Free Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder Page B

don’t think so. But you know what they say. There’s a first time for everything.”
    “I want to show Nina.”
    In the workroom, Nina looked up from her bouquet. “Hon, I’ve been worried sick about you since yesterday. Is everything okay?”
    “I think things are back to normal now. For the mostpart. Thanks for giving me the afternoon off.” I walked over and handed her the envelope. “Why would someone want to deliver flowers and not sign their name?”
    She set a yellow rose down on the table. “I don’t have the foggiest idea.” She read the note, then said, “Well, I’m happy to take the business. If I make up a bouquet, would you leave a little early and deliver it on your way home?”
    “Sure.”
    She gave me back the envelope. “Rae? What’s wrong? You look worried.”
    “I’m not sure why my name is on the envelope. What do I have to do with this?”
    Nina went back to the bouquet. “I don’t know. But if you’re concerned, I can have Spencer make the delivery.”
    “I think I’m supposed to do it, though. Why else would it have my name?”
    “Well, there’s no law that says you have to do it.”
    I read it again. What if it was Nathan, setting some kind of trap? Maybe he’d come up with some elaborate plan to freak me out so I’d go running back to him.
    I tried to tell myself I was being paranoid. It didn’t even look like his handwriting. It was a random act of kindness. Like when my grandma would pay for the person’s order behind us in the drive-through line. I could still hear her voice as she told me that the road to happiness is paved with good deeds for others. That’s all this was—a good deed.
    “No, it’s all right. I’ll do it. Unless my horoscope says to avoid strange situations or something.” I winked at her.
    She smiled. “Nothing like that. Watch your wallet, though. It said finances could be a problem for you this month.”
    Wow. Right on the money. So to speak .
    “Did it say what to do about it?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
    Concern filled her eyes anyway. “You okay? Anything I can do? Besides give you a raise, which you know I’d do if I could.”
    “I’ve just had some unexpected expenses, that’s all. It’ll be okay.” I said it to reassure myself as much as her.
    “Rae?” Nina called out as I walked toward the door.
    “Yeah?”
    She pointed a daisy at me. “I’m really glad you work here. I know the pay isn’t much, darlin’, but money isn’t everything, right?”
    I smiled. “You and Spencer. The flowers. Making people happy. Those are the reasons I work here. The money’s just a bonus.”
    She spun the bouquet around, taking it in. The blues and yellows were so pretty together, and I could tell she was proud of the work she’d done.
    “I couldn’t agree with you more,” Nina said.
    When Dean started taking most of my money, I probably would have quit if I’d worked anywhere else. But this was more than a job. It felt like home.

special delivery #1
    AS I DROVE UP TO THE GLENN RIDGE APARTMENTS, MEMORIES assaulted me. My mother, lost in a fog of grief after Grandma died, calling in sick to work and sleeping for days. Men, walking up our steps, carrying brown paper bags, eager to ease her pain. Eleven-year-old me, sleeping on a friend’s floor, out of sight, out of mind, just the way my mother liked me.
    I’d dream of my dad coming back for us, driving up in a shiny red Mercedes, and taking us to live in a fancy house in a big city. I was sure if he could only find us, all of our problems would be solved.
    We didn’t get a Mercedes, or a fancy house, or my dad. Instead we got Dean.
    The place was full of memories, and none of them good. I was anxious to make the delivery and get out of there. After I snagged a visitor spot, I grabbed the arrangement and mademy way to the apartment. Nina had chosen such a lovely combination of flowers: red roses, lilies, and pink and white daisies. I kept my nose close to the roses and