Blue Dahlia (In the Garden 1)

And if he was just being friendly, it seemed only polite, and sensible, to be friendly back.

What did people wear to Graceland, anyway?

Not that she was going. She probably wasn't. But it was smart to prepare. Just in case.

In Greenhouse Three, supervising while Hayley watered propagated annuals, Stella pondered on the situation.

"Ever been to Graceland?"

"Oh, sure. These are impatiens, right?"

Stella looked down at the flat. "Yeah. Those are Busy Lizzies. They're doing really well. "

"And these are impatiens too. The New Guinea ones. "

"Right. You do learn fast. "

"Well, I recognize these easier because I've planted them before. Anyway, I went to Graceland with some pals when I was in college. It's pretty cool. I bought this Elvis bookmark. Wonder what ever happened to that? Elvis is a form of Elvin. It means 'elf-wise friend. '

Isn't that strange?"

"Stranger to me that you'd know that. "

"Just one of those things you pick up somewhere. "

"Okay. So, what's the dress code?"

"Hmm?" She was trying to identify another flat by the leaves on the seedlings. And struggling not to peek at the name on the spike. "I don't guess there is one. People just wear whatever. Jeans and stuff. "

"Casual, then. "

"Right. I like the way it smells in here. All earthy and damp. "

"Then you made the right career choice. "

"It could be a career, couldn't it?" Those clear blue eyes shifted to Stella. "Something I could learn to be good at. I always thought I'd run my own place one day. Always figured on a bookstore, but this is sort of the same. "

"How's that?"

"Well, like you've got your new stuff, and your classics. You've got genres, when it comes down to it. Annuals, biennials, perennials, shrubs and trees and grasses. Water plants and shade plants. That sort of thing. "

"You know, you're right. I hadn't thought of it that way. "

Encouraged, Hayley walked down the rows. "And you're learning and exploring, the way you do with books. And we - you know, the staff - we're trying to help people find what suits them, makes them happy or at least satisfied. Planting a flower's like opening a book, because either way you're starting something. And your garden's your library. I could get good at this. "

"I don't doubt it. "

She turned to see Stella smiling at her. "When I am good at it, it won't just be a job anymore. A job's okay. It's cool for now, but I want more than a paycheck at the end of the week. I don't just mean money - though, okay, I want the money too. "

"No, I know what you mean. You want what Roz has here. A place, and the satisfaction of being part of that place. Roots," Stella said, touching the leaves of a seedling. "And bloom. I know, because I want it too. "

"But you have it. You're so totally smart, and you know where you're going. You've got two great kids, and a. . . a position here. You worked toward this, this place, this position. I feel like I'm just starting. "

"And you're impatient to get on with it. So was I at your age. "

Hayley's face beamed good humor. "And, yeah, you're so old and creaky now. "

Laughing, Stella pushed back her hair. "I've got about ten years on you. A lot can happen, a lot can change - yourself included - in a decade. In some ways I'm just starting, too - a decade after you. Transplanting myself, and my two precious shoots here. "