Page 5 of The Heartstrings of Harry
“What about those?” I pointed to an especially beautiful bunch of yellow flowers. They reminded me of sunny days. They reminded me of warm spring nights. They reminded me of the color ofhishair when he turned in a particular light, not that he even knew I was looking. “I’ll take those. They’re perfect!”
“Ah, the marigolden-girls. Beautiful this time of year, and perfect for those heading into the twilight of their life.”
I was about to pluck a bunch out of the bucket when Maggie’s words pretty much jarred my back. I pinched the base of my spine, straightened up and asked, “What do you mean, ‘the twilight of my life?’ Are you saying I’m getting old?”
Maggie blushed, embarrassed that she’d embarrassed me. “No, no, no! I didn’t mean you, you big old bear.”
“You literally just used the word ‘old.’”
“No I didn’t.”
“Yes, Maggie. You just called me a ‘big old bear.’ You honestly think I’m old?”
“No! You look great for fifty.”
“I’m thirty-nine.” I checked my watch. “Still.”
“That’s what I said. You look great for thirty-nine… still. Now, what about those marigolden-girls, huh?”
While Maggie wrapped the flowers, I noticed the stand of greeting cards on the counter. My eyes lit up when I saw one with an illustration of a guitar on the front of it. I picked it out and saw the inside was a blank canvas. “I think I’ll take this card too, Maggie.”
“A card?” She eyed me suspiciously. “Are you sure these flowers aren’t for Madeline Montgomery?”
“I assure you, the flowers arenotfor Madeline.”
* * *
After I leftBud’s Bloomswith my bunch of marigolden-girls in hand, I decided I might need more cheering up than I first expected on such a day. The irresistible aromas wafting over fromPascal’s Patisseriecalled to me.
“Ah, Harry!Bonjour!What can I get for you on this fine spring afternoon?” Pascal had changed since settling into Mulligan’s Mill. He was no longer the cynical, stubborn sourpuss he was when he first arrived. It seemed that Bud’s rays of sunshine had succeeded in melting the ice around Pascal’s heart. You could practically smell the love in his shop… or maybe it was all those mouth-watering tarts and cakes or even the range of savory pies he had started baking that had the whole town talking.
I was standing at the cake display, eyeing all the petite pastries and tantalizing French tarts indecisively. “It all looks so delicious, I’m not sure what I want.”
“Let me help. What are you in the mood for?”
“Something small, I guess. Just enough for one.”
“Feel like treating yourself,oui?Why not? We all deserve a sweet reward every now and then.”
“Actually, today is…” I thought twice about mentioning what today was.
Pascal looked at me quizzically. “Today is what?”
I gave an easy-going, one-shouldered shrug. “Today is a good day for one of your delicious pastries.”
Pascal beamed. “I couldn’t agree more. Why don’t you try amille-feuille? The crème patissiere is so light it could float on air, the puff pastry is so delicate it will crumble and melt in your mouth, and I think you’ll find it’s just right for one. Nobody wants to share amille-feuille…something I constantly have to tell Bud. He always wants a little bite of mine… then another… then another… and before long, it’s all gone. Never mind, I still love him.”
“It’s kind of a nice problem to have,” I said. “Having someone you love eat all your dessert.”
Pascal smiled sweetly. “I suppose it is.”
“Bud tells me you two have a romantic dinner lined up for tonight, although I’m pretty certain he has no idea what escargot is.”
Pascal chuckled. “I’m sure his beautiful brown eyes will pop right out of that handsome head of his the moment I serve them up. But as soon as I tell him they’re an aphrodisiac, he’ll be licking his plate clean in no time.”
“I didn’t know escargot was some sort of love potion.”
Pascal shooed the idea away like a fly. “Oh please, they’re snails. Of course they’re not. But Bud doesn’t need to know that. Now,” he said, pulling a tray ofmille-feuillefrom the display cabinet. “Are you intending to have your pastry here, or would you like it to -go?”
