The Accidental Florist

it.“
    “Good. Now let me check the studs.“
    He used a gadget that he moved across the room at the same height. A little red light showed up from time to time and the device made a feeble little beep. “Just what I’d expected. The right intervals.“
    He laughed. “In the old days, I’d have tapped it with my knuckles and known from the sound where the studs were, but my son insists that I use this gadget. Do either of you care which end of the room you want the entrance door?“
    Jane and Mel looked at each other and shrugged. “I never thought about it. In the middle?“
    Jack shook his head. “That would break the look of this wall. I’d suggest the far wall. But still move that furniture so Mel doesn’t have to walk around it. Now show me the basement.“
    “The basement?“
    “I need to know how far it extends and if so, if it’s sturdy enough to hold up the weight of an addition. That’s a serious matter of code regulations.“
    Thank God I just cleaned out the kitty litter boxes this morning, Jane thought to herself as she led him to the door of the basement.
    Jack took lots of measurements and kept jotting down notes. Finally he said, “I’ll have to measure upstairs from this door to be sure, but I don’t think the basement will be relevant. It doesn’t go as far as the dining room is my gut feeling. But let’s go back upstairs.“
    He was well in front of them and went up the stairs faster than Jane had ever done.
    After he measured, he said, “I’ll take this back to my office and my son will put it on AutoCad.“
    “What’s that?“
    “A hideously expensive computer program that takes months to learn and is necessary to any architectural company. My son knows how to do this. Oh, and one more thing, where do the phone lines run in? I have to go outside and look. Mel, I assume you need a fast phone line for your computer and fax, and a separate line for telephone calls.“
    “I do.“
    “Where’s the door to the backyard?“

Chapter Six

    The third Women’s Safety meeting was earlier than the ones before—at ten in the morning—and was about foreign travel. It was shorter than the others. Miss Welbourne went through the rules of how to behave, dress, and protect yourself, especially if you were traveling to a Muslim country. “Wear no jewelry. Don’t even take it along, except for a cheap watch. Wear long sleeves, long skirts, and wear at least a scarf on your head.
    “Don’t meet the eyes of men. It’s considered loose and trashy and you’ll be taken for a prostitute. Eat daintily. Women aren’t considered real people in the Muslim culture. Very few women are educated. Don’t get roped into conversations about American values or anything political.
    “You should really try to travel with another woman or if you’re married, with your husband. You will be a lot safer. If you’re with a tour group, obey everything the leader tells you. It’s unwise to rent a car and go off on your own. If you get lost, you could put yourself in great danger.
    “Try to learn a little of the language in advance. `Please,’ `Thank you,’ `Excuse me.’ And how to order food. Don’t order any kind of spirits. If you take some along in your suitcase, drink only in the privacy of your room and be very careful not to leave any empty bottles in your room. Keep a set of paper bags and throw the empties away without being noticed.“
    Jane and Shelley tuned out. They had absolutely no plans to go to such hostile, dangerous countries. Miss Welbourne had a whole lot more advice. All of it was scary. Jane and Shelley were tempted to try to sneak out, but they’d be bound to be seen and didn’t want to insult the teacher.
    Jane occupied herself by thinking about the extra room she was adding for Mel’s home office. It would raise her property taxes and probably her insurance rates as well. But there was no going back. Mel couldn’t have worked in the sewing room, which was just big enough for one single bed and one small side table with barely room for a lamp, and had only one pitiful little window.
    She hadn’t even told Shelley about this. Shelley had been out and about shopping while Jack was there. She couldn’t wait to tell her about it.
    When the class was over, they went to their favorite restaurant; they were early enough to get a booth where nobody could hear them talking.
    Jane told Shelley about the house extension and Shelley said, “That’s going to be a huge,