Free Time's Forbidden Flower by Diane Rinella

raises a finger to her lips, seemingly taking a moment to think of a polite way to tell me the idea sucks. “If your therapist had a vase like that, would you feel comfortable because he has a sense of humor or ill at ease because he may be wackier than you?”
    “Point well made.” I’m totally coming back later and buying that for him. “Any word on your California credentials coming through?” My eyes wander the shop. “Wow! Check out this glass box with a bat skeleton. I’m going to bury it in the bottom of his drawer just to mess with him.”
    “Yeah, now that I’ve secured a job it’s just a waiting game.” Anna’s deepened voice, hard-tapping foot, and staring at the rows of shelves before her like they are one giant blur tells me she’s bored out of her skull. “The break gives me time to get the house settled and find daycare for Sunshine.”
    “Oh, I mentioned to Donovan that, since you’ll be working near my house, you should consider adding Sunshine on to my part time nanny. Then, if you get stuck at work, Christopher and I can lend a hand.”
    Anna turns to the table of wares between us. She caresses the edge of a rose quartz geode with diminutive strokes. Suddenly she seems gentle and timid, like the Anna I’m used to. “Did Donovan like the idea?”
    “Yeah, he thought it was great.”
    “Okay,” she subtly nods. “Donovan always knows what’s best.”
    Finally I brave the question I’ve wanted to ask for years. “Sunshine is a very pretty name. How did you decide on it?” God, I hope that didn’t sound flippant, but really, Sunshine? It’s like they were destined to live in Los Angeles.
    Anna’s eyes drift over a display case, her boredom returning. “She made me aware that no matter how bad things are a new day always dawns. You know, that Scooby Doo vase would be perfect,” she claims as if seeing it for the first time. “Let’s get that and head home.”
    The enigma continues.

Chapter 10

    “Duck!” Robert yells as he passes me with a stash of yellow Princess Cakes, the tray nearly braining me.
    “Damn it, Robert!” Cindy chews him out as she marches behind him to open the door of the walk-in.
    “Well, she was in the way,” he snaps.
    “You could have dodged her or asked her to move by politely saying, ‘Excuse me.’ I swear, one of these days your laziness is going to lead to someone’s demise!”
    Lord! How is it that I can have a kitchen staff of eight, yet The Bickersons make all the other players fade into the background?
    My mind again drifts in anticipation of the lunch that lies ahead. I’ve been dying to go to Osteria Rossi for months. Apparently they have the best Venetian food in all of Los Angeles County, and I finally have someone I don’t work with who is willing to dive in.
    “Excuse me, please ,” Robert huffs as he again blazes past while glaring behind at Cindy. He’s so busy being Mr. Bickerson that he bumps the now empty tray into a speed rack whose wheels have been locked. The tray flips up and smacks him in the forehead, making me almost wish the cakes were still on it.
    I try to focus on going about my day as a buzz emits from the breast pocket of my chef’s uniform. Pulling out the phone, Donovan’s face pops up on my caller ID. “Hi,” I answer brightly. “Give me a second to get to someplace less ridiculous.” Dashing off past the far end of the kitchen, deep into the storage area where my desk resides, my butt plops into a chair with such enthusiasm its wheels send me sliding. “Hi,” I repeat into the phone.
    “You’re in a good mood. I must have caught you at a great time,” Donovan says.
    My feet loft onto my desk. “Anytime you catch me is a great time.”
    “You have no idea how happy that makes me.” I sense his smiling, his grin then crashing. “Listen, Lil. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I need to postpone our lunch date. A new client is having some major issues. I now have someone coming in