“I’m not letting anyone else set up my flowers, deliver my bouquets to events,” he returned enthusiastically. “Staging is half of it. A third, anyway.”

“Tell me something, Ronaldo—why don’t you move? Go to a bigger city? Portland would be good. San Francisco would be better. Somewhere a good florist can make real money.”

“There’s the magic word—money. Relocating like that can get expensive. But it’s emotional also. I’ve lived in Grants Pass my whole life and I’m not sure Melanie can cope with a move. Like it or not, even with a group home, I’m going to make sure Melanie has what she needs.”

“That’s a good brother,” she said.

“Have you lived in this little town a long time?” he asked.

“I came here to buy the store. I’d been looking for one. I worked in a shop in Portland, with good friends who trained me.” She rubbed her tummy. “Lifelong friends, really. I have to visit them before the baby comes.”

“And after. What brought you to the flower business, besides good friends?”

“A very difficult but in the end rewarding journey,” she said. And then she told him everything, beginning with once being a champion figure skater, an Olympian. He was thrilled by this; he loved to watch the skating. She explained about her exit from the stress, her flight to Thunder Point, falling in love with the hottest teacher at the high school, reconciliation with her mother who was here now. “A rich dowager who lives with us, or we with her, and this little shop is my haven. I love it. It means so much to me.”

She was completely oblivious to the time as they compared mothers, flower shops, friends, favorite work projects. And then the back door opened and Justin stepped inside. He grinned his lovely boyish grin. “You have my deliveries ready?” he asked.

“Justin!” She looked at her watch. “Oh, my God, I lost all track of time. Yes, yes—just about. There are five in the cooler and this one is nearly finished. I need five minutes.” She stood up. “Ronaldo, I enjoyed the conversation.”

“So did I,” he said. “If anything materializes for a florist...”

“Absolutely,” she said. Justin was taking the arrangements for delivery out the back door.

“There’s something I should probably explain...”

She laughed at him. “If either one of us explains any more, I’ll miss my deadline.”

“I’ll be quick. You should know, on the off chance your new hire doesn’t work out... That partner. It was not a woman.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Is that so?”

“If that’s a problem in a fishing village full of old-fashioned folks...”

“This is one of the nicest towns I’ve ever encountered,” she said. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s not in your best interest to hide your real self. Besides, it’s like dousing your natural flame.” She laughed. “No pun intended.”

He smirked and shook his head. “Too bad I screwed up the interview. I have a feeling we’d have fun working together. And that business about no babies in the workplace? I actually like babies. And they like me.”

“I have no doubt,” she said. She put out her hand. “Now go! I have things to do—I’ve played long enough!”

He picked up his cup and took it to the sink.

“No, no, leave that. I’ve got it. It was a pleasure. I’ll let you know how things work out.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Grace hurried to finish her piece, got Justin on his way, then she put in a call to Virginia, her mother’s administrative assistant in San Francisco. Winnie was very wealthy and the challenge of hiring for her household staff had always been taken very seriously, given the value of her possessions, her estate, her person. Grace asked Virginia to run a check on Ronaldo Germain, a potential employee. And she asked her to rush it.

A couple of hours later her husband was at the shop, his workday at the high school done. “How’s my sexy little mama today?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her.

“I think I’ve found someone for the shop,” she said, beaming. “Provided he turns out not to be a felon.”

“No kidding? You mean we can actually have a baby without you stressing out over the flowers?”

“If he turns out to be the kind of person I believe he is. Virginia is researching him.”

“When did he turn up?” Troy asked.

“I’d already interviewed him and rejected him. He came back. He wanted a second chance. I told him the position was no longer available, but...” She shrugged. “I hope my instincts are on target. But I promise to take it slow.”

Thirteen

Lin Su was not prepared for how out of her experience this short trip to the big island was. First of all, a private jet took them to San Francisco and no one had mentioned beforehand that this would be the case. All she knew was that they had a flight to San Francisco from the nearest regional airport. Once there, they went directly to their commercial flight where four seats in first class had been booked. When Lin Su asked her why she’d done this, Winnie simply said, “I wasn’t going to stick you in the back. I need this space. And I need my nurse.”

Lin Su told Charlie not to get used to this.

Winnie had offered to have a car service available but Lin Su protested loudly. It wouldn’t do to have a luxury sedan or SUV pulling up to a triathlon. They would be a spectacle. She insisted on a rented vehicle that could accommodate Winnie, her wheelchair, her walker, all their luggage. Virginia arranged for a rental van with a portable ramp to help Winnie in and out. It was a very big van. Lin Su sat in the driver’s seat, Charlie next to her, and she studied the dash and all the controls for a while before very, very slowly pulling out of the parking space.

“You gonna be able to drive this thing?” Charlie asked her.

“Of course,” she said. “I’m not very optimistic about parking it, however.”

The condo that had been rented was so luxurious Lin Su had to struggle not to gasp. A great room or family room faced a broad patio that fronted the beautiful beach. It was on the ground floor of a large resort and had a full kitchen, dining room, three bedrooms, two of which were masters. In Lin Su’s room, there were two queen-size beds so she could share her room with Charlie.

They had a lovely takeout from one of the resort restaurants and ate on the patio. In spite of the time change, it being earlier in Hawaii, Winnie wasn’t too tired. She’d also managed to catch a nap on the plane. After having some dinner, Mikhail and Charlie took a walk on the beach while Winnie and Lin Su enjoyed the sunset.

“I think I should take Charlie out to the race start early tomorrow morning. If you think you can miss that part, I’ll talk to race officials and find out if we can get you a safe place at the finish where you won’t be trampled by spectators.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Winnie said. “Oh, you and Charlie should go for the start. As much as I’d like to see more of the race, I should be satisfied with seeing the finish. If I try to do more, I might be too weak and fatigued to make it to the end. But Virginia sent a VIP seating package for four—she express mailed it last week. She’s a genius.”