Page 54 of Love in Bloom

Miller was stewing over this when Diane found him and Michelle clearing off the tables later in the afternoon. “Miller, would you like to stay for dinner? It’s just going to be family,” she said. Bob joined them.

“Good thing you didn’t bring a date. That would be awkward.” Bob chuckled and then looked between Miller and Michelle. “So, if no one’s waiting for you at home, you should stay and join us.”

“No one’s waiting at home. You guys keep me too busy for a social life. Maybe after I’m partner.” He chuckled as if he were joking, but he hoped they’d get the not-so-subtle hint.

“So, you’re not seeing anyone now?” Diane asked, and Miller felt like he was on the witness stand. Wren’s warning sounded in his head.

“One thing at a time,” Miller said, looking at everyone. “As tempting as dinner is, I need to pass. I have a few things at home I need to take care of.” Miller said his goodbyes and made a hasty escape. If he hurried, he could still work in his studio and start the kiln for the fast glaze.Irrational fears of burning down the house be damned!

He’slying, Diane thought as she narrowed her eyes and studied Miller.He didn’t answer my question.And the fact that he lied means he must be in a relationship with that florist.

Diane stewed about this over the next week. She’d warned Wren to stay away from Miller. Miller wanted to be a partner with AAS, and Diane wanted Michelle settled with a successful man who could easily support her.

Michelle wouldn’t need to work. She’d be able to spend time with Diane going to lunch, shopping, helping in the office, and volunteering. She needed to get Michelle settled and Miller was the answer. The problem was Wren.

Inspiration struck on Monday when she signed their monthly rent check to Ball Realty. She called Greg Ball to see if her idea was feasible. She knew she’d need facts to present to the partners at their meeting next week. Fortunately, Greg gave her all the information she needed in time for the meeting. And he gladly supported her plan.

The bimonthly partner meeting was winding down when Diane made her move. “If you promote Miller to partner, where will he work?”

“In his office,” her father said, annoyed with this out-of-the-blue question. He didn’t like to deviate from the agenda.

“Well, then, where would the new associate work?” Diane had learned at an early age that the best way to get what she wanted from her father was to let him think he had come up with the idea. The three men looked at each other. Diane watched as her father, uncle, and husband all realized they were out of room in their current office space.

“You’ve thought about this,” her father praised. “What’s your idea?”

“I’ve spoken with Greg Ball and the space next to us will be available in September. If we add a door between the two spaces and do some additional build-out, there would be an office for Miller and one for the office manager and bookkeeper to share. Plus, Greg assured me we’d have no problem renting the apartment above it. That would bring in additional revenue each month.” Diane smiled at all the men.

”Is the florist going out of business?” Leave it to her Uncle Harvey to poke holes and ask questions.

“I don’t know Uncle Harvey,” she answered honestly. Diane didn’t know what Wren would do, and she didn’t care. “Greg just said he wouldn’t be renewing her lease when he called me to see if we’d be interested.” Diane didn’t worry about the lie, it was close enough to the truth for her purposes, and at some point Greghadcalled her.

“I think that’s a great solution, honey,” Bob said, closing his notebook. Diane blushed. She enjoyed compliments, and it was nice to have her efforts acknowledged.

“What’s this going to cost?” her father asked. Diane spent the next few minutes explaining the new rent and the estimated build-out costs with a timeline. “Seems reasonable,” he agreed.

“We should get things solidified with Miller, first,” Harvey said.

“Financially, it would be better if we made the offer in the fall,” William pointed out.

“Miller is fully committed to being a partner in this firm. He’s been very clear with all of us about that.” She looked around the room. “I’m one hundred percent comfortable proceeding with the new lease without an offer being made to him.” Diane wanted Wren out, but she didn’t want Miller to get partnership too quickly. There would be no incentive to date Michelle once he’d made partner.

“Shame to lose the florist, though. I liked her,” Harvey said as he tucked his pen into the breast pocket of his suit coat.

“I’m just thankful Greg called us about this,” Diane said, hoping to divert her uncle. “It is a perfect solution to the problem.” The men agreed and pushed their chairs back from the conference table. “Oh, one more thing,” Diane said, “let’s not tell Miller about this. I’d like his new office to be a surprise.”

“Croix,youneedtofish or cut bait. All you ever do is bellyache about your job,” Gus complained as he threw another log on the fire. They were at Mrs. Hart’s house for a late June bonfire. The night was warm and the air was heavy with the smell of burning wood. An owl hooted in the background. Wren stood apart from the group and leaned against a tree, soaking up the atmosphere and the general sense of peace. From where she stood, all was right in the world, or at least her little corner of it.

Gus was a surrogate grandfather to most of the men in the group. He’d taken them under his wing when they’d been teenagers. Back then, the boys had worked odd jobs at the Hart Hotel, and would go to Gus’s restaurant, the Galley, to fill up on burgers, shakes, and fries. Gus had since sold the place to his niece, Nelie, who had been upgrading it. The Galley was now the place to see and be seen in Haven. Retirement and Gus had mixed like oil and water, and it hadn’t taken long for Jackson to notice. Gus now served as the daytime manager of the Hart Hotel lounge. He could still use his bartending and people skills, but the problems didn’t follow him when he went home.

“I like my job,” Croix defended. “I just have a problem with the people I work for.”

“I hear you,” Miller agreed. “Sometimes it’s hard toeing the line and doing things the way they want it done.”

“AAS not treating you well?” Gus asked.

“There’s good days and bad. Right now, I’m just going through a long patch of bad.”

“Still on track for partnership?” Gus wondered.

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