Black Rose (In the Garden 2)

"They were excuses to come back here. "

Roz paused, her knife suspended above the plant roots, primed for cutting. "Is there a problem?"

"No. I've been wanting to ask, and I know this is your domain, but I wondered if, when things slow down a bit after the holidays, I can spend some time with the propagation. I'm missing it. "

"All right. "

Stella's bright blue eyes twinkled when she laughed. "I can see you're worried I'll try to change your routine, organize everything my way. I promise I won't. And I won't get in your way. "

"You try, I'll just boot you out. "

"Got that. "

"Meanwhile, I've been wanting to talk to you. I need you to find me a supplier for good, inexpensive soil bags. One pound, five pound, ten, and twenty-five to start. "

"For?" Stella asked as she pulled a notebook out of her back pocket.

"I'm going to start making and selling my own potting soil. I've got mixes I like for indoor and outdoor use, and I want to private-label it. "

"That

's a great idea. Good profit in that. And customers will like having Rosalind Harper's gardening secrets. There are some considerations, though. "

"I thought of them. I'm not going to go hog-wild right off. We'll keep it small. " With soil on her hands still, she plucked a bottle of water from a shelf. Then, absently wiping her hand on her shirt, twisted the cap. "I want the staff to learn how to bag, but the recipe's my secret. I'll give you and Harper the ingredients and the amounts, but it doesn't go out to the general staff. For right now we'll set up the procedure in the main storage shed. It takes off, we'll build one for it. "

"Government regulations - "

"I've studied on that. We won't be using any pesticides, and I'm keeping the nutrient content to below the regulatory levels. " Noting Stella continued to scribble on her pad, Roz took a long drink. "I've applied for the license to manufacture and sell. "

"You didn't mention it. "

"Don't get your feelings hurt. " Roz set the bottle aside, dipped a cutting in rooting medium. "I wasn't sure I'd go on and do the thing, but I wanted the red tape out of the way. It's kind of a pet project of mine I've been playing with for a while now. But I've grown some specimens in these mixes, and so far I like what I see. I got some more going now, and if I keep liking it, we're going for it. So I want an idea how much the bags are going to run us, and the printing. I want classy. I thought you could fiddle around with some logos and such. You're good at that. In the Garden needs to be prominent. "

"No question. "

"And you know what I'd really like?" She paused for a minute, seeing it in her head. "I'd like brown bags. Something that looks like burlap. Old-fashioned, if you follow me. So we're saying, this is good old-fashioned dirt, southern soil, and I'm thinking I want cottage garden flowers on the bag. Simple flowers. "

"That says, this is simple to use, and it'll make your garden simple to grow. I'll get on it. "

"I can count on you, can't I, to work out the costs, profits, marketing angles with me?"

"I'm your girl. "

"I know you are. I'm going to finish up these cuttings, then take off early myself if nothing's up. I want to get some shopping in. "

"Roz, it's already nearly five. "

"Five? It can't be five. " She held up an arm, turned her wrist, and frowned at her watch. "Well, shit. Time got away from me again. Tell you what, I'm going to take off at noon tomorrow. If I don't, you hunt me down and push me out. "

"No problem. I'd better get back. See you back at the house. "

WHEN SHE DIDget home, it was to discover the Christmas lights were glinting from the eaves, the wreaths shimmered on all the doors, and candles stood shining in all the windows. The entrance was flanked by two miniature pines wrapped in tiny white lights.

She had only to step inside to be surrounded by the holiday.

In the foyer, red ribbon and twinkling lights coiled up the twin banisters, with white poinsettias in Christmas-red pots under the newel posts.

Her great-grandmother's silver bowl was polished to a beam and filled with glossy red apples.