Page 28 of Must Love Flowers
“Good news, I hope.”
“Very good.” Joan spent the next thirty minutes updating her sister on the positive changes she’d made since her birthday.
“Whoa,” Emmie said, clearly overwhelmed. “You took in a boarder, and you’ve seen a counselor.”
“Yup.”
“Anything else you’ve tackled since we last talked, like the homeless situation in Seattle or world peace?”
“Very funny, but I did find a really good landscaper…one with a heart.” She explained how Phil had stepped in to help with the situation between Maggie and her father.
“Is he cute?”
“Oh, come on, Em, he’s married.” Although he hadn’tmentioned a wife, she’d made the assumption. Before he’d left, he’d said it was time to head home, as dinner would be waiting.
“You’re still young, you know. You could easily remarry.”
Her sister was right. Joan was still young enough to consider another relationship. The truth was, she didn’t want to live the rest of her life alone. However, now wasn’t the time to even think about dating again. She had to heal first, and she was a long way from that happening.
She was about to explain her feelings further when the doorbell rang. Still holding on to the phone, she went to the front door, thinking it might be Phil. He’d been early before and was due within the hour.
Only it wasn’t Phil.
There, standing at her front door, was her son, Nick, with an adorable puppy in his hands.
“It’s Nick,” she told her sister. “I have to go.” She opened the screen door for her son.
“Hey, Mom, I brought you a late birthday gift.” Nick thrust the puppy in her direction.
“Nick, no.” She automatically shook her head. No way did she want a dog, and especially not a puppy. They made messes, stinky ones, and chewed on expensive furniture and shoes. They demanded constant attention and love. She didn’t have the time, the inclination, or the desire for a dog in her life.
“You can’t turn down a gift, Mom,” Nick protested.
“Yes, I can.”
Nick was just as adamant. “You said you were thinking of taking in a boarder, remember?”
“Yes, well…”
“You’re lonely and this dog is the perfect solution.”
Joan continued to shake her head. “He’s not a solution; he’s a nuisance.”
Her son refused to listen. “Look into his eyes and tell me you aren’t smitten.”
“I’m not smitten,” she insisted, while avoiding looking at the dog, who whined softly.
“You can’t resist this, can you?” Nick continued, sounding downright gleeful. “You might think you don’t need a dog for a companion, but you do. I’m here to see that you don’t have a reason to be lonely ever again.”
“I don’t need a dog for a companion,” she repeated, and then added, “because—” She didn’t get to finish as her son cut her off.
“You’ll thank me later, I promise you.”
“Nick,” she pleaded again. “No.”
“Here, take him.” He placed the dog into her arms and hurried down the front steps.
“Where are you going?” Joan shouted after him, intent on giving the puppy back to her son.
