me that," she said.

"Well, guess who forgot to order the flowers?" Jeanna scrunched her nose.

Faye laughed. "Good thing you have a friend who owns a nursery, huh?"

Jeanna exhaled in relief. "You're the best."

"Come on, let's pick out something beautiful." She tugged Jeanna with her to the front, where she forced the plants to bloom out of season, so her customers had access to them all year long. "Are you looking for cut flowers? Because I'm no florist. But I'm sure together we can whip up something presentable."

"I was thinking something in a pot about this big..." Jenna held her hands up as if holding a basketball. "Something that is blooming, and she can plant in the ground when she gets home to remember her baby shower year after year."

"You'll want perennials." She turned and walked to the left. "Start here while I go grab a pot. We can mix and match any of these together, and then she can plant them in the ground, and they'll bloom each summer."

Finding a white plastic pot with a lace pattern around the rim, Faye returned to find Jenna holding a Blue Lobelia. "Is she having a boy?"

"She doesn't know, but I love this plant."

How about mixing a pink plant with a blue one?" She gazed over the ground cover pots and reached for the Snow in Winter plant. "This will add some tiny white blooms with the dusty greenage, softening the two other colors since they're so vibrant. We want to focus on the daintiness of everything together. Small reminds me of a baby."

Jenna held up an Ice Plant. "Will this work?"

"Perfect. That's a succulent, and will give her a good variety and fill in the pot." She carried two plants. "Bring it to the table, and I'll plant them all for you."

Filling the container with fertilized potting soil, she quickly set the arrangement and stood back, cocking her head. There was something missing. It was too perfect as if she tried too hard.

"It looks great," said Jenna.

"Hang on." She hurried over to the outer row of plants and grabbed a newly bloomed yellow daisy. The plant was only two inches tall. It would be at least two weeks until the plant grew, and she could sell it, but it would work perfect as filler and add to the baby colors in the pot.

Once she finished, she rotated the arrangement. "What do you think?"

"Gah," shouted Jenna. "It makes me want to have a baby."

"Well, you have to go see your hairdresser and host a shower first. Then, you can look for the father of your child." She picked up the pot. "I'll carry this out to your car. You look so nice today. I don't want to take a chance at getting your dress dirty."

"I really appreciate you doing this for me." Jenna hurried forward to open the door for her. "How much do I owe you?"

"It's on me." She shook her head when Jenna opened her mouth to argue with her. "Honestly, I have plants to spare. I went crazy with the seeds this year in my plans for the sale on Mother's Day."

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