One Wish (Thunder Point #7)(74)

Grace sank onto the stool at her worktable. “Do you think there’s any chance Winnie will go for this idea?”

“What’s the alternative?” Iris asked.

“I guess I could fly down to San Francisco a lot.”

Seventeen

Ginger started her day at eight that morning and at five she went back to Ray Anne’s. To her surprise, Ray Anne was there as if waiting for her. She was sitting on the sofa with her laptop open. Ray Anne had stopped by the flower shop in the afternoon to talk with Grace, but Ginger was too busy to say more than a quick hello. She suspected Ray was watching her, making sure she wasn’t going to pieces or running to hide.

“How was your day?” Ray Anne asked.

“Oh, God, it was unbelievable!” Tears suddenly ran down Ginger’s cheeks. “The second I walked in, Grace and her friend Iris explained all the complications of the week and how important it was that I get the feel of the shop because they were desperate for help. Iris’s mother used to own that shop and Iris started showing me how to make centerpieces and bouquets. She had me watching videos of floral construction right away. Then she helped me do my own—following a picture—and my first two weren’t so good, but my third was pretty good and she could fix them. A shipment of flowers came in the afternoon. And Grace’s mother and some man came to see her. I had to constantly clean up, run the register, take orders—but I could never get them right the first time so I needed help. I had so much trouble pricing them at first.” She sniffed. “Grace’s boyfriend brought us lunch that we had to eat in shifts. Iris’s husband stopped by three times to see if she needed anything, and Peyton who’s marrying the doctor came to check in with Grace about her wedding up near Portland on her family’s farm, and I had to learn to write up flower purchase orders, and I think I swept that shop floor more than I’ve ever swept in my life.”

“Oh, honey,” Ray Anne said sympathetically. “Was it just horrible?”

“Huh?” she said, and grabbed a tissue to blow her nose. “It was wonderful!”

“Wonderful?” Ray Anne asked carefully.

“It’s just a little flower shop but it felt like the hub of a big city! I guess word has gotten out that Grace’s mother is sick, but she didn’t look very sick. She’s beautiful and is being chauffeured around with some Russian man who is her escort or something. But people were dropping in all day to check on Grace, ask if there’s any way they can help, offering anything she might need and they were so nice to me!” And then she broke down and sobbed into her tissue.

Ray Anne moved closer to Ginger. She put a hand on her back. “Is this normal? To be sobbing because it went well?”

“I don’t know,” Ginger murmured. She blew her nose again. “Now that I’m home and sitting down, I’m exhausted. And I want my baby, Ray! I want my baby so much.”

“Oh, angel.”

“But I only thought about him a couple of times today because I was so busy. Maybe it was a few times, but I didn’t dwell. I usually think about him from the second my eyes open till I close them again at night.”

“I know it seems like such a little thing, but sometimes being busy helps us persevere. Especially if the work feels meaningful. Did it feel meaningful?”

“To the people who chose flowers for special occasions, it means the world to them. Thankfully we didn’t make up any funeral flowers. Grace told me if I wanted to go to the wedding to help her, she’d be so happy. And I can visit my parents. I can spend a night with them.”

“Do you want to do that, Ginger?” Ray Anne asked her.

Ginger grabbed Ray Anne and hugged her hard, crying on her shoulder while Ray Anne stroked her back.

“Will you do me a favor, Ray?”

“If I can,” she said.

“Will you call my mom and ask her to take down the crib? And put away some of those baby things?”

Ray Anne held her away, looking at her in shock. “Ginger, have you had the crib and all those baby things sitting out all this time? For nine months?”

She nodded and wiped her eyes. “I couldn’t let go. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get rid of everything. But I’m afraid if I go to my folks, even for one night, with all his little stuff sitting around like it’s ready for him to come back and use it, I’ll just spiral downward. I’m afraid I’ll crawl right back into the bed and stay there forever.”

“Listen to me,” Ray Anne said. “You will have bad days. You will get emotional and sad and long for little Josh. And you’ll get through it and move on to the next hour, the next day, the next week. And if I hear you’re in bed and can’t get up, I will drive up there and get you.” She gave her hair a stroke. “Don’t make me do that. I’m very busy right now.”

“I have to get a grip,” Ginger said, sniffing. “I think maybe I need a shower. And on Sunday I’m going to run over to Target and get some nice clothes that aren’t so expensive for work. I just couldn’t make myself change into those baggy old jeans.”

“That’s my girl.”

“I think I fell apart a little bit.”

“Ya think?” Ray Anne asked. She gave her a fond pat on the shoulder. “I think I better have a glass of wine. You take a shower.”