Blue Dahlia

most beautiful house I’ve ever seen.”
    “It is, isn’t it?” Roz stopped a moment, looking out the windows that faced one of her gardens. “It can be damp in the winter, and we’re forever calling the plumber, the electrician, someone. But I love every inch of it. Some might think it’s a waste for a woman on her own.”
    “It’s yours. Your family home.”
    “Exactly. And it’ll stay that way, whatever it takes. You’re just down here. Each room opens to the terrace. I’ll leave it to you to judge if you need to lock the one in the boys’ room. I assumed they’d want to share at this age, especially in a new place.”
    “Bull’s-eye.” Stella walked into the room behind Roz. “Oh, they’ll love this. Lots of room, lots of light.” She laid the carton and the suitcase on one of the twin beds. But antiques.” She ran her fingers over the child-size chest of drawers. “I’m terrified.”
    “Furniture’s meant to be used. And good pieces respected.”
    “Believe me, they’ll get the word.” Please, God, don’t let them break anything.
    “You’re next door. The bath connects.” Roz gestured, angled her head. “I thought, at least initially, you’d want to be close.”
    “Perfect.” She walked into the bath. The generous claw-foot tub stood on a marble platform in front of the terrace doors. Roman shades could be pulled down for privacy. The toilet sat in a tall cabinet built from yellow pine and had a chain pull—wouldn’t the boys get a kick out of that!
    Beside the pedestal sink was a brass towel warmer already draped with fluffy sea-green towels.
    Through the connecting door, her room was washed with winter light. Rhizomes patterned the oak floor.
    A cozy sitting area faced the small white-marble fireplace, with a painting of a garden in full summer bloom above it.
    Draped in gauzy white and shell pink, the canopy bed was accented with a generous mountain of silk pillows in dreamy pastels. The bureau with its long oval mirror was gleaming mahogany, as was the charmingly feminine dressing table and the carved armoire.
    “I’m starting to feel like Cinderella at the ball.”
    “If the shoe fits.” Roz set down the suitcases. “I want you to be comfortable, and your boys to be happy because I’m going to work you very hard. It’s a big house, and David will show you through at some point. We won’t bump into each other, unless we want to.”
    She shoved up the sleeves of her shirt as she looked around. “I’m not a sociable woman, though I do enjoy the company of people I like. I think I’m going to like you. I already like your children.”
    She glanced at her watch. “I’m going to grab that hot chocolate—I can’t ever resist it—then get to work.”
    “I’d like to come in, show you some of my ideas, later today.”
    “Fine. Hunt me up.”
     
    SHE DID JUST THAT. THOUGH SHE’D INTENDED TO bring the kids with her after the school meeting, she hadn’t had the heart to take them away from David.
    So much for her worries about their adjustment to living in a new house with strangers. It appeared that most of the adjustments were going to be on her end.
    She dressed more appropriately this time, in sturdy walking shoes that had already seen their share of mud, jeans with considerable wear, and a black sweater. With her briefcase in hand, she headed into the main entrance of the garden center.
    The same woman was at the counter, but this time she was waiting on a customer. Stella noted a small dieffenbachia in a cherry-red pot and a quartet of lucky bamboo, tied with decorative hemp, already in a shallow cardboard box.
    A bag of stones and a square glass vase were waiting to be rung up.
    Good.
    “Is Roz around?” Stella asked.
    “Oh ...” Ruby gestured vaguely. “Somewhere or the other.”
    She nodded to the two-ways behind the counter. “Would she have one of those with her?”
    The idea seemed to amuse Ruby. “I don’t think so.”
    “Okay, I’ll find her. That’s so much fun,” she said to the customer, with a gesture toward the bamboo. “Carefree and interesting. It’s going to look great in that bowl.”
    “I was thinking about putting it on my bathroom counter. Something fun and pretty.”
    “Perfect. Terrific hostess gifts, too. More imaginative than the usual flowers.”
    “I hadn’t thought of that. You know, maybe I’ll get another set.”
    “You couldn’t go wrong.” She beamed a smile, then started out toward the greenhouses,