The Accidental Florist

entirely through three dress stores, found nothing even close.
    “Don’t worry, Jane. A fabric store will have an exact match and I know an excellent dressmaker who can make whatever you need.“
    “Right now what I need most is to go home and see if Todd has finished his headstone for Willard. Todd will want me to compliment it the moment he finishes and his feelings will be hurt if I’m not there.“
    Shelley, who’d often been in similar situations with her children when pets had died, agreed. “We have lots of time. Neither wedding is for a few months. Give me that scrap of fabric and I’ll go through every fabric store in town like Sherman through Altanta.“
    Todd had finished the headstone and did a good job of it.
    “How did you get all that writing so neat?“ Jane asked. “With one of my pens that was out of ink.“
    In large letters at the top it said WILLARD. Below that were the dates of his birth and death. At the bottom Todd had drawn quite an accurate drawing of the dog in his prime. He’d even colored it in.
    “That’s a fine job. Are you going to varnish it so it won’t fade or run?“
    “I hadn’t thought about that. That’s a good idea. But it needs to dry completely before I do it. It’s still a bit damp.“
    “I need to call Mike and Katie with the bad news. They’re going to be as sad as we are.“
    Todd looked away. “I’ll do it if you want. I’ve been remembering when he was a puppy and I wanted him to sleep in my bed with me and you wouldn’t let me because I might roll over and squash him. So he had a little bed next to mine. You made him a nice soft cushion to sleep
    on. “
    “I remember. He was a cute puppy, wasn’t he? Who’d have guessed then how big and strong he’d get,“ Jane said. “And remember how soft his fur was? Everybody wanted to cuddle him.“
    Todd was obviously feeling better, having this talk with his mother. Earlier today she’d been so strong about it. Helping carry Willard to the car, and explaining to the vet how he’d died. Jane was glad she’d come home to have this time with Todd.
    “Would you rather I called Katie and Mike?“ he suddenly asked.
    “I’d like it if you would. But if you get an answering machine, though, don’t leave a message except to call home.“
    He cocked a cynical eyebrow. “Mom, I’m not a dim bulb.“
    She laughed. “I know that. I shouldn’t have warned you. I’ll leave you to it and not eavesdrop. I’ll make a cup of coffee and sit on the patio.“
    As she sat outside, she realized that Todd had reached the cusp between childhood and being an adult. It was, as she well remembered, one of the milestones of most people’s lives. Scary but exciting doing the balancing act. Offering to give the bad news to his older sister and brother and sparing his mother was a big step forward.
    The next morning Jane received another call from the architect. “Did you get my message about your dog?“
    “Yes, but when you called, we had him at the vet. He’s dead. Heart attack.“
    There was a silence and Jack cleared his throat. “I’m so sorry to have asked such a tactless question. Your uncle Jim would be ashamed of me.“
    “Don’t worry. You had no way to know. I wanted you to realize why I hadn’t been polite enough to reply. Do you have any idea when the work can start?“
    “Very soon. At least by next Tuesday or Wednesday if it’s to be done before your wedding.“
    “I’m surprised. Yes, that would be wonderful if it could happen.“
    “I can’t promise that the small things will be finished by then. Cleaning the windows, finishing the trim and such. But it will be a livable, usable area by the time you’re back from your honeymoon,“ he added with a chuckle.
    Jane realized that she and Mel hadn’t even discussed having a honeymoon. How could either of them get away from work? Mel was virtually always on call and Jane had some work to do on the almost finished second book. She wanted to get it in well before the deadline, which was two weeks before the real wedding. She’d more or less thought that with the kids home for the wedding, her parents visiting after a long flight, and a fair amount of stress to get Mel’s room ready, that they might just spend one glorious night at a really good hotel and spend the next few days relaxing with family and friends.
    Besides, a honeymoon for middle-aged people, not that either she or Mel thought of themselves as such, was a bit silly.
    Though