Nip it in the Bud (Bunch-A-Blooms 3)

“Not yet, but the time is fast approaching.”

“Whoa. You sound pretty certain where you want this thing to go,” Chris whispers.

“I’m not getting any younger, little brother.” I pat his shoulder and wink at Amanda as I stroll toward the house. I’ve learned how to deliver a line and get ghost in the silence that follows.

***

“You failed to mention we were going to a barbecue at Daddy Warbuck’s house,” I say as we pull into the circular drive.

“What?”

“You know, the guy who adopted little orphan Annie.”

Willow giggles. “I know who you were talking about. Olive’s husband is one of the Davenports.”

“The candy family?”

“Yep.” She pops her p. I can tell she’s nervous about introducing me to the group.

I let out a low whistle.

“So, fair warning, the girls can be a bit … overwhelming, but they mean well.”

We had an agreement going: we’d start the introduction process.

“Where were they?” I ask, remembering it was a welcome home party.

“On a honeymoon through Europe. They put it off for a while after they got married because of scheduling conflicts. They both run businesses and Olive’s was rapidly expanding at the time.”

“Jewelry and homeopathic stuff, right?”

“Yeah.” She squeezes my hand, and I wink.

“I listen when you talk.”

“I know. It’s one of the things I love most about you,” she says.

I steal a kiss before I leave the truck and hop down to come around to her side. She knows the drill by now and waits for me. After helping her down, I wrap an arm around her shoulder as she gives me a quick rundown on who’s who. She knocks, and Olive answers the door with a wide grin.

“You’re here!”

The girls hug, and Willow laughs. “The party is actually for you, you know,” Willow says.

“Any excuse to get everyone together. Our lives are insane right about now,” Olive replies.

“I know. It’s like an explosion of events.”

“Drew, it’s so good to see you again.” The mischief in Olive’s eyes makes me wonder what the hell I signed myself up for.

“It’s good to see you, too, Olive.”

“Relax, I’m not the friend you have to worry about. That’s Petunia.”

“Stop it,” Willow says as we step inside.

“Is that Willow?” The woman in question comes around the corner with a wide grin and a flowing fuchsia-colored dress that billows out around her but doesn’t hide the baby bump forming.

“The one and only.”