Have Bouquet, Need Boyfriend

He parked in the shade, Wiley’s reminders about the sunlight fading the new paint job on the Mustang rattling in his head, then grabbed his medical bag and hurried inside, hoping to clear his appointments by lunch so he’d have time to stop by the bookstore for a minute. If he intended to convince Rebecca to introduce him to her father, he’d have to do so soon. Her grandmother’s surprise party was in just a few days. He couldn’t let the opportunity slip by without doing something.

REBECCA SPENT THE MORNING tagging books for the after-Christmas sales and inventorying the results of the year’s profits. The rush of women buying holiday craft books and cookbooks seemed endless. She’d half expected the women in Sugar Hill to be exhausted from baking for the various seasonal parties, but instead, they were planning New Year’s Day dinners, Super Bowl get-togethers and church functions to collect food and clothing for the needy.

Mimi popped over with her baby, Maggie Rose. “Hey, Bec, you’ve been busy today.”

“I know. Thank heavens. I’ll need all the money I can get to pay my insurance premium now.”

“You talked to your agent already?”

Rebecca nodded miserably. “That had to be the worst day of my life.”

“How’d it go when you drove Thomas home after Alison’s wedding?”

Rebecca cringed. “Awful, Mimi. I’m such a klutz.”

Mimi squeezed her hand. “Don’t beat yourself up too much. Thomas handled the accident pretty well.”

“I suppose so. Then again, he is a nice man.”

Mimi laughed. “Yeah, the nicest. Alison hated hurting him, but they weren’t right for each other.”

“Do you think he’s still in love with her?” Rebecca asked.

“I don’t think so.” Mimi rocked Maggie Rose back and forth, and Rebecca’s heart tugged at the tiny little fists sneaking their way out of the pink blanket.

Goodness, she wanted a baby so much.

Karina Peterson and Darlene Wilkerson, two girls her age, waltzed in a cloud of perfume and designer clothes.

Mimi rolled her eyes. “Looks like those two have been dipping into their daddies’ cash.”

Rebecca laughed. “They’ve probably never worked a day in their lives.”

“I know. Listen, I need to run Maggie to Hannah’s for a checkup.” Mimi gestured toward the adjoining coffee shop. “Bernadette and Angelina are running things, but I’ll be back for the art class this afternoon. You’re still having story time first?”

“Of course, my bag of puppets are ready.” Rebecca tickled Maggie Rose under the chin, her heart touched by the angelic face staring up at her. “She’s so beautiful.”

Mimi tenderly kissed her daughter’s forehead. “I know. And if I don’t get going, Seth will be pacing the halls wondering why I’m late. That man’s crazy about this kid.”

Rebecca waved at her and returned to the register, fighting another bout of envy. The bell above the door tinkled and Bud and Red, two old-timers, loped toward the magazine rack for the latest wrestling magazine. A handful of teenagers milled around looking at teen magazines and comic books, already bored from the winter break.

Karina and Darlene browsed the sale area. “This spinach casserole looks fabulous,” Karina cooed. “I’m going to cook it for Doc Emerson.”

Rebecca froze at the cash register, her hand on the roll of quarters she needed for change.

“Isn’t he the cutest thing to ever set foot in Sugar Hill?” Darlene said.

Karina giggled. “You bet your boots. I fabricated cramps last month just so I could sneak in an extra visit.”

“Better watch out. I heard Trish Tieney is out to snag him. She told Elvira Baker that he’s number one on her husband list.”

“Drat. Trish does have those big boobs.”

“And she’s taking a French-cooking class.”

Karina wrinkled her nose and reached for a book on desserts. “I know just the thing to win Dr. Emerson’s heart—a double-chocolate layer fudge cake.” She fanned her face. “Maybe I’ll even dribble chocolate syrup on me and let him lick it off.”

Rebecca coughed and dropped the roll of quarters she’d been opening, sending them rolling across the floor.

Both girls turned to glare at her, and she quickly stooped to pick up the change, pretending she hadn’t heard their conversation. If beautiful Karina and Trish had their sights set on Thomas, she didn’t have a chance.

She gathered the loose quarters and dumped them in the drawer. Karina watched her like a hawk as she rang up the purchases. “Thanks, ladies,” Rebecca said.

Feigning nonchalance, she wove her way to the self-help section, replaying her grandmother’s words—Believe in yourself. Follow your dreams. But how could she do that when she acted like a simpering teenager at the mere thought of seeing Thomas?

She had to slay the dragon of self-doubt sitting on her shoulder.

Her eyes tracked the titles: How To Be a Success in Business. Surviving Summers with Kids. Surviving Your Crazy Teenager. How To Master Menopause. How To Turn Up the Temperature in the Bedroom. The Art of Love.

Unfortunately, she didn’t see a single book with advice on how to ask a man for a sperm donation without stuttering.

MIMI JIGGLED MAGGIE ROSE up and down, trying to calm her after her vaccination.

“I’m so sorry,” Hannah whispered, patting the baby’s back. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, sugar.”

“It’s all right,” Mimi cajoled. She cradled Maggie Rose to her.

“You’re a natural,” Hannah said. “Maggie Rose is lucky to have you for a mom.”

Mimi beamed. “She’s my little doll baby. When are you and Jake going to take the plunge into parenthood?”

Hannah laughed. “We’re working on it.”

Mimi hugged her. “I hope you have an announcement soon. Maggie needs some cousins to play with.”

“We’ll see.” Hannah tucked the blanket around Maggie Rose’s feet. “Can you meet with Alison, Suzanne and Rebecca to plan Grammy’s party?”

“Yep, Seth’s going to watch the baby.” Mimi grinned. “You know, Hannah, if my radar’s working properly, Rebecca has a crush on Dr. Emerson. I think that’s why she was so nervous and hit his car the other day.”

“No big surprise.” Hannah smiled. “Half the female population in town has a crush on Thomas.”

Mimi scrunched her nose in thought, the wheels of mischief turning. “True, but if he marries anyone, it should be one of the Hartwell girls.”

“He’s on the rebound from a Hartwell now,” Hannah pointed out.

Mimi shrugged. “But Rebecca is so sweet.”

“And shy,” Hannah said. “I wish we could do something to help her.”