The Accidental Florist

the agency she’s demented.“
    “Ted, you’re a good man. I owe you a big thank-you.“
    “No, you don’t. You just confirmed for me that Mom is truly around the bend. Not only dotty, but downright mean as well.“
    “As we’re already here, I’ll treat you to a burger, fries, and a drink. Just so you leave the restaurant before I do.“
    “It’s a deal. I hate to say this, but I love fast food.“
    Jane watched Ted leave. The black car followed her home at a distance when she left ten minutes later.
    When Jane got home, she called Shelley and said, “Take a little walk with me down the street. You’ll enjoy it.“
    “Why?“
    “You’ll see,“ Jane said cheerfully.
    Shelley joined her as they approached the black car parked down the block. Jane led Shelley to the driver’s side of the car, and tapped on the window. The driver rolled down the window and said, “Who are you and what do you want?“
    “You know perfectly well that I’m Jane Jeffry, and that Thelma Jeffry hired you to follow me around and report where I’d gone and with whom. As of tomorrow, you won’t have this job. Thelma Jeffry has been put in a nursing home for terminal dementia. Have a good day.“
    “Ma’am, I just do what my boss tells me to do.“
    “Your boss is going to assign you to follow someone else around. Let’s go home, Shelley,“ she said as she walked away.
    When they returned to Jane’s house, they were both laughing hysterically.
    As Jane was pouring them cups of fresh coffee, she said, “I sneaked away to have a heart-to-heart talk with Ted Jeffry at lunch. He says he’ll get rid of the detective. He thought Thelma was trying to get their baby girls sent back to China when he saw the endorsement on one of her checks. He knew she didn’t stand a chance of pulling it off. Dixie won’t ever let Thelma near the girls again because last time she visited Ted and Dixie, she called the girls `Chinks.’“
    “Oh no. I didn’t realize how truly evil she is.“
    “Ted knows now. I’m sorrier for him than I am for myself And I’m not sending her invitations to either of the weddings. I dearly hope I never have to see or speak to her again.“
    “I’ll bet that goes for Dixie, and possibly Ted, too.“
    “I believe he’s ready to do all he can to put her out to pasture,“ Jane said.
    “How can he do that?“ Shelley asked.
    “Ted’s bright and angry and loves his wife and little girls. He’ll find a way.“
    Mel called Jane around five that afternoon and said, “I’m hungry for a Chili’s burger. Want me to order pickup and bring it over? My treat.“
    “Oh, please do. Shelley and I were just sitting here lamenting about empty fridges.“
    She gave him her order, asked Shelley what she wanted, and guessed at what Todd would want.
    “Why is he doing this?“ Shelley asked.
    “He probably has something to tell us, something we won’t want to hear since he offered to pay for all three dinners.“
    “I’ll run to the grocery store to get prepared sandwiches and microwave mac and cheese for Denise and John. Anything you want?“
    “Yes, an iced angel food cake and some Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream. It’s Mel’s favorite dessert. Mine, too.“ Jane fished a ten-dollar bill out of her purse and handed it to Shelley.
    The dining room table was set for four places by the time Shelley returned. Mel showed up at five-fifteen and they unloaded the dinners. When Todd had gone through his cheeseburger and fries, he asked if he could go back to his computer and was given permission. Mel was still on his second helping of cake and ice cream, so Jane and Shelley waited patiently to hear what he had to say.
    Pushing his plate away, he said, “Jane, a bit of bad news. My mother wants my sisters to be bridesmaids. She’s got her heart set on it.“
    Jane smiled. “No. You already told me that both your sisters eloped to escape the kind of killer bash wedding your mother would plan for them. Remember?“
    Mel nodded.
    “So call your sisters and ask them if they want to do that to me?“
    He grinned. “I’ll do it right now. I know they won’t want to.“
    When he returned to the dining room, he said, “Done. In fact, sorted out before I even called. They are coming to the wedding, but just as guests.“
    “Good.“
    “Can we go outside and look at my office to see how it’s coming along?“
    “I thought you’d never ask.“
    The three of them went out in the backyard and walked