Blue Dahlia (In the Garden 1)

"More than. You don't have to tell her something twice, and when she claimed she learned fast she wasn't kidding. She's thirsty. "

"We've got plenty to drink around here. "

"She's personable with customers - friendly, never rushed. And she's not afraid to say she doesn't know, but she'll find out. She's outside right now, poking around your beds and shrubs. She wants to know what she's selling. "

She moved to the window as she spoke, to look out. It was nearly twilight, but there was Hayley walking the dog and studying the perennials. "At her age, I was planning my wedding. It seems like a million years ago. "

"At her age, I was raising two toddlers and was pregnant with Mason. Now that was a million years ago. And five minutes ago. "

"It's off topic, again, of the update, but I wanted to ask if you'd thought about what you'll do when we get to May. "

"That's still high season for us, and people like to freshen up the summer garden. We sell - "

"No, I meant about Hayley. About the baby. "

"Oh. Well, she'll have to decide that, but I expect if she decides to stay on at the nursery, we'll find her sit-down work. "

"She'll need to find child care, when she's ready to go back to work. And speaking of nurseries . . . "

"Hmm. That's thinking ahead. "

"Time zips by," Stella repeated.

"We'll figure it out. "

Because she was curious, Roz rose to go to the window herself. Standing beside Stella she looked out.

It was a lovely thing, she decided, watching a young woman, blooming with child, wandering a winter garden.

She'd once been that young woman, dreaming in the twilight and waiting for spring to bring life.

Time didn't just zip by, she thought. It damn near evaporated on you.

"She seems happy now, and sure of what she's going to do. But could be after she has the baby, she'll change her mind about having the father involved. " Roz watched Hayley lay a hand on her belly and look west, to where the sun was sinking behind the trees and into the river beyond them. "Having a live baby in your arms and the prospect of caring for it single-handed's one hell of a reality check. We'll see when the time comes. "

"You're right. And I don't suppose either of us knows her well enough to know what's best. Speaking of babies, it's nearly time to get mine in the tub. I'm going to leave the weekly report with you. "

"All right. I'll get to it. I should tell you, Stella, I like what you've done. What shows, like in the customer areas, and what doesn't, in the office management. I see spring coming, and for the first time in years, I'm not frazzled and overworked. I can't say I minded being overworked, but I can't say I mind not being, either. "

"Even when I bug you with details?"

"Even when. I haven't heard any complaints about Logan in the past few days. Or from him. Am I living in a fool's paradise, or have you two found your rhythm?"

"There are still a few hitches in it, and I suspect there'll be others, but nothing for you to worry about. In fact, he made a very friendly gesture and offered to take me to Graceland. "

"He did?" Roz's eyebrows drew together. "Logan?"

"Would that be out of the ordinary for him?"

"I couldn't say, except I don't know that he's dated anyone from work before. "

"It's not a date, it's an outing. "

Intrigued, Roz sat again. You never knew what you'd learn from a younger woman, she decided.

"What's the difference?"

"Well, a date's dinner and a movie with potential, even probable, romantic overtones. Taking your kids to the zoo is an outing. "