Chapter 35 Lacey
LACEY
I flipped through pictures of funeral wreaths.
Some were shaped like horseshoes, some like hearts.
Flowers in every color of the rainbow decorated the wire frames.
That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I’d set up the appointment to chat about flowers.
Since Adeline canceled and took all of her vendors with her, I would have to get creative when it came to finding people to help me with wedding plans if I wanted to keep the business local.
We didn’t have a local florist, so I’d reached out to the only place in town that used flowers on a regular basis . . . the funeral home.
Bodie pushed through the door, his boots not making a sound on the plush carpet. He took the seat next to me in the front room. “Hey. Sorry I’m a few minutes late.”
“That’s okay. I was just looking through some of our options.” I turned the photo album toward him so he could see. “I think I’m leaning toward the heart-shaped wreath with the ‘Holding You in Our Hearts’ banner.”
Bodie’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“No, not really. But Suzy hasn’t ever done a wedding, just a corsage or boutonniere for a dance or two so she doesn’t have any pictures to look at.” Without thinking I set my hand on top of his in an effort to ease his concern.
“And you’re sure you don’t want to find a florist in Swynton or bring in someone else?”
I let my hand drop from his and leaned back in my chair. “If we’re going to be wedding central, we need to be able to offer all the services a bride will need. Besides, Adeline booked everyone else for the same date. She’s still mad at me about ruining her party. Suzy can handle it, I’m sure.”
Speaking of Suzy, the front doors opened and the woman rushed in amid a whirlwind of flowers, papers, and bright red hair. Bodie and I both made a move to help. Bodie grabbed a large wire easel dragging behind her while I bent to pick up the papers strewn across the floor.
“I’m so sorry I’m late.” Suzy bustled over to the coffee table and dumped the contents of her arms on the sparkling glass top. “I had a woodchuck to finish up.”
Bodie tilted his head toward me, a question in his eyes.
“Suzy works full-time for the taxidermist out on Highway 87.” I set the papers I’d gathered on the table before taking my seat again.
“How interesting,” Bodie said. He moved the easel holding a wreath of fake orange roses closer to where we sat.
“I usually only do flowers when someone dies,” Suzy twittered. “My husband says I just can’t get enough of being around stiffs.”
My gaze flew to Bodie, who bit back a laugh. “Thanks so much for meeting with us.”
“What’s the occasion?” Suzy asked. “Are we talking cremation, closed casket or open? Jacinda does a great job on lips if you need someone to do the makeup. So lifelike, you’d hardly know they were dead.”
“Um, we have another kind of event in mind,” I said. “We’re not ready to go public quite yet,”—I reached for Bodie’s hand—“but Bodie and I are engaged.”
Suzy stood stock-still, her mouth agape. For a split second I wondered if my news had given the poor woman a heart attack.
“We were hoping you’d be able to do flowers for the wedding.” Bodie squeezed my hand, infusing me with a jolt of confidence.
“Suzy?” I prodded.
“Well, hell’s bells. A wedding. The two of you?” Suzy moved her pointer finger from me to Bodie and back again.
“Yes.” I cleared my throat and summoned a smile. Breaking the news wasn’t quite as hard as I thought it would be. At least this time. “We’re planning a wedding for the middle of May at the Phillips House. I’m sure you’ve heard it’s being restored and reopening as an event center?”
Suzy laced her hands over her belly and giggled. “I sure did. What a crackpot idea.”
My pulse twinged against my temple. “Since the import business closed its doors, we’re hoping the event center will create jobs for all the workers who have been displaced.”
“Oh.” A slight burp escaped through Suzy’s orange-painted lips. “Excuse me.”
“Will you help us?” Bodie leaned in. “With the flowers? Lacey’s trying to build up the town, put us on the map, and give everyone something to work toward together.”
“I see.” Suzy flipped through the stack of papers on the table. “I haven’t done a wedding before. Closest thing I’ve ever done was a double funeral for a couple of married teacup poodles. I have pictures here somewhere.”
Bodie scooted forward in his chair. “Did you just say married pood—”
“We’d love to see them,” I interrupted.
While Suzy searched for the photos, Bodie cleared his throat. “We’re trying to keep this quiet for now so we’d appreciate your discretion.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about that.” Suzy waved a hand in the air as she set a color-printed sheet on top of the stack.
A small bouquet sat on top of a tiny casket.
Miniature white roses were strewn around the edges, caught up with clusters of ribbons and netting.
“They were so small they put them in one together.”
“That’s just lovely.” I gave Bodie’s hand a squeeze. “Isn’t it lovely, sugar bum?”
“Sure is. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
I could tell by the wide eyes he was telling the truth. I’d never seen or heard of anything like it, either. But with time running short and no other option, I swallowed any doubts and thrust my hand at Suzy. “You’re hired.”
“But you haven’t seen all of my pictures. I’ve got a great one here somewhere of a float I did for the funeral home for the county fair a few years back.” Papers fell to the floor as she shuffled through.
“It’s okay, I’ve seen enough to know you’re the one for us.” I pumped Suzy’s hand up and down. “We’re thinking something pretty simple. Do you have any suggestions?”
Suzy glanced from me to Bodie and back again. “Well, if the wedding is in May you know tulips will be in season. I could do a bouquet of tulips with some accents of freesia.”
“I love it.” I glanced at Bodie. “Anything to add?”
He shook his head. “No, this is your big day, Sweets. I want it to be everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
I furrowed my brow. He was being awfully accommodating. I knew him well enough to know that could mean only one of two things: either he truly didn’t give a rat’s ass about what kind of flowers we had at our fake wedding, or he was going along because he wanted something.
With her pen flying over her notepad, Suzy counted aloud. “Two dozen, no, probably need three for the bridal bouquet. How many bridesmaids?”
“Oh.” How had I missed that question on the quick wedding-planning checklist I’d downloaded from the Internet? Who would I ask to stand next to me? The only person who came to mind was Zina, and she’d probably pitch a fit when she heard the news. “Probably just one.”
“Who?” Bodie asked.
“I was thinking of asking Zina.” I picked at a ragged cuticle. “Are you planning on having anyone stand up next to you?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it.”
“Well, now’s the time. You’ll need a best man, won’t you?”
“Just a best man or will you have groomsmen, too?” Suzy nibbled on the end of her pen. “And ushers? I suppose I didn’t ask about all the details. Where’s the ceremony going to be?”
“Inside the house,” Bodie said.
At the same time I blurted, “Outside on the lawn.”
“Oh, an outdoor wedding?” Suzy looked back and forth between us. “May can be a fairly unpredictable month for weather.”
“I don’t think everyone will fit inside for the ceremony.” I fluttered my lashes at Bodie. “Don’t you think we should have the reception inside and keep the ceremony outdoors?”
“How many people will you be inviting?” Suzy’s pen poised over the paper.
“Yes, just how many guests do you think we’ll have?” Bodie leaned toward me. “How many people need to witness this production?”
I cleared my throat. “It’s going to be on the small side. But we will have coverage from the Texas Times. That’s a magazine and they’re doing a big spread about the wedding and the preparations.”
“Oh, I do love being featured in magazines. I’ll make sure I put some extra Suzy magic into your flowers.” She leaned over and patted Bodie’s knee. “You know I was a centerfold once.”
Bodie glanced to me with a where in the hell did you dig this woman up? look on his face.
“Really?” I asked. “That must have been quite a moment.”
“It was. My dad was so proud when I showed him. He took that issue to work and passed it around the lunchroom for a week. I still get a chuckle when I think about that.”
Bodie coughed, covering his mouth up with his fist.
“I think I have a copy of it with me.” Suzy rummaged through her pile. “Oh, here it is.”
I closed my eyes. This was too much. I’d put all of my hope into the people of Ido and they just couldn’t hack it.
Maybe they weren’t ready for the event center.
I’d forced it on them when all they wanted was to go about their business, stuff woodchucks, and pose for whatever magazine centerfolds that moved them.
“Suzy, I—”
“This is really something,” Bodie said.
A pang of something akin to jealousy—if I’d been the jealous type—sliced through my chest. I opened my eyes to find Bodie holding a copy of Taxidermist Today.
“Check it out.” He flipped the magazine so I could see the centerfold—a picture of Suzy surrounded by stuffed woodland creatures.
“Wow.” A gurgle rose in my throat. Hopefully Suzy would keep her animal friends away from the wedding setup.
“So did you decide on ushers? Are we sticking with a maid of honor and no best man?” Suzy drummed her fingertips on the barrel of the pen.
“Can we get back to you on that?” I asked. We had to hash out the details if we wanted to present a united front to the other vendors.
“Absolutely. Just let me know when you’ve made up your mind. I usually have Tuesday and Thursday mornings off. Sometimes a Friday, too.” She gathered her papers. “Y’all can go ahead and keep the wreath if you want.”
Bodie put his hand to his forehead and leaned onto his elbow like he was trying not to laugh.
“That’s very generous of you, but are you sure you don’t need it for a . . .” For a what? A client? How would one refer to a dead person in this particular situation?
“Nope, this one was a loaner. It’s been around enough that people are starting to recognize it. I need to make up a new one.”
“What do you mean ‘it’s been around’?” Bodie asked.
She stood, closing her notebook and hiking her purse strap onto her shoulder. “I mean I loan it out for wakes and funerals. Half the town has seen this one though. Time for something fresh and new.”
“Thank you.” I stood. The sooner I could get Suzy out of here, the less likely it would be that Bodie would insult the only florist available. “We’ll be in touch.”
“Congratulations on your engagement. I sure can’t wait to tell my sister. She’ll get a kick out of—”
“Remember, it’s a secret.” I put my pointer finger to my lip. “Shh, okay?”
Suzy smiled, nodded, and winked before she disappeared through the front doors.
“How long until she spills the beans?” Bodie asked.
At that moment both of our cell phones rang. “Not long.”