When his phone buzzed, Paul was working on a design for McCormick and Garrison. “This is Paul.” “Paul, this is Deena, from the bakery. We heard a horrible crash. When we investigated, a car slid into the flower shop. We didn’t see - ” Paul ended the call, grabbed his coat and keys, and headed for the flower shop. When he arrived, it was total destruction. The car had slid into the shop sideways. Try as he might, he could...

Claudia’s dad was at their apartment at six-thirty, right on time, as usual. The three of them sat at the table with coffee for courage. Mr. Thomas looked over the papers Mr. Garrison had given Paul. He studied every page, every paragraph. At times he would go to a previous page. Claudia and Paul were shaking like leaves in a tornado. “Kids, this is one hell of a contract, as far as I can tell. Paul, you will be salaried....

Heinrich Rottermann’s great-grandfather started the bakery. Of his three sons, his first son Heinrich II was very interested in the bakery. Heinrich II’s wife blessed him with two sons. His eldest, Heinrich III, loved the bakery. Heinrich III’s wife blessed him with two daughters. No sons, Oh Oh. Heinrich, Henry, was very proud of his daughters. The eldest, Annalise, wanted to go to college, but Ursula virtually lived at...

Since our expansion, business has been very good. The lady that takes care of the cards has even said her sales have increased. She said as soon as she sits down to figure out her new profits, she will increase our compensation. Claudia and I looked at each other and smiled. Claudia told Helen that her compensation was just fine as it was. She was very grateful. Dave our delivery man came for his usual twenty-minute coffe...

They say bad news travels fast, shit, so does good news. The very next morning, Mother Bitch comes flying in the front door of the shop. Claudia and I looked in the mirror from the back room and saw it was her. “Baby, do you want me to go out there and deal with your mother?” “Sweetheart, this isn’t your problem.” “Claudia Thomas, almost Jacobs, it is our problem. You have someone who will stand with you and fight. We do...

After being drug through the mud by Mother, the rough part of the day was over. Paul and I went over the order form for Tuesday’s delivery. A few customers perused the shop, and I did make a couple of sales. All in all, a good day. We were closing for the day and just wanted to shower and have a cold beer. When we got to the apartment, as always, Paul the gentleman said I should have first dibs on the shower. He said he w...

Things at the shop were going very well. Paul was natural with the customers, and he and Dave had started a Tuesday morning, twenty-minute coffee break. I was thrilled that they got along so well. Paul was very attentive to anything Dave would tell him about flowers. I noticed business was picking up and I couldn’t figure out why. The only change I made was hiring Paul. It was a real conundrum. But I know to never look a...

When I opened this shop, I had a boyfriend who would help. He would do the heavy lifting and moving displays. Not that candles, cards, and flowers are that heavy, but the flower displays did get heavy. Now I have a new shop and he has a new girlfriend. I’m five feet four inches tall, one hundred ten pounds, with auburn hair to the middle of my back and brown eyes. But for some reason, I cannot keep a guy. So, Claudia’s Ca...

I have never been here. If that’s a lake, nothing could survive there. The woods are so thick with brambles and briar patches that I can hardly walk straight. There is fog coming in, but it isn’t from the lake. When did the sun go down? There is no moon, no stars. What was that? I think I heard someone following me. I’m going to hide behind this tree to see who or what it is. Waiting, waiting. My heart is pounding so hard...

I was sitting at the kitchen table having coffee daydreaming out of the window when Alicia walked in. Still sleepy-eyed and her hair a bit tangled. She looked beautiful and sexy in my flannel shirt. Looking at my lady, I didn’t know if we should go for our walk in the park as we had planned or stay inside. “Coffee, Sweetie?” There was a yes, somewhere in that yawn. I had to chuckle to myself. I poured her coffee and she w...

A storm is coming up. Just like the night Cassie died. I'm in my wheelchair on the porch remembering. I don't always need the chair, but sometimes my leg hurts very badly. My close friend Allison comes by now and then. She is a wonderful friend. Mike Cousins was always trying to steal Cassie. She said it would never happen. And like a fool I believed her. After three years, I believed her. It was just before St. Valentine...

Several months have passed since Alicia had her revenge. We didn’t talk about it, but now and then, I could see a certain smile on my Baby’s face. She was reminiscing. When I married her sister, Kathy and her mother seemed to be nice people. I found out too late or was too dumb to realize what I was getting into. Alicia was so different from them. She is a loving and caring woman and quite the lover. Fall was just startin...

I work in an office with some very nice people. Yes, we have our busy body, Agnes. Agnes slithers through the hall with her cup of coffee, just looking for gossip. And if you ask her, she is the busiest son of a bitch in the entire company. Bert, Frank, and I have become very good buddies. We love the outdoors. We also love stopping at Michael’s Pub on Friday after work. Barbara the bartender is amazing. Even when the pla...

Let me just state here and now. I hate getting my hair cut. I always have, and I thought I always would. I have been to barbers, stylists, and everything short of a dog groomer. All I want is a simple haircut and my beard trimmed, nothing more. Not to mention those little hairs that stab your neck for the next two days. I was sitting at a table at Knuckle’s Bar and Grill, eavesdropping on a conversation between two ladies...

I'm sitting on the side of my bed. Remembering the day my future husband was killed. Thinking back, I can’t believe it has been a year. A year ago, I was three months short of becoming Mrs. Peter Thornton. But I am still Patricia Singleton and Patricia, Patsy, Singleton I will remain until I lay next to my intended husband, Peter. It was the fault of Sammy Casey. He was in the middle of one of his drug deals when Peter ha...