Free The Blossom Sisters by Fern Michaels Page A

could do to provide the ones he had with first-class service. Still, tax season was over, so it wouldn’t hurt to see what kind of help the guy needed. Plus, it would be someone to talk to.
    Gus scrolled through his e-mails. A few from friends, some forwarded jokes, some political cartoons some nitwit thought he would enjoy, an invitation to speak at next week’s chamber of commerce luncheon. He typed OKAY and sent the e-mail off after he marked it in his day planner and copied his secretary/receptionist.
    Gus walked back to the kitchen, poured his coffee, and returned to his office, where he decided to read the morning news online. Normally, he read the real newspaper while he had his coffee because he didn’t like reading online, just the same way he didn’t like reading a book with a Nook or a Kindle. When he realized he had forgotten his reading glasses, he turned off his computer, propped his feet on the desk, and drank his coffee. His headache was totally gone by now, thank God.
    He should have stayed home. He tried to shift his mental gears to pleasant thoughts, happier times, but it didn’t work. He thought about Wilson and how he missed him. Did he dare risk his grandmother’s wrath again by going to get the dog and forcefully taking him from her? He wondered if he had the guts to threaten his granny with the cops if she didn’t hand over his dog. That was a no-brainer if ever there was one.
    Before he could change his mind, he pulled the desk phone closer and pressed in the digits that would connect him with Blossom Farm. His grandmother answered. He identified himself politely and said he would be there within the hour to pick up Wilson, and to have him ready.
    â€œIn that case, Augustus, you will have to take Winnie, also. Wilson won’t leave without her, and Winnie will cry, and I cannot stand an unhappy animal.”
    Gus loved Winnie almost as much as he loved Wilson. “Are you sure about the little lard bucket? She never objected before when you kept Wilson, and we left.”
    â€œI’m sure,” Rose said curtly. “And stop calling my dog a lard bucket.”
    â€œOkay, I don’t have a problem taking Winnie. But, Granny, she is fat, and she waddles.”
    â€œI’ll have them both ready in an hour. Good-bye, Augustus.”
    Maybe Granny was relenting a tad. She loved Winnie, and for her to let him take her dog had to mean something. Gus felt almost happy as he looked around to see where he’d left his umbrella. He was checking his computer one last time and turning off the lights when the buzzer outside his office sounded. The new client, he supposed. Well, since he didn’t have an appointment, he would just have to come back later on or next week. Right now it was more important for him to pick up the dogs. He opened the door, the dripping umbrella in his hand.
    The man was a nice-looking guy, a little damp, but he smiled. “Are you Augustus Hollister?”
    â€œI am. Are you the new client? Look, I’m just leaving, and I can’t stay right now. Can you come back next week, and we can talk then?”
    â€œI don’t think I need to come back as long as you’re Augustus Hollister. Here! You have been served, Mr. Hollister.”
    Son of a bitch! “That’s a lousy way to earn a living!” Gus shouted to the process server’s retreating back. He winced at the man’s laughter. He’d earned his sixty-five bucks first crack of the bat. “New client, my ass!” Once a fool, always a fool. There should be a law about those guys lying just to make $65. He had to hand it to his wife; she worked at the speed of light. Then again, maybe not, if, as he suspected, she’d been planning this for some period of time. Everything could have been drawn up and just waiting for her to kick him out. Out of his own goddamned house. Bitch!
    Gus folded the summons and shoved it in his hip pocket. He’d