Page 12 of Pretend and Propose

Even so, Leanne should have heard me out to see if I have something more to offer than whatever house Cynthia’sconsidering. She can’t have officially signed yet, or I’d have heard about it. Fernwood would definitely have heard about it.

I drop my head on my desk and bite my bottom lip to keep from crying. That’s it. My one shot at getting back in Fernwood’s good graces is gone in less than sixty seconds.

For five minutes, I allow myself to wallow in misery. Then I sit up and get over myself.

If Leanne won’t hear me out, I’ll have to go directly to Cynthia Bennett.

I have no doubt I can win her over to my side.

∞∞∞

I push my index finger into the cool damp earth to make a divot and drop in a seed. I add a few more seeds for good measure. Satisfied, I move down about an inch and do it again.

Officially, this isn’t a flower bed. It’s a bit of dirt near the boxwood bushes in front of the house, but flowers will look nice here.

I’ve got four holes in the ground and full of seeds. I make one more and stand back, brushing my hands clean, to admire my work. Am I forgetting to do something?

My mother is a botanist and I’ve watched her plant things a million times. Even though I didn’t help her or even pay that much attention, I must have picked up the basics.

Still, it feels like I’m forgetting something.

I pull out my phone to call my mother, but it vibrates in my hand.

Sadie.

I answer right away. “You can stop worrying. I’m having fun.”

There’s silence for long enough that I start to worry.

“I’m great, Daisy. Thanks for asking.”

“You’re always great,” I say. “You’ve got a good job, a beautiful apartment, and an infinite trust fund.”

“And I’ve got an amazing friend I’m desperately worried about,” Sadie says slowly. “But I’m glad to hear you’re having fun. What are you doing?”

“I’m gardening. My mother’s a botanist. It’s why my sisters and I are named after flowers. Have I ever told you that?”

“You have. You’ve also told me you’ve killed every plant you’ve had in your care.”

“I can learn a new skill.” I can damn it. “And I’m going to learn how to keep plants alive.” Only because Honey asked me to earn my keep and help out by planting some flowers.

“Is gardening actually something you enjoy?”

A bird flies down and pecks at one of the five spots where I just planted a bunch of seeds. I wave my free hand and stomp my foot like I’m heading toward it.

The black bird lifts its yellow beak and squawks at me.

“What the hell was that?” Sadie asks.

I take a couple of steps back. “A bird who wants to eat the seeds I just planted.” Two more birds land next to the first and peck at the ground. How do they know where to find the seeds? Were they watching me?

Oh. I forgot to cover the seeds with dirt.

“Let them have the seeds before they peck out your eyes. Birds look cute, but they’re evil.”

I snort-laugh. “Birds aren’t evil, they just seem to like your head as a target for their poo.”

“Five times in five years,” she says. “I swear they’ve got some sort of vendetta against me.”

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