Blue Dahlia

it.”
    “That’s a lot of bitching, whining, and venom to pack into a quarter of an hour. She sounds like a very talented woman.”
    It took Stella a minute—a minute where she let her hands slide into her lap so she could stare into Roz’s face. Then she let her own head fall back with a peal of laughter.
    “Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, she’s loaded with talent. Thanks.”
    “No problem. My mama spent most of her time—at least the time we were on earth together—sighing wistfully over her health. Not that she meant to complain, so she said. I very nearly put that on her tombstone. ‘Not That I Mean to Complain.’ ”
    “I could put ‘I Don’t Ask for Much’ on my mother’s.”
    “There you go. Mine made such an impression on me that I went hell-bent in the opposite direction. I could probably cut off a limb, and you wouldn’t hear a whimper out of me.”
    “God, I guess I’ve done the same with mine. I’ll have to think about that later. Okay, on to business. We’re sold out of the mixed-bulb planters we forced. I don’t know if you want to do others this late in the season.”
    “Maybe a few. Some people like to pick them up, already done, for Easter presents and so on.”
    “All right. How about if I show Hayley how it’s done? I know you usually do them yourself, but—”
    “No, it’s a good job for her. I’ve been watching her.” At Stella’s expression, she inclined her head. “I don’t like to look like I’m watching, but generally I am. I know what’s going on in my place, Stella, even if I do occasionally miss crossing a T.”
    “And I’m there to cross them, so that’s all right.”
    “Exactly. Still, I’ve left her primarily to you. She working out for you?”
    “More than. You don’t have to tell her something twice, and when she claimed she learned fast she wasn’t kidding. She’s thirsty.”
    “We’ve got plenty to drink around here.”
    “She’s personable with customers—friendly, never rushed. And she’s not afraid to say she doesn’t know, but she’ll find out. She’s outside right now, poking around your beds and shrubs. She wants to know what she’s selling.”
    She moved to the window as she spoke, to look out. It was nearly twilight, but there was Hayley walking the dog and studying the perennials. “At her age, I was planning my wedding. It seems like a million years ago.”
    “At her age, I was raising two toddlers and was pregnant with Mason. Now that was a million years ago. And five minutes ago.”
    “It’s off topic, again, of the update, but I wanted to ask if you’d thought about what you’ll do when we get to May.”
    “That’s still high season for us, and people like to freshen up the summer garden. We sell—”
    “No, I meant about Hayley. About the baby.”
    “Oh. Well, she’ll have to decide that, but I expect if she decides to stay on at the nursery, we’ll find her sit-down work.”
    “She’ll need to find child care, when she’s ready to go back to work. And speaking of nurseries ...”
    “Hmm. That’s thinking ahead.”
    “Time zips by,” Stella repeated.
    “We’ll figure it out.”
    Because she was curious, Roz rose to go to the window herself. Standing beside Stella she looked out.
    It was a lovely thing, she decided, watching a young woman, blooming with child, wandering a winter garden.
    She’d once been that young woman, dreaming in the twilight and waiting for spring to bring life.
    Time didn’t just zip by, she thought. It damn near evaporated on you.
    “She seems happy now, and sure of what she’s going to do. But could be after she has the baby, she’ll change her mind about having the father involved.” Roz watched Hayley lay a hand on her belly and look west, to where the sun was sinking behind the trees and into the river beyond them. “Having a live baby in your arms and the prospect of caring for it single-handed’s one hell of a reality check. We’ll see when the time comes.”
    “You’re right. And I don’t suppose either of us knows her well enough to know what’s best. Speaking of babies, it’s nearly time to get mine in the tub. I’m going to leave the weekly report with you.”
    “All right. I’ll get to it. I should tell you, Stella, I like what you’ve done. What shows, like in the customer areas, and what doesn’t, in the office management. I see spring coming, and for the first time in years, I’m not frazzled and overworked. I can’t say I minded being