“That’s pretty rare, but if it does happen, just do your best. Walk-ins usually just place orders to pick up later or buy what’s ready in the cooler. Once in a while one of the guys in the village will ask for a single stem for a wife or girlfriend. I’m sure the prices on a rose or calla lily haven’t changed much since you were operational. Vases and other supplies are on the shelves in the back. Think you can handle that?”

“With both hands tied behind my back,” he said.

She looked at her watch. “Troy should be here in ten minutes. Anything else you think I should cover for you?”

“Yes, one thing. How have you been feeling?”

“I feel wonderful actually. I get a little heavy by the end of the day, and my ankles have started swelling. Big surprise—I’m on my feet all the time. I’ve started needing help carrying the heavier stuff—the buckets full of water and fresh stems, big displays, that stuff. But I’m almost to the end. I only have seven weeks to go! We all do!”

“All?” he asked.

“My two girlfriends—Iris and Peyton—are due about the same time. Just before Christmas.”

“I hope you’re getting a group discount,” he said.

“We won’t need it,” she said. “There’s a sizable pool going on in town, proceeds to be split with the winning mother.”

* * *

Lin Su got the call from Grace just moments before she was to leave Winnie’s house to walk into town. She immediately texted Blake.

Are you busy? My afternoon is now free.

The response was immediate. Come!

She peeked into the bedroom to find that Winnie was still awake, holding her book in her lap. She tiptoed in quietly. “Grace just called to say I’m not needed at the shop, but if you’re all right, I think I’ll step out for an hour or so.”

Winnie looked at the time on her cell phone. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours, then. Around three-thirty?”

“Perfect,” Lin Su said. “I’m not going far. If you’re ready to get up sooner, just call or text.”

“Mikhail is here, isn’t he? He was planning to be here so you could go to the shop.”

“In the living room, watching his soaps,” she said. “I’ll tell him he’s in charge for now.”

“Don’t give him too much authority,” Winnie said. “And don’t hurry back. I like to think of you enjoying the Ironman.”

“I didn’t say that’s... I don’t think Charlie realizes...”

“I’m not going to tell your son where you like to spend afternoons, but there are a lot of loose-lipped creatures around this beach.”

“You’re right,” she said. “I’ll think of something.”

“It’s probably not as complicated as you think. You are two single adults, after all.”

She just didn’t want him to think anything special was going on. No, that wasn’t true. She was trying to keep herself from getting carried away.

She walked next door, tapped lightly and the door swung open. She threw herself into his strong arms and he lifted her clear off the floor. Her arms wrapped around his neck, his arms around her waist. Lips came together like lovers long parted; her clogs fell off her feet. After a moment he released her only enough to push the door closed, then went immediately back to devouring her mouth, holding her tightly, running his big hands up and down her back, over her butt.

Way to keep it all in perspective, Lin Su, she thought.

“I needed a little of this,” he said, kissing her again.

“You have a little of this every day,” she whispered against his mouth. “I was determined not to let this happen.”

“I can tell you hate it,” he said before covering her mouth again.

Indeed, every day at naptime, unless impossible because of duties, she was at his house and in his arms. And then in the evening he called her when he could. He liked to wait until Charlie was in bed. But fourteen-year-olds didn’t go to bed early. Sometimes Charlie stayed up later than Lin Su; sometimes they sneakily texted each other instead of talking.

Blake carried her through his house, navigating with his lips still on hers or on her neck. Then he sat on the couch, holding her on his lap.

“We have to come out now,” he whispered.

She made a whining, mewling sound. She dreaded it.

“Everyone probably knows, anyway. Maybe everyone but Charlie, but if I know Charlie, he’s on to us. He doesn’t miss a thing.”

She left his lips reluctantly. “And what are we supposed to do? Make an announcement?”

He laughed at her. “Things haven’t changed that much since high school, Lin Su. I carry your books, walk you to class, we’re seen out together Friday night, someone says, ‘Are you two seeing each other?’ and you say, ‘Yes. We connected somehow and now we’re dating.’”

“We haven’t had a date yet,” she said.

“We have to fix that, too. If you want to bring Charlie along, that’s fine. Maybe not every time we go out, but sometimes. I like Charlie.”

“I don’t know why you think everyone knows,” she said.

“Well, they’re not stupid. They know we’re not playing chess when you come over here at naptime. And you get pretty rosy,” he added, grinning. “It’s a good thing I’m not trying to get ready for a race...”

“Why?”

“I have no schedule! I stay up late hoping to talk to you, get up early. My mind is in a knot thinking about you all the time. Look, I know you’re out of practice, if you ever had any, but what’s happening here is pretty simple. We’re falling in love.”

“Lust,” she said. “I think it’s just lust.”

“No,” he said. “It’s lust, too. But I care about you and I think you care about me. That’s more than lust.” He grinned. “I like the lust, though. It’s very good and one of these days we’re going to...”

“Ah!” she said sharply, stopping him.

“Yes, we are,” he said. “Everything is just right. We’re allowed to kiss and hug and go on dates. We’re allowed to fall in love. We can have a physical relationship as long as we both want to.”

“I don’t want to,” she said.