The Accidental Florist

spun.
    “That would have at least broken my arm,“ Shelley said. “I can’t take anymore. Let’s go shopping at the mall for a dress for me. I’d prefer black, like the men are wearing, if you don’t care.“
    “Perfect. I’ll stand out like a big green parrot,“ Jane said with a laugh.

Chapter Seventeen

    Jane had driven them today. She knew her cautious driving drove Shelley crazy, just as Shelley’s driving scared Jane to death. When they got back to Jane’s Jeep, there wasn’t a car parked behind them, so Jane could back up a little to pull out into the street. As she did so, she stopped.
    “Why are we just sitting here?“ Shelley asked.
    “There is no traffic behind me except a small red car pulling into where I was parked. I want to watch him as he goes to the parking meter.“
    Sure enough, the man got out with presumably a couple of quarters in his hand, looked at the meter, and then at Jane’s Jeep. He approached the car and Jane rolled the window down.
    “Are you the one who almost filled that meter up?“
    “I am.“
    “That was generous. I’ve gotten two parking tickets here. It’s a regular stop I have to make once a week. I’ll do the same favor for someone else,“ he said with a smile.
    “Sort of like borrowing a cigarette from a stranger, knowing you’ll do the same thing for some other stranger someday. It evens out,“ Jane said.
    “Exactly. Thanks again,“ he said, departing on his errand. Jane drove off smiling.
    Shelley said, “That was a nice man. And you are a nice woman. In spite of driving at a turtle’s pace.“
    While Jane was driving them home, in her own sedate way to protect her Jeep, she said, “If you want to wear black, why not try on that black skirt and jacket I bought. We’re about the same size, and you don’t have to buy something new.“
    “I’d love buying something new,“ Shelley said, “but if it fits me, I’ll take you up on the offer. Saves me a trip to the mall and trying on lots of clothes I’m not crazy about.“
    The long black skirt and short, fitted jacket looked just as good, if not better, on Shelley than it had on Jane.
    “We’ll share it,“ Jane said. “What sort of blouse are you going to wear?“
    “A gardenia-colored silk chemise,“ Shelley said. As she was taking the outfit off, the phone rang.
    It was Ted Jeffry. “Jane, Mother has just been moved to the nursing home. I know you wanted to send flowers to the staff. Here is the address.“
    “Wait a sec. I won’t remember it if I don’t write it down in my address book.“
    He gave her the address and added, “It’s Suite 315. I know you said you wanted to send flowers to the staff that’s forced to take care of her.“
    “I just found a wonderful florist. He’s making my bridal flowers. I’ll call him right now. He gave me his card. And I’ll keep sending arrangements every two weeks until—well, until she is gone.“ Jane didn’t want to say “dead.“ Not that she thought it would have deeply offended him.
    “I’ll visit again tomorrow late in the day and report on the flowers,“ Ted said.
    While Shelley was putting her clothes back on, she asked once again if Jane had remembered to ask Mel if they could see a copy of the notes Miss Welbourne had made for the last meeting they’d expected to attend.
    Jane slapped her head. “I think I asked him. And he probably forgot.“ She paused for a moment. “On the other hand, maybe I forgot to ask. I’ll call him right after I call the florist.“
    The florist they’d visited had given Jane his-business card, so she rang him up to place the order.
    “My mother-in-law has had a stroke and been moved from the hospital to a nursing home and I want to send flowers to the nursing home.“
    “What sort of flowers do you want?“
    “I was thinking of fragrant lilies just coming into bud, and the same with roses. A bit of ferns, perhaps, to fill in.“
    “I can do that today. What is the address and her name?“
    Jane gave him the address and the suite number of the nursing home, added that she wanted the delivery to be to the staff taking care of her.
    “That’s a bit odd, Ms. Jeffry.“
    “Not really. She’s a nasty woman, and a full-fledged bigot. The people who will have to take care of her won’t enjoy doing so.“
    “I understand. My late mother-in-law was the same sort of woman. I’ll have the flowers delivered today.“
    “Let’s make it an every two weeks renewal until she’s no